YEREVAN–Chairman of the Union of Intellectuals of Giumri–Hayk Aroyan–Chairman of the "Nor Nork" Benevolent Fund–Gevorg Tumasian–and Chairman of the "Salvation Day" Public Organization–Konstantin Ter-Hovhannissian–addressed an open letter to President Robert Kocharian–Prime Minister Vazgen Sargssian–and National Assembly Chairman Karen Demirchian asking them to support the idea of constructing a model of Noah’s Arks at the foot of Ararat Mount as a symbol of human unity. The Ark will serve as a museum of civilization and culture. The idea of celebrating the anniversary of Noah’s Ark’s coming to rest on Ararat as an International Day of Salvation has been approved by UN Secretary General Kofi Anan.
The leaders of the mentioned organizations maintain the Ark should be built in its original size and the genealogical tree of mankind its main exhibit. The museum will become a showroom of fauna and human genealogy. "Due to its unique nature–it may become of the best visited sights in the world and will attract numerous pilgrims and tourists."
The authors of the letter suggest an international competition to decide the Museum’s design. The completion of the project should be timed to the 1700th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity as a state religion in Armenia–the year 2001.
