English: "Paper Ladle" monument in Echmiadzin. The memorial is of a large eagle guarding a ladle made from stone. Pure spring water gushes from the ladle, a symbol of life to all who will partake. Background of monument history: The Khrmian Hairik Ladle (deftly alludes to a comment the then Katoghikos Khrmian (r. 1883-1907) made after returning from the 1878 Berlin Conference following the defeat of Ottoman Turkey by Russia. During the conference the World Powers first gave, then led by Bismarck, took away independence of Armenia and other ethnic groups in Anatolia while Bulgaria and Hungary were allowed to form republics. "It's ironic," the Khrmian Hairik said, "they gave us a big pot of porridge, and all the big groups took out their ladles and (made a country). But all I had was a ladle made from paper (the original agreement by the world powers giving independence to Armenia). How could I take my portion with a paper ladle?"