I did it for all Armenians over the World and for Myself: Armenian Mountaineer Conquers World’s Highest Peak

Ara Khatchadourian from Marseille brings into life one of his cherished goals—he conquers the highest peak in the world, the difficult-to-surmount Everest 22 May 2016 exclusively unreachable for hundreds of people, which, unfortunately, became the last route of many mountaineers. Upon stroke of luck the Armenian mountaineer, who initiated ascension of the world’s highest peak, succeeded to avoid from an accident and reaching to the summit of the mountain, he wrote, “I’m on the world’s highest point. I did it. I did it for all Armenians over the world and for myself. Our case will never die.”

We met the one conquering world’s most famous peaks: Everest, Mont Blanc, Ararat, Kilimanjaro, the one, who waved the flag of the Republic of Armenia, at an old railway station in Marseille—Saint Charles. Ara Khatchadourian told he moved to France from Lebanon upon the invitation of his uncle—quite an unknown country, where everything, even the language was strange.

–I was born in Lebanon, where I was studying and making jewelry. I was 9, when the Civil War generated in Lebanon and I had to leave the school a few years later and specialize in any craft. I preferred jewelry making. I came to France with my uncle, when I was 19, I had neither money, nor I understood a single word in French. With the help of my uncle I found a job and started working. I was working 16 hours a day, day and night, without vacations. Initially I was in the studio, then, at the age of 24, I opened my own business, a jewelry shop, which works up to now.

– It’s interesting to know how shift from jewelry making to mountain climbing was recorded?

– I have done scouting in Lebanon since I was a child, as well as basketball, however, I couldn’t ever think that I’d ever professionally do any sport, in particular, mountain climbing. It was unexpected, that I started doing the sport at the age of 40. Simply in my personal life some changes occurred, which made me completely devote myself to sport. I was training day and night. Once one of my Lebanese friends call me and offered spending another vacation with him in Lebanon, then he added—take your sports items with you, so that we trained and participated in the forthcoming marathon to be held in Lebanon. I agreed.

So I went. We trained together, I was back to France for some period, here again I trained, and we together participated in the marathon, which was the first for me. After I was back to France I continued my trainings, I was accepting invitations to participate in marathons in different countries of the world: Morocco, Braylon, Paris. One of my friends told that here, in l’île de la Réunion island the most difficult trainings may be launched and I may participate in the forthcoming trainings. There is a mountain in that island with the height of 170km, to conquer which 10.000 meters up should be climbed. Prior to participating in those competitions I had a long and difficult preparation at the foot of Mont Blanc, which is the highest peak of Europe—4810m. Mont Blanc became the first peak I overcame.

– Studying your biography, I revealed for myself, that you have been on the peak of Mt. Ararat as well.

–Yes, Ararat was the second mountain, which I overcame throughout four days. I started ascending from the height of 2002m, we reached to 3002m, had some rest, then continued up to 4002m. As it’s not a favorable height for a rest, we reached the peak at midnight. Right after it I decided that Kilimanjaro will be the next one, which I succeeded.

– How was the decision made to conquer world’s highest peak—Everest?

– Every year on April 24, Armenians living here in Marseille organize a protest to commemorate victims of the Genocide, and we organize marches. After I was back from Kilimanjaro, during the protest I met the director of JAF ( JAF (Jaunésse Arménien de France) is one of the most prominent Armenian cultural centers in Marseille), and told him I was going to ascend world’s highest peak—Everest, in memory of the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, and that I was going to take the Armenian flag with me to the peak, and if I succeed, I ‘d devote my victory to all Armenians over the world. We agreed with the director of JAF, that about EUR 50.000 will be necessary to implement my plan. He promised to gather the money with joint efforts and so he did.

– What athletic ability should be provided to conquer world’s highest peak?

– I started intensive training to get to the summit of Mt. Everest. Mountains, which I considered more proper for preparation works, was Mt. Sajama (Bolivia)—6542m, Huascarán (Peru)—6768m, Chimborazo (Ecuador)—6310m, and Cotopaxi—5897m, where I had uninterrupted trainings. And as height of Everest is 8848m, I thought I needed to find another mountain, which should at least have the height of 8000m, to understand how I feel at that height and how my body reacts to that height. For this purpose I left for Tajikistan and ascended its highest mountain—Lenin Peak, height of which is 7134m.

