ARMENIAN PRESIDENT AWARDS `KILIKIA´ CREW

YEREVAN, September 26. /ARKA/. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan awarded medals to the crew of the “Kilikia” sailer, which is back to Armenia from its voyage according to the sea route of Armenian merchants of the 13th century.

The RA presidential press service reports that President Kocharyan thanked the crew members for excellent realization of a daring idea of a three-year sea voyage.

In their turn, the “Kilikia” crew members handed over to the President the three-color flag that was flying at the mast of the sailer. The President also received a souvenir, a model of the sailer.

The “Kilikia” crew members informed the President of their voyage, telling about the hospitality of the Armenian Diaspora and about the interest shown in Armenia in foreign countries.

President Kocharyan and the “Kilikia” crew discussed the issue of the last haven for the sailer.

On September 23, 2006, the RA President issued decrees awarding Medals for Services to Fatherland, First Class, to the Commissioner of the expedition Zory Balayan, Captain Karen Balayan and Advisor-Captain Samvel Karapetyan.

Medals for Courage were awarded to the operator-sailor Samvel Balayan, Assistant Captain Areg Nazaryan, shift supervisors Hayk Badalyan and Armen Nazaryan, and to the cook Samvel Sargsyan.

In 2004-2006, the “Kilikia” sailer, which was constructed according to the pattern of Armenian sailers of the Middle Ages, for the first time made a voyage according to the route of Armenian merchants, who maintained close trade ties with European market towns in the 13th century.

During two years, the sailer visited 64 ports in 26 European and Mediterranean countries. The “Kilikia” sailer was constructed with the use of materials used in the 13th century. The builders, “Hayas” club of sea research, spent 11 years on the construction (May 1991 to May 2001). During the following two years the sailer was tested on Lake Sevan. “Kilikia” is currently in Yerevan, and later it will be delivered to Sevan and remodeled into a museum.

The sailer was named after a legendary Armenian kingdom of Kilikia on the Mediterranean coat. The kingdom existed for 400 centuries. P.T. -0–