Speaker. the Armenians are one of the oldest people in the ancient Near East and in known history. They can trace their national origin some 3.000 years. In their ancient homeland. the traditional Garden of Eden nestled under the towering Mount Ararat. they maintained their independence centuries before the discovery of America. And when Asiatic invaders put an end to their national independence. they managed to maintain their communal and spiritual independence wherever they happened to be. In the meantime Armenia was ravaged. ruined and divided among its conquerors. During that time Armenians lived under alien regimes in their homeland but kept alive the hope of regaining their ancient freedom.