What's on the Horizon - April 2000 by Armenian International Magazine

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rOGUS

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20 $hootiru A0ain

42 Rcinuenting Ule

Assassination attempt in Karabakh shakes up the political process

Nouritza Matossian on the life of Arshile Gorky (summer house, below)

lNNI

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No.4

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50 Ihe lliasporan

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Vahe Berberian is the rare Armenian artist with a foot firmly in all worlds

10 11 14 16 19 22 24 26 28 30 56 59 60 62

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Glolal PlGtune

lnmenia Bniels Economic llcws & lndicatons Reglona! Bniels

Diaspona Bnlels

flManketPlacc How I Got

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undenexloscd Essay

G0trrlEGltoil$

Taldng Gount

Armenia gets its first census in over a decade Cover design by Patrick Azadian Cover photos by Hrair Hawk Khacherian

IIORY 34 What's Wnon0

G(IUEB

and what can be right about Armenia, as seen by an international observer

AIM APRIL

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suasion) and not a member of AIM's staff. Still, his conversational abilities (in Armenian!!) extend beyorrd Parev to polite dialogue about health, weather, and other niceties. This is Glendale, after all, and the huge Armenian presence has to start having an effect somehow. I tell you about our wonderful relations with the postal service, as a way of touching on a sore subject: the occasional late delivery ofthe magazine in certain areas ofthe US. If our postal carriers, or if our Subscription Manager Seta Khodanian, could do anything to guarantee the timely delivery of your magazines, believe me, they'd do it.

But they can't. AIM is second class mail. We pay second class postage. This means it doesn't get the special treatment that first class receives, but it shouldn't get relegated to the third class bundle, either. If it's the beginning of the next month, and you haven't received your copy of AIM, please let us know. We look forward to hearing from you, whatever the circumstances. And, if there is an address or renewal problem, we'll fix it. But, it's very possible the problem's not at our end. We ship all magazines out together on the same day. If New Jersey receives issues later than Pennsylvania, the problem is in New Jersey not in California. Let your own postal carriers know that you are counting on receiving this magazine and they will pay more attention locally. In the worst case scenario, complain to your Congressman. (Congress oversees the Postal Service budget, and you'd be surprised at how quickly service improves.) Still not convinced? You're thinking after all, you receive Time or Newsweek within a couple of days of pubtcation. Please remember that Time and Newsweek are printed and mailed locally in dozens of US and intemational locations. AIM, on the other hand, is produced, printed and mailed from Southern California. So, it will naturally reach some locations later than others. We make every effort to get the magazine out to you as quickly as possible. There's no reason to work hard to publish AIM if it doesn't reach the reader. And although there really is nothing we can do at this end once it leaves our hands, still, let us know if you have a consistent problem. And, please, let your local post office know, too. And in a future issue, look for a story on Armenia's postal service.

e,r@f* AIM APRIL

2OOO

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Wrlle lo Almt all communication. Although we read all letters and submissions, l0 acknowledge everything we receive due t0 limlted stalfing and resources. Letlers to the Editor may be edited l0r publication.

We welcome

we are unable

The reality, of course, is that there is no Godot. The answer to Armenia's problems is not going to come from a national hero, a savior, or from the outside world. Aid organisations cannot'save' Armenia - aid is only a short-tern measure. Similarly Armenia cannot depend on multinationals whose main purpose is to send mega-profits

back to their international headquarters. Armenia is also doomed if it relies on the IMF / World Bank to bail it out, because conditional loans and accumulating interest rates rob a nation of its sovereignty. Finally, even the Diaspora cannot 'save'Armenia - it can only be of 'help' if it works in partnership with a Homeland which is ready and willing to take responsibility for its own destiny.

In 1987 Rafael Ishkhanian, historian and one of the leaders of the Karabakh Waiting for Godot The title of your cover story 'Looking for a Savior' (February 2000), was very insightfuI. The people of Armenia, after a decade of tragedy and shattered dreams, are understandably searching for a savior or hero to deliver them from their troubles. You can feel it in the streets, and it is the main topic of any conversation about politics and the economy.

Movement, called onArmenians to rely on no one but themselves and the help of God. He was right. Even God, the true Savior, is not the outsider we often think He is. The answer to Armenia's problems must come from within. And the good news is that the people of Armenia have the skills and talents needed to re-build their country - what

they need from us is our Dr

Waiting for Godot, revolves around two tramps who are waiting for a 'savior' who

Thank You

AIM thanks the more than600 respondents

for their

time and effort in answering the survey. A team of independent sociologists is analyzing your answers, comments and suggestions. We will share the results with you. AIM is commined n providing its rea.ders with vital, interesting and thought-provoking news, features and information. With your

help, the magazine will continue to devebp and expand, while offeing unique coverage and insight into Armenia and its Diaspora.

our

time and money.

The play by Samuel Beckett, called fails to turn up. Beckett plots the tramps' journey of waiting, portraying their angst and disappointment as each successive visitor falls short of their expectations. 'Godof represents the hopes and dreams of a people who are bound by cynicism, hopelessness, disappointment and despair. But Godot is also the escapist fantasy of a people who have lost the belief that they themselves can do anything to improve their lot. The people of Armenia are like the tramps in Beckett's play. They are waiting for something, but not sure what. And when it comes, it's not what they expected.

encouragement,

empathy and some wise investment

Armen Gakavian Sydney,

Australia

Why not teach the effects of genocide, massacre, and ethnic cleansing? Why not teach about Kosovo and ttre I{mong massacres?

Let us teach future generations so they don't commit acts of violence against each other. Let us be honest about our history and ourselves. Hate, ignorance and hypocrisy shall only foster more acts of genocide and massacre

in the future. Medea Kalognomos Sunland, Califurnia

Bittersweet Kudos Two recent cartoons by Edik - the "Wish List" for Santa Claus ffiew by Edik, December 1999) and the one entitled "Brothers Always" (February 2000) were two of the funniest, saddest and most realistic cartoons I have seen about ourselves.

Migirdic Migirdicyan North York, Ontario, Canada Omission and Commission I would like to point out an error in the caption accompanying the photograph that depicts Haigazian University (Cover Story January, 2000.)

The building shown is not the Webb building, but the Mugar building, named in recognition of the support of Stephan Mug*, its benefactor. Carolyn Mugar continues in her father's footsteps in supporting Armenian causes.

FamilyAffair One of the women

lnuis Kurkjian

in the Armenian in l9l8 (Bytes on File,

National Assembly November 1999) was Varvareh Sahakian (known as Mayr, or Mother Abraham). She was my patemal grandmother and wife of Avetik Sahakian, (known as Hayr or Father Abraham) speaker of the AsSembly from 1918-1920. I appreciate your rekindling the string of my rich family past. Madlen ( Sahakian) Minas s ian Encino, Califumia

What If It's Political? Professor R. H. Hewson (Letters, February 2000) is himself being political when he questions the law requiring the

Fullerton, Califurnia You have repeated a widely-held miscon-

ception (Nation, March 2000) that General Andranik Ozanian died in Fresno. He died in Richardson Springs, near Chico, in Northern

California.

His funeral, aftended by an estimated 10,000 moumers, was held in Fresno. His remains were held in Fresno for a short time until they were shipped to Paris. Berge Bulbulian Fresno, Califumia

teaching of the Armenian Genocide in the Massachusetts schools. We all know that the Armenian Genocide of 1915, an integral part of World War I and the fust genocide of the 20th century was left out ofhistory books for political reasons. Had the world acknowledged the Armenian genocide and punished the perpefrators, would Hitler, when planning the Jewish Holocaust have asked, "Who remembers the Armenians?"

AIM APRIL

2OOO

Gonection

'Armenian Sndies Minor Planned' in Diaspora Briefs regarding the Califumia State

University at Northridge Armenian Studies Program should have indicated that the program has been functioning for 18 years,

through the efforts of Professor Hermine

Mahseredjian. CSUNS lSM Armmian sudents malce upfive percent ofthe student population. Currently, each semcster over 100 students attend six Armenian language, culture and history classes.

The Irouilh Millenoium Sociely r\ rn indepcndcntl) linded and adtr)inistcre(l put lir chrr itr conmilted lo the dissenrirrtior ol infornlrtion for lhe purposc ()l de\clopiilg rr inti)ilncd

The Magazine

public Underpinning all our uork is thc lirDr conviclion that llrc \ilrlit) Lrl rrr indcperderl prcrs is lundrmeiltrl i() u dcnrocrrllc sr)ciet) rn.\rncnia xnd rl.nro.rrlr. r LstitLrtrun' in the Diaspora.'1he Fourth illillenniunr S{)ciei) puhlishcs Arrrenirn Inlernaliorrl

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Deep, Deep Shame Political Parties Are Not Serious about Genocide Commemoration The world has learned that shoah means tenible, incomprehensible tragedy. It's time the world also learns that amot means deep, deep shame. And the shame is on the political leadership of the Diaspora.

It's l0

April24, and as of this writing, the - Beirut and Los Angeles do not know what local activities have been planned to commemorate the terrible, incomprehensible tragedy of days before

largest Diaspora communities

1915. In some cities, the picture is hopeful. In New York, the annual Times Square commemoration was planned and announced weeks ago as was the traditional interfaith service at St. Patrick's Cathedral, this year featuring the grandson of Ambassador Henry Morgenthau.

In Sydney, Baroness Caroline Cox has been invited to speak. demonstration in front of the French Senate holds even more significant this year (See page 30.) And in Yerevan, as every year, there is the slow, deliberate walk up the hill to the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Monument (See page 62) as well as a formal program indoors with government officials and foreign dignitaries. But in Los Angeles or Beirut? Who knows? Not that there are no individual and notable initiatives. In

In Paris, a continuing

Los Angeles, for example, a weighty conference on "The Armenian Genocide and Historical Memory: Challenge of the Twenty-First Century" was held a couple of weeks earlier at UCLA under the auspices of Professor Richard Hovannisian and UCLA s Chair in Modern Armenian History. There is to be a program cum concert on the evening ofApril 24 under the auspices of the Union of Compatriotic Organizations. Together, these and other small events may involve some 1,000 Armenians. More or less.

But even the half-hearted, formulaic April 24 commemoration of years past at the Martyrs Memorial Monument in Montebello is not on the public calendar yet. The publicityseeking marches that were de rigeur in years past? Apparently not this year. Eighty-five is neither a round enough nor an auspicious enough number, it seems. One can only assume that doing something substantial would have required too much time, work and money. If there is another explanation, the people deserve to know. In Beirut, for several years running, the three parties have attempted to come together to do something. They haven't managed. As a result, each has gone its own way, left to attend a lecture, a mass, a concert. This year, a public march was finally

planned fromAnteliaS to Bourj Hammoud and announced by the

United Commemorative Committee. Talk about taking the people for granted. Talk about self-fulfilling prophecies. As each year's events become smaller and less well-organized, only a dwindling number look for commemorative events, and even fewer attend. So long as the political parties who have reserved for themselves the right (and privilege) to organize a collective remembrance abrogate their responsibilities and don't create the means for people to come together, they don't deserve to call themselves the leadership. Nor do they have the right to expect the government

of the

Republic of Armenia to utter the word "Genocide" each time they open their mouths on world stages. For Armenia to do so, when it needs so much, the costs and risks of putting Genocide before everything else would be great. In the Diaspora, it's cheap and easy, and still, it's not being done. Not even this year.

It's been 85 years. There are probably less than 1,000 Genocide survivors still alive, and the live, daily reminder of the crime that was perpetrated, the lives that were lost and damaged, is slipping away. It's the year 2,000. It has been announced that Turkey may indeed join the European Union if certain conditions are met. Do Armenians care what those conditions are? This is a unique opportunity to take advantage of the West's hesitance about Turkey's membership to loudly demand that Turkey's membership should be predicated on its preparedness to accept its past. Such acceptance would signal a greater readiness on Turkey's part to quit playing aggressor, and to conduct peaceful relations

with all its neighbors. After a long history of victimization, isn't a peaceful future what Armenians want?

The value of holding mass, public rallies on April 24 is that individual, as well as family memories of loss and victimization are transformed to a collective claim for justice and retribution, for acknowledgement and restitution. It's a chance to say that what was denied in the past, should not be denied in the future. Where is the willingness on the part of the political leadership of the Diaspora's largest communities to take itself, its communities, and its homeland seriously? Moreover, where is the evidence of their understanding that they must continue to take the past seriously, if they are to participate in constructing the future?

AIM APRIL

The victims of 1915, and their children, deserve

2OOO

better. r

Only anAct Can Be a Crime Karabakh Journalist Imprisoned for "Character Defamation" Should be Freed A man's right to express himself without fear is not negotiable in any country worth living in, and worth dying for.

Any country - including Armenia and Karabakh. The arrest, trial and sentencing, this month of a Stepanakert journalist on charges of 'defamation of character' is unacceptable (See page 20.) Only an act can be a crime, not an idea, said 19th century writer Ring Lardner.

The American Founding Fathers specified in the Bill of Rights that thinking, writing and speaking cannot be criminal acts. It may be obvious that political thought in Armenia and Karabakh is not as developed or seasoned as it is in the US. It is also true that neither Armenia nor Karabakh have had the luxury of time and opportunity to sit back and debate political theory.

The right to free speech and a free press, however, cannot become a casualty of war, blockade or economic hardship. Human beings deserve no less than the basic respect and trust that is assumed with these rights. A government's responsibility is to guarantee and protect those rights, because in doing so it is giving its people the most real indication of its vision of the future. A concern for security and safety is no reason to arrest a journalist. Anywhere. Least of all in a country that must bend over backwards to inculcate faith and trust in govemment among its people. The tortured people of Karabakh put up with a great deal during the war. They had to, and they knew it. It's not reasonable

to expect them to be as accepting of peacetime limitations. And curbing freedom of speech and press is more than a limitation. That Karabakh is still under a "martial law regime" is no excuse. A critical article is a far cry from an assassination attempt. Yet, it is for writing a critical article that Karabakh journalist Aghajanian was arrested just days after the assassination attempt on Karabakh President Arkady Ghukasian. No one will underestimate the possibly irreversible damage that political assassination and government decapitation can wreak. Some looked for justification (or at least reasons) in the successful October shootings and in the latest attempted shooting of Karabakh's President. AIM didn't. We found the whole mess inadmissible, whatever the possible rationales. Assassinations and assassination attempts cannot have understandable mitigating circumstances when the very survival of a country, and a nation are at stake. But people must believe they have other recourse than violence. They must believe that their ideas, opinions, thoughts are as legitimate and as accessible as those in power. Poor economic conditions, a hopeless future, differing political convictions - all of those can be worked out, if there is a process of discussion, debate, negotiation. And joumalists are at the forefront of encouraging, incubating such processes. Don't jail them. Without the free expression of ideas both favorable and critical, no nation can long hope to remain free, said a wise man during World War

II.

$ufisuriniult? [sliuel'y? tsnewal? tt[ou]nU?

1.888.$ENI|.AIM --l-.-

1.818.246.0088 Fax . AlMagazine@aol.com . 207 South Brand Boulevard, Suite 203,

AIM APRIL

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Glendale, California 91204 USA

rr ll science does not survive, the country lArmenia] too won't survive.ll -Fadei Sarkisian Armenia's National Academy of Sciences president, referring to state budget cuts to his institution

r( The Armenian Government and the Armenian Ghurch is the Nation in its totalitY. ll -Catholicos Garegin ll of All Armenians

IIWe don't betray lriends

and

will

never Ieave them in

trouble... We are ready to protect Armenia's borders as long as you will need it. r, -General Konstantin Totsky Chief of Russian Federal Border Guards Service, referring to the status

of Russian troops protecting Armenia's borders with Turkey and lran

llThe Armenian who lives in Syria is Syrian. Many Armenians decided not to go back to Armenia after its independence, as they lelt deeply Syrian.ll -Faruq al-Shar,

Foreign Minister of Syria

((The Armenians have contributed in structuring our country and culture.

-Jihad Naaman,

Lebanese commentator, Al-Diar newspaper

(rThe Armenians were subjected to a genocidal campaign that delies comprehension and commands all decent people to remember and acknowledge the lacts and lessons ol an awlul crime in a century ol bloody crimes against humanity. !t -George W Bush, US presidential candidate,

Republican Party

Ftghting lon r Ghain Disagreements over the composition of the Armenian Church Council in the city of Almelo in the Netherlands led to physical fights among the members of the community. "The believers of the Armenian Church in Almelo are so divided that they went at each other with lead pipes, sticks and stones," reported NRC Handelsblad, a Dutch national newspaper. After all the commotion, a church council. member was still hopeful, "We have to be able to sit in the church together again." Senlous lnalysis. Hakob Hakobian, a senior member of the Armenian Democratic Pafi and a founding member of the "Socialist Parliament" in Armenia - an "alliance" of four leftwing parties - blamed the US for Armenia's political turmoil, "The analysis of the last ten years makes us come to the conclusion that what had happened was not accidental. lt was a wellthought and skillfully carried out policy imposed on Armenia by the USA," Hakobian said at the Union of Pro-Socialist Forces news conference. BlasDhemy. Former President of Azerbaijan Ayaz Mutalibov (1 991 -92) recently stated that the "leaders of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic" should participate in the ArmenianAzerbaijani negotiations "as a party in the talks," reported the Baku-based Yeni Azerbaijan newspaper. Mutalibov "wants direct bilateral meetings to be held with the leaders of the self-styled NKR," continued the report, headlined. "Mutalibov declared that he has officially recognized the Nagorny Karabakh Republic." thE Bondens, Three Armenians with counterfeit Estonian passports were refused entry to Sweden and were sent back to Riga, reported the Baltic News Service. Their explanation to Swedish customs officials that they had arrived in Stockholm from Latvia did not help their case. lnstead, it triggered an investigation by Latvian border authorities.

IIThe heinous treatment of thoroughly armed escorts, who relentlessly beat and kicked their helpless Gharges along when illness and latigue preuented further eflort, is evidence ol what must have happened along the roads ol the interior further rsmoyed lrom civilization. The exhausted condition ol the victims is further proven by the death of a hundred or more daily of those arriving in this city. Travelers report hauing seen numberless corpses along the roadside in the adiacent territory, 0r bodies in all sorts ol positions where the victims fell in the last gasps of typhoid, tever and other diseases, and of the dogs fighting ouer the bodies ol children. Many are the harrowing tales related by the suruivors, but time and space preuent the recital thereof. The movement Gontinues with the arrival ol hundreds daily and the problem is what Gan be done lor their reliet when they are rapidly pushed 0n t0 Hama, Homs, Damascus, etc. and 0n to Amman, the railway station lurthest south to which Ghristians have been heretolore permitted to travel. Nearly everything neoessary lor existence is lacking at most of these places, and at Amman it is teported there is neither lood nor drink.

