Armenians by Choice - August 1998 by Armenian International Magazine

AUGUST

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AUGUST 1998

9, NO.7

DEPARTMENTS .j:i,it;r,riiili,rini

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4 5 7 10 11

Editor's Note Letters to the Editor

View Notebook Bytes on File

44 58

Faces

Other People's Mail

59 Cyberpages 60 Underexposed 62 Essay

NATION

Cover Story - The changing measures of Armenianness A new generation of non-Armenian spouses redefine cultural identity.

- Armenians-by choice - discuss their involvement and activities in community and national affairs.

ABCs

A Working Visit to Armenia

Delayed Acknowledgment

World famous philanthropist Kirk Kerkorian's visit to Armenia brings billions of good for Armenia's infrastructure, image and confidence.

lnternational Non-Covernmental Organizations provide humanitarian and social services in an internationally unrecognized republic.

French National Assembly's recognition of the Armenian Genocide sours French-Turkish relations.

28 ln the Line of Dutv

ifi the Armenian armed forces attempt to rebuild lost social landmarks after the war. M.en.a.nd women serving

ECONOMY

Mix of Hollywood and modern haute couture

A haircut at John Sahag's salon in Manhattan costs $t50, but the hairstylist of the stars will do the job himself for $300.

Big Companies come to Armenia

Will privatization of major enterprises enhance Armenia's integration into world economic market? The debate and political implications of denationalization of Armenia's industry continues.

CONNECTIONS

Faith in a fragmented land

Harry Hagopian discusses the status of the Christian Churches in the Holy Land and the political dilemmas they face. Armenia's Olympic athletes train alongside gazing cattle at dilapidated sports facility that once was the crown jewel of Soviet Olympic training. Will they make it to Sydney in 2000?

American Dreamer

She's young, she's a woman and she's running for US Congress on the Green ticket. Can Maria Armoudian really be Armenian?

PO RTS

Navasartian Games

Thousands of athletes, scouts and spectators participate in the closing ceremonies of Homenetmen's largest sports event.

MUSIC

Mulan's Mom

lf you are among the millions who have seen Disney's new animated fea

ture, then you have heard the singing voice of Arminae Azarian. COVER DESIGN 8Y RAFFI TARPINIAN

Armenia's rare and endangered flor species attract tourists from as far as Japan.

AIM (ISSN 1050-3471) is published monthly, $45 per yeai by The Fourth Millennium so.iety, 207 South Brand Eoulevard, Suite 203,Olendale,CA912M;Phone,(8181245-7979,F4:(818)2,16,0088. PeriodicalsPostagepaidatolendale,CAandadditional majling offices. Canada Post Publications Majl Product Sales A&eement No. 0515457. @ Copyilght'1998 by The Fourth Millennium Society. All rithts reserued. AIM may not tE rcproduced in any mannet either in whole or in part, without wftten permission from the publisher The editors are not responsible for unsolicited manurript5 or art unless a stamped, selr-addressed envelope is enclosed- Opinions expressed in signed articles do not necessadly represent the views of The Fourth Millennium Society. Foradvertisingqueriescall:1-818'245-7979.Sub$riptionratesfor12issues,US:$45,Foreitnt$55.Postmasters: Send address chantes to AlM, PO. Box 3296, Manhattan Beach, CA 90255, U.S.A.

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Michael Nahabet

Armenian lnternational Magazine

No day at AIM is ever boring. But some days are simply amazing. We had several of those days this month. Here's one of them. A minister from Alabama or Louisiana (or one of those southern US states where one thinks there are no Armenians) called early in the moming to subscribe. "Ijust received your beautiful magazine," he said, "and I'm glad you sent it to me, I didn't know Armenia had a new president." This was already July, and we, too, were glad he found out. Kristen Kidd, an emmy-award winning news writer and producer whose byline you have seen on several profiles, came in to say that Executive Chef Carrie Nahabedian of the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills (whom she had just interviewed) had agreed to a photo shoot. That meant save two color pages in the September issue. On the way to the "story wall" in our little office, the telephone rang. It was Anais Deragopian and Alex Sarkissian. Anais is an architect who lives in Vancouver. During a weekend visit to Los Angeles, she had managed to interview Vano Haritunians, Frank O. Gehry & Associates, and the manager on most Gehry projects. The interview had just ended, and she and Alex, whose photographs sometimes appear in AIM, were delighted with the results. Save two more color pages for September. While Parik Nazarian was downloading and cataloging the batch of photographs which had been electronically sent from Yerevan on Kirk Kerkorian's visit, I sent out a request for a brief interview with Armenia's very savvy and generous benefactor about his history-making trip to Armenia. Mr. Kerkorian's long-time associate and President of the Lincy Foundation, Jim Aljian, called with the necessary information. This was followed an hour later by Kerkorian himself who wanted to make it quite clear that unlike an earlier report by the Associated Press, he wasn't born in Armenia (which we knew). They both also wanted it known in no uncertain terms that Kerkorian's first visit to Armenia just a few weeks earlier had been very good, very positive and Kerkorian had left very hopeful and optimistic. Since actions speak louder than words, and Mr. Kerkorian's actions in Yerevan amounted to nearly a quarter of a billion dollars in commitments, it was quite evident that Mr. Kerkorian's visit to Armenia had

2o7 south Brand Blvd. Suite 203 Glendale, CA 912o4, USA Tel: 818 246 7979 Faxi 81 8 245 0088 E-mail: aim4m@well.com EDITOR-PUBTISHER

salpi Haroutinian Ghaarian ASSOCIATE EDITOR

A. H. Alexandrian, Yerevan SENIOR EDITOR

Tony Halpin, London PRODUCTION AND PHOTO MANAGER Parik Naarian

AND PRODUCTION Hartoonian/DigiLith Craphics lnc.

DESIGN Ray

ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR Dania Ohanian SUBSCRIPTIONS

MANAGER

Seta Khodanian INTER.NS

Karine Avedissian, Sonig Krikorian ADVERTISING

Raffl Ohanian, Meline Ounjian

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Anahit Martirossian DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Vahan Stepanian

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Gohar Sahakian

been only good.

Just when you thought things couldn't get better, the phone rang.

was

only 6:30 in the afternoon, after all. It was Congressman Patrick Kennedy in Los Angeles for a brief visit as part of his re-election campaign. The Congressman had recently returned from Armenia where he, too, had had nothing but good experiences. Well, almost all good. Kennedy, true to his family's commitment to the well-being of the mentally retarded and the physically disabled, had made inquiries into the situation of these two very vulnerable groups in Armenia, and what he found was not good. He agreed to speak at length about

this in an upcoming AIM article, and said that through the Special Olympics Committee, headed by his cousin Timmy Shriver, funds will be allocated to Armenia for their own Special Olympics participation. Finally, just to cap off the day, Administrative Director Dania Ohanian had just taken a call from folk dance specialist Tom Bozigian who wanted to subscribe. How had he heard about AIM, she asked. He had just returned from a visit to Armenia and had seen it there, he told her. Dania, who had just compiled last month's financial figures, said the numbers clearly showed that subscriptions (and especially renewals) are increasing at wonderful rates. There you have it. Makes you want to come work here, doesn't it?

