YEREVAN. – A photo exhibition “Along the Trails of the Armenian Orphans” opened in Yerevan on Saturday at the imitative of Naregatsi Art Institute and with the support of the Near East Relief and the U.S. Embassy in Armenia (photo).

Opening the exhibition, U.S. Ambassador John Heffern called it “a US-Armenia story.”

The Ambassador stressed that 1.5 Armenians were massacred and marched to the death at the end of the Ottoman Empire. However, Mr. Heffern said the exhibition shows not only the tragedy but triumph of the Armenian nation.

He noted that the support to the Armenian orphans is the first example of partnership between the American people and the U.S. government on launching international humanitarian effort.  

“Everyone in this country [Armenia] has a personal connection and personal story related to these events,” he emphasized.

The opening ceremony was attended by parliament speaker Hovik Abrahamyan, vice premier Armen Gevorgyan, politicians, cultural figures and descendants of the genocide survivors.

Nareg Hartounian, founder of Naregatsi Art Institute, and Chairman of Near East Relief Shant Mardirossian also addressed the guests.

The collection belongs to the Rockefeller Archive Center of New York.