_B. Jackson

American Consulate, Aleppo Syria, to Ambassador Henry Morgehthau, Constantinople, September 29, 1915, in United States lfficial Documents an the Armenian Genocide, v. 1, 1993, Ara Sarafian, ed.

AIM APRIL

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Eouennon GeonUc lleufimeiian In September 1990, in an exclusive AIM interview, California Govemor George Deukmejian who was just about to leave office, spoke candidly about his years in govemment. Would you consider running for federal office? No. I'm ending 28 years in public office. Now I am looking forward to a little ,, ..-; vacy and to just be active as a private citizen, rather than a public Do you think the news media has treated you The Armenian media has treated me not only fairly, they've been very generous and supportive. I wish the non-Armenian media had been as kind. The Armenian media has been absolutely wonderful. President Bush has been accused of breaking his campaign pmmise to support

fairly?

official.

pri-

t.*#ilt i

the congressional resolutions to establish April?A as a day for national obseryance of the 1915 Genocide. How do you feel about it? I was disappointed that the Administration was officially opposing that. The State Department, and in particular, Brent Scowcroft, his national security advisor, were opposed to the resolutions with the same reasoning they have had for a number of years now - that Turkey is a NAIO ally of the United States and would be offended - and Turkey, as you well know, puts great pressure on Coirgress and the Administration to oppose such resolutions. Is it almost to the point of blackmail without basis? Yes, we all know Turkey spends millions, much of it given to them byAmeric4 in a huge public relations effort to deny there was a Genocide and to oppose the adoption of such resolutions.

Would you encourage Armenian-Americans to seek a career in government? Yes. I certainly hope that I have helped to break a little ground and proved that there are opportunities if they're interested in public service. I also would like to say to the Armenian community in Califomia, as well as the United States, that when they helped me become Govemor, it enabled me to bring a great may people from the Armenian community into government positions. What would you advise Armenian newcomers to the US?

#ffi-

'l*: E

r*.

lillir:

I would describe the advantages and opportunities this country offers to them, but emphasize that they would have to work for them. They also must realize they need a good education in this age of high technology. Unskilled workers with very little education are going to be stuck at the bottom rung of the ladder.

AIM APRIL

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NOTEBOOK

ln tltc $pinit ol Easten The holiday called Easter, falls on the first Sunday of the full moon,

immediately following the vemal equinox. In Armenian, it's either called Harutiure, which means Resurrection, which is after all what

the holiday is all about, or, it's called Tatik which refers to the mode of celebration, and may have Persian roots. [n fact, Easter coin-

cides with the Persian New Year Norooz and with the Jewish Passover. And, of course, Easter symbolizes spnng, and brightly colored eggs, which symbolized life even in the pre-Christian era, are the universal omaments of Easter.

But the 'egg game'

now

there's a typically Armenian tradi-

tion that others don't seem to engage in. In some regions, even two weeks prior to Easter - beginning on Advent Sunday, families would gather in open fields with already colored eggs, dried fruit and party. One week before Easter, on Palm Sunday, children bearing

olive branches would run door to door collecting eggs, and repeating a

"Irick

even or Treat" style chant: Whoever gives me one egg,

long live their bride, whoever gives me two eggs, long live their

- and even placing a hex of sorts on those who didn't. Eggs were colored not with food coloring, but in many inge-

groom

nious ways. Use of onion skins in the boiling process is most commonly known, with the resulting deep red color symbolizing Christ's blood. But, cilantro and parsley leaves are also used, both to create an interesting green and also to leave an imprint of the herb's delicate shape on the egg. In later years, small pieces of fabric were cut up (like confetti) and tied with cheesecloth around an egg to leave a kaleidoscope effect. Holy Week, preceding Easteq consists of church ceremonies reenacting Christ's last week on Earth. Maundy Thursday is the day when Christ washed his disciples' feet, and to this day, Armenian church leaders (including those at the top, such as Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, left) do the same. Good Friday is the day commemorating Christ's death and burial, Saturday is a day of prayer and contemplation. But already, Saturday night, in anticipation of the celebration to come, families gather and the feasting begins. The meal is still meat-free, since the 40 days of Lent are not officially over until the next morning. Easter Sunday, the egg games begin. Some take it

quite seriously. Everyone has a story of an intense friend or relative who went to great lengths to win the most eggs. Someone had a wooden egg painted to look real. Another had syringed a raw egg's contents and replaced it with wax, making the egg hard as stone, and tough to beat. And in villages where the old rules reigned, where young men could not speak to young women, this was a legitimate opportunity to do so. "Would you play the egg ! game with me?" was a common pick-up line. AIM APRIL

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NOTEBOOK

Alulay$ a Gfiamp Vladimir Yengibarian, 68, lives in a Los Angeles apartment, surrounded by the medals and mementos of his past glory

(right.) Yengibarian won

the

Gold Medal in boxing at

the

Melbourne Olympics in 1956; he was three times European

Champion. three

times Champion of the USSR; he held the World Youth Championship, and in 1977, was awarded the title Best World Sportsman. In his heyday, Yengibarian was a role model for the youth of Armenia, the pride of the country. "When I would go to other countries for competition, the main thing in my mind was winning and bringing honor to my country. Otherwise, how could I face the people when I came back?" he remembers. This attitude worked. Yengibarian wanted to leam every new technique and new trick he encountered. "In the middle of the night, I would get up and practice in front of the mirror as long as necessary, until I leamed the trick," he says. The determination and perseverance paid off. Yengibarian won 173 of the 186 matches of his boxing career. After his Olympic win, Yengibarian founded the youth boxing school in Yerevan which carries his name. At one point, the school, with branches in several cities, had 1000 students. Since 1969, Yengibarian has been a referee judging international matches and Olympic bouts. It's been six years since the former world champion has lived in California, and in that time, Yengibarian (below, left) has been dreaming and planning. He wants to open a boxing school in Southem California, where he can teach what he calls, "the real techniques of boxing." He has students, Armenian and non-Armenian. One of them, Artyom Galstian, 23, will fight his first professional match in June. "In my whole career, I was never knocked out or knocked down, and that is how I want my students to be," he

says.

AIM APRIL

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$huolln$ flgnln Unsuccessful Assassination Attempt Shakes Up Karabalfi and Armenia By HEATCH TGHlLlttlG lHlAll ess than

six months afterthe assassina-

tion of eight top Armenian officials, the president

Karabakh narrowly

escaped an attack on his Iife.

0n March 22, several

gunmen

armed wi*r automatic weapoils, opened fired

on President Arkady Ghukasian's car in Stepanakert as he was going home from his

office shortly after midnight. Ghukasian was heavily wounded in the legs. The following day he was transferred to a Yerevan hospital for surgery. His two bodyguards were seriously injured and remained in critical condition. The attack took place near the presidential palace. After the first shots were fired, the driver lost control of the car and slammed into a tree. One of the president's guards returned fire with a hand pistol. The attackers escaped, leaving behind 57 rifle cartridges and a walkie-talkie. Ttventy-eight people were almost imme-

diately arrested on suspicion of complicity, including former Defense Minister Samvel Babayan and his brother, Karen, Mayor of Stepanakert. Fifteen of the detainees were released within a week. Karabakh's Prosecutor General said Samvel Babayan would be charged in connection with the attack, adding ttrat the Babayan brothers were already under investigation for other offenses, including "abuse of office, forgery and tax evasion." The struggle for power befween the Babayans and Ghukasian had been played out in various forms for more than a year. Most recently, Samvel Babayan had been sacked as commander of the Karabakh army. Immediately prior lo that, he had physically assaulted

Prime Minister Anushavan Danielian on

Karabakh street.

Those who are considered in the "antiGhukasian" camp had stated their intention to gain a majority in the upcoming padiamentary elections to be held in'Karabakh in June. In this way, they expected to be able to influence the socio-economic and political developments in the country, and gradually regain control of government levers. The

detention of Babayan arresrcd ttre opposi tion's efforts. Thus, some political figures in

their destiny in difficult times," said Kocharian. "I strongly condemn this terrorist

Karabakh and

attack and express my unconditional support

Armenia criticized

Babayan's arrest by Karabakh authorities, as being politically motivated. However, the overwhelming majority of politicians and government officials strongly condemned the attack on Ghukasian. The official Stepanakert statement called the assassination attempt "a crintinal assault against" Karabakh's statehood. It blamed the attack on those who wanted toblock politieal reform in lfurabakh, as well as the formation of "a healthy moral and psychological atmosphere in the republic." President Robert Kocharian of Armenia issued a statement of condemnation. The attempt on the life of President Ghukasian "is

challenge

to the people of

Nagorno

Karabakh, who have already demonstrated their determination to beconte the masters of

AIM APRIL

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to the President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, the government and theit

poli.i.t."

The people, too, were shocked by the effsrt to destabilize theii government. Most saw'it as an extension of the military commanders' efforts to extend their control. Thus, the widespread searches and arrests were understood and lolerated in that light However, the arrest of journalist Vahram

Aghajanian,

correspoadent

for

the

Stepanakert-based, Babayan-supported news-

gper ksnerurd Nahang, frle,led anger in Armenia and abroad. Aghajanian was arrested for 'Aiohting the martial law regime" by publishing critical articles on Karabakh's currcnt leadership and sentenced to one year in prison. Specifi cally; he had,reported villagers' displeasure with Prime Minister Danielian for

'al:::...' :r.r,:a: : rrrl: :.a rr.:ri:4i il:rrr.,

I i .:i,it;:rrll. ,"

.ll;lil:ir:i,r'| .:..ir'ril

ha,i not addressing their grievances. This is not the first time Aghajanian or

t'eu tttonth. rrgo ltrr libeling the Prime Minister. The search. seizure and imprisonment of a journulist nro\()ked uidesprcud protest. Journalists in Azerbaijan even used the arrest to call lbr "press tieedoms" in Karabakh and lrppealetl lor hrr rr'lrlse. Baku had earlier offered some words of consolation and advice following the assassination attempt. rs well. Azcrbaijani hesident

Vahram Aghajantan, detained soon after the shooting

Azelhrijlni Ir'c.idertt:.

There is no clate ftrr the trial tol those cletained. just as there isn't tlne in Armenia fbr lhose apprehended tbllowing thc October 27 shootings. Huwever,

in Yertvan.

several of

those iulestecl have bcen released. due to insuf'-

ficient evidence. Kocharian's fbmter Chiel of Stlft'. Alcxander Hamtunian is among therr. I

"Armenia's internal affair" implies recognition of Karabakh's independence, they said. However, reiterating olticial Baku's policv of non-recognition of Karabakh's Arrnenian leadership, Foreign Minister Vilayat CLrliyer., was quick to add that the incident wor-rlcl not

thar there connection between the assassination

From top lelt clockwise: President Ghukasian and Prime Minister Danieltan: Ghukasian's bullet-proof Mercedes after the sh0oting, as shown 0n the daily Armenian evening news proqram, Hailur: Journalst

in a stable sitr-ration in Armenia so as to continue the negotiations ancl resolve the conflict peacefirlly," said Aliyev at Baku airyot on his way to Georgia lirr a trvoday visit, immediately precedin-r: a sirlilar visit by the Aunenian president. "lt is their internal affair." addecl Aliyev. "We should not interf'ere in this process and use this situation to our advantitge. Armenia must solve its own problerns." For this conrment. he was criticized by opposition parlies in Azerbaijan. Characterizing the incident as

HuidarAliler :uid Ire is "convinccd" was no

place. with Karabakh's knowledge, but with the direct participation of' the Arrneniar.r and

"We're interested

Tasncrord Nuhang have been the target oflawsuits. Agha.janian was arested lor a short time sererul years ugo. trgain lor vitrlating the martial law regirne. Thc' newspaper was sued just a

iii;

attempt and ihe ongoing Amrenian-Azerbaijani talks on the resolution of the Kat'abakh conflict.

stop the negotiation process. He

said

Ghukasian "has not played ancl does not play a special role in the talks" which are taking

AIM APRII,

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mrF0ia

tional powers with interest in the region: the US and the European Union. Kocharian had first proposed this model at the OSCE

Boost Relations

Istanbul Summit last November. "A security system can only be effective if all the powers which have influence in the region take part," stated Kocharian. He added, "Armenia proceeds from the historical and current geopolitical realities and from the

fact that today [our region] is one of the weakest links in the common system of European security. The instinct of self-preservation should convince us that it is inadmissible to follow a policy ofregional polarization. Considering the lessons of history and the President Robert Kocharian paid an official visit to Georgia and held talks with his Georgian counterpart Eduard Shevardnadze.

A joint

statement referred to common on a number of issues in

approaches

Armenian-Georgian bilateral relations, especially in the transportation and energy sectors. President Kocharian noted that transportation, energy, mining - and possibly the chemical industry - are the key spheres in their bilateral economic relations. On his part, Shevardnadze stated that "Armenia must be actively involved in the projects of the Great Silk Road," sponsored by the European Union. He added, "one of the proposals is that both President Kocharian and I ask the European Union to finance the

rehabilitation of the Yerevan-Tbilisi motorway which is in a grave condition. I believe that this will make it possible for transit cargo. to be gradually delivered from Armenia, as

well as from Iran through

Armenia."

Shevardnadze continued, "In the future, we may discuss gas pipelines, some of them may

go through Armenia." However, he added, "To achieve this, the [Armenian-Azerbaijani] conflict must end." The two presidents also agreed on supply of Armenian energy to Georgia through the

construction

of a

power line via the of Javakheti in

Armenian-populated region Georgia's south.

way international relations are inclined to develop, Armenia reaffirms its commitment to the principle of complemetarity in its foreign policy." While acknowledging "a certain anxiety on Russia's part" regarding such a security system, Kocharian recognized that "the region has numerous historical, economic, cultural and other ties with Russia," adding "we cannot but appreciate the depth of Russian interests in the region." Georgian Foreign Minister hakliy Menagharashvili reacted positively to Kocharian's proposal, saying "We support all initiatives aimed at stabilization of the situation

in the Caucasus." In 1996, Georgian President Shevardnadze was urmong the first regional leaders to propose an "Initiative for Peacefrrl Caucasus" in 1996. Following Kocharian's proposal several months ago, Georgia repeated its call, Azerbaijan made a similar proposal, and so

did Turkish President Suleyman Demirel. Armenia's proposal, however, is the most broad-ranging ofthem all - and unique - in that

it encompasses all the main players with influence in the region. None of the existing systems -BSEC, GUUAM, even theCIS andthe OSCE are defined in such a way as to include all three Caucasus states, and all thee neighbors.

In Tbilisi, Kocharian repeated that the "Armenian leadership is not considering the possibility of Armenia's joining the GUUAM alliance," a loose security club made of Georgia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova.

AnmGnla Boosts Belation$

$ecunity ,

In an address to the Georgian parliament, President Kocharian expanded on his propos-

al for a new collective security pact for the Caucasus, dubbed as the "3+3+2 formula," which would include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, plus their immediate neighbors Russia, Turkey and Iran, plus the two interna-

with Baltic $tates

Armenia's Foreign Minister Vartan

Oskanian paid a flve-day working visit to the three Baltic states: Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia. The leadership in the Baltics have been apprehensive about Armenia's close relations with Russia - a country the Baltics

still view

as an aggressor.

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On Armenia's relations with the Baltic states, Oskanian said, "We consider the development of a political dialogue with the Baltic states very important, taking into consideration that region's successful advance toward European integration." He added, "It is extremely important to study the Baltic experience and to receive their help." More importantly, Oskanian said, "Armenia expects more active economic

cooperation, investments and scientific and cultural exchange with the Baltics. In

the not too distant past, our countries belonged to a common economy, and I believe that today, our markets are still of reciprocal interest." In the Soviet era, Armenia and Estonia were very close in standard of living. Since independence, Estonia's proximity to Europe, its access to the sea and the absence of war and blockade has drastically altered the economic parity between the two small nations. Today, some 2,000 Armenians live in Estonia. Oskanian presided over the opening of Armenia's honorary consulate

in Tallinn.

Ilelense Goopenation with Bulgania lliscussed Defense Minister Vagharshak Harutiunian discussed issues related to bilateral military

cooperation with Ivan Ivanchev, Bulgaria's Charge d'Affaires in Armenia, and Pavel Platona, Romania's Ambassador to Armenia.

Ambassadon to Yeneuan Two years after Iran's last ambassador in Yerevan completed his term, Iran named Mohammad Koleini as its new ambassador to Armenia. Koleini worked in the Iranian Embassy inYerevan from1992 to 1998. Responding to opinions that Iran's delay in sending a new ambassador is due to Armenia's developing relations with Israel, the head of the Iranian embassy's information department said that Armenian-Israeli relations "had been hopeless, as Armenia and Israel had no common interests." In another development, AIi Kazem, an kanian embassy spokesperson, stated that the

construction

of the $120-million

Iran-

Armenia gas pipeline has been halted since the Armenian government has no funds for the project. However, he added, "the financial difficulties will soon be solved and construc-

tion will restart."

m$unancc lll$Gussed Health 0nganization

AUS military delegation, led by the Deputy Commander of the US Forces in Europe, Admiral Charles Abbot, visited Yerevan and met with hesident Robert Kocharian, Foreign MinisterVartan Oskanian and Defense Minister Vagharshak Harutiunian. The sides discussed

possible cooperation

in the military

sphere,

including non-proliferation of weapons of mass destuction and mine clearing. The US delegation also held talks on mil-

itary cooperation in Baku with Azerbaijani Defense Minister Col. General Safar Abiyev.

Itallan-flnmcnian Bilatcnal Relations lliscussed President Robert Kocharian received

Italy's Ambassador to Armenia,

Jancarlo

Aragona (residing in Moscow). "As a member of the European Union, Italy will do everything possible for the establishment of peace and stability in the region, which, will create favorable conditions for developing economic cooperation," said the ambassador.