Sylva Dakessian, Sarkis Shmavonian, Ronald Grigor Suny, Jivan Tabibian,

Hratch Tchilintirian, Taline Voskeritchian

CONTRIBUTORS Artashes Emin, ,ohn HuAhes, Yerevan; Susan Pattie, London; Ara Chouliian, Hrag

Variabedian, Los Angeles; ranet Samuelian, Palm Springs; Mark Malkasian, Rhode lsland: Ceorge Bournoutian, Lola Koundakjran, New York; Myriam Gaume, Paris; Moorad Mmradian, W6hin$on, DC; Vartan Matiossian, Buenos Aires. PHOTOGRAPHERS Mkhitar Khachatrian, zaven Khachikian, Rouben Mangasarian, Yerevan; Aline Manoukian, Armineh./ohannes, Paris; Edmond Terakopian, London; Karine Armen, Kevork Diansezian, Raffi Ekmekji, Eri( Ndaian, Los Angeles; Caro Lachinian, Maryland; Ardem Aslanian, New Jerseyi Harry Koundakjian, New York, Eerte Ara Zobian, Rhode lsland.

EDITOR EMERITUS charles Naarian EDITORIAL CONSULTANT Minas Kojaian

ARCENTINA:

552 1690

Colegio Mekhitarista, Vitrey del Pino 351 1 (1 426) Buenos Aires, Phone 541 CANADA: Rdmig Hakimian. 5595 Henri Bourass West, Monkeal, PQ, H4R

2E'1, Phone 514 339 2517. UNITED AMB EMIMTES: Sebouh Armenagian, PO.8ox 3000, Sha4ah, UAE, Phone9l1 6331 361; Gulizarronian, PO. Box 44564, Abu Dhabi, UAE, Phona971 2775721,Fax971 2 775 191 . UNITED KINGDOM: Misak Ohanian, 1O5A Mill Hill Road, Acton, London W38lt, Phone081 992 4521 . ITAIY Piere Balanian, Ma Modacca, 61 A4l5, Rome, Phone 995 '1235 . HONC KONG: ,ack Mdian, RM. A2, 11ll Elock A, 25 Kai Cheung Rd., Kowloon 8ay, Kowloon, Phone 852 795 9888 . AIJSTMIIA: Varooi lskenderian, 148 Koola Ave. East Killara NSw,207'l Phone02.9251 2882i Alfred Markariin, PO. Box 370, Hails Park NSW 2'150, Phone 029897 1845; Vahe Kateb

PO. 8ox 250, Port Melbourne, Mctoria 3207, Phone 03 9794 0009.

WRITE TO AIM! we welcome all communication. Althouth we read all lette6 and submissions, we are unable to acknowledge everything we receive due to limited staffing and resources. Lefters to the Editor may be edited for publication.

AIM

AUGUST

1998

and I

will continue to support your efforts

Pride to be an Armenian needs to be reassured in the youth with better articles that we are

Best regards,

interested in. Lets be realistic. we don't care about communism, democracy or politics for that matter. And by the way, who the hell is Nune !(Music, April/May I 998).

Mark Vah6 Galoustian Los Angeles, California

Religion and religious institutions

Assassinations

Mr. Tchilingirian wrote about

the

of Khoren Catholicos by the Communists (Religion, April-May 1998). They committed much more. But why assassination

didn't mention the

assassination of

Archbishop Tourian in New York.? I have a strange feeling about AIM! Edward Tasian Houston, Texas

Tchilingirian

Armenian Airmen Grateful that you wrote about "us,"

the American Armenian

Airmen's Association (Notebook, July 98). I would like to provide you with some follow-up information. Since Grigor and Roobik made that marvelous climb to that crashed B-24 over four years ago, we have formed a marvelous group of Armenian aviation

career professionals, students, enthusiasts, and hobbyists from all different backgrounds and ages. I'm very proud of all our accomplishments so far, and it has been done in a very short time. Our members are Armenians from around the world with various back-

grounds in aviation and aerospace. I'm particularly proud of our female members and members from Armenia. One of our female members is an aircraft mechanic and pilot. Roubina is a wonderful example for all of us. Her drive and determination gained respect and full admiration. The current president of the AAAA has inspired such projects as helping the families of killed pilots in Armenia and providing tools to Armenia's aviation academy.

I'm one of the original members who

started this wonderful organization. I received Grigor's letter at my work, then at the Califomia Highway Patrol helicopter unit in Thermal CA, inviting me to

AAAA. I was overjoyed at the At last, I could get together with other Armenians who had a common interest in aviation. Soon we will cele-

brate our second anniversary. Thank you AlM. I like your magazine

the survival of our nation depends on us, the younger generation and unfortunately you are losing us.

Dareh Kooumchian Sydney, Australia

dis cus se s the as sas s i-

nation of Archbishop Ghevont Tourian in the context of the history of the Armenian Church in North America in " 100 years In America"(Cover Story, June 1998).

I would like to congratulate you together with the reporters who gave us the cover story in the February issue of your (should I say our) excellent magazine. I

am writing this letter to express my

appreciation for your well-written article about the new Armenian singing sensation, Nune Yesayan-also known as the Armenian Madona. I really enjoyed reading the article (Music, April-May 1998) because it gave a deeper perspective of where she comes from and why it is that

for some reason her singing has captured so many people's hearts, including mine. After realizing what she has been through and the obstacles that she had to overcome in order to reach the point that she has reached now, I believe she deserves every bit of praise and recognition that she gets. I was recently in Glendale for a visit when I first saw her perform live, which made me like her as a singer even more since she seemed to have this amazing ability to just capture one's attention and not let go. Her modern renditions of old folk songs are masterpieces which as you noted in your article is a really good way of getting the younger Armenian generation to keep in tune with their musical cultural heritage.

regularly read the Armenian language in none of them do I find such complete coverage of an issue. Not until I read newspapers, but

the fine articles

of your talented reporters cover-

ing the presidential resignation, did I fully understand what really went on in Armenia, both behind the scenes and in the open.

also commend the benefactory donors of

AIM for their patriotic vision and making publication possible. Their generosity will

this certainly help the Armenian public to be more conscious of their national issues and hopefully this will become a trend and spread to the general population and enable AIM to attain new levels of excellence.

Keep up the good work. Stepan Kassabian

Montreal, Canada

It's amazing haw a small group of

people

working on a strictly limited budget are capable

of publishing AIM with its high journalistic standards, worldwide news coverage, in-depth reports and many other great features.

am sure a lot of devotion and hard work

have something to do with it.

Name withheld upon request

help start

idea.

have

played a vital role in the survival of Armenians as a race to this day, but this is also something of total disinterest for Armenian youth today. Your magazine has become "tired" iust like every other Armenian organization or Dashnak institutions in the diaspora which have failed to move and adjust with the times.

Your magazine fails to recognize one very important target market, the youth. I don't think you recognize the importance of your magazine as the main lifeline that connects the whole Diaspora.

AIM

AUGUST

1998

There

also the mental satisfaction of

knowing you do your share in keeping the diaspora together and alive. Good luck to you all. Henry A. Sarkissian Los Angeles, California

The Fourth Millmnium Society is an independently lunded and administered the disseminalion

lim

publiccharily committed to

ol inlorrotion lor lhe purposeol dweloping an inlorred public. Undepinnin0all ourtro* isthe

conviction ltul the vital ity ol an independent press is lundamental to a democralic

society in

Amnia

and

demc

cralic inslitutions in the Di6poo. The Fouih Millennium Smiety publishes Amenian lnternational Magaine in its

ello( t0 conkibute lo lhe Mtional dialogle. Tle dirccloE

Humane Prisons

Friends

Armnians and Ameniahrouoh

I was impressed by the depth and scope of AIM's feature articles "Living Behind Bars" and "Female Inmates of Abovian" (Connections, July 1998). More significant, however, than the informative value of these articles were the humanitarian views of the Director of the Women's Prison, Major Yura Jamalian, and the Director

uls

THB

FOIRTH

are gratelul

to the BenelacloB,

TIustees, Palrons and

the F0urlh Millennium Soci8ly who arc committed to the welFbeing, groMh and developmef,l ol the promotion ol open discussion and the lree llow ol inl0rmtion amono individ-

and or06niat,ons. Their linancial contributions supp0rl the work ol lhe Founh Millennium Sociâ&#x201A;Źly and ensure

indeosden@olAlM.

