Travelling The World For Peace, Sovereignty JUSTIN WARREN/Daily Bruin. Sergei Martirosyan holds the national flag of NagornoKarabagh, an Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan. http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/DB/issues/97/05.09/news.peacewalk.html
Extractions: Friday, 5/9/97 Man walks around globe to promote sovereignty for Karabagh By Gregory Mena Daily Bruin Contributor It has taken Sergei Martirosyan four years to get here from the Middle East. If that sounds like a very long trip, consider UCLA as just one stop on his journey across the world. Martirosyan explained his message of peace and independence for his native land, Karabagh, to the UCLA Armenian Students Association at their Wednesday night meeting. Already, Martirosyan has bicycled, walked and driven across Europe, the Middle East and South America. He has carried the Karabagh flag from Russia to France. He traveled from Greece to Egypt, sleeping in churches and mosques. Most people he encountered were helpful, he said. "They understand. They want to help our nation's struggle for independence." He continued his marathon, traveling from Brazil to Uruguay. From UCLA, he will cross the United States and continue to Scandinavia. With the help of an interpreter, the 64-year-old former journalist expressed an agenda for his homeland, Nagorno Karabagh. "We want peace and no more fighting. When the first country recognizes our independence, I will walk to that country and my mission will be finished," he said in a discussion of the current situation in Karabagh.