The Director

of the World Health

Organization's European regional office, Mark Danson, visited Yerevan and held meetings with Armenian health officials. Health Minister Ararat Mkrtichian said WHO will assist Armenia in the implementation of public health and medical insurance programs. During a meeting with Danson, National

Assembly speaker Armen Khachatrian said "public health must always be at the center of the govemment's attention," adding that the National Assembly will pay special attention to the health needs of women and children. Danson emphasized the need to pay particular attention to the health needs of the socially vulnerable segment of society.

Upon the Armenian government's invitation, a team from the US State Deparffnent's Mine Clearing Service, headed by the US Embassy's Military Attach6 Michael Sigler, paid a two-day visit to the Siunik region in Armenia's south to study mined areas and pro. pose clearing methodologies. Armenian specialists estimate that some 300 hectares of forests on

Armenia's border with Azerbaijan are mined and await clearing. Since 1994 nearly 100 peo ple have been killed in Armenia by land minds and hundreds

of animals have fallen victim.

Jolnt flrmenhn-Ru$sian Militany Excnci$c$ lleld Under the command of Lieutenant General Vladimir Andreyev of the Russian Forces in the Transcaucasus, some 2,000 soldiers of the 102nd Base of the Russian Army and the 5th Army Corps of Armenia participated in a three-day joint military exercise designed to enhance teamwork and combat-readiness. The mock assault designed to protect Armenia's borders included fighters, helicopters and tanks. A group of officers from Karabakh's army, headed by its commander General Seyran Ohanian, observed the exercise. Similar Russian-Armenian joint military exercises have been held regularly since 1995. Andreyev stated such military interactions have greatly contributed to the professional improvement of both the Armenian army and the Russian troops in Armenia. In August 1997, Armenia signed a landmark treaty with Russia in which Moscow committed itself to the defense of Armenia should it be attacked by a third party.

Meanwhile, Armenia's Ambassador to

Italy Gagik Baghdasarian thanked the City Council of Rome for its recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

At its 30th general conference, the governing body of UNESCO, a United Nations organization dedicated to education, science and culture, declared June 17, 2001 an "official anniversary day" dedicated to the 1700th anniversary of adoption of Christianity as the state religion in Armenia, Upon proposals by the Armenian govemment and the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Paris-based organization offered to sponsor a number ofevents. AIM APRIL

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Gommission Repont Mignt Bemem[Fance at Yorailun Yazgen Sargsian was remembered by family, friends and a whole nation. Ambivalence "RoGk the Gountry" about him continued in death as in life, nevertheless, there was universal acknowledgement of The National Assembly's Ad Hoc his invaluable part in bringing Armenia to a level of security and stability. Sargsian's brother,

Commission investigating alleged comrption

in Armenia's energy sector submitted a preliminary report to the parliament. It indicated that since 1992 incompetence, fraud and corruption has'cost the country "millions of dolIars," and said questionable transactions have benefited a number of senior govemment officials without specifying names. Energy officials denied any wrong doing, but the Commission intends to collect further evidence to support its allegations. The interparty Commission also criticized the govemment's agreement with Russia's Gazprom, which gives the company monopoly over Armenia's gas supply system. A final report will be presented in May. Three days after the submission of the

Aram Sargsian, now Prime Minister, together with President Robert Kocharian, Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, and other dignitaries went to Yerablur (bottom), visited the cemetery and paid their respects. Earlier in the day, Armenia's Military Institute of the Defense

Ministry was renamed after Sargsian.

preliminary report, MP Manuk Gasparian, Deputy chairman of the Commission, was threatened. Unidentified shots were fired from an automatic weapon at a shop in Yerevan belonging

Gasparian's family.

"This act is directed not only against myself and my family, but also against the Commission on Energy, against the National

Assembly, the govemment and the entire Armenian people," said Gasparian, stressing

that he will continue working in

the

Commission.

Aravot Daily predicted "substantial reve-

lations" in the report that would "rock the country."

$peaken Under Pnessune National Assembly speaker Armen Khachaftian has been the focus of criticism by political parties represented in the parliament and media outlets for his "inexperience," as one senior member of his own People's Party put it. Since his appointment last November, Khachatrian's controversial public statements and style have angered many. Speculation about Khachatrian's imminent replacement subsided when Stepan Demirchian, the son of the murdered parliament speaker Karen Demirchian, who took over the leadership of his father's People's Party, announced that he will not run in the upcoming parliamentary by-elections. However, dissatisfaction with Khachatrian continues and his political fate remains uncertain. A trip to Australia by the Speaker came in the midst of this discontent. During the Speaker's absence, his bodyguard was arrested on charges ofmanslaughter, resulting from a brawl on a street corner.

tuJ& fr5s"1 -+ ra

AIM APRIL

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$GlGnti$t$ [ddne$$ Financial PnoUems The National Academy of Sciences of Armenia held its annual general assembly in Yerevan. The focus of presentations and discussions was the state of science and its

financial problems

Armenia.

The Academy's President Fadei Sargsian patiently listened to criticism directed at his institution, but reproached those unjustly criticizing

Coordinating Council to present their issues to the govemment and to work towards the adoption of a law "On national minorities in Armenia," which would clarify their rights and regulate relations with the government.

Executiue $ecnetany

recognize the Genocide of Armenians, as they recognized the Jewish Holocaust." There are approximately 5,000 Jews living in Armenia.

the

Academy in particular and scientists in general are among the hardest hit segment h the country due to lack of state and private funding for projects. As a result, the Academy has been unable to engage in systematic research and the link between individual scientists and the Academy has weakened according to Sargsian.

Pno$ffiulnn DEcussed At a round table discussion organized by the NGO Center of the Armenian Assembly of America the growing problem of prostitution in Armenia received serious attention. The emergence of large number of prostitutes in Armenia was attributed to existing socioeconomic hardships. Presentations were made about three categories: street prostitu-

"If we resort to restructuring of the

will shake up the country" said Sargsian. Noting a problem between scientif-

Academy, we

Nalnnil Mmonnlc$ ll0l[ Finst Gongness

A congress of 114 representatives of national minorities and organizations was held in Yerevan, initiated by Presidential Advisor for issues related to minorities in Armenia, poet Razmik Davoyan. There are some 10 minority communities in Armenia -

Russians, Yezidis, Kurds, Jews, Greeks, Assyrians, Germans, Poles and Georgians. The congress was opened with a message from President Robert Kocharian who noted members of national minorities are full citizens of Armenia and enjoy the respect of the Armenian people, adding that over the years the minorities have contributed to Armenia's development and have participated in the country's national liberation movement.

The congress affirmed that

despite

Armenia's socio-economic diffi culties, minority rights are protected in Armenia. However, they drew attention to the lack of insfuction in their respective languages in schools. The assembled minority groups elected a

the the

of the Armenians and to

than other workers."

on the occasion of the 85th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. "Had statement

word Holocaust would have become known to the Jewish people," said the communiqu6. It called upon the parliament of the State of Israel "to speak up in support of the interests

that "a researcher's salary is four times less

institutions and the industrial sectoq Sargsian suggested a complementary model. "Let the scientiflc research conducted in the industrial sphere be conducted the Academy, and those conducted by the Academy and directly applied in industry be conducted in the industrial sphere."

The Jewish community in Armenia issued

the world recognized and condemned Genocide at the time, it is unlikely that

Armenian scientists. "We are actually engaged in begging," said Sargsian, adding Since Armenia's independence,

Jcw$ m mmcnia Gall IoF Recognition ol Genocide

of All Armenians appointed Archbishop Hovnan Derderian (above), Primate of Canada, Executive Catholicos Garegin

Secretary of the church's 1700th Anniversary Central Commission, which is in charge of

tion in central Yerevan; elite prostitution, catering to "high class" clientele; and export prostitution, mainly women working in Turkey, UAE, Germany and CIS countries. While govemment agencies have officially

organizing the celebrations and programs

registered 1,400 prostitutes in Armenia, oth-

dedicated to the anniversary of adoption of Christianity as the state religion in Armenia. Major events are scheduled for next year. The previous executive secretary, Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian, former Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church in New York, who had been appointed by the late Catholicos Karekin I, resigned.

ers believe the number is much higher. As a preventive measure, the roundtable suggested

that serious attention should be given to sex education in Armenia's schools.

Eouennment and Religious 0llicials $ign flgneement Armenian government and the ArmenChurch signed a landmark'Memorandum of Understanding" in Ejmiatsin as the beginning of a process to draw a formal agreement of clarification and understanding between the church and state. The ceremony was attended by Catholicos Garegin II of All Armenians, Prime Minister Aram Sargsian and President of Constitutional Court Gagik The

ian Apostolic

Emtgrallon Gonllnue$ According to a survey of 3,600 families in Armenia conducted by the Ministry of Statistics, State Registâ&#x201A;Źr and Analysis, most outbound migration fromArmenia is due to the country's social and economic difficulties and ttre resulG ing moral and psychological decline. The overwhelming majority (75 percent) emigrate to Russia and the remainder to the US and Europe. Some 75-78,000 people left Armenia 1999, compared with 30-,10,000 in the previous two. year period. The Ministy's report wams that

Harutiunian, as well as senior state and church officials. "We are joyfrrl, as it is for the fint time in this place and in our reality that a Memorandum was

the current level of emigration continues,

signed, on the basis of which all the spheres of cooperation will be fixed, where the Church and

Armenia could lose another 500.700,000 of its population in the next five to 10 years. Already, according to some estimates, 75G900,000 have leftArmenia in search of better living sandards.

the Sate will undertake joint efforts directed to the sacred workof stengthening the Motherland and the Church, and creating a happy life forthe people," said Catholicos Garegin tr.

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Elimination 0I ForG$t$ For decades, Armenia imported its timber. Now, difficult economic conditions have tumed Armenia into a wood producer. But, the cuttings come at the expense of Armenia's forests, under threat of elimination, according to press reports. One major customer is the Yerevan Brandy Factory, which needs new oak cuttings for barrels in which it preserves its product.

$etc Eudget lliscussed

for the mining industry. A delegation headed by Deputy Minister of Nature Protection Koryun Hagopian and including the chief of Armenia's Geological Department Robert Dertsian, chief geologist Ruben Movsisian and the Embassy's com-

President Robert Kocharian and Prime Minister Aram Sargsian. "Judging by the

mercial officer Hrach Kaspar represented

left.) He added that international financial

Armenia.

institutions have shown readiness to support the company's possible projects in Armenia, in the transportation, aviation, agriculture, leasing and technical research sectors.

The Armenian delegation had targeted meetings with Canadian mining and geological companies in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa. during which discussions over perspective mining projects were held. To foster future cooperation, the delegation also met with Canadian Mining NGOs and highJevel

government officials

from the

negotiations, we can say that our efforts to

establish stable and firm cooperation in Armenia have chances to be crowned with success," said Bergner (seated at table, center

Natural

Resources Canada ministry.

At the Canadian International Development Agency the delegation discussed possible technical assistance projects related to

The Armenian National Assembly held closed discussions on the state budget in March.

Armenia's mining and environmental sectors. The team also made presentations at special events organized by the Canadian Armenian Business Council chapters in Toronto and in Montreal.

against (Community Party and the Right andAccord factions) and 21

With 77 voting for, 12 abstentions (ARF

Dashnaktsutiun, the

Yerkir), parliamentarians approved the 2000 budget. The government had been functioning without a budget since the beginning of the year. This was one more state operation

DGlGgation at tne MininU Millennium 2000 Armenia was one of four Eastern European countries present at the First World

Mines Ministries Forum held in Toronto in April. With the support of the Canadian International DevelopmentAgency, as well as the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada, and with assistance by the

Armenia has engaged in active mining for many centuries. Minerals found in Armenia include bauxite, copper, gold, silver, granite, molybdenum, lead, limestone, zinc, marble, volcanic pumice, tufa and obsidian. The gold, copper, silver, molybdenum and polymetallic ores containing other rare elements are in commercially extractable quantities. Armenia is a major producer of mineral water, with more than 700 natural deposits throughout the land. Armenia is encouraging western invest-

Ontario, the Armenian mining industry was

cial representative center in Armenia

scheduled for late May. During a meeting with President Kocharian, Bergner stated the company is investing an initial $4 million in Armenia to start its operations.

hime MinisterAram Sargsian (above) visited the recently restarted Nairit chemical factory which had been idle. "The enterprise is unique not only in the whole post-Soviet territory but also in the world, because, in addition

is produced here,"

ment to revive its mining industry and find outlets to its mineral wealth. Armenia also sought state-of-the-art mapping and production technologies, to fully meet international

standards.

years, Nairit, one of Armenia's largest manufacturing plants, has been at the verge of bankruptcy several times. In addition to non-payment of salaries for eight months, it owes some $600,000 to the power industries in Armenia. The Prime Minister said that the company's debts will be paid in phases and described its financial recovery plan as "realistic."

Armenian Embassy in Ottawa and the Canadian Armenian Business Council of presented at the Mining Millennium 2000 international convention and trade exhibition in Toronto, one of the most important venues

the formal opening of

Ghemical Plant on Path to Recoueny

National Democratic Union and Orinats

that was on hold following the October assassinations. The budget at 252.1 billion Drams ($482 million) represents no increase over last year. A 50 billion Dram deficit is foreseen, to be covered by international financial institution loans and Western grants. Economic growth for this year is expected to be about 6 percent (last year GDP growth was 3.7 percent) with single digit inflation.

Meanwhile,

Intermotor Armenia, Daimler-Chrysler's offi -

Daimler-Chrysler Corporation delega-

tion, headed by the company's head of foreign relations Klaus Bergner, met with AIM APRIL

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rubber, chlorine

said

Sargsian. The plant is expected to produce 800-900 tons of rubber a month, mostly for the

Russian market, at $2,500 a ton.

recent

sector. For years, experts have observed Armenia's potential in the IT sector as most promising, but no concrete plans have been drawn. While some 300 computer specialists

graduate from Yerevan State University's departments of Applied Mathematics and Engineering each year, there are very little opportunities for graduates to practice their skills with advanced computers and technologies.

ftGil E$IAIG

OCAE

Registen Modest lncnease In 1999 Armenia's real estate sector registered,42,207 deals, an increase of 137 transactions over 1998. According to official data, 16,787 were sales of property,552leases and 2,817 mortgage deals. The largest transactions were in Yerevan, followed by activity in the Ararat and Kotayk regions.

Pennod Ricand Thncaten$ t0 $ue Gouernment The Yerevan Brandy Factory (YBF), owned by the French giant Pernod Ricard, is considering suing the Armenian government over alleged violations of the company's privatization agreement. The dispute is

over the Armenian government's two in Russia, which

brandy-producing firms

A jewelry exhibition opened in

Yerevan

with the participation of jewelers

from

Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, Japan, Italy, Switzerland, Turkey and other countries. The exhibition was the third one since 1998 to feature both designers, manufac(urers and suppli-

ers from around the world. The Armenian Goldsmiths and JewelersAssociation works at

revitalizing this traditional trade in Armenia. The Association promotes the work of local jewelers, promotes import and export, and works with the National Assembly to develop

the necessary legislative framework

uN Pnouldes llelplng lland lon lI lleuelopment Armenia's Industry and Trade Ministry and UNIDO, a United Nations organization for industrial development, are discussing the possibilities of developing Armenia's information technologies (IT) and electronic production

of alcoholic beverages under the Armenian brandy name "Ararat cognac." "For every bottle sold by the wineries in Russia, we reserve the right to demand compensation, because we lost sales there of our own bottles," said Lanetche, putting the losses at over $1.5 million, and adding thatYBF's sales in Russia have dropped 20 percent because of the production of its rivals. While the Armenian government offered

has

to sell the two wineries in

Russia, Pemod Ricard has declined to buy them.

The govemment has set up a commission to examine the dispute and reach an agreement with both the Russian authorities and YBF.

Agriculture Minister Zaven Gevorgian Armenia does not wish to see the current dispute tum into an "intemational incident." said

lnten$tate Enound Tnanspontation Gets Anothen loolr The disparity

in road taxes paid

Armenian and hanian transport vehicles is being discussed by various Armenian govemment agencies to make the cost of interstate transportation goods more equitable. Cunently, the volume of Iranian vehicles ffansporting goods from Iran to Armenia are three times higher than their Armenian counterparts. Iranian drivers pay a $200 road tax to enterArmenian territory which allows them to move throughout the republic, while Armenian drivers pay $220 to enter Iran for a movement of only 70 km into hanian territory.

Pernod Ricard says threaten its sales in the Russian market. "If the Armenian government does not reach a reciprocal agreement, we will be obliged to resort to international arbitration which will mean fines of millions of dollars," said Piene Larretche, YBF General Director. Repoftedly, the privatization agreement between the Armenian govemment and the company stipulated that the Ararat winery in Moscow and Saratov in St. Petersburg, which

Ministry a thorough examination of the issue

Agriculture, would stop producing brandy.

is underway by relevant govemment agencies and solutions will be proposed socin.

are owned by Armenia's Ministry of

RFmenras Top fluc

According

maflru Parmers

1999

Exports

1998 Exports

In Millions

Belgium*

$169

$104

Iran

$112.6

$es

$101.8

$110

Russia

$171

$222

Georgia

$37

$36

encourage production.

However, in early March, Larretche said the two firms in Russia have resumed production

*Largely diamond related Sotrce: Armenia's Ministry of Statistics

AIM APRIL

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Armenia's Transport

flnmGnia ]lopes EGongh UUill Pay Enengy llett

Geongia

Alleuiate Existing PnoHems finally approved March 10. It has 874.4 million l*i ($++S million) on the revenue side ar,d \.264 billion lari on the expenditure side. The budget's 381 million lari deficit will be covered by World Bank and other loans. Based on an agreement with the

The Georgian Parliament the country's 2000 budget on

IMF, the govemment should keep inflation to less than seven percent.

Hopes

both countries worked out a deal whereby Georgia will start paying its electricity bills this summer. "Armenia hopes that this time

Georgia

will

meet

its

Acting President Vladimir Putin (belou) was elected President of Russia with 53 percent of the vote, beating 10 other candidates. Communist Party leader Gennady Zytganov came second with 29 percent of the vote. Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said Russia's foreign policy

will

nership" agreement with President Heidar

Aliyev and a number of

cooperation agree-

ments in the economic, financial and education spheres. But the main focus of discussions was the prospect ofexporting Azerbaijani oil via the

Ukrainian-proposed Odessa-Brody pipeline oil from Azerbaijan

Pnesident with Modenate

Armenia. During President Robert Kocharian's official visit to Tbilisi, the energy ministers of

signed a broad range of agreements. In Baku, Kuchma signed a "sfiategic part-

that would transport

BUSSIANS EIGGT NGW

Armenia agreed to restructure neighboring Georgia's $4.4 million energy debt to

Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma paid

official visits to Baku and Tbilisi where

undergo adjustments in

view of "serious changes" in world politics.

obligations," said

Energy Minister David Zadoyan.