Michael NahaM, Balli Zinalian, Dirmlors.

MITTBNNTIM S0CIBIY, Inc.

of the Men's'

Prison, Hagop Manucharian.

Their views were in sharp contrast to what happens in California. I simply wanted the Directors to know that out in the broad reaches of our far flung Diaspora , there are Armenians who appreciate humanitarian views. The thoughtfulness and sensitivity of how Armenian prisoners are dealt with in Armenian prisons is in sharp contrast to what in the United States. was especially moved by Jamalian's

happens

the women prisoners, "They're Armenians aren't they?" Equally

comment about

touching was the comment made by Director Manucharian who bent the rules so that a prisoner could have more than one visit a month from his mother bringing food stuffs to him. "He's your son, it is your duty," the Director told the mother who came weekly and allowed her to bring sugar and butter to her prisoner

D|REGT0RS'98 Shahen Hairapetian, Armen Hampar, Zaven Khanjian, Michael Nahabet, Alex Sarkissian, Bob Shamlian, Jivan Tabibian, Raffi Zinzalian.

BEXEFAGTOBS Sarkis Acopian, Hirair Hovnanian, The Lincy Foundalion, Louise Manoogian Simone

SEIIOB IRIISTEES

IUSIBALIA:

Heros & Kate Dilanchian;

CltlF08lllA:

Khachig Babayan,

George & Flora Dunaians, George & Grace Kay, Joe & Joyce Stein;

GAllAltA:

Razmig Hakimian, Kourken Sarkissian;

ll0llG l01lG: Jack Maxian

FOUXIIIXG IRI'STEES

AUSTRAIIA: Varoolan lskenderian; GAtlF0BlllA: Garen Avedikian, Mardo Kaprielian, Edward Misserlian, Bob Movelt, Varoujan Nahabet, Norair Oskanian, Emmy Papazian, Zareh Sarkissian, Rafli Zinzalian;

FL0BlllA:

Hagop Koushakjian

PEllllSYIVAlllA: Zarouhi Mardikian ASSOGIATE IRUSIEES

Araxie M. Haroutinian, Ralph and Savey Tufenkian

son.

Many in Armenia think everything in the United States is wonderful, but the reality is to the contrary. This article points out that the Armenian system is the more humane and more respectful of the individual than the one in California. These attitudes must be recognized and encouraged. Walter Karabian Los Angeles, California

As an elected member of the Califurnia Legislature in the 1970s, Walter Karabian was Chairman of the Select Committee on Prisons appointed by State Assembly Speaker Bob Moretti.

PATROilS AUSTBATIA

CAUF0RIIIA (cont.)

GA1'AIIA

Arman and Nairi Derderian

Walter and Laurel Karabian

Migirdic and Ani Migirdicyan

George and Vartouhi Tavoukjian

Kevork and Satenig Karajerjian

Artin Etmekjian

Nishant and Sona Kazazian

CYPRUS

John and Rose Ketchoyan

Garo Keheyan

GAL!FORIIA

Gary and Sossi Kevorkian

Mihran and Elizabeth Agbabian

Zaven and Sona Khanlian

IIATY

Garabed Akpolat

Krikor Krikorian

Krikor and Harout lstanbulian

Armand and Nancy Arabian

Dora Serviarian Kuhn

Vartkes and Jean Barsam

Avik Mahdesian

tEBAXoil

Harry and Alvart Barseghian

Stepan and Erdjanik Markarian

Kevork Bouladian

Berj and Hera Boyajian

Harout and Rita Mesrobian

Hagop and Violet Dakessian Ardash and Marian Derderian

Dimitri and Tamara Dimitri Steve and Lucille Estephanian

l'"

Alice Navasargian

Alex Manopiant

Kenneth and Cindy Norian Rafi

lullclllGAt George Chamchikian

0urfalian

Manoushag Fermanian

Michael and Hermine Piranian

ilEUAOA

Gagik and Knar Galstian

Alex Sarkissian

Larry and Seda Barnes

Vahan and Audrey Gregor

Robert and Helen Shamlian

Pierre and Alice Haig

Petros and Garine Taglyan

TEUT YORI(

Armen and Gloria Hampar

Ara and Avedis Tavitian

Hany and Aida Koundakjian

Arpiar and Hermine Janoyan

Gaidzag and Dzovig Zeitlian

Vahe Nishaniant

Subscribe to

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Jasmine Mgrdlchian Edward and

FRlEiltS 0F Altrl The Fourth Millennium Society is grateful t0 the following lor

contributing during the last month to help secure AlMs financial future.

CAI-lF0RlllA: Michael & Teni Smooke;

AIM AUGUST 1998

llllllAllA:

Ratfy and

Vicki Hovanessian

Selling Off the Big Ones rivatization, de-nationalization, investments, free-market

pletely privatized land and small enterprises. By April 1998,

1,381 enterprises and 6,278 small businesses (out of 7,000) had been privatized. State property has been purchased for a total of

are among the most complex and misunderstood terms

virlually all the newly independent states. Like chemotherapy which introduces drastic and painful changes in the body even while trying to save it, the introduction of free-

99.5bn Dram, with more than

market economics brought major pain (together with some good and the promise of more). All of this came with many

about 87,000 vouchers remain in circulation. So, when at the beginning of this year, four of the l6 medium and large enterprises earmarked by the government for privatization in 1998 at international tender were on their way to

unexpected and often undesired side effects. Despite the many "life and death" challenges which com-

pounded Armenia's already troubled economic transitionearthquake, blockade and war-Armenia was among the first countries in the former Soviet republics to start the process of -privatization, the first step to a free market economy. By 1992, it had successfully completed land privatization, turning over 840,000 acres of agricultural land to the farmers. Armenian and

foreign experts have since said that was what saved Armenia from famine in the difficult energy-starved war years which followed. ln 1992, Armenia's law on privatization and de-nationalization of state-owned enterprises encouraged the involvement of the entire population of Armenia in the process. The government issued and distributed 3.2 million vouchers to the population, one voucher per person, with a face value of $20 (in 1992) for the first phase of privatization which lasted until 1995. However, things did not go as planned. Coming out of a state-controlled economy was not easy. Economic stagnation and low living standards forced 90 percent ofthe population to sell their vouchers. The government's calculations and estimates were substantially off target. For example, in 1996, cash payments for privatization represented only one percent of the total investment. The receipts for the state budget from privatization were 221 mlllion Dram (US $534,000) instead of the planned 3.5 billion Dram (US $8.4 million).