In short, I passed all the possible trials and trainings, so that next year in 2015 I could climb Everest. And I did it. Unfortunately on my half-way on April 25, when I was about to conquer the peak, there was an earthquake  at the foot of the mountain and immense rocks fell next to my tent, and I might say I miraculously survived from the disaster. I wasn’t in the tent and was very close to the peak. The Chinese accompanying us (I was climbing the mountain from the part of China), told us that it’s banned to conquer the height out of security precautions, and we had to return. Unfortunately, I failed to conquer the summit of Everest in 2015, however, I wasn’t from those, who easily surrender, and I made a purpose to reach the summit of Mt. Everest at any price. My purpose was sending the message of the Genocide to the whole world, and if I reached to the peak, maybe that fact wouldn’t be so widely spread in media outlets, rather than the circumstance, that the victory is devoted to all Armenians over the world, who revived Genocide. My decision was financially brought into life with the help of my close relative.

– I can imagine, what a difficult decision it is to start everything anew.

– I must say, I started training more zealously, running, swimming every morning. I wasn’t stopping my trainings even on weekends. Thus, in 2016 I again attempted to conquer the peak of Everest, and this time I surpassed it without obstacles.

– I think from the height of 8848m of Mt. Everest you released a message, “I’m the highest point of the world. I did it. I did it for all Armenians over the world, and for myself. Our case will never die.” What did you mean—recognition of the Genocide?

– Yes. We exert efforts, so the Turkey recognized its atrocities committed early this century. By the way, when I was down from the summit of Everest, I learnt, that German Bundestag recognized the resolution on the Armenian Genocide. I was very happy, it seemed to me there was one country, which listened to my voice from the top of Everest [smiles-N.M.]

– How long did the trip last? What issues did you come across while climbing that height?

– Whole trip of Everest lasted for two months, and climbing the mountain—five weeks. The body needs to get used to the height, otherwise in any case, health problems may emerge—sharp headache, rapid variations of blood pressure and etc.

We started climbing the mountain in the evening with the help of special lights. I was together with a Mexican and two assistants from Nepal. 12 hours later we reached to the top, it was 8.30 in the morning. The air on the top was amazing. I stayed there for half an hour with a special breathing apparatus, as it’s impossible to stay at that height without it. Then I took out all the flags I had: Lebanon, Armenia, France, Marseille, flags of all clubs, which assisted to implement this initiative, thus there were more than 20 flags. I was quickly taking off the respirator, protective glasses and gloves, taking a picture with flags, then again taking them on. As a result, besides acquisitions, I had problems as well.

– What reflection did it have?

– When I reached to the airport, more than 150 people came to greet me, including reporters from France and other countries. You know, I wanted to take Turkey’s flag with me, and I wrote a letter to Erdogan, when I was in Everest, where I particularly stated that we expect that the Government headed by him recognized the Genocide, committed not by him, but by his ancestors, and only his Government may be not blamed for that, but accept the atrocity. I also wrote in my letter that my ancestors are victims of those atrocities, as well as me, heir, who survived.

– What do you think is Turkey ready to face historical reality?

– It would be difficult for Turkey. It’s clear that they also have preventing circumstances, finally, there are land, territorial and financial compensations. I have called on Armenians not to use the word “Turk” as an offense. Did you notice what the Jews do in this situation? They never offend national belonging of a German, but provide definitions to describe that crime—Nazis, as what was done against them, in fact, was as Nazism. Not a single Jew, speaking of Holocaust, says the Germans did it, but—Hitler, Nazis. Now time has come to change our approach towards the issue of Genocide.

The authorities, implementing that crime are guilty for that, however, only current Government may accept the unprecedented crime committed by its ancestors. This is the point.

– Did you letter reach to Erdogan?

– I was going to hand that letter to their Government next year, and in particular, to Erdogan, and I won’t open the brackets how it’ll be done. I will only say that I’m going to set another record next year, during which I’ll hand that letter. Presently I’m intensively preparing for implementation of that purpose.

– Which was the reflection from Armenia?

– When I was back to Marseille, JAF and Armenia’s Consulate in Marseille received me. Here the Consul handed me the certificate by the Ministry of Diaspora. The medal, again granted by the Ministry, I preferred to receive in Armenia, as I was planning to visit Armenia and be in Artsakh, where developments of early April bothered us as well, and we did everything possible to support our people during those days. Besides, my friend Monte Melkonian also fell for Artsakh, with whom I took the rifle during the Civil War. Visiting orphanages in Armenia will be among my primary and most crucial plans.

By Nvard Manvelyan

France-Armenia

P.S. We thank RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Consulate General of Armenia in Marseille for assistance to the preparation of this material.

Photos from Ara Khatchadourian’s personal archive