Foun lntennational Ainlines lliscontinue

Flights to Balu

through Georgia, Ukraine and Poland. The two presidents also discussed security issues in the context of GUUAM, the regional security club made up of Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Moldova.

Touching upon the Karabakh conflict, Kuchma, who was awarded Azerbaijan's top Order of Independence, told the Azerbaijani parliament that Ukraine supports the territorial integrity ofAzerbaijan and regards the territory of Nagomo Karabakh to be illegally occupied by Armenia." In Tbilisi, the Ukrainian president held talks with Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze, focusing on the Europeansponsored TRACECA transport project that would transport Caspian oil to intemational markets. Ukrainian-Georgian bilateral relations were upgraded, as Kuchma described, to

The Emirates, the airline of the United Arab Emirates, announced that due to unprof-

"deeper than just a special partnership."

itable flights to Azerbaijan, the company's Dubai-Baku and Baku-Tehran flights will stop at the end of April. The Emirates had

"will apply to join NATO in five years," adding that the

At a press conference with Kuchma, Shevardnadze said his country

started flights to Baku in June 1997.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

also

announced that it would stop services to Baku at the end of March. A KLM representative

cited the extremely high landing, handling and fuel rates as no longer justifiable for doing business in Azerbaijan. "Everyone is bleeding," said KLM's Gurvir Khera, noting "other payments" and a drastic decline in volume as reasons to end KLM flights. Khera stated that Baku is one

of the most expensive

airports in KLM's network. Earlier, two others companies, Pakistan Airways and Austrian Air, had ended their services to Baku. Meanwhile, British Airways said it would scale down operations in Azerbaijan, switching business to BA-affiliate British Mediterranean, which will use smaller aircraft to cut costs. British Meditelranean also services Tbilisi and Yerevan.

CIS leaders, including Armenian

and

Azerbaijani presidents, sent messages ofcongratulations to President-elect Putin. President Robert Kocharian said, "I want to assure you of the readiness of the leadership of the Republic of Armenia to continue to develop relations with Russia in the spirit of traditional friendship and mutual understanding. I hope that our mutual understanding will promote a stronger strategic cooperation between Armenia and Russia and

will

open up new opportunities

for

effective cooperation."

President Heidar Aliyev of Azerbaijan to similar "traditional friendly relations" with Russia for further development of bilateral relations and regional stability. appealed

AIM APRIL

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Alliance "cannot become an efficient organization in the European arena without cooperation with Ukraine." Kuchma affirmed that at the moment Ukraine's membership in NATO is "not relevant," on the contrary, discussion about pos-

sible membership "may damage Ukraine's political image rather than be useful to the country since this issue is extremely complex and has many angles to it," he said. Currently, Ukraine "is interested in deeper cooperation with NAIO in all areas of the organization's

activity." As for Azerbaijan, President Aliyev hinted that his country might join NAIO in the future. "Azerbaijan values cooperation with NAIO very much," he said, noting that Azerbaijan's relations with NATO are developing normally. "This is right, and we will be moving along this way. If someone does not like it, that is his business," he added.

Pouenu and DBea$c

IfiIGEGI

Ghallenge Geongian and Azenbaliani llelense

0llicials Financial and morale problems

the Georgian army continue to pose problems for

the authorities. Recently, due to poor living conditions, 62Georgian soldiers from an elite battalion deserted their station according to a defense ministry spokesperson. The dangerous lack of sufficient food, clothing and proper facilities were the main reasons for desertion. The soldiers left their unit "with the encouragement of their officers," said the spokesman. According to the Georgian Defense Ministry last year some 3,000 soldiers deserted the army.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan's

Defense

Minister SafarAbiyev stated on ANS TV that there is an increase of tuberculosis in the Azerbaijani army and conflrmed instances of death from the illness. He said offlcials are taking preventive steps to stop the spread of infectious diseases in the army.

mmcnh BGtwcen mc U$ and lnan Iran criticized the US position on a proposed Armenian-Iranian gas pipeline project. In a statement issued by the Iranian Embassy in Yerevan, Iran condemned the statements reportedly made by senior US Department of Commerce official, Jan Kalicki, expressing US opposition toArmenia's plans to go ahead

with the $120 million Iranian pipeline that would supply natural gas to Armenia. The EBRD, as well as French and Greek companies have expressed interest in participating in the Iran-Armenia project. The US has suggested an altemative supply of gas to Armenia from Turkmenistan via the proposed Transcaspian pipeline.

Meanwhile, Iran has been lobbying Kazakhstan to ffansport its oil though han, as the "the most economical route." Tehran has suggested building a pipeline that would transport up to one million barrels of oil per day. In another development, Iran suggested to Azerbaijan to swap four million tons of crude oil annually. Azerbaijan would send oil to Iran's northern refineries and in retum

would receive an equivalent volume of oil on the southem coast of the Caspian. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Vilayat Guliyev said, "We need to study Iranian

Iran's offer to swap Azeri oil."

MTGNSIATG

Ilis[unsemcnt$ to

Gonlenence

Azenbaiian

AnArmenian delegation headed by Prime Minister Aram Sargsian (below, center) went to Tbilisi in March to participate in the regular TRACECA interstate conference. Held in a different country each time, Prime Ministers and Transport Ministers of 12 states take part in these summits. During the same trip, Sargsian also met with Georgian president Eduard Shevardnadze (below, far right.)

Due to Azerbaijan's lack of progress in public sector reform, the World Bank announced it will delay the first $60 million tranche of a $200 million loan to Azerbaijan. In February, the IMF withheld the disbursement of a final $22 million tranche of a struc-

tural credit to Baku for failure to fulfill bilar erally agreed steps, which include pivatization, tax reform and an audit of SOCAR. the state oil company. Azerbaijan expects about $200-300 million income from crude oil exports and oil contract bonuses and could

possibly survive without

IMF

loans.

Nevertheless, international flnancial institutions urged government officials to implement the necessary economic reforms. Last November, the IMF delayed a $21 million tranche of a $57 structural adjustment loan to

Azerbaijan due to similar problems.

Populafion oI Gl$ GountFics Major internal migration within the Commonwealth of lndependent States is a subject of study by international agencies. Significant emigration from certain CIS countries, includingArmenia, is widely reported. Still, the official 1999 CIS population figures represent a decrease ofjust one million compared with 1998.

Country* Decrease

1998

1999

ln millions

In millions

Belarus**

10.18

10.15

Kazakhstan**

t4.96

14.90

Moldova

3.649

Russia

3.645

146.70

145.50

50.11

49.71

Ukraine Increase Armenia

3.789

3.806

Azerbaijan**

7.95

8.01

Kyrgyzstan**

4.863

4.898

Turkmenistan

4.994***

5.115

Uzbekistan

24.23

*Data not available for Georgia and Tajikistan. **Based on 1999 census data.

***Figure for beginning of 1999.

Source: CIS Interstate Statistics Agency, Interfax.

AIM APRIL

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24.58

Pope Uisits st. James Gathednal in Jenusalem

In the US, in Richmond, Virginia,

the

Armenian National Committee mounted

huge campaign against not only the Turkish government, but also its uS lobbyists. Top former officials who now represent the interests of the government of Turkey, together with pressure from the govemment of Turkey itself nearly resulted in the Virginia Assembly rejecting a resolution on Genocide recognition. Turkey even threatened to boycoft Phillip Morris cigarettes: an important Virginia industry and a large tobacco company. But, in the Pope John Paul II's weekJong millennial trip through the Holy Land was both a spiritual and a political journey. The Patriarch attended several interfaith events. He also visited the St. James Cathedral of the Armenian

Patriarchate where Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, Patriarch of Jerusalem, presented the Pope with a gift.

final vote, a very strong condemnation of Genocide won out. 'lMhereas, modem Turkey continues to deny and distort the facts of the Genocide and honors the perpetrators of that crime against humanity as national heroes," read part of ttre Resolution.

Virginia state Senators Richard Saslaw, Wanen Barry and Nick Rerras shepherded the resolution throughout the intense process.

Multicultural G0nlercnce Against Gneat

Held in Pasadena

In February, a Holocaust Conference in Stockholm, Sweden, sponsored by the Swedish government, failed to include the

Just five US California school districts: Los Angeles, Glendale, Burbank, Montebello and Pasadena have at least 35,000 Armenian students. As a way of understanding this pop-

Armenian Genocide in its scope, even though

at the conclusion, Prime Minister

Goran

Persson indicated that future conferences will deal with other genocidal events, as well.

In March, the Swedish Parliament formally recognized the Genocide of the Armenians and the Assyrians in the final days

of the Ottoman Empire. The Parliament accepted the following state-

men! preparedby its ForeignAffain Committee: "An official statement and recognition of the Genocide of the Armenians is important 1985, the UN and the and necessary. European Parliament established the fact that the Ottoman Empire had committed genocide against the Armenian People in the beginning

of the 20th century.

The Committee on Foreign Affairs is of the opinion that the greater openness that Turkey presents, the stronger Turkey's democratic identity will be. It is therefore important that unbiased, independent and international research on the genocide that affected the Armenian people will be accomplished. It is of great importance that an increasing openness and historical understanding of the events of 1915 and thereafter can be developed. An improvement in this respect would also be of importance for the stability and the development in the whole Caucasus region."

Access t0 ottoman flnchiues Made llillicult The Middle East Studies Association (MESA), one of the world's largest scholarly associations dedicated to the study of the Middle East, with a membership of over 2600, sent a letter to the Turkish Minister of Culture regarding access to the Ottoman Archives. The MESABoard of Directors'letter sentto Culture Minister Istemihan Thlay was published in the Association's February 2000 Newsletter.

While acknowledging that "access to the

Prime Ministry Ottoman Archives

(the

Basbakanlik Osmanli Arsivi) has improved considerably in the last l0-15 years," the letter points out:

"For all the other libraries and

research

collections under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture there remain serious obstacles to access to the materials. There are basically two separate problems. One is the ikamet or residence permit process, required of any foreign scholar who wishes to conduct research in Turkish libraries and museums. The other is the need to request permission to use each and

every facility which an individual scholar, including Turkish scholars, may think is

Unified School District and

important to his or her research from the central office of the Ministry of Culture inAnkara. A letter of permission must be sent from the Ministry in Ankara to each library or museum concerned, which, for some researchers, could involve five or 10 libraries. This can lead to situations where the potential researcher has 1) the residence permit, but cannot use the library or museum because there is no research permit; or 2) has the research access, but not the ikamet. Simllarly, the process of renewal of permissions once acquired can seriously derail a research agenda if the ikamet expires before the completion of a project, and the individual scholar is forced to leave the country before the residence renewal has been granted. "What is important is access to unique resources. The manuscript collections of Turkey are some of the richest in the world. The intema-

extensively involved with Armenia's and Karabakh's health care system, as well as

tional community of scholars understands the need to control the use of valuable collections from the point ofview ofpreservation. The practice of restricted access to fragile and unique

ulation, Alice Petrossian of the Glendale Unified School District pushed the California Department of Education to help sponsor and fund a statewide educators' conference. That was nine years ago. In April, the ninth annual Armenian Multicultural Conference was held in Pasadena, and attendance was near 350. Not only did teachers from around the state attend, but their bosses were there, too.

The superintendents of the five large districts mentioned above were all present, as were city officials from Glendale (including the police chief, the fire chief and'the city manager).

Speakers included Ramon Cortinez, Interim Superintendent of the Los Angeles Carolann Najarian, a US-born physician who, together with her businessman husband, has been

other social needs. Medea Kalognomos, one of the educators co-chairing the organizing committee

commented on the varied remarks heard from participants. "Teachers told us thank you for being so generous, we learned so much, this helps us better understand our students," she said. AIM APRIL

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documents, and restricted photocopy and microfilm privileges is hardly unique to Turkey. "We do suggest, however, that your serious attention to be given to a simplification of

the research permit procedures, plus a reconsideration of the necessity of linking the ikamet requirements to bona fide scholarly research, especially for short-term visits."

EcnoGUc Blll DclGated in the Fnencn senatc The days of massive political demonstrations are back. And, of course, in Paris. Preceding and following the vote in the French Senate on whether to take up discussion of the Armenian Genocide, tens ofthousands ofprotesters took to the streets, demanding that France live up to its principles as a champion of human rights. Nevertheless, the French Senate, in a vote of 170 to 130, defeated the measure, despite the cosponsorship of52 senators. Even the chairman of the Senate, Christian Ponselet, told one of the organizers that although he personally would have wanted to back the proposal, he was forced to follow the lead of President Jacques Chirac. Chirac's Republican Party voted against the bill, while the Socialists backed it. French Armenians, with a community numbering 300,000 plus, demonstrated in large numbers off and on, and vowed to mount a continuous small small vigil, to maintain pressure on their govemment. The April 24 Committee of France, as well as the Armenian National Committee, had mounted a persistent campaign. French newspapers, usually much more aware of intemational political issues than their American counterparts, covered the process with strong commentary. The Liberatio,4 newspaper, for example, blamed the Senate for its failure to recognize the Genocide, especially since the French National Assembly had approve the one-line resolution "France recognizes the Armenian Genocide" in May 1998. The govemment's argument was that passage of such a resolution would "threaten peace in the Caucasus." Still, local politicians and supportive senators from around France, demonsffated with the protestors and decried Turkey's pressuring France. Many of the demonstrators, second and third generation French-bom, carried placards blaming the govemment for submitting to Turkish blackmail and deploring their own grandparents' willingness to have supported and fought for France.

u$ Deparlment 0I $tatc $pokesman Predict$ Tunkey lllill Euentually 'Acknouuledge What Happened' in 1915 At a meeting of the Armenian Bar Association in Washington, DC, last month, a spokesman for the US Department of State predicted that the Turkish govemment would

eventually "acknowledge what happened"

1915.

Brady Kiesling told lawyers who had assembled for their group's annual meeting that Turkey's democratic development will not be complete until it "comes to grip with its past." This candid prediction couldn't save him from

cool reception by the lawyers, however.

Kiesling had been speaking on a panel about issues facing the Armenian lobby. His prepared comments were cautious. He called for "stitching Armenia back into an

international system," and he rehashed old ground.

But during

questioning

from

the

lawyers, Kiesling announced that he would be "brave" and venture into a discussion about

the Genocide.

He counseled Armenians to keep their ultimate objective in mind when seeking official government acknowledgements that the events of l9l5 constituted the intemational crime of genocide. Kiesling chose his words with excruciating care. He often seemed pained as he spoke,

which he did hesitatingly. "You do not get the Turks to acknowledge what happened by demanding repentance... this cannot be a contest between Turkey and Armenia.

"No one but a small fraction of the world's population would deny what hap-

ctr{I{*Pffir

pened. An enornous crime was committed. But it's not as simple as just one side slaughtering all the others," he told the group of more than 100 attorneys. The US government must also consider

its self-interest when making

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pronouncements about the events of 1915, he added. This brought an intemrption and a strong rebuke from Tamar Hajian, a leading member of the lawyers group. In response to Hajian, he admitted that he would not have

made similar comments to a Jewish audience, because the Holocaust and the Genocide are "not the same."

-Matthew Karanian AIM APRIL

2OOO

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COVER STORY

0n Al'meniat llorizon By SALPI HAR0UTINIAN GHAZARIAN

Armenians are Armenia's worst critics. Whether in Armenia or in the Diaspora, they look for all that is wrong with Armenia, without noting and availing themselves of allthat is right with the very real, very small country, with very little (or rather, no) experience of statehood. Take political dissent. Aside from a notable (and violent) demonstration following the presidential elections of 1 996, demonstrations are peaceful. Crime is low, and serious, violent crime is even lower. Corruption - whether it is the institutionalized high-level bribes of government officials, or the low-level, informal

"fee" paid to those who provide services of

ly comforting that one can sit back and lust watch. There is plenty that needs fixing. The good news is that it can be fixed. The bad news, too, is that it can be fixed. But, no one's fixing. Take corruption for example. lt used to be the Communist apparachniks who were to blame. Now, it's the government apparachniks. Same problem, different face. ln the past, trade was limited to politically acceptable partners. The Soviet Union, the Cold War and other political considerations determined economic partnerships. Today, political consider-

ations still determine economic alliances. But

rity is lower in Armenia than in any other country of the Former Soviet Union.

instead of the Cold War as backdrop, there is the very real recent war with Azerbaijan, and its resuF tant affect on neighboring Turkey. And there is reliance on foreign powers.

None of these by themselves are sufficient-

Before independence, there was total econom-

any kind - from medicalto educationalto secu-

ic dependence on Moscow and its markets. Today, there is a great deal of dependence on foreign aid. And that aid is being used not in a way that will develop future stability, but is simply being milked for its immediate value. Professor Richard Beilock of the University

of Florida argues here that all these problems can be overcome if the government and the people of Armenia have the will to do so. Beilock maintains that economic progress is the key to political stability and evolvement. He presents a clear, well-defined picture of the problem and its potential solutions. lf Armenians "do the right thing", he maintains that Armenia not only can exceed the living standard of its neighbors, but also reach the standards of some European countries, all within 25 short years.