Despite these shortcomings, Armenia has almost comr-

6lbn Dram worth paid with pri-

vatization vouchers and 38.3bn Dram

in cash. Today only

being transferred, the population began to look at the whole process with more than a bit of skepticism and lots of emotion. ArmenTel was sold to the Greeks, the Cognac Factory to the French. Armenia Hotel and Mars enterprise appear to be heading towards takeovers by Diaspora Armenians (see page 34). The de-nationalization of these major enterprises-howev-

er emotional they may be, for example the selling of the Armenian brandy factory caused controversy and debate espe-

cially among political opportunists-is necessary if Armenia's economy is to compete on the global market. Without major investments, privatization will be a failure. Buying a factory is one thing, turning it into a functioning and profitable workplace is another. Investors look for several important things in a country: political security, a free trade environment and incentives, some cornmitments and guarantees by the government; and finally, a sense that at the end of the day they are making money. The aggressive engagement of the Armenian government in investment projects is hopeful. However, everyone, EVERYONE, still talks (on and off the record) about the lack of a sufficiently "business friendly" environment, the lack of a logical tax policy, and most importantly, the unrealistic expectations of a cash-strapped government. There is clearly a long way to go. Yet, the current pace and energy are hopeful signs for Armenia.

First the Green, Then the Gold 7T!*q of the areas in which the Soviet Union excelled! sports and the afis-are in a shambles all over the forI -e. empire. Armenia is no exception. The arts institute

is not the prestigious academy it once was, nor are artists free to paint and give their paintings to each other and to friends as

they have done in the past. Yerevan homes are often like mini art galleries, as much a documentary of a person's life and friendships, as of the differing art styles of the last decades. Still, for those for whom art is life, painting and sculpting go on even without sponsors.

AIM AUGUST I998

v I

But what do athletes do? Without equipment and trainers, where do wrestlers practice and weightlifters train? Moreover, without funding and organization, how to they participate in the international competitions which are both training ground and stage?

No one who watched the Olympics of 1992 and 1996 can forget the thrill and pride at seeing the tricolor fly high. Of course, in Yerevan in 1992, there was no electricity, and so no one even remembers if an Armenian won in that first Olympics after independence. But everyone remembers that Armen Nazarian came away with the Gold in Atlanta in 1996.

If Armenians expect the same thrills in Sydney in the year 2000, they'd better think again. Or, they'd better begin thinking now. Even those who get their exercise by watching television know that winning athletes have to be in serious training now if they expect to see any shiny metals two years hence. What is perhaps not so well known is that the international competitions which determine a country's standing coming into the Olympic games are also taking place now. The financial and organizational limitations of Armenia's Olympics Committee (see page 48) can mean disaster for the year 2000. Gymnasiums and training centers are boarded up.

Playing fields have turned into grazing fields. Armenia's winning athletes are leaving for other countries where conditions are not so tough that the pure act of living requires major physical prowess. In Eastern European and Middle Eastern countries, these athletes are compensated far better than the Republic of Armenian can afford, and offered quick citizenship. Seven of Armenia's top athletes are already gone. Will they come back? Maybe. The financial and organizational capacities of the Armenian Diaspora can save the situation. Not only is there a

large community in Sydney, Australia, the site of the next games, but there is also a store of organizing and fundraising experience leftover from Atlanta. Those Armenian Americans who were instrumental in supporting Armenia's athletes (ablebodied and disabled) two years ago, are prepared to do so again

given the right guidance and inspiration. The Armenians of Sydney were among the first to respond to the needs of the independent republic. They will come through again. Someone on each continent had better pick up the telephone soon and coordinate this great resource called the Diaspora. Otherwise, in 2000, there will not be any gold. No red, blue or orange either.

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NOTEBOOK HIS LIFE'S A STAGE

UNITED DIOCESE?

Sos Sargsian, 68, the actor who made a nation cry in such memorable roles as Shakespeare's Othelo, the tsarist officer Zirnzimov in Gabriel Sundukian's Bebo, Don Quixote in the 1968 Russian version, ran for president in 1991, as the candidate of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutiun. No sooner were the elections over (Sargsian had received four percent of the vote) he returned to the stage. Without government moneys for filmmaking, the only venue available to him and others like him was the theater stage. Sargsian founded and became artistic director of the Hamazkaine Theater Group, funded and supported by the Hamazkaine Cultural Association headquartered in Lebanon, with chapters throughout the Diaspora. Now in its seventh year, the theater group's repertory this season includes Moliere's Tartuffe, Saroyan's A Cup of Kindness and Oscarby Claude Maniet, as well as three children's pieces. In December 1997, thenPresident Levon Ter Petrossian,

Sargsian's erstwhile opponent, decorated

the actor with

the

order of Mesrob Mashtots.

Recently, Sargsian

was

appointed rector of the Armenian State Institute for Performaing Arts, where he is also a professor of theater.

In an interview with AIM (April-May 1998), when speaking about the protracted administrative schism in the Armenian Church, Catholicos Aram I made it very clear that it is ultimately up to the people to decide the question of "church unity." When asked about the role of the hierarchy and who is going to take the first step, His Holiness said: "Antelias came here not to divide the people, but to serve the people. If the people whom we are serving tell us thank you very much for what you did, the next day Antelias will go back to Antelias." Recently, the "people" spoke and threw the "church unity" ball in Anteliasrs court. The National Representative Assembly of the Prelacy, meeting in Watertown, Massachusetts-April 29-May l-passed a resolution that said: "Whereas the issue of the administrative unity of the Prelacy and the Diocese of the Eastern United States requires the involvement, participation and approval of the Holy See of Etchmiadzin and Antelias, and whereas genuine unity can only be advised as the communities centered around the Prelacy and Diocese churches work together, to strengthen cooperation and internal trust on the path of community integration; be it resolved, that future unity meetings should follow agreement on these issues between the Holy See of Etchmiadzin and Antelias, and be it further resolved, that until then we encourage the Prelacy parishes in the United States and Canada to continue to seek genuine cooperation with their Diocesan counterparts in the spirit of Christian fellowship and national solidarity." What this means is that, after thirty years of on-and-off negotiations between the Prelacy and the Diocese, the problem goes back to "square one." Frustrated by the impasse, the Diocese during its annual Diocesan Assembly meeting in New York in early May, passed a resolution that read: "Whereas, the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America has made every effort to implement the joint unity guidelines of 1982, which were reaffirmed in 1989 by the Diocesan and Prelacy Assemblies; and whereas, over the past year there has been no progress in bringing about unifyl we believe that the time is now and our people are ready for one united diocese under the supreme ecclesiastical jurisdiction of

the Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians at Holy Etchmiadzin; therefore, be it resolved that the Diocese through

its Unity

Committee move forward

to complete the unity

process when the Prelacy is prepared to proceed in implement-

ing the 1982 unity

guidelines." The Diocesan Assembly affirmed that they "look to the direction and blessings" of both Catholicoses Karekin I and Aram I, "for the unification of the Armenian Church in America." The Prelacy "resolution" clearly puts the responsibility on the Catholicosate of Cilicia to resolve the diocesan division in North America with the Catholicosate of Holy Etchmiadzin. Catholicos Aram I said in AIM: "We as church leaders, have a prophetic role: to challenge, to remind, to citicize, to lead, to facilitate." Now that the "people" have made their wishes clear, perhaps, it is time for the church leadership to resolve the schism in North America once and for all. By Hratch Tchilingirian

AIM

AUGUST 1998

Number of people in Turkey who died in unsolved murders in'1997:

CHARENTS lOO In his lifetime, poet Yeghishe Charents (1897-1937) was fond of Armenian brandy. It was still called cognac then. The author of a dozen volumes of bold, powerful verse (including Yerkir Nairi) was finally sent to Siberia for his daring pen.

One hundred years later, the poet's admirers marked his anniversary with celebrations. In Armenia, they were held officially through the efforts of a special government committee. In the Diaspora, organizations and individuals revived his work, stories about his life, and his tragic death. Individuals, too, contributed to the celebrations. With the help of art historian and critic Sarukhan Sarukhanian and sculptor and ceramicist Arevshat Avagian, Hratch Djerrahian and his brother Vahan embarked upon the development of a collector's series of 20-year-old Nairi cognac in 1.2 liter ceramic jugs.

109 Number of villages and hamlets evacuated:

23 Number of Turkish associations, trade unions, press agencies and political parties closed:

153 Number of Armenian enterprises earmarked by the government for interna-

tional tender:

Vahan is married to Charents'granddaughter Gohar, and they

Iive in Holland. From there, they collaborated with Hratch in

Number of those actually privatized:

London and the artists in Yerevan to produce a very limited number of Charents Centenary Brandy decanters. Earlier in 1997, Armenia had issued commemorative coins in Charents'honor, too. What will 1998 bring? Hratch Djerrahian says he may pursue this idea of a line of commemorative items.

Amount in pounds, of pistachios, purchased monthly by California's Panos Pastry:

500 Number of scheduled weekly routes operated by Armenian Airlines:

30 Number of those routes which connect Armenia to Europe:

6 Ranking of religious books among biggest selling books in Yerevan today: 1

Number of Armenians present at the first Armenian church service in Argentina (in 19',12):

85 Number of Armenians who participated in elections for a church board in Diyarbakir, Turkey, in 1997:

20 Number of women among the newlyelected five-member board: 3

tnfo-Turk, Lrapet Kilise Bulteni, AravoL BBC, Haratch, AIM Research

COVER STORY

I Iransnational Gulture and ldentities By

lffilSlEll lffilll and HRATCH IGHltll{GlRlAl{

fntermarriage by Armenians has

been frowned upon.

usually

small enough

Ination,

enough have been lost to massacre or assimilation, no need to lose any more went popular wisdom. So, when John O'Connor of Massachusetts coined the term to refer to himself and others like him, he didn't realize that he wasn'tjust using a new term to describe the same old "Hye Pesa" or "Hars", but rather, a new kind of non-Armenian spouse. Perhaps out of a sense of guilt, many Armenians who married non-Armenians made

special effort

teach their

spouses

Armenian, keep their children particularly close to Grandma. Ironically, second and third generation Armenians themselves often had

trouble remembering the language or keeping their children close to Grandpa's history and values. As sociologists will tell you, the second generation has to make a conscious choice to maintain its ethnic identity. The purposeful

many such ABCs. So many, in fact, that we will be regularly highlighting them in the FACES section of this magazine.

Hopeful heir to a Kennedy throne JOHN O'COI\NOR Candidate

for

US Congress

When it became clear that no Kennedys would be running for Massachusetts' 8th Congressional District, John T. O'Connor,

activist and "Armenian By Choice" threw his hat into the ring. O'Connor is the man credited with coining the phrase ABC. "I like to joke with my

was

easy falling in love

with

friends and say

the Armenian communi-

ty because I fell in love with my wife Carolyn

pass the "Superfund"

toxic waste site clean-up

bill through Congress and the White House, a time when the political climate was much more friendly to big business than to the environment. "So I will tell you I'm a slightly different breed from people who enter so-called politics. I'm a lifetime fighter and I've actually beaten the big oil companies." O'Connor's successful battle was inspired by his own experience with poisonous pollution. "I grew up in Stratford, Connecticut, in back of the second largest asbestos company in the world. They had a lake of solvents that ran underneath our neighborhood. They also built a baseball diamond right on the toxic site, and they sponsored our Little League baseball team. As a child I thought it was pretty normal for five or six of my childhood playmates to get cancer," O'Connor recalled in an impassioned tone. "This corporation knew that their asbestos was killing us and didn't tell any of us." That early outrage toward a corporate mentality that puts profit before public health made a lifelong impres-

sion on this descendant immigrants. Two years ago he coauthored a book called

of Irish

development ofthat identity is even a tougher decision. In that environment, the active

Mugar. I have not only found out how wonderful Armenian people are,

involvement

because they have

fighting spirit and

People, Politics and the

sense

Struggle for a Solar Economy (Chelsea

taught me what being an American was about."

Green, 1996). The book O'Connor's ideas on shifting America from an economy reliant on fossil fuels to

choice

participate and contribute to the

non-Armenian

becomes quite noticeable

spouses

No longer is it eating pilaf and

saying Armenianness.

barev a sufficient measure of The new generation of non-Armenian spouse really is an ABC-Armenian by choice-consciously, actively contributing to community projects and goals, often in ways beyond what

Armenian, burdened by generations of victimization may not be able to do. The ABCs profiled here, each from a different walk of life, are featured now on the occasion of John O'Connor's run for US Congress-he did coin the term after all. But they are not unique. From Bill Parsons at the an

US Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC, to businessman Dimitri Dimitri of Los Angeles, toArmen Haghnazarian in Germany. There are

Who Owns the

of human dignity that I believe is second to none, but they also

If you think

outlines

that

of a politician, he will be quick to disagree. Politician is one label O'Connor adamantly refuses to accept. "I think the difference sounds like the prose

between people like me and politicians is that I'm a fighter. I fought on a national and international stage, and we were actually able to get a bill through Congress when people said we were nuts for trying!" O'Connor is referring to his successful struggle in the 1980's to

AIM AUGUST

Sun?

1998

one which taps into solar power more heavily. "You know every time a Californian puts a solar panel on their roof they prevent money from going to Azerbaijan and the Middle Eastem oil thugs, and prevents their kids in Los Angeles from

getting urban asthma," O'Connor stated. Protecting the environment is one of O'Connor's top campaign issues. It's a cause he is championing both in America and Armenia.

) For example, 0'Connor and his wife Carolyn Mugar helped found the Armenian Tree Project, under the auspices of the

tunity for more than just the

42-year-old activist since only the top vote-getter will win the chance to run against the Republican candidate in November. "I'm notjust going to go down there and vote the right way for Armenians," O'Connor pointed out. "I'm going to be leading an effort to try to stop Turkish aid, I'm going to be leading an effor1 to say that we shouldn't reward thugs or people who kill their joumalists, and their students and their activists, and we should not be giving aid to people who don't recognize the Genocide. I'11 be damned if I'm going to let America put profits of oil companies before the sacred principals of self-deter-

mination and what

means

to be

American."

O'Connor sees saving the environment as a means of protecting Armenian heritage along with preserving the planet. "Armenians have got to broaden out the battle. We've got to take on big oil, we're going to take on the Turkish lobby and the Azerbaijani lobby, we've got to go for campaign finance laws, we've got to get

the big money out of American politics," O'Connor insists. If he is elected, O'Connor intends to take on his old adversary the oil industry. To begin with, O'Connor would like to see tax laws reformed. "Every time they spend $10 million dollars buying the foreign policy establishment and lobbyists we as taxpayers give the big oil companies tax deductions. We as tax payers give these guys an incentive to choke our sacred democracy. That has to stop!" O'Connor believes this is the key battle Armenian Americans must get behind. And he wants to lead the battle. To do so, he must win

the primary election on September 15, where he is up against several well-known

Democrats. O'Connor's campaign team is asking voters who are not Democrat to re-register for this primary in order to vote for O'Connor. The deadline to do so is August 26. If he is defeated next month it will be a missed oppor-

Joseph Stein's father and his future father-inlaw Stephen Philibosian met. The friendship grew over the years. And one day, after a Board meeting in New York,

Philibosian offered Rev. Dr. Stein and his son a ride back to Philadelphia, where Joseph Jr., once a seminary student, was attending college. Philibosian invited them to his house for dinner. "That's when I first met Joyce," Stein's

future wife. "We had chikofieh and shish kebab that night. This was my first introduction to Armenian goodies,' things he would come to love. Joseph and Joyce married

in 1954. After a two-year service in the army, Stein joined Stephen Philibosian's oriental rug business.