T[eBadaltdlhe0oil By RIGHARD BEIL0CK

For nations with narrow resource bases, such as Armenia, acquiring goods and services from other countries is vital both for prosperity and even for basic survival. But goods and services from abroad must be paid for and, ultimately, this means that the country must sell its own goods and services to the world or be dependent upon external grants. Size is another reason Armenia must trade. Armenia's domestic market is simply too small to attract the investments and talents needed to support development. To convey a sense of this, based on its purchasing power Gross Domestic Product (GDP) the economy is equivalent to a US city of 325,000 (such as

s with all countries and republics of the former Soviet Bloc, Armenia has been faced with the challenge of hansforming to a market economy. That transformation has been made more difficult by the earthquake of 1988 and the conflict with Azerbaijan. There has been some success, including ill average annual growth rate of seven percent since the cease fire. But growth is slowing andArmenia is poorer today, both in absolute and relative terms, than it was at the end of the Soviet era. In 1989 among the Republics of ttre Soviet Union, Armenia had the fourth highest per capita real income. That

income was equal

to those of Estonia

and

Lat\tia, 92 percent of Lithuania's, and 86 percent of Russia's. By 1997, Armenia's per capita real income was less than half the level of 1989. Among the countries of the Former Soviet Union GSU), Armenia had slipped to seventh place, with a per capita real income 62 percent of Latvia's, 57 percent of Littruania's and Russia's, and 47 percent of Estonia's. Design by Patrick Azadian Photos by Hrair Hawk Khatcheilan

Peoria, Illinois.) Based on the dollar or The current path ofArmenia's economy is

not sustainable and, without change, will inevitably founder. This is tragic because it is entirely unnecessary. The blame for this situation, as well as the potential for making necessary corrections, lie at the feet of both the Armenians and well-meaning donors. Investment and Tfade Essential All nations must trade if they are to prosper. AIM APRIL

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exchange rate value of its GDP (probably the more relevant measure for foreign investors and international trade,) the Armenian economy is equivalent to a US city of 57,000 (such

as La Crosse, Wisconsin.) In isolation Armenia will remain poor. Without international trade, Armenia will not be able to secure the range of goods and services required to raise living standards and secure all basic necessities; and without investment,

COVER STORY Armenian businesses will not have the materials, tools and technologies to compete on world markets.

Little Investment But there is little investment in Armenia. The European Bank for Reconstruction and

Development (EBRD) reports that total investment equals 8.8 percent of GDP, among the lowest in the Former Soviet Union (FSU) and Eastern Europe. Not only is the overall investment rate low, despite the foreigners is exfiemely low. In 1997 there was $52 mil-

Diaspora, investment

lion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Armenia. Relative to its GDP, this is one of the lowest FDI rates in the FSU.

the US, giving more ODA per capita to Armenia than to any other nation except Israel. To convey a sense ofArmenia's depen-

dence on this aid, consider the following. There are over 200 nations in the world. Armenia has the dubious distinction of being one of 15 countries for which ODA is larger than all domestic investments. (The others are

Georgia, Haiti, Nicaragua and I I African countries.) What this means is that, not even counting the other two sources of extemal funds, Armenia produces fewer goods and services than it consumes. So ODA must go both for investment and to pay the groceries. Added to this, and to a greater degree than perhaps any other nation, Armenia depends upon gifts from the Diaspora and remittances

from Armenians working abroad. These gifts Tlade Per{ormance

By virtually any

standard, Armenia's

trade performance is abysmal and deteriorat-

ing. Between 1994 and 1998, export levels were stagnant, while imports more than doubled. Armenia now imports nearly four times the value of goods and services it exports.

to purchasing power parity GDP, Armenia's trade imbalance is worse than all other CIS countries. Armenia's exports are only 2.5 percent of its purchasing power parity GDP. This is the amount of foreign credits Armenia actually earns and can apply to the acquisition of foreign goods and services without incurring debts or otherwise relying on external support. This amount, 2.5 percent of GDP, is Relative

barely

a third that for

Moldova

and

Mongolia. For many of the nations which are also transforming from Communist to market economies, exports account for around 20 percent or more

purchasing

power parity GDP.

Extreme Dependence A reasonable question at this point would be, *With little investment and a negative trade balance, what keeps things going?" The answer is dependence on gifts, grants and loans. Armenia receives free, or nearly free, funds from three sources. The first is Official Development Assistance, which includes US, French, and other foreign aid, as well as concessional loans from the World Bank and others. The second is gifts from the Diaspora. And the third is remittances from Armenian nationals working abroad.

As a percent of GDP, Armenia receives

more Official Development

Assistance

(ODA) than any other nation in the FSU and Eastern Europe. The most prominent donor is

and remittances may be twice as large as ODA and exceed half a billion dollars annually, equivalent to nearly a third of Armenia's exchange rate GDP. And all this, for groceries, not growth.

In plain language, Armenia is living beyond its means and squandering an opportunity for achieving sustained growth. Unless, of course, the current levels of foreign assistance, remiftances and gifts from the Diaspora are to be permanent - which is not likely. For the moment, Armenia is a successful beggar. But this existence is uncertain, physically miserable, enervating to the spirit of the nation, and unnecessary. Aid: The

Biggest Garne in Town Under Communism, the state owned virtually all means of production. After the fall of Communism, comrption or abuse of power played an important role in the allocation of state assets in virtually all countries. Those with power took what they could, usually a lot and always the best. While this was regrettable, in most cases the appropriators came to realize that the best way to capitalize on these assets was to gravitate toward legitimate business practices and to encourage their governments to become friendly to business. By this process, even the most corrupt elements of these governments and business communities had incentives to adopt socially beneficial behaviors, if only to protect what they had stolen. This has also happened to some degree in Armenia. But in Armenia, the economy is so poor, public service salaries so low, and assistance levels so massive, that the overriding (self-) interest of govemment officials is to perpetuate and profit personally from that assistance, even at the cost of prolonging their nation's impoverishment. The same can be said of the hundreds, if not thou-

AIM APRIL

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sands,

businesspersons benefiting from

continued assistance. These include the processor enjoying low cost, easily-forgiven loans, free technical assistance and foreign to the apartment owner renting to USAID employees and conffactors who have

travel

$2,000 per month rental allowances. This does not deny that there are many talented and patriotic individuals in the Armenian government and business community. There are. But the tail has become the dog. Assistance and gifts, intended to facilitate development, have become the main resource to be mined. Even the most noble would be tempted when gains are so large, so many others 'dip into the till,' salaries are so low (even fairly high government positions pay less than $100 per month), and personal (and family) needs are so great. Indeed, if your family would otherwise undergo deprivation, arguably it would be immoral not to siphon off some assistance dollars.

COVER STORY The Blockade Armenia is landlocked and remote from the very large markets of Europe, East Asia and North America. While it is close to the Russian border, access is limited by mountain llr,

barriers and most of Russia's main population centers are far to the north. Under the best of circumstances, reaching these markets entails high transport costs which raise the overall costs of imports and lower the net returns of exports for Armenia. All of this suggests that a large share of Armenia's trade should be

with areas in and

adjacent

the

Transcaucasus : i.e., Georgia, Azerbaij an, the

Central Caucasus, Turkey and Iran. This area, though small in terms of world markets, offers considerable opportunity for Armenia. It has 150 million people and a purchasing power parity GDP of $800 billion. Turkey alone has an economy 80 times larger than

Armenia's. This can be looked upon as a

A sad aspect of the dependence on assistance is that it has created a sharp divide in Armenian society between the few who have the opportunity to profit (legitimately or otherwise) from it and those who do not. Some Blame to the Donors Some of the blame for this situation must be laid at the feet of the assistance groups,

including individual country missions, such as the US, the European Union, as well as the World Bank; and many NGOs. In general, they have been poor at communicating the necessary steps for Armenia to realize selfsufficiency and underscoring the importance of these steps by establishing and monitoring strong conditions on their assistance. If an assistance project results in failure due to poor performance or outright noncompliance on the part of the govemment, the most fre-

quent 'punishment' is to grant more

assis-

tance. Overall, lenders and donors are doing

little to

nudge Armenia out

of the habit of

dependence.

Armenia's People Armenia's poor natural resource base does not condemn its people to poverty. Indeed, many of the world's richest peoples are in areas with poor natural resource bases. Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, the Republic of Ireland, South Korea, Taiwan and Israel are some examples. A poor natural resource base, however, does force reliance upon the skills, initiative and ingenuity ofits people. Current foreign investors and experts on the Armenian economy iden-

tify low labor costs and good labor force qualifications as the two most important incentives for investing in Armenia. Low wage rates are not desirable, but it should be recognized that only with development can Armenian wages rise without widespread unemployment.

AIM APRIL

2OOO

threat or as an extraordinary business opportunity. (Imagine how much poorer Canada would be without the US.) The blockade of Armenia by Azerbaijan and Turkey severely limits Armenia's economic access to this area. In addition, there iue uncertainties regarding the potential for renewed hostilities with Azerbaijan. The blockade reduces the value ofresources, such as building stone, which otherwise could be sold to neighbors but are normally unsuited for long distance trade. Investment is discouraged and trade levels are both lower and, dollar-for-dollar, yield fewer benefits for Armenia than would be the case with no blockade. The high transport costs for Armenian imports and exports are due, at least in part, to the blockade. Georgia and Iran areArmenia's only gateways for surface movements. Recognizing Armenia's limited options, the Georgian govemment has placed low priority on maintenance and repair of the railroad and roadways nearest to the Armenian border. Armenian imports and exports are subject to higher tariffs on the Georgian Railway than all other freight. Limited options also give power to those with interests in raising transport costs, either through increasing legitimate rates or comrption. Freight forwarders report that costs for transporting containers

600 kilometers from Georgia's Black

Sea

ports to Yerevan are around $2,000. This is equivalent to the cost of moving a container from New York to Seattle, nearly l0 times the distance. These high costs directly tax the Armenian-based shippers and receivers, discourage investments and trade, and lower the economic potential of Armenia. The blockade impedes trade with and

THE PRO(Ett BEGINS: ARrtAENIA-DIASPORA (ONFEREN(E intilo senrcl,for a,franuorbfor conti*u,tou,t lntot)l.g, rutero, jou/,o riznhl,, uordinatd, A rwu)* - D ia.ryora, ctoperati"o n . toa,r

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t/w rtrrctwer for Artautit"-Dinrpara, coopcratbn.

lrou?t uwVoriti"on, tarb wnale,u.rt*rt, a/.1,

0f tharu an d, an ro uti,ll, takp pl^aru

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Data,

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TO DAY, WWW. A Rrll E N I A D I A t

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BA. ( O rll has

luntr,

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tu,rue/t bu,rinprr and, ctwnzrcia,l, nforwati"ott, about Arwtni*,

jrou?t, popul*Un,flwu for tho Diarpora,, a"ni, a, d.ata, bare of Dtaryora, Chzck it outlJoint*oprocus. Hue/oul ta/. di,sctorsinn,

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ArmeniaDiaspora

COVER STORY through Iran. The road distance is approxi-

mately 350 kilometers (200 miles) from Yerevan to Tabriz, the principal city of

Northwest Iran,

via either Turkey

Nakhichevan. But the distance is nearly 50 percent longer and traverses extremely high and difficult terrain using the routing through Armenia to the Iranian border. The blockade also denies Armenia rail access to Iran. It seems likely that without the blockade, transport costs between the two countries would be a third to half lower. Almost surely the most severe effect of the current international situation is that opportunities are limited with neighboring countries to purchase imports more cheaply and to sell exports for higher net returns. It can be conservatively estimated that Armenia's exports to Azerbaijan and Turkey in 1999 would have been $62 million and that this would have increased Armenia's GDP by over $180 million. But Armenians have a head-in-the-sand attitude regarding the cost of the blockade, an attitude unfortunately shared by many assistance groups. With a political settlement, investment levels from both foreign direct assistance and domestic sources, would increase and bur-

dens from military expenditures would decrease. As a result, Armenia's long term growth rate would rise. Armenia's sometime model, Israel, thrived despite a blockade. But

unlike Armenia, it had a broad, low cost avenue to Europe and beyond - the Mediterranean. Armenia may be able to

endure its blockade, but it cannot prosper with it. The cost in human misery will be significant and span generations. This is not a call for Armenia to reach an accommodation with its neighbors. That is for Armenia to decide. But this is a plea for Armenians and their friends to be realistic about the costs of maintaining the current situation.

Not Just the Economy There is no doubt that the political environment in which economic policies are made and implemented have a huge impact

on the way that economy prospers. In Armenia, political and social conditions both benefit and hamper Armenia's economic development.

For example, it is difflcult for business

to flourish in uncertain environments. One aspect of uncertainty is risk of internal vioIence..In this regard, Armenia can be judged

positively. Even taking the tragic October

assassinations into consideration, Armenians appear generally committed to

the political process. Political demonstrations have been peacefuI, almost without exception. Moreover, there

have been no politically-motivated actions against the business communify, foreign or domestic. This cannot be said for many areas of the CIS or forArmenia's immediate ffading neighborhood. Another aspect of uncertainty related to the domestic political situation are changes in the govemment officials with whom businesses must interact. In this regard, Armenia's performance is poor. For example, during 1998, the majority of ministers in the Kocharian

Inmr-ARMENIA Golden Bridges 2Oth

Iranian-Armenian

By Alice Navasargian

government changed. Management of the Customs Department changed three times.

The appropriateness of these changes is not questioned. But an inevitable result ofchange is uncertainty, which discourages investment and may result in inconsistent performance of government institutions. lnterviews with various experts, both in and out of government, indicate that changes in top officials of a ministry or agency typically result in widespread changes throughout the entire organization. These changes are frequently based primarily on political considerations, rather than knowledge or skills. There is no cadre of civil servants who are expected to be apolitical and insulated from politically-motivated personnel changes. Further, relations with Armenian government officials are frequently based on personal relationships, rather than rules and reg-

ulations. Businesses face arbitrariness and inconsistency in their dealings with the government. As a result of arbitrary treatment and despite laws to the contrary, frequently

there is unequal treatment

of foreign

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Infrastructure At the present time, inadequate infrasfructure does not appear to be a primary impediment to business in Armenia. The very low current level ofeconomic activity is the principal reason for this. Still, much of Armenia's infrastructure is in need of maintenance and upgrading. For example, the Armenian Railway owns 84

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electric and 122 diesel locomotives. Of these, only 27 electic and nine diesel locomotives are operational. In addition, due to

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TpmpuoNc

line average less than 40 kilometers (25 miles) per hour. However, the railroad moves eight percent of the tonnage it did l0 years ago and, even in its current condition, 'there is ample capacity.

AIM APRIL

2OOO

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Email ednavas@aol.com

COVER STORY problems for both foreign and Armenian businesses. A World Bank study concluded

Government Institutions Well operating government institutions would be a powerful incentive for business and investment in Armenia. Unlike other factors, such as resource and geo-

that overall, Armenian firms find legal instability a major constraint. They are moderately constrained by the excessive compiexity of laws and regulations, by the "difficulty of

graphic endowments and international politics, the performance of its govern-

play a

big

role in promoting

enforcement each deter long-term and com-

plex commitments.

and corruption.

Corruption

these identifiable problems, in order to promote growth and enhance the economic welfare of its people, the gov-

the

courts and the government to apply important laws and regulations. Legal instability, unpredictability, obscurity, and inconsistent

Tragically, performance levels have been inconsistent and generally poor. Bureaucratic red tape is the main factor inhibiting business activity in Armenia. Businesses frequently have to pay government officials some irregular "additional payments" to get things done. This suggests that the Armenian government does not

53 percent of all shipments.

What to do What is wrong with Armenia, then, can be summed up briefly as extreme dependence, an ineffective business environment, unclear and randomly changeable laws, an international blockade, excessive red tape

knowing" and by the failure of both

ment institutions is entirely under Armenia's control and ability to change.

solicited by Customs officials on 56 percent of all shipments, by Traffic Police on 23 percent of all shipments, and by Rail Officials on

In light of

and

Comrption, too, is a serious and widespread problem. The Wall Street Journal panel of regional analysts judged Armenia's corruption level, along with those of the other CIS countries, as markedly worse than the Baltic Republics and Eastern and Central Europe, even though Armenia's score is better than many of the CIS countries. Freight forwarders, for example, report that on aver-

business

development.

One manifestation of this is that, despite some improvements, many of Armenia's business-related laws, regulations and procedures remain opaque and are subject to unexpected changes. This creates

age

a bribe or other irregular payment

emment of Armenia must take several fundamental steps:

They should avoid measures which would compromise Armenia's advantage as a source

of low cost labor even

as they

place a high priority on education and training, and while safeguarding workers'rights. To understand better its stake in interna-

Opportunities in all sectors of the economy, induding manufacturing

lor

ARMENIA

hospitality and tourism, food processing; technology, tansportation, public utilities, natural resources, mefi cal

A Journey Through

services, etc.

Privatization legislation and public auitude $upport and encourage Diaspora and other foreign investors to provide ownership, capital, $trategic

History

invesmcnt and business know-how for enterpiises *nd assets being privatized.

Arra

Avakian Sc.D.

Trnnnn ConaprrmroNs

Dr. Avakian presents a wealth of information about the Armenian people, their history, their significant events, their important places, and individuals who did much to make the Armenian nation what it is. The work is

trqumemous Assnr Snrus

complete

For more information contact

the perfect addition to your home library.

Tun MrNrsrRY oF

Slue

composed of over 130 separate stories each one in ilself, concise, and easy to understand and read. Armenia: A Journey Through History is highly accessible to both young and old and will make

PnopnRTY MANAGEMENT

Republic of Armenia Telephone (37 421 520-628, 528-6 I 4

Email tender@arminco.com www.pnvatrzahon.am

ISBN 0-91 691 9-20-Xw338 pageswHCw$24.95 Available through Abril, Berj, Hye Keer, NAASR, Prelacy Bookstore, Sardarabad, Shirak, St. Vartan Bookstore, and on the internet at www.electpress.com/books The Electric Press w (559) 432-5670 w Fax (559) 432-0664

COV IrR STOI{\ tionrtl political ncgotiitlions. Alntcnia -sltoultl

the tlcr cloprrcnt oi' ,'\r'lrcr.ria. l-he !ovcrn-

devclop cstimatcs

ntent shoulri institutc l)rogt'luns to cnsulc ti.lai the busincss comniunitv is lirllr inlolntcd ot lull law's. t'cgtrlation: lLrrrl pt'occclLrrcs lrnrl tcr solicit conrnrcrrts artrl su!!rstiolts liorl the

ol'the Iikclr

impucts o1' a ltoliticll Tulkcr untl,\zerlrlri.ilin.

[)clhaps

llost

econonric accor.rrntorluliort uith

inlportllntlv. and rnost

tlurrk lr. .\t ntenilr rltr,trlrl ittitirrlt' lrrr r.tr irnr\ l(, reducc burrlcns to bLrsincsses ol r-ctlurtdant. ullneccsslu\ ltnd opuclLrc procetlrrr-cs. In olrlcr to clevclop u sensc ol' confidcnce.,\rnrcrria ntust shalpll t'ctlucc corrttption thtough corrrPrchcnsivc llr()griu1ls

to pror,ide ceonomic untl otlter inccntit

ttr loncr'llropL-nsities to

cn-gagc in such bchavior. At thc same tinrc. thcle shorrltl he

lrLrsiness uotttrttLrr.titt.

The cliticul obscrvlrtions nurric

ltr-r'c.

out o1' thc conr ictiLrn thlt ri Itile ,At-rle nia is olt tui econontrclllt clislLslrous

c()nre

coLlr\c \\ hiclr u ill indeiinttcl_t, pr()lonll povel' tr urrcl hunurrr srrlliring lntl is sitpltinr tltr

nronrlc

of ils

1'rcoqrle.

thrs ncctl nrlt hc

so.

Alnrrlitr is a rltliunt coLllttt\. lrith

rcclucc

a l'r'icnrllr nn(l lilrrirte people \ ho arc lrci|s to one 0l tltc nr()s1 rcn)lrkahlc historics orr Iilr11h. Its lirtLr|c

o1'rportunitie s lirr' (anil thc t'rPt-'ctecl

tcIuilt\

can artrl sl-rnulcl ['rc

nronitoring anrl enforccnrcnt

l]r'iultt.

lronr) corrrrption. This should inclrrdc rt scnse ol llro thc provision ol' lrr ing

training to irtrpurt skills anrl 1'L'ssional ethics.

wagcs und rncrit basccl bonrrs t,ncl prolno li,,t1 .1\lcnl..,tll(l,l.relolrirr:' lrt,'nil(,1il1il. cnfirrccrnent s\ stcnrs. Ar-rncnil antl Armcnians shull havc to rit'ti tltt' lrUsitt,'r. \'()ltlll'll.lllil\ ir\ l\,ltlllr'l\ ill

IMATION

Prolessor Richard Beilock teaches in the Department of Agriculture at the University of Florida in Gainesville. He iived in Armenia for 16 months while retarned as a consuitant f0r USAID and the USDA The opinions expressed here are his orln.

authorized agent of

toll fi-ee 8()()-375-6()89 \ / \ / Y\l .za b u g ro rn -corn/long

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HelnugllllnU Llle Nouritza Matossian on Arshile Gorky: the Black Angel from Vaspurakan By HRATCH TCHlLlilGlRlAl{

rshile Gorky, a painter... the first cousin of Maxim Gorky, the writer...

ends

life," wrote The New

Times 1948.

in a short obituary on July 22,

York

Arshile Gorky had introduced himself as a Tiflis-born Georgian prince who had fled

his native

Caucasus mountains and

Bolshevik persecutions. He had studied in Paris, he said, with the great artists of the time, such as Maillol and Kandinsky, and continued his studies in the US at Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design. The artist who had assumed the pseudo. nym of the Russian playwright to whom he was not related was in fact bom in 1902 in the village of Khorkom, in Van, Western Armenia. His mother, Shushanig Adoian, named him Manoug but called him after her hometown, Vosdanik. Gorky had reinvented himself in America having survived immeasurable horrors in his early life. "No other major artist of this cen-

tury had experiences as dreadful as

those

endured by Gorky in the years between 1915 and 1918," wrote Richard Dorment in The New York Review of Books.

His "fabulous dark looks, soulful Armenian eyes and magnificent" six-footfour frame, coupled with his wit, charisma and passion made Gorky a "celebrity" in the New York art scene. He barely made ends meet despite giving private art lessons, teach-

ing at the Grand Central School and

occa-

sionally selling paintings.

Over five decades after his

death,

Nouritza Matossian, author of a new book on Gorky, Black Angel: The Life of Arshile Gorky (Overlook 2000), presents a comprehensive new study of the life and works of one of the most famous modem American

were so individual compared to other artists

artists.

of his generation with whom he was being constantly compared. And I thought, and I

whole intention was to find the real background of who Gorky had been," says Matossian. "Artistically, I wanted to find out why his paintings were more mysterious and had different colors and textures, why they

still do, that the keys of his genius are in his childhood. lndeed, what one absorbs unconsciously and then what one does with it in maturity is very important. When you take on all this experience, you learn from the world

qMy

AIM APRIL

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outside you, bringing ideas and techniques and you ask questions and you try to find answers. Finally, you marry that with who you are instinctively. Then you can do something really extraordinary. And that's what Gorky did."

Many scholars consider Gorky

the

founder of the New York School, "The very

BOOKS shown very early on in the Whitney Museum of American Art, twice a year, attests to his role in New York," explains Matossian, who has interviewed over 100 individuals connected with Gorky's life. "His students say that Gorky was the leader they needed. He gave them the paintings that they needed to study. Artists and

students would sit down and listen to him and study his paintings. That's what created a movement," continues Matossian. "He was always questioning and criticizing." Indeed, "in the 30s when people were producing paintings by formula or assigned by the government, Gorky did not follow the norm. He went on to produce some of the most interesting abstract murals of the period." Today, Gorky's paintings hang in some of the most prestigious museums and galleries in

the US and England, among them the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC and the Tate Gallery in London. A Gorky painting today could sell for upwards of seven million dollars. Too late for an artist who was barely able to pay for his supply of brushes and paints.

The memory of the Armenian Genocide is the subtext of Gorky's life in America. And Matossian threads Gorky's personal experience with the universal dimension of human suffering. "I wanted to see the Genocide through Gorky's life and experience," says Matossian. It was important for her to visit his birthplace, the only Gorky scholar to have done so. "It became very clear to me through my research that his whole painting, his style and the way he approached his subjects, based

on his memory, always was

attempt to be with his genocide past, with the fracturing of his life and with his loss. You can almost assemble a painting together and reconstruct your life, your past, you can make the shattered pieces of your life come together again. There is also a great tendency in his paintings to dismember things, like the bits of bodies he saw. The bits of the country side which got chopped off," explains Matossian. Cyprus-born Matossian, who is also the author of a book on composer Iannis Xenakis, passionately explains that Black Angel has a message of hope despite its sad ending. "I

think this book has an amazing message for everyone. For people who are dispossessed, there is a message of survival; Gorky's life shows that with courage and tenacity you can achieve what he achieved. It is only a message

ofhope,"

she concludes.

was edged with lava fields, cut through with

HcEr[ls]

Adapted from Black Angel: The Lite ol Arshile Gorky @2000 by Nouritza Matossian.

ISBN 1-58567-006-5 Reprinted by arrangement with The 0verlook Press, New York.

rivers. One third of it was taken up by Lake Van, 5,500 feet above sea level. ln the Lower Valley of the Armenians, Vari Hayotz Dzor, the lake had risen, flooding fields and squeezing outthe people. The Turks, under whose authority the

Armenians had lived in the 0ttoman Empire, also oppressed them.

The village still stands, under another name, although the original inhabitants have

been wiped out. Arshile Gorky was born Manoug Adoian. His large, patriarchal family was one of the wealthiest in the poor village, which lived off the land and the lake. A high bluff, with a church standing on it, overlooked

Manoug Adoian as a Child in Vaspurakan The small boy climbed a poplar tree, his bare legs and arms wrapped around the white trunk. One hand over the other, he inched up, without looking down. Twenty feet up, crows circled the top of the tree, dived, and flapped

black wings 'Kra-a-k! Kro-o-k!' The scarecrow boy had a mess of twigs on his head. The row of poplars in bright sunlight were laden with nests. He perched on a forked branch, which dipped under his weight. One wrong move, and he would fall. The nests looked like scribbles in the sky; they were full of eggs. He stretched to steal a few and slip them into his sweater. They dived for his face, but the crown of twigs protected him. He needed the eggs to paint for his mother. Storks' nests were even higher up but he wouldn't touch those. He swung in the treetop,

exhilarated by the motion. His house was down there among the patchwork of flat mud roofs 0f Khorkom. Mountains reared up their snowy peaks, Mount Sipan higher than the rest. The turquoise lake shone in the sun, and

further out, the rocky island of Aghtamar hunched like a turtle, on the edge of Lake Van. The tip of the church pointed at the sky. He was alone on top of the world.

1902 Biilh ln the early years of the century, Khorkom was a smallvillage by Lake Van, in the province 0f Vaspurakan, Western Armenia. Armenians had lived continuously on the rugged highland plateau since pre-Christian times. The plateau

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the lake, protecting the village, which nestled in a hollow behind. ln fact, khor means 'deep,' and koum, 'stable', in Armenian. The people of Khorkom were Christians but their rituals and way of life originated from ancient cults of nature. They believed that at the birth of a baby, angels and demons waged war over him. As the boy grew up to become a man, he would feel that demons and angels were never far away. His mother, Shushanig, went into labor in a mud brick house smelling of farm animals

and manure. She was twenty{our and this was her fourth labor. Her long face had filled out in pregnancy. Her large almond eyes were bright. She lay by a fire in the central room on bedding laid out on the floor. Her husband and all other men had left the house. Childbirth was dangerous. Many women died, and fewer than half the inlants survived until the age of two. The elder sisters-in{aw were on hand to guide her: 'When labor starts, the angel comes down and takes all your sins and puts them in a bag and hangs them over your head. When the baby is born, the ahgelwill return and sprinkle all your sins back on to you.' After three daughters, Shushan prayed for

a son. A woman on either side of her, at her elbows and knees, supported her back. 'A boy! God bless him. A boy!'

Young Manoug was otten woken by bellowing oxen. Then he heard waves beating on the lake shore, and hoarse, shouting men, His father Setrag and his uncle Krikor yelled and fought daily, and the small house shook with their rage. Shushan escaped the noisy arguments in the cramped house by taking Manoug out to the fields, and the orchards of pears and apricots, where she worked while his sisters played

with him. She made toys for him out of bits of wood and cloth. He watched her take a cork

BOOKS

IryryI

and a few feathers, work them with her long fingers and suddenly, a bird was flying above his head on a string. Manoug loved to twirl the bird, thrilled with his mother. He told a friend years later in New York that her handiwork was as fine as the sculptures Picasso assembled out of found junk, and that it was his mother who first encouraged his love of art. He buried his Jace in her apron as she sang and told him tales: a shepherd played a trick and was imprisoned in a rock, spirits inhabited trees, giants fought and wrestled, then turned into mountains - 'see Mount Sipan over there?' As soon as Manoug could hold a pencil, he had started to draw. But he refused to utter a sound even by the age of six. Shushan cajoled and bUllied Manoug, but he refused to speak. One day she walked with him to the top of a crag and showed him that unless he spoke to hel she would throw herself off the edge. She hurtled to the cliff's edge as if intending to jump off. The boy cried out:

'Mayrigl Mothe/. It became his template for dealing with crisis in adult life.

1908

Manoug never forgot the day his father left. Setrag took his own three children, Satenig, Manoug and Vartoush, put them on his horse and led them to his huge wheat field by the lake. Setrag kissed them one by one and

said, 'Can I be sure of seeing the three ol you again?' It was the only story he told about his ,

father as an adult. Manoug found solace and total absorption when his hands were busy. His prodigious talent showed itself early to his friends. He drew with such a passion that Akabi, his half-sister, retained an odd memory: 'He used to draw in his sleep. You could see his hand moving.' Ado, his cousin, also recalled, 'he sculpted incredibly delicate dogs and Van cats. We were amazed since none of us could make them.' He carved and whittled as soon as he was allowed to hold a knife. Manoug carried a little slate on which he copied letters and numbers with a nub of white limestone. Paper was precious and the slate was a prized possession. He discovered that AIM APRIL

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he could draw on it. 0ften, in class, he became so engrossed that he hardly heard the teacher, but his talent made the teachers reluctant to punish him. One day the master, Mr. Mihran, noticed Manoug hunched over his slate at the back of the class. 'Bring your slate here,' he ordered. 0n ths slate, with just a few lines, he had drawn two savage dogs snarling and biting while

six children stared aghast. Manoug waited. 'What miracle is this, my boy? Surely you will become a painter!' exclaimed the teacher. '1... don't know... what I'll become...' Manoug stammered, 'but I love to draw.' Later in New York, Gorky was known as a magical storyteller. As a child in Khorkom, when deep snow covered the ground, he had sat in the evening with several families around the tonir filled with hot embers and a Irame spread with a cloth over it. Story-tellers, their own shepherd of Khorkom in particular, had memorized vast epics in verse, and Manoug enjoyed the exciting stories of monsters and

princesses, kings and djinn,

in the

local

dialect with lts guttural earthquake rumbles.

BOOKS became polluted, and it was impossible to provide adequate sanitation. Suddenly they were in the middle of a national catastrophe.

Aghtamar Shushan could not leave her house for long, with the animals and crops to care for. But, they would not miss the most important pilgrimage to the magnificent church of the

Vartoush said: 'Then cholera came and people suddenly went black and died. People... half-alive, they piled up in carts and took away and buried... on top of each other.' Manoug acted quickly. His mother and sisters seemed unable to make a move but Vartoush remembered how he took charge.

Holy Cross on Aghtamar lsland. The children were thrilled to sail there: 'lt was the harvest festival, the Adoians and all the villagers went by boat to Aghtamar,' said Ado, ' You could see Aghtamar perfectly well from our village, the walls and fortifications.' Clutching his mother's hand in the stone interior of the square church, squeezed between adults, he stood beneath the central dome, A boy turning his head from side to side would see, tall forbidding saints with round eyes in severe faces stare down at him, book in one hand and finger raised in warning. Haloes and rounded Armenian eyes, bare feet

1919 ln Yerevan Manoug begged for work at the orphanage again. But every day he and Vartoush walked past bodies lying in the street, half- dead from cold, their bones sticking out, covered in a few rags. By the end of spring 1919, 200,000 people had died: one fifth of the total population of

and hands, made rhythms and patterns againstthe ascending line of singing. They settled in the boy's memory. 0n the walls of Aghtamar, the sandstone texture and lines of masonry showed through peeling colors. He would paint and scrape off, layer upon layer, revealing the substance beneath like an archaeologist getting to the substratum of his memory. At school the children learned that they lived in a place with a mythic past. Manoug's first lesson in history was the legend which every Armenian schoolboy is taught about the origin of the nation. 1915 The Heroic Delense ol Van 0n the night of Monday, 6th April, 1915, Manoug was startled by gunfire and blasts so powerful that he was sure the house blew up. The porch was hit again. The house shook. lt was exactly on the front-line between the Armenians and the Turks, and shells kept exploding on the porch. ln the distance could be heard 'the roar of the artillery, which was making the heroic city of Van tremble to its foundations and turning it into an immense cauldron wherein were consumed daily hundreds of innocent women and children whose only political offense consisted in being Christians.' The war was to be Manoug's rite ol passage to boyhood. He was 13. Manoug scoured the ruins together with other small boys, gath-

vivors. This was the root experience for Manoug, the making of Gorky, and the secret of his courage in facing crisis later. But its tumult would remain in him all his life in the words of the poet Daniel Varoulan, 'The Armenian nation wept and roared in me.' March to Echmiadzin 'Walking night and day for eight days, our shoes were all gone. We clambered over hills and fields. We slept at night a little bit but we had to wake very early to set off because the people who left after us were all killed on the field of Bergri. The Turks attacked them and killed them, almost 40 or 50 thousand were killed there. Some went down to Persia but we took the route t0 Erevan.'Vartoosh recounted.

They continued on over the plain, black lava fields stretched out for miles in every direction. Dark rocks in lagged shapes jutted in sharp angles. There was not a tree or a blade of grass. The stony ground tore at their feet.

Vartoush described the journey

her lips were coated and furry. She was dictating a letter to her husband. Manoug huddled at her feet, crouched over pen and paper, copying down her words. Vartoush watched. 'Mummy was speaking. She was saying, 'Write that I can never leave Armenia. That I

will never come to America. They've

aban-

doned us completely.'Then suddenly we saw that mother had died.' They rushed to her. They felt her face and hands but she was limp.

The aMul realization that she was gone for ever stunned them. Manoug and Vartoush set out for the jour ney from Erevan in early summer, 1919, taking very little with them. All he wanted was to leave the chaos and misery behind him. He was becoming conscious that a whole civilization had been shattered. Manoug had struggled through each horrific episode, had lost his home, his mother; his childhood paradise was ravaged. He was taking with him a tragedy

in hushed tones: 'We had no food or anything. We had no water. We dug to get a little moisture. lf there was anything, we gave food to Gorky, because

which filled his heart and against which would have to battle for the rest of his life.

we had to look after the boy, the man in the family. He was thin anyway. Mummy always trembled over him.'

1928 Arshile Gorky in New York Gorky grew a shaggy mustache, beard and

long hair, in 1928, when other men shaved

ering empty shells, cartridges. They set to work emptying them so that jewelers and met-

Echmiadzin

alworkers could make new ammunition. The

The family was marooned in Echmiadzin for several weeks. Akabi began to recover, but

orphanage workshops were busy with children making ammunition. 2,000 cartridges and case bullets were made in a day. Fearless and plucky by nature, he learned to act coolly. The Vanetzis were combative sur-

the republic. Mother was slumped against the window sill. Thawing snow was dripping through the holes in the roof. She was debilitated, her stomach was swollen. Her long fingers had become spindly. Her eyes were sunken and cavernous. She had sores in her mouth and

the overcrowding worsened and food

was

find. 200,000 fugitives who had lost most of their possessions in Kurdish raids, harder to

came through Transcaucasia. The water AIM APRIL

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clean, wore the thinnest mustaches, pomaded their hair flat. He had grown to a full 6'4", with

broad frame. His dark coloring and coal

black eyes, gave him the look of a smoldering hero of the silent movies. Proud of his physique, he invited men to punch his stomach when he was off his guard. lt was hard as

BOOKS a board. 'He looked like Rasputin. A real Armenian! Robust and a man of

had burned and their world fallen apart. Gorky drew from that photograph like a man possessed using ditferent media to analyze different parts of the image: pencil, pen and ink, crayon and pastel. 'See the excitement of the brush !' Homage to his mother was bound

principle.' said Hazarian. His sister Satenig quizzed him gently about his appearance. 'Gorky, why do you have abeard?' 'l want to paint myself as Christ, with long hair and a beard.' Whenever he sat on the porch to draw or walked out, the street kids followed him. 'Hey! Here comes Jesus Christ!'

to take on a sacred quality. Afraid of losing his childhood and his identity, by painting himself next to his moth-

er, he painted her back to life.