Armenian Assembly of America, to reforest the Armenian countryside. Already 100,000 new trees have been planted through the program.

was actively involved in helping the Armenian Turkey and Lebanon, that communities

He became fully immersed in Armenian

life. "I was introduced to the Armenian world

Like Father, Like Son-in-Law JOSEPH STEIN Business and real estate developer

"I am definitely an ABC. question about

There

mainly by my father-inJaw. It was a very natural and very happy introduction," states Stein without hesitation. "Joyce's father was actively involved in philanthropic activities with

it,"

declares Joseph Stein, business and real

estate developer and former president of the California State Board of Education. The Stein family's involvement with Armenians goes back Iong before Joseph Jr. was born. His father, a Congregational minister, had extensive contacts with Armenians in the

Middle East when he was a professor at the American University of Beirut (AUB) from 1921 to 1924. "This was the time when the Diaspora was still developing" explains Stein. "My father used to travel in the area and help the newly-established Armenian schools. He used to tell us stories about taking hot meals to the Armenians living in caves in Aleppo," he recalls.

It was through the Congregational Church's Board of Near East Missions, which

special interest

in education. He would

ask us

to help him with various projects and

would attend the numerous community events with him." For more than four decades now, Joseph Stein and his wife continue the work started by

Top: Hirair Hoynanian, Garolyn Mugat, Alice Petels at an Atmenian Assembly o, America svent. Bottgm: Joseph and Joyce Stein. AIM AUGUST

1998

C Stephen Philibosian. Joyce is the president

the Philibosian Foundation, established after her father's death in 1974, which distributes over $500,000 annually to various charities

and educational institutions mainly in Armenia and Lebanon. Recently, the Steins were honored

Haigazian University

by the

Beirut, during the

opening ceremonies of the Stephen Philibosian Student Center on campus. Philibosian was one of the visionary pioneers who conceived the idea of an Armenian college back in the late 1950s. Joseph Stein, in addition to perpetuating the philanthropic legacy ofhis father-in-law, is involved with numerous Armenian orgarrrizations and projects. He has served on the Boards of AMAA, the Armenian Assembly of America and is vice-president of United Armenia Fund (UAF). He is also involved with the Junior Achievement program in Armenia. In politics, he has help the campaign of a number of Armenian candidates, including Governor George Deukmejian and others. "I have been fortunate in life to have been

introduced to Armenians and consider it a privilege to be involved with the Armenian community," says Stein. "They've expanded my horizon in realizing what potential people have. It is amazing to me that after so much persecution and difficulty in their past, they still have so much impact on society, way beyond their numbers." Since 1988 Stein and his wife have instituted and helped various projects in Armenia, especially with orphans and education. "Now my thoughts turn to Armenia and Karabakh," says Stein, tenderly. "There is a tremendous amount of hope for this nation."

E R

Press 1993). It is a compilation gathered through conversations

of interviews

loving it; now there's almosl

with

nothing I won't eat."

100 survivors living in Southem California. The goal was to create a written resource for future his-

torical studies. Don and Loma Miller followed that project with another in which they concentrated on Armenians who had undergone experiences placing them in one of four categories: residents of Yerevan affected by the Tirkish and

Azerbaijani embargoes, refugees from Azerbaijan, earthquake survivors, and people who were widowed because of the Karabakh war. This second research project also produced a fascinating photo exhibit that was

shown

The Miller's two chil. dren, Shant and Arpie, have grown up with the best of

both

worlds. While they've

enjoyed all the privileges of life in America, they have also been taught very well about

their rich Armenian heritage.

Southem California, Washington

DC, New York and Boston. The exhibit, consisting of 3,000 black and white photographs taken by Boston-based photojournalist Jerry Bemdt, is now on display in Armenia. Miller is frequently asked to speak about

his experiences.

at the Holocaust Apnl 24 in 1994; that

Professor llonald E. tliller

spoke

Museum right around was quite an interesting experience." There is no question about Miller's commitment toward understanding and helping to express Armenian history to a largely unaware

guage."

public. "I feel, as sort of a garden patch American, that this was something that

Armenian, although he has a vocabulary of a few hundred words. "If I was better linguisti-

enriched me culturally, exposed me to a world I knew nothing about prior to my marriage,"

observed

Miller. "I have been incredibly

warmly welcomed by Armenians." Of course there were some raised eyebrows at the very beginning of the Millers' romance, "Initially I think my father-in-law was not keen on polluting the blood lines!" he laughed. "But I think my mother-in-law-to-be never raised any issues." Miller recalled a shift

"They did go to Armenian school for a couple years, so that was a self-conscious choice to

teach them about the culture," said Miller, "But somehow they never learned the lan-

Miller himself does not

speak

cally I would make an effort to learn, but I always had a readily available translator in Lorna," noted Miller. "I've enjoyed the sort of extended familial quality of belonging to an Armenian family." Like his children, most of all Miller has enjoyed the best of both worlds from his unique perspective, "I'm fortunate because I can take the identity on or off."

in his father-in-law's attitude as soon as it became obvious he and

The Voice of Survivors

DONALD MILLER Professor of Religion, USC

University of Southern Califomia professor of religion, Donald E. Miller, has been described by some as an ABC. He laughs at the acronym but accepts the label. "I would say I probably know a lot more about Armenian history than most Armenians do!" mused Miller, "I guess that would make me an ABC." After all, Miller and his wife Arax Lorna Touryan Miller have spent ye.us studying and researching Armenian history through

personal interviews

with

hundreds of

Genocide, war and earthquake survivors (see

AIM, April-May 1993). In 1993 the Millers published a book titled, Survivors: An Oral History of the Armenian Genocide (University of California

Lorna were

and patriotic leader, especially

Lcader ofthe Band

headed

toward marriage, "Once we became engaged he made it his mission to try to teach me about his culture, which I really respected." Lorna's father, Rev. Badveli Touryan, was a prominent

the

Armenian Evangetcal community, known for

GARY LIND.SINANIAN Curator at ALMA Few people in the US know more about traditional Armenian dance than Gary LindSinanian, co-curator of the Armenian Library

his active and passionate involvement in

Armenian affairs.

Watertown, Massachusetts. Lind-Sinanian has spent more than 20 years researching and

Their courtship also involved

some

humorous moments as Miller recalls, "The first few times I had dinner at my future in-

laws' Lorna's mother always fixed t-bone steaks. I couldn't understand that, but I later

found out that she thought that's what American boys ate." Miller admits his American palate required some adjustment it came to Armenian food, "The first time I was exposed to the cuisine, it was some kind of slimy eggplant in olive oil I think. I ttrought it was a little strange but I've ended up when

AIMAUGUST 1998

Museum

of America (ALMA)

teaching traditional Armenian

folk

dances

along with his wife Susan. Together they have collected nearly 200 village dances, which makes them highly sought after instructors, and a lot of fun at family picnics. "When we show up at a picnic, the band members always roll their eyes because they know they're going to have to play certain

music for us," Lind-Sinanian remarked. "It used to be the dancers set the tone. Now the band makes all the decisions. and the vocalist

TORY

it ever

another band member." This development does not stop

began through wordof-mouth connections that were not always

since.

Their

but also compiled a sizable list of "informants" as Lind-Sinanian (and sociologists) call them, who were known to be excellent dancers in their youth. "We looked at each

names,

is the focus rather than being just

research

other and said, what do we do now, give up on

finding these people? I said, are you kidding? This is fun!" So the newlyweds continued their quest and 21 years later, not only have they helped preserve an important part of

demanding

reliable, "I could tell you stories of wild

special music to

goose chases we went

dance by. They can usually persuade the band to break from

Sinanian, "we would drive seven hours to

Armenian culture, but they promote it as well.

New Jersey to

sively in North America and Europe. They frequently offer lecture seminars and demonstrations at ALMA where the public is invited to learn about the social context of certain village dances. Next month the couple will travel to Taipei, Taiwan where they've been invited to instruct members of the Chinese International Folk Dance Society in traditional Armenian, r Arabic and Assyrian dance.

the Lind-Sinanians

from

or,"

sPeak to a man we heard was a great dancer from a

the modern melodies long enough to accompany a crowdpleasing line-dance

certain village in to get

Armenia only

or two.

The

laughed Lind-

there and find out it was his brother back

Lind-Si-

nanians gathered all

of their research

on Gary and Susan

lind.Sinanian

Armenian folk dancing through interviews with Genocide survivors living on the East

Boston."

the

wedding the couple had not only joined their

The Lind-Sinanians have taught exten-

Coast. Over the years they have passed along

their interpretations of those traditional dances students. Lind-Sinanian points out that their teaching style can be distinguished

to many

Italian or Armenian?

from the Armenian dance instructors in Califomia and Detroit. "When other teachers see a student of ours dance they can tell we gave them lessons, and we can tell when someone has had lessons from Tom Bozigian or Margaret Stepanian," he explained.

Each instructor has a slightly different

take on the traditional Armenian village Inevitably those differences are passed along to their students. It's an influence LindSinanian said is unavoidable due to differences in each individual's body, personality and upbringing; not to mention the memory and mobility of the survivor who shared their traditions, sometimes decades after dancing

dances.

them last. "They were very happy to share with us because many of them felt their children and grandchildren no longer cared," noted Lind-Sinanian who has incorporated the study of the dancers' villages along with the dance itself.

Gary Lind and Susan Sinanian met in a Lebanese dance group in the 1970's. After the group broke up Gary and Susan stayed together, and in 1971 they were married. Gary grew up in a prim and proper New England home,

his parents of Irish and Swedish

descent.

Susan's parents are Armenian-American and belong to a Roman Catholic church. They decided it would be too difficult to try to blend

Irish, Swedish, New England, Armenian and Catholic traditions into a single wedding ceremony, so they opted for a traditional Armenian affair. Being dancers, the couple wanted to perform a special Armenian wedding dance, so they began researching and they have been

AIM AUGUST I998

NATION

Mr. Kerkotl an Goes to Yeteuan Ihe world lamous billionaire made his lirst Armenian uisit the way he does euerything else: quietly, quiclily, efiectiuely. BY SATPI HAROUIII{IA]{ GHAZARIAil; Photos

by ITIABTI]{ SIIAIIBAZIAI{/ABIUIE ]IPBESS

hat could be more effective

than a quarter of a billion dollars of development aid to a struggling economy? In the case of Kirk Kerkorian and Armenia, the philanthropist-businessman's personal visit last month appears to have done billions of

good for Armenia's image and confidence, too.

Judging by the reaction of Armenia's press, govemment officials, and Diaspora observers, Kerkorian's visit was the necessary stamp of approval for those sitting

on the sidelines, wondering about travel-

ing to Armenia, investing in Armenia, working with Armenia

much confidence in the Armenian government, that they'll be able to monitor and see that it's done right. We all have to have confidence in them," he said in a rare press conference. If cynics will dismiss the statement as

a sign of

politeness, Jim Aljian, Kerkorian's long-time associate thinks otherwise. "Kirk is very good at evaluating people. Anyone who has done well in life as Kirk has, has done it because he

knows people. He was very impressed with those he met, especially President Kocharian, who is a down-to-earth solid guy."

On his way to Europe, Kerkorian, whose Tracinda Corporation is based in Las Vegas, Nevada, "had some free time," explains Aljian, "and he took advantage of the situation and ivent to Armenia. He had always wanted to go." The government quickly prepared for a briel intensive visit. They knew what projects they wanted to discuss with Kerkorian. But this was Kerkorian's first visit. When President Kocharian, Prime Minister Armen Darbinian and Foreign Minister Oskanian greeted Kerkorian at the airport, "We asked him if there was anything he especially wanted to see,"

explained Oskanian. "He said this was his

was also a feather in AGBU President louise Simone, Kitk Kerkorian, Amenian Assembly Boad of first trip and there was President Kocharian's Trustees Chaiman Hirair Hoynanian. lots he wanted to see. cap, coming as it did but he had come to within the first 100 days work." of his presidency. And work they did. The visit itself, as First, they tackled the well as the agreements issue of the $100 milreached between the 8llion investment fund. year-old billionaire and As President

the Armenian government, were unique in their scope. In addition to reaffirming his intention to provide a $100

million dollar

Kocharian explained, "Kerkorian had initial-

ly envisioned

$100,000 to $1 million would be allocated to

invest-

ment fund for business

small and

development in Armenia

(see

AIM,

November-

korian also agreed to provide $85 million

institutions such as the

chemical factories, larger amounts are

towards the construction of a highway which will connect Armenia to the

needed. He understood. Now, there are no further obstacles. The initial $10 million

seaports of Georgia and

the Persian

for construction in Armenia's earthquake

of $5 million that Kerkorian's Lincy Foundation had

zone. This, on top

already donated to the American Red Cross for the same purpose. Right from the start, it was clear that the two men had hit it off. "We understood each other in mid-sentence," said a still-surprised and quite pleased Kocharian at the conclusion of the twoday visit. "We were very pleased and surprised to see that he knows so much about Armenia and our situation."

Kerkorian himself expressed a great deal of faith just moments before he boarded the plane to leave. "I have so

medium-

sized businesses; however, we explained that for some of the larger

December 1997), Ker-

Gulf. Kerkorian pledged another $15 million

that

funds ranging from

Kerkorian visited the country to which he's provided vast amounts of humanitarian and development aid in late June. Kerkorian's private plane arrived at Yerevan's Zvartnots Airport on Sunday

afternoon, June 21 and stayed through Tuesday. "He was visibly emotional when he came out of the plane and touched Armenian soil," observed Foreigl Minister Vartan Oskanian, who had met with Kerkorian just a few weeks

earlier in Beverly Hills, California. Oskanian had extended President Kocharian's personal invitation to Kerkorian to visit Armenia at his convenience. No one expected the invitation would be accepted so quickly. AIMAUGUST 1998

will

be hansferred right away, and we can get to work." But it was the "superhighway" project which really appeared to be at the focus of the excitement. "The word doesn't even exist in Armenian," laughed Kocharian as

he explained that such a road, which would provide transit opportunities from Georgia through Armenia and Iran to the Persian Gulf is a strategic project which

will go far towards the development of Armenia's economy, and enhancing its political role

in the region.