Beautilul Sirun One evening, as he prepared to leave Grand Central School, Gorky glanced into the life-class. A tall model

tives frequently sculpt crosses for

was surrounded by students sketching at their easels. Gorky stopped wiping his hands and stared. The girl was slender, her fine features were chiseled in clean lines. She had large eyes, full lips and a high forehead framed by golden

their loved ones; graveside feasts are held on the Day of the Dead. To be buried in an unmarked grave is the worst fate. Gorky built a monument to her. Perhaps unconsciously, he painted his mother and himself in shades of the rose tufa of Aghtamar. She is the resplendent Armenian

brown hair which rippled down her shoulders. He sauntered over to a student and looked at his sketch, then said in a loud voice, 'Here you have a beautiful white Arabian horse! And you make a mess of dirty socks.' He hovered, while she collected her things. Mischa was waiting in the hall, to go out with Gorky. She said to him, 'Thank you.'

'0h, that's nothing.' She mystified him. He sensed something farniliar about her. He blurted out. 'Are you Armenian?' To his amazement she replied, 'Yes.' 'Where were you born?' 'Van!' 'lt was like the sun had risen after a million years,' she said years later. Even the girlS Sirun name fitted into Gorky's dream Mussikian. Slrun , 'beautiful,' in Armenian.

He enjoyed Sirun's companionship. The cold space lit up with her presence. He sketched and painted her endlessly. Gorky still

taught Nathaniel Bijur, who came faithfully every Saturday. Sirun said,

'He was painting my whole body. lt was beautiful, too. I posed for both of them, and Gorky was painting a huge nude. He also did a beautiful head of me.' Gorky teased her during the modeling sessions, quoting Cezanne: 'Women should be like cabbages. When they sit, they should not move.' She perceived him differently from the othhad never known anybody more ers: Armenian than Gorky. He loved it, was proud of it, He felt that they had more soul. They were

would atone for abandoning his name by recreating her as a goddess. He would save her lrom oblivion; snatch her out of the pile of corpses to place her on a pedestal. ln Armenia, rela-

earth and stone.

superior. The look of the people which he loved as a painter. The eyes. 'There's real soul there.' With Sirun he dropped all his defenses.'He talked of the wonderful mother. Probably every woman he painted looked like his mother.' Her comment that every woman he paint-

ed looked like Shushan is very astute. As Raphael, Boticelli and lngres, had sought out and created their own type, he was in the process of creating one. Sirun was the incarnation of the perfect Gorky woman,

Mother Gorky's vast studio was dominated by a single large painting which seemed to float like an altarpiece, five feet high. More than any other work, this compelling masterpiece has come t0 symbolize Gorky's love for his mother, and by extension his love for his country. ln exhibition it overshadows other paintings with its tragic aura. A dark-haired boy stands next to a seated woman. Her pale oval face, a pallid moon, hangs above the rose and lavender pyramid of her apron and long skirt. The enlarged saintly eyes of the woman and the boy's startled gaze in dark eye sockets are haunting. Gorky had studied the sepia photograph which his mother had sent Setrag. He had borrowed it from his sister Akabi a solitary image of himself with his mother before Van

AIM APRIL

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ln 1941 Gorky married a Bostonian, Agnes Magruder nicknamed Mogooch, and had two daughters. 1946 The Museum ol Modem Art 0n 10 September 1946 Gorky attended the Fourteen Americans at the opening

Museum of Modern Art. This was the first public showing of The Artist and His Mother,

which made

deep impression on many

abstract painters at the time, and gave a substantial exhibition of his work, a sign that he was now considered one of the top painters in America. Meanwhile on the roof terrace Matta flirted and made passes at Agnes who laughed him off. After a fire in his studio and a life-threatening operation Gorky suffered a car accident and his marriage broke up in 1948. The account of Gorky's last two days are confused,'various and appalling.' Wilfredo Lam (the Cuban artist) wrote, 'Gorky had had his car accident and I found it strange that he wanted to be alone in New Milford. When we arrived I took several photos of Gorky seated on the lawn outside his studio with his strange plaster neck brace to prevent him from moving his head.' Years later, among Lam's possessions, a snapshot was found of Gorky sitting in the shade of a tree. The sun casts dappled shade over him in the photo as he leans on a rough wooden post.

CONNECTIONS

0en$ll$ 2001 Going Door-to-Door, Every Person Living in the Republic Will Be Counted By MATTHEW KARAI{|AI,|

to 50,000 people. "Conditions were not so good for making a census that year," says

Western diplomats stationed in Yerevan, reports that the current population may be

been surprised by the simplicity

Chilingarian.

of the task.

Indeed, the discrepancy in the number of deaths attributed to the earthquake is suggestive of the inaccuracy of the census that followed in its wake. One of the obiectives of the census, which should be completed by the end of next year, is to correct these past inaccuracies. Chilingarian points to the population fig-

close to only half what it was l0 years ago. Chilingarian is familiar with the report,

ost US residents who responded

to the 2000 Census may

have

contrast, when the

Republic of Armenia conducts its first-ever census next year, the process will be considerably more complicated.

The task will be more difficult for Armenia because the census-takers will not be able to call upon a post office that is as effi-

cient and reliable as the US Postal Service. Instead of mailing a form to each known address, people-counters will have to knock on every door in the country. The task will be more complicated for the people who reply, as well. The census questionnaire will contain 27 questions, some of them requiring arithmetic. Every resident of Armenia will be required to fill in the form during a personal visit from an employee of the govemment's statistics office. For that reason, Armenia expects a 100 percent compliance rate. The US, by contrast, attained a voluntary compliance rate of only 65 percent during its most recent census, in 1990. Aharon Chilingarian, the deputy of the

ures for the country as an example

inaccuracy.

"There are many estimates done by many different people, organizations. Offi cially, the population is 3.8 million," he says. But it is

"of course" less than that now. One controversial tally, conducted by

of Statistics, State Registry and Analysis who oversees census operations, says his optimism for a high compliance rate is well founded. First, he says, there will be 12,000 census workers who will conduct interviews. And perhaps just as important: "in our country, according to our Minister

law, everyone must answer." Those who do not, can be flned.

Correcting Past Errors Although next year's census will be the first-ever for the Republic of Armenia, the

of the Armenians has been counted many times prior to the republic's population

independence. The most recent tally was in 1989, during a census conducted by the Soviet authorities. But this census was performed shortly after the massive earthquake that leveled the town of Spitak and killed an estimated 25,000

AIM APRIL

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which claims the population of Armenia is now only 1.8 million. The data was collected by tallying the numbers of people leaving and

arriving by commercial airline. Anecdotal reports of airplanes departing from Yerevan with a full load of passengers, and returning with just a handful, are notoriously unreliable. But these stories are commonly heard on the streets of Yerevan. "Go to the airport any day, you'Il see for every plane with 150 who leave, only 25 come back," says Mihran, who is 27 years old and looking for work in Yerevan. The friend he is walking with agrees.

CONNECTIONS But a report last month by Gagik Yeganian, the head of a government department that studies migration and refugees, suggests that the anecdotal evidence may indeed reflect reality. Between t992 and 1999, according to Yeganian, there was an imbalance of 625,000 people traveling on airplanes in and out of the country. He didn't have any data for the number of people who crossed in or out of the country by land.

Data collected by Chilingarian's office suggests that the total number of 6migr6s, including non-citizens, is about 760,000, "I cannot say if the figure is high or low. Now our sources are not good. But after the census they will be."

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for interviewing should be modified, and if their estimates of the time needed for the census are accurate. For this dress rehearsal, the Ministry selected Spitak - the town that was leveled in the I 988 quake - and eight villages

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in the Ararat Valley. The responses ofthe people in Spitak and the Ararat Valley will help the Ministry to know, for example, if they should scrap the census question that asks for the number of square meters of floor space in the respondent's home. Or perhaps the Ministry will determine that each census worker should

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someone from the government knocks on your door, the news usually isn't good. In America, the US Census Bureau was able to counter some of the fears of the citizenry by running an advertising campaign. Armenia may rely upon the same tactic in 2001, when the official polling begins. But advertising is costly. The Ministry has budgeted only $3.5 million for the census, so tele-

census of several villages within two regions during 2000. The selected areas are home to roughly one percent of Armenia's populace, and they will serve as a test for the mechanics of the census, says Nersesian. By doing the census in these areas first, census workers will know if the questionnaires need to be rewritten, if their procedures

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vision and newspaper promotions will have to wait until next year.

Until then,

carry a yardstick to each home. "Our goal is to check to see ifthe process is clear, if the interviewers have problems," says Chilingarian.

Armenia's Ministry of

Statistics is doing a practice-run.

Samvel Nersesian, Chief

the

Judging from the questionnaire, one might expect there to be some difficulties

Department on Census in Yerevan, prefers to call this rehearsal a Pilot Census. Census workers will conduct a complete

with compliance.

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CONNECTIONS For example, if a person in a respondent's household is absent, the reason must be given. The census takers will also ask about other

personal information, including questions about foreign language mastery educational level, sources of income, employment status, and, ifunemployed, the reason. The proposed census form

will also

for information regarding the type of

ask

con-

struction material used for the outside walls of the respondent's home, the year the home was built, and the type of accommodations that are present in the home. The homeless will check box 3 beneath question 20, which identifies their type of residence as "homeless." Isn't it an invasion of privacy to require responses to these questions?

Chilingarian doesn't think so. Fears of snooping are "more than true for our country," he says. But this is "too important for our country" for people to complain. "I think we can say of this policy [of asking detailed questions about personal statisticsl that it's a good opportunity for policy makers

in the social sphere."

will not discriminate against "All people in the territory will

The census non-citizens.

be asked questions. Even diplomats,

even

tourists," says Nersesian. If you are present in the republic, you will be a part of the survey. As for the homeless, "we will catch them on the streets," says Chilingarian. "I hope they will cooperate."

Where is Everyone

The 2fi)l Census in Armenia will not answer every question about the demography of the Armenian populace. For example, Armenians who are resident in Armenia because they were expelled from hostile countries will not be asked their reason for coming to Armenia.

"It's a subjective question, a political question," says Chilingarian. "We are statisticians who are collecting data. Not politicians," he says. Despite this assertion, the census does plan

to ask subjective questions, particularly about employment. And a person who is living abroad temporarily can still be counted as a resident of Armenia, "if he intends to come back." Since intentions are subjective, this data might be considered to be of doubtful validity. "I think we will find that there are more than 600,000 who live abroad but intend to

return," says Chilingarian. What the census cannot accurately report, however, is when these 6migr6s will return, or if indeed they ever r

will.

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(

ARTS

stln Dlaspora Vahe Berberian Paints, Writes and Lives with Humor By HRAIR SARKIS SARKISSIAN

re you a vampire?" asks a young girl

coming out of the coffee shop and stopping at Vahe Berberian's table. Even though it is a Starbucks Coffee

House in California's impersonal, sprawling, cookie-cutter-monotonous San Fernando Valley, Berberian has a permanent table here, and people come looking for him. Vampires aren't the only things people tak to him about. One middle-aged woman has just invited her aging mother to move in with her. A bicycle policeman is considering a career

change.

stripper wants Vahe to write

screenplay about her career. It's all in an afternoon's work. At four on any given afternoon, Berberian

can be found at the comer table which has become his office for the last six years. His

friends, acquaintances, and even strangers, know they can stop by and spend some time with him, people watching, talking, laughing, solving the daily crossword pttzzle, and having an occasional cup of coffee. "It's not the coffee," says Vahe. "It has become a place where I know pretty much everyone. And those whom I don't know, I eventually meet." He is greeted by nearly everyone who goes in, or walks by, in this rare stretch of Los Angeles where people do walk. From a wzum smile and a wave, to big hugs and kisses, Vahe engages passers-by in sincere conversation.

At 6'2", Vahe, with his long, soft gray braided hair and strong, angular features immediately attracts attention. But, it is the personality behind the appearance which captures people's hearts and makes loyal friends out of them. His pals have become Starbucks regulars, too. A building contractor who doesn't even

drink coffee joins the Vahe group every Sunday morning just for good conversation. A customer, too new to have learned Vahe's name, but regular enough to have noticed that he had been absent from his table for several

weeks, had

to ask one of Vahe's group,

"Where is your guru?" It is this uncanny ability to transcend age,

AIM APRIL

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ARTS

Louyce- Acrylic on Canvas, 48" x72" gender, class, and even ethnicity and race, that has made it possible for him to build commu-

nity within and outside the Armenian world. A community of artlovers, a community of ttreatergoers, a community of book readers, even a community of fundraisers - ttrey have formed

around Vahe in the most unexpected ways.

"I think it

was Dostoevski who said, 'A

city is an accidental tribe,' for me it's important to know who else is in my tribe," says Vahe. But Vahe's reach goes beyond the city. "Recently, a woman came out of the coffee shop, and asked if she could sit with me. She was a tourist from Germany and was told by a friend that she must come to Starbucks and find Vahe when she visited LA." This ability to build a tribe is what Vahe does best.

And effortlessly.

Vahe's wife Betty, a fllm-set decorator, has produced all of Vahe's plays. It's been more than 10 years since the last piece was staged. But at the time, Betty managed to pull together several dozen volunteers who did everything from selling tickets to designing

costumes. And acting. Many of those same people came together a decade later to form Arvest, a voluntary arts organization to supponVahe's work. Theirfirst major event, an art exhibition and performance in 1996 to kickoffthe publication of two books and a video was the kind of event rarely seen in Los Angeles: Nearly 500 twenty and thirtysomethings, together with a respectable number of "older" art lovers came together, not out of any obligation to an organization, but simply to enjoy - and support - Vahe's art. In Vahe's case, that art can take various forms. His last play, 200, was staged in 1989. Since then, Vahe has written two novels in Armenian. In between, he has painted prolifically. Most recently, he has been working on a monologue. "It's a one man show, mostly anecdotes and stories from daily life. It is funny and serious, both," says Vahe. "These are segments of my life, slides, snapshots taken here and there, stories about people I have known. The mere fact that I am a writer with a theater background makes this

AIM APRIL

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the ideal way of telling the stories - perform what you write" says Vahe. Telling stories, entertaining people that's what he's been doing all his life. "Now I'm just charging for it," he continues laughing. The monologue is

in Armenian, and it remains a work in progress. "So much of it has to do with audi-

ence reaction.

can see

performed in

English as well. And I will travel with it." About Vahe's writing, the Diaspora's most respected critic, Vahe Oshagan, is unequivocal. "Vahe is one ofthe most talented Diaspora writers of his generation. He has an acute sense of the everyday reality and flavor ofthe Diaspora experience, a firm hold of the language and moral commitment for the survival of its culture." That moral commitment results in a limited market. Vahe is cognizant of the choice he's made. In one ofhis writings, a character says to the other:

"I think I'm going uazy." "Have you started talking to yourself?" asks the other-

ARTS "\ilhat do you ttrink writing inArmenian is?'the first one responds. But Vahe says that's not his view. "I've

erratic, moody, wild, often abusive and

realized that certain memories come only in ttreir own language," says Vahe. 'There are certain things I remember only in Armenian. It just doesn't sound right if I write them in

tality, his politics and his battles

selfish artist, Vahe's

waged, lost or won through his work

Civil War. But not before he'd heard to leave their

mark.

His first major play, Pink Eleplwnt, is about a theater troupe trying to rehearse and stage a play during the war. And every line rings true.

With his move to Los Angeles, Vahe quickly adapted to the West. He worked atthe Asbarez Newspaper, and for years, wrote a regular weekly film review column. This was before he'd had any experience in the film world. Professor Khachig Tololyan of Wesleyan University remembers those reviews. "His film reviews were virtually unrivaled at the time in the Armenophone world. He didn't just summarize plots and themes and then say banal things about sta$. He had a rare combination of yerbal and visual sense, and he had an imaginative empathy, a genuine feel, for what certain kinds of fllms were trying to do. For the more complex and serious films, he was really a

critic of rare ability and distinction,"

says

Caroline Lais-Tufenkian, who was the curator of Vahe's most recent one-man show,

Mariette Hartley, former Director of the t os Paris fashion designer Sonia Rykiel, Paris pubIishersAlain and Raymonde Nave, artistTanya Hovnanian and others. His works have also

been placed in films such as Permanent Midnight, Jawbreaker, Execiltive Power, Things You Can Tell Just by lnoking at Her andThe Big Brass Ring. His studio - the apartment next door to his (within walking distance from Starbucks) - is full ofrow upon row ofpaintings leaning against walls, or in progress and laying around. Although the style of Vahe's work has changed over the years, the colors and

all

Consulate. There, his wife has a nervous breakdown and leaves with their kids, but he refuses to give up, clinging to his Quixotic beliefs and continuing to repreWednesday, 0ct.18, '95 sent his country, in the best way he can. Acrylic on canvas, 48" x 60" lztters from katar was published by Arvest, which first called itself Friends of hard-to-define forms continue to jump out of Vahe. This was soon after Vahe had successtheir medium to capture some intimate part fully undergone cancer surgery. Teachers, of the viewer. He does with his paintings artists, architects, librarians, designers all what he did in his plays: Vahe bares his soul friends, all young and all busy - came together for the purpose of publishing a book and with just a few frugal strokes of the brush. "Painting gives me a chance to cleanse producing a documentary about Vahe. The out everything that is processed in me," says book, Pagesfrom a Diary, includes an autobiVahe. "Painting is a form of art that translates ography and interviews in Armenian and my inner workings in the most immediate English, as well as samples afiwork. The documentary Pagaftldz (Parenthesis) is in Armenian, way, spontaneously, simplistically, sincerely, because I don't deal with esthetics and decorative motifs to make it more pleasing to the eye," he explains.

Tololyan. But when Vahe quit writing film reviews, he put all his energy into painting. His artwork has made its way into the homes of such collectors as opera director Peter Sellars, actress

Angeles Philharmonic Ernest Fleischman,

are

seemed Berberian had put everything he had to say into this one piece. But then, he did it again in the second and third plays - Quicksand in 1987 and 200 (cowritten with Ara Madzounian and Betty Berberian) in 1989. And he continued, nearly a decade later, with his fint novel, Letters from Taatar, a dark comedy about a man who is sent from America to Zaatar, a fictitious third world country, to open an Armenian

enough bombs exploding

same way," says Oshagan.

and

of his works. When Pizk Elephant, the first of a trilogy of plays was staged in 1985, a local theater critic wrote that it

English'. The things he remembers are all taken from his life. Born in 1955 in Beirut, Lebanon, he immigrated to the US in 1977, at the beginning of the Lebanese

"I know of no other Armenian playwright whose writing captures the depth and vigor of our popular culture in the

life is simple

unpretentious. His dark nights, his mor-

says, "Berberian is successfully working from his hybrid cultural background. Several components have been key in the construction of his complex and rich aesthetic identity: his Armenianness, his cross-cultural background, modem abstract expres-

sionism and being

a Los Angeles

artist.

Berberian offers a new dialect to the western artistic style of abstract expressionism. Several of his works 'tell' of the Armenian

culture through use of Armenian elements such as the alphabet and historic imagery. Berberian's works transcend time and have historical momentum."

What Tufenkian calls a new dialectic, Oshagan ascribes to the Diaspora. "Vahe's painting is also remarkable for its originality and diasporic mood," he says.

Unlike the stereotypical image AIM APRIL

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the

Self Portrait- Acrylic on paper, 22"x 30"

A RTS

ink hit paper, sight unseen. Those initial funds made the printing possible. Vahe had done the

typing and the book was designed by friend Hooshig Nazarian, whose husband Narbeh, an artist, has been a long-time Vahe collaborator.

Tuesday, Sept. 6 Acrylic and pencil on paper, 31'x39'

and

is typical

Vahe. The self-deprecating life and art - and

philosopher talks about friends.

"The members of Arvest are artists, art lovers and people with a sense of humor. What is good about it is that there is no pretentiousness or bureaucracy in this group. We are all doing what we like to do, and having fun doing it," says Vahe. After 23 years in Los Angeles, it is obvious that Vahe feels at home here. "It has

always been important

for me to feel

attachment to my environment, and despite the vastness and impersonal reputation of Los Angeles, if one really cares, one can create a sense of community by taking an interest in others. Also, I must admit that as an artist I feel quite lucky because I have been able to find an audience and a public who takes an interest in my work. I am especially grateful to the Armenian community, which has been very supportive of me. I don't share the disillusionment that many artists have with the

community," says Vahe. That may be why he had the courage to self-publish his second nove| In the Name of the Father and the Son. It is the story of an immigrant family from Lebanon which moves to Los Angeles in the 1980s. The plot revolves around a young man and his bibliophile father whose quiet existence is shattered by a prostitute who walks into their lives. How does an artist flnd the funds to pub-

lish a book? Vahe's community lifestyle kicked in. He pre-sold the book. Several hundred copies were bought and paid for before

On another sunny afternoon outside Starbucks, a friend who hasn't seen Vahe for a few weeks inquires about the monologue's progress. "Yeah, it's coming along. Actually, it's right here, I am almost done," says Vahe as he opens his black leather bound handbook, marked #11, the latest of identical handbooks that contain thoughts, sketches, stories, names, phone numbers of new friends, and in this case, his monologue. "You know, a couple of people have already asked me about it in the past week," says the friend. "The strange thing is," responds Vahe, "people had been asking about it before I thought of writing it. I don't understand." But the reason people have been anticipating this has been the result of two hugely successful productions of Comedy Night. For two consecutive years, these performances have brought in more than 600 guests each time and kept them laughing for over two hours. Comedy Night's clever, intelligent, hilarious, unconventional, irreverent sketches, co-written with artist Vatchig Der Sarkissian and lighting designer Henrik Mansourian, produced by Arvest and directed by Vahe with great humor and wit, won the hearts of the audiences and kept them asking for more. Imagine Vahe as Mesrop Mashtots struggling to flgure out which letter should come first. Picture Vahe as St. Gregory the Illuminator frustrated that the king's sister has

been spreading false rumors about what a great place Khor Virab is. And more is what Vahe plans to give them. More of the humor, more of the wit, but mostly, more of himself. But when asked directly to share some thoughts about himself, Vahe is speechless. "A rare thing. Betty would rejoice at this, she thinks I talk too much," he laughs. But of course the eloquent Berberian manages to say it'like it is. "I am pretty confident when it comes to my art and myself. I can say this with humility. I can have me as a friend," he says. Then, the humor kicks in. "Of course there will always be major arguments, but at the end, it will all

work out. "Humor is the only thing that makes life worthwhile. Otherwise what do you look forward to? Life is both tragedy and comedy. Ifyou choose to see only the tragedy, it's not real. Humor makes life real, it makes

life

human." AIM APRIL

2OOO

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6 Narekaai

The Ghallenge ol Statehood Armenian Political Thinking Since lndependence By Gerard

Christianity in Armenia, Third lssue

$15.00

The third series issued on the occasion of the 1700th anniversary of Christianity in Armenia features Armenian Educational Centers in the Diaspora. Features Antelias, the Nercissian School in Tbilisi, the Holy Cross Churchin Rostov upon Don, the Mekhitarian Monastery in Venice, the St. James Monastery in Jerusalem and the Lazarian

Seminary in Moscow.

J. Libaridian

An analysis of conflicting interpretations of history have nurtured competing policies and influenced the future of Armenia and its relations with its neighbors. The author challenges the ideologized views of war and diplomacy, of the Genocide and the politics of its recognition, and of national unity and political legitimization. He explores the Karabakh conflict, relations with Turkey, and the relationship between Homeland and Diaspora. Paperback

162 pages

$15.00 Blue Crane Books, Cambridge

M/,

ISBN 1-886434-10-7

Fnagile llneams Armenia Photography by Antoine Agoudjian

Armenia

Martyred Sons ol $8.00 Three stamps issued to commemorate Karen Demirchian, with the National Assembly and the flag as background, Vazgen Sargsian with a military parade and the flag as background; and a third features all eight slain officials.

Ghildnen's Gonstnuction Gu[es Made in the Republic ol Armenia 11 pieces of hand-cut and shaped wooden pieces embellished with Armenian manuscript designs make for a beautiful and satisfying first toy for the youngest child, as well as the budding architect. 0lder children will enjoy the special designs and the traditional motifs.

More than 150 black and white photos 'l f rom 1989 to 998 depict various joy moments of and pain in the lives of Armenians after the earthquake. "The same things Antoine Agoudlian saw in Armenia, but he did it with a talented and watchful eye, as an artist devoting his sensibility to his art, with love. He took his time so he would not miss anything. Thanks to him, I went back, saw again and took a new measure of all that my eyes had only brushed past and skimmed through. Visiting in black and white this old colorful country." Paperback

pages

-Charles Aznavour

$28.00 1 999, Actes Sud, France, ISBN 2-7 427 -2316-1

Binthmanlr A Bilingual Anthology of Armenian-American Poetry Edited by Gourgen Arzoumanian

61 poems by Nancy Agabian, Ara

BIRTHMAR(

Babaian, Sevana Bagdasarian, Sylva Dakessian, Tina Demirdjian, Alec Ekmekji & Shahe Mankerian, in original English and their translations to Eastern or Western Armenian. This anthology seeks to penetrate the depths of Armenian-

^5t

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Americans' creations. lt also grasps psychological and sociological issues and the methods of dealing with social and identity problems. $45.00 Avai labl e exc I u sive ly th ro ugh Al M.

Paperback

210 pages

$15.00 0pen Letter, Glendale, California

AIM APRIL

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tsBN 0-684-80151-5

Ihc Gycle ol lile on Gompact llisc

Out ol $tone

Songs for the Soul

Armenia

Aftsakh

Photography and Text by

Performed by Padk l{azarian

Robert Kurkiian and Matthew Karanian

Each of these songs is a page of life, a mirror of a time, a link to our

150 vivid fullcolor images made

during the years 1995 through 1999 capturing moments in time, peoples' expressions and beautiful landscapes.

history. lnherited from ordinary people who expressed their feelings and deeds through song, these bittersweet pieces sung with the occasional accompaniment of duduk, dhol and shvi, depict the disparity of birth and death, the pain of loss and the 1oy of birth, yearning and sorrow, genocide and displacement followed by rebirth, love and joy and war and vengeance. ln these songs, the beauty of love is symbolized by the seed of a pomegranate, the vigor of life by a blade of wheat.

"Three thousand years ago, among rock-strewn steppes, an ancient people chiseled a homeland. They created a society, and built a nation. These Armenians carved an enduring civilization - out of stone," say Kurkjian & Karanian. Deluxe Hard Cover Edition

1 CD, accompanied by a 20-page full color booklet with Armenian text, English translations and related photos

184 pages

$49.95 1999, Stone Garden Productions, Washington DC

$15.00

tsBN 0-9672120-0-6

1999 Garni

A Wa!! ol $ilence The Unspoken Fate of the Armenians Produced and Directed by Dorothee Fotma Humanist Broadcasting Fnd, The Netherlands An unprecedented documentary on the Armenian Genocide. The film presents the lives and scholarship of two historians - Turkish Scholar Taner Akcam and Armenian professor Vahakn Dadrian. "Turkey can never become a democracy if it does not face its history," says Akcam, "We have to research violence in our past in order to know and understand our present. Contemporary Turks are not guilty, but they have a responsibility toward history." Video Documentary - 54 Minutes - VHS NTSC $25.00

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AIM APRIL

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/uNI iillHillllil DlililRI MoNrHrv BTEFrNGS oN CrutcAL Issuss Started inl999,AIM's monthly dinners, featuring distinguished speakers, have turned into the gathering place for the "new" Armenian. Dinner is followed by a short briefing by AIM on the news events and developments of the month. The featured speaker makes a presentation on a contemporary topic with significance in the new millennium. Presentations are followed by a dialogue with the audience.

(l|lll|Rt JOHN HUCHUS

ilondry itoy

rnn RmrnN

fdh*-

I looo

{#'ilF

oF THE Nernry

]ohn Hughes lived in Armenia for a year, before returning to Southern California. As he prepares to return to Yerevan, he is living the life of the landless

in limbo, between cultures and homes.

B[|Illltll JeUnS TUFUNKIAN

& AtT

ilondoylune

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Fnou MexsarreN ro ynRnveN

James Tufenkian's designer carpets which evoke the best of Tibetan and

Central Asian tradition, are advertised in fuchitectural Digest and sold on Broadway, in New York. In 1994, Tufenkian started an operation in fumenia. Today, he conffols the entire carpet making & exporting operation, from the sheep to export.

P0tlTl(l ftdnsilry luly ll H.E. AnanessADoR

Henny GIruoRE

looo

(nuuRED)

VrEwrNc Anuunn AND THE Ceucnsus Gilmore, the first US Ambassador to fumenia, arrived in Yerevan

1992.

During the first three difficult years of independence, Gilmore provided critical assistance in Armenia's nation-building process. Five years after completing his

tour of duty, he follows Armenia's growth and remains interested in its development.

Ar BneuDvlErr ConrcrroN

Dinner 7:30 pm. Briefing 8:00 pm. Speaker 8:30 pm. Donation $28 for

AIM

subscribers, $32.00 for non-subsaibers.

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818.14d.l9l,

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haVg jUSt fgtUfngd thiS Very moment

By Armin Wegner

frorn a round of inspecrion of the camp:hunger, death, disease and desperation on all sides. You could smell the odour of faeces and decay. From a tent came the laments of a dying woman. A mother identifying the dark violet badges on my uniform as those of the Sanitary Corps, came towards me with outstretched hands. Taking me for a doctor, she clung on to me with all her might. I who had neither medicines, nor bandages, for it was forbidden to help her. But all this is nothing compared to the frightful sight of the swarms of orphans which increase daily. At the sides of the camp, a row of holes in the ground covered with rags, had been prepared for them. Girls and boys of all ages were sifting in these holes, heads together, abandoned and reduced to animals, starved, without food or bread, deprived of the most basic human aid, packed tightly one against the other and trembling from the night cold, holding pieces of still smouldering wood to try to get warm. Some could not stop crying. Their yellow hair fell uncut down over their foreheads, their faces were sticky with tears and filth. Their youthful eyes inscrutable, hollowed out from pain, and although they looked silently in front of them, they seemed to convey on their faces the most bitter reproach of the world.

-Armin Wegner, (right) German writer, poet, doctor in law, was an eyewitness of the Genocide of the Armenian people in 0ttoman Turkey. At the outbreak of World War l, Wegner enrolled as a voluntary nurse in Poland. ln April 1915, he was sent to the Middle Eastas a member oI the German Sanitary Corps. Between July and August, he investigated the rumors about the Armenian massacres. ln the autumn of the same year, he travelled through Asia Minor. From the letters written between 1915 and 1916 (from whlch the above excerpt was taken) the diary ol the Armenian peoples tragedy can be traced. A selection of Wegneis photographs formed part of an exhibit entilled Armin T. Wegner and the Armenians in Anatolia, /9/5. The exhibit and the accompanying ltalian- English book were conceived and prepared by Dr. Pietro Kuciukian.

AIM APRIL

2OOO

Uahan llenior, Stiil Young Poet Vahan Terian's home-museum is in Georgia, in the town of Ganza where he was born in 1885. But in Yerevan, there is a street named for him in Central Yerevan, and now

a brand new statue on Isahakian Street. Sculptor Norayr Karganian designed the likeness of the man whose contribution to Armenian culture did not stop with his own volumes of poetry. Terian also played a key role in the introduction of Armenian literature to Russia. Terian's participation was instrumental in the development of the

Armenian Literature Anthology which Russian writer Maxim Gorky edited. He worked with Valeri Bryusov, as well, on his well-known volume on Armenian poetry, and translated a number of Armenian classics to Russian. Writer Hrand Matevosian and others placed flowers at the feet of the poet who died at a youthful 35.

AIM APRIL

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$tamps in Memoniam

Gelehrity Wax Modcl$ ln Yereuan

Armenia's postal service is mourning the loss of several of the nation's top leaders with a series of commemorative postage stamps. These stamps, which are the only new issues to have been released in 2000, memorialize each ofthe slain statesmen on three face-different designs. By standing alone as the only new issues this year, the postal service - known in Armenia as Namakaneesh apparently intends to emphasize the commemoration, according to Armen

Hovsepian, a US dealer who specializes in Armenian stamps. During the past several years, Namakaneesh had been issuing new commemoratives, on topics ranging from soccer to religion, roughly every month. The result is a pair of commemorative stamps that honor Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsian and National Assembly Speaker Karen Demirchian, and also a single miniature sheet that honors each of the eight assassinated leaders. A limited edition sheet of ten stamps, featuring the Sargsian and Demirchian stamps, was also released early this year. Hovsepian says the stamps have been a hit with collectors. 'They're pretty, they're good. It's quite popular." Hovsepian estimates he has sold about 800 sets of the stamps in the past few weeks, and he is pleased. American stamp collectors are one of the prime markets for Armenian postage stamps. Namakaneesh ordered a press run of 20,000 stamps for the individual issues that honor Sargsian and Demirchian. Their face value of 250 dram pays the rate for a one-ounce letter from Armenia to the US. The press run for the miniature sheet, which honors all eight victims, is only 10,000, and has a face value of 540 dram. One US dollar is the equivalent of about 520 dram. Hovsepian says these quantities are less than the quantities printed for other issues last year. 'They usually print 30,000. The first issues, several years ago, were 80,000. But that's too much for Armenia," he says. Roughly 15,0(X) stamps ofany issue are typically sold or used as postage.

"Armenia

is a

popular country [with stamp collectors] but it's not Estonia," says

Hovsepian.

AIM APRIL

2OOO

An exhibition of wax models from the of the St. Petersburg Museum

collection

opened in Yerevan's Museum of Russian Art in February. Twenty six waxworks including Leonardo da Vinci and Peter the Great were on display. The Museum of Russian Art, near the Cascade stairs in the center of Yerevan, began as a private collection and has become a popular stop for serious visitors.

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By J0HN HUGHES

he only thing right about this day is the rain. It is meant to be a somber occasion and the Yerevan skies have made

so.

I pay 40 drams to catch the Metro and at Barekamutian Station buy a $3 umbrella, then

join the one body of thousands moving down Kievian Street, across Suicide Bridge, past the Sports and Concert Complex where a poster announcing a Russian pop star has

neon tones inappropriate

for

mourners

approaching the Genocide Monument. We all carry flowers. Big bunches of thick green with bursts ofpurple are a popular sell. And of course carnations. It is custom to always carry an even number when they are to lay at a tomb. Television cameras are aimed on the procession, but the filled streets and sidewalks suggest no one is home to watch. The concrete path is wider than necessary most days, but today it is too narrow, too short

and so the crowd spills onto the sides and impatient children thoughtless of sobriety

dart into the muddy shoulders and around police officers presumably stationed to prohibit disorder. It is, naturally, an uphill walk. Monuments and cemeteries are always uphill. And in this country, churches. As if the humble act of showing allegiance or saying a prayer were

incomplete without humility of the body as well. Or as if the burden of those who suffered

day's lesson, simple and disturbing.

immeasurably might somehow be eased by the slight inconvenience to those who honor them.

of anything is unfathomable. One million bod-

Some have turned the day into a forum for banners: demanding recognition, vowing never again; pledging to not forget an act of horror by which these are shaped. I look through the raindrops and under the umbrellas into the faces in this line and try to imagine the death march of ancestors to whom nearly every person in this group is linked. Did it ever rain while their ancestors fled on the road from Suedije to Damlajik? Did impatient children in l9l7 break out of line and run around policemen to reach an end that was coming soon enough? Do flowers grow in Musa Dagh and do they bloom more brightly watered with blood? There is time for contemplation in this slow march. It is what the day is for. And so in this line among those whose obligation is to stand in the rain to the glory of massacred relatives, thoughts tum to the imponderable: How could the evil that caused this day only two generations ago have such little place in the conscience of most of the world outside this line? I am standing here having always defined "genocide" and "holocausf' as what German Nazis did to the Jews. History classes were incomplete accounts, waiting maybe for this AIM APRIL

2OOO

I hy to imagine one million. And one million

million souls loosed into nothingness? No. Altered history is more easily accepted.

ies? One

Numbers and plain facts are disputed by revisionist historians who would cover the sins oftheir fathers in denial. I understand, coming from ancestors who themselves perpetrated the American Indian "Trail of Tears" and who justified ttrat atrocity by claiming that their victims would be "happier on reservations." But there are no revisionists in this line. In this line of those who are certain of their pasts, I remember talking to anArmenian sociologist who worried over the effects of her country's "genocide-based" history. "Feelings of victimization become part of our self, our life," the professor said. I am looking for that in this line. Looking for tears, for outcry for crippling sadness. I am looking for too much. Foras much as there is meaning in the day, there is, too, a sense of function - a formality, this, like standing in line to vote, or for kerosene rations. Something that must be done. Put on your good clothes, dress the soldiers in parade wear, let the politicians go flrst. Place your flowers near the flame, then move on. You make the walk today andApril 24s to come. You make it by rote. You make it, for it is part ofwho you

are.

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