Kerkorian

shared Kocharian's enthusiasm, because as Oskanian recounts the exchange, Kerkorian repeated that all his life, as a

kid growing up, he had heard

how

NATION Armenia, a beautiful country, was landlocked. Now, Kerkorian said, this highway would solve some of those problems. Of course, Oskanian explains, a road which will connect Meghri, near

Armenia's southern border through Yeghegnadzor along Lake Sevan to Vanadzor and the Georgian border will cost more than $85 million to build. But Kerkorian's funds will help the Armenian government convince other lenders, such as the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to also contribute to a project that

will help regional

cial contributions are, it is his willingness to use his weight to convince other businesses to get involved that is critical for Armenia.

promised he would dress more formally next time. During the entire two days, the same words were heard from everyone involved: emotional, excited, confident. What was most noticeable is that the dis-

and Hirair Hovnanian, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Armenian

cussion centered on development projects

Louise Simone, President of the Armenian General Benevolent Union,

Assembly of America were both in Armenia during Kerkorian's brief visit. As the Armenian press chuckled over "rich Armenian-Americans needing to come to Yerevan to see each other," Simone and Hovnanian both expressed

to aid a growing economy. Kerkorian's nearly decade long humanitarian commitment to Armenia began with the forma-

tion of the United Armenian Fund to deliver assistance to a blockaded Armenia. The UAF, whose executive director Harut Sasounian accompanied Kerkorian on his Armenia trip,

trade as much as Armenia's develop-

just made its 100th flight

the southern regions,

the,end of July. The UAF was formed in November 1989 as a tax-exempt nonprofit organization to bring short-term humanitarian and longer term rehabil-

ment. "During the winter, Yerevan is often cut off from because

the roads are so bad," explained one official. Aljian said, "This road is key to Armenia's future role in international trade. It is

itation aid to Armenia. In the past nine years, the UAF has

extremely important for Armenia to get to those sea-

sent over $235 million of humanitarian supplies to

ports."

Armenia by air, land and

Armenia's ministry of transportation

has

said during the height of the economic crisis in Armenia

already

begun to develop the plan for construction. As Kocharian stressed following the two days

of talks, "We must do

several years ago, all the assistance of the other organizations

would not have been possible

every-

thing we can so that we create an atmosphere of mutual trust with the benefactor who has demonstrated again and again his willingness to stand with Armenia." Finally, Kerkorian also agreed to support the establishment of a "hi-technology" park in Armenia, and to attract companies to the region. The Armenian government will work out the necessary tax

for such a project, and will not only financially support those companies interested in comincentives Kerkorian

ing to Armenia, but will also use his contacts to encourage them to come. As one observer said, as important as his finan-

sea.

As the AGBU's Louise Simone

their deep pleasure at Kerkorian's becom-

ing personally involved in Armenia's future.

Kerkorian himself was more than As reporters noted, his five

without the UAF, during the energy crisis days of 1993 and 1994, Kerkorian's significant contribution enabled fuel to reach Armenia's cold homes and offices. As

pleased.

Armenia's situation changes, so

minute press conference was the longest he'd held in a long time. He spoke a homey Westem Armenian, apologizing that it was rusty, and promising to speak better during his next visit. He even said

Kerkorian's method of assistance. However, the goals remain the same. In a brief conversation with AIM following his trip, Kerkorian was very plain. "I just want to help Armenia in any way I can," he said. "It's a wonderful country they're wonderful people, and we all have to do what we can." This is a man whose r words are listened to.

he would bring his three-month old daughter Kira to Armenia. Finally, walking to the plane in Yerevan's unbearable summer heat, dressed in an open-collared

does

shirt and a light jacket, Kerkorian even

Glockwise from top: Welcoming at the ailport (L to Bl Foreign Minists Vartan Oskanian, Ptime Minister Armen Darbinian, l(erkorian, President Robert l(ocharian; at Foreign Minister's office with UAF llirector Harut Sassounian; Kerkorian toasts President l(ocharian.

l..

France becomes the lirst maiu European

ruwct to emhark on the road to Uenocide

tccognition. By I01{Y

HAtPll{

t comprised just seven words. But the simplicity of the statement only emphasized the significance of its adoption. Without qualification, the deputies of the French National Assembly voted in a rare display of unanimity to call a crime by its true name. The Bill passed on May 29 contained a

single sentence: France recognizes

the

Armenian Genocide of 1915. Various deputies had tried to amend the declaration. Not, as you might imagine, to weaken it, but to add force, particularly to assert Turkey's culpability. But the majority of deputies present felt the issue risked being dragged out by good intentions and so the motion passed in its original form.

As the historic

debate

progressed,

Armenians from different organizations gathered outside in a show of support. They were kept up to date with hourly bulletins, thanks to radio joumalists shuttling back and forth, and cheered the result with an emotional singing of the Marseillaise. Those who had charted the many years of struggle did not forget in their moment of triumph the people whose efforts had brought it about. They praised the courage of the French

deputies, particularly the socialists Rene Rouquete and Jean Paul Bret to whom the Gaullist deputy Patrick Devedjian paid tribute. And they remembered those who were not there to see history being made - the disappeared and the prisoners - who had sacrificed so much to keep the issue alive. In voting to restore historical truth to the first genocide of this century, the deputies lifted the burden of the tired and evasive expression "the tragedy and other unfortunate events." In France now, it is a Genocide, stated "publicly" and with clarity despite the crude economic threats with which Turkey responded. True, Turkey was not named in the Bill, which recognized the fact of the genocide, the Top photo: Tsidzernakabert monument,

below: the llational Assembly of France.

NATION date, the victim, but not the state responsible. The French Government, mindful of the economic fall-out and seeking to protect its interests, was represented at the debate only by one of its lowest ranking members. The declaration, 83 years after the event, was painfully late. But that simply underlined the scale of the struggle by a massacred people, chased from its lands and scattered to the four winds with nothing more than memory to hold on to, against a state in criminal denial.

The Assembly's decision, true to its revolutionary traditions, was compensation for Armenian determination, dignity, and self-respect in the face of such odds and in honor of one and a half million mur-

pleading pressure of time. Thus a potentially embarrassing situation for the French authori-

What the regime in Ttrrkey fears most, of course, is that the French may have opened the

ties has been avoided.

floodgates

Turkey's President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Parliamentary Speaker have all issued strongly worded protest letters to their French counterparts. Some officials in Paris have been dropping hints that the issue

might be allowed to expire quietly

the

Senate, a solution acceptable neither to those pressing the Armenian case nor, ironically, to the Ttrks.

"What we prefer is neither the suspension

parliament of Switzerland to follow suit. Genocide recognition was also actively

the visit by Armenia's Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian to

discussed during

Germany. And the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, has promised to introduce a Bill recognizing the Genocide in the British House of Lords, following a visit to London by Aram I, the Catholicos of Cilicia.

Argentina, whose

to vent its

already recognized the Genocide, part-

Aerospatiale and canceled a meeting intended to discuss further military deals. There are dark wamings that French contractors will not be consid-

ly in deference to the large Armenian population in that country. Uruguay, the Russian Federation, and Greece also gave

copters.

The Mayor of Izmir, has said he French involvement in a

tirelessly to that end.

Writing

billion-dollar construction project to build a new subway if the Genocide sortium is one of the leading contenders a

order

nuclear power plant in western Turkey.

French Prime Minister Lionel tag.

Ministers have been anxiously assuring

to recognize

the Armenian

Deploring the way Israeli state actions have become "auxiliary to the denial policy ofThrkey", he declared:

Turkey that the Assembly's decision has no bearing on foreign policy or on bilathas

merely noted "the political intention of the Assembly" and passed on the Bill to the Senate. But it has also questioned whether it is the role of the legislative body to pass judgement on history, while at the same time protesting to the An otficial ltrtkish delegatlon led by Gurbuz Gapan (center), T[rkish authorities that they have no head of the Esenyurt Gommunlty administratlon in lstanbul, constitutional authority to control the laying llowers at ths Armenlan Genoclde monument, behavior of parliament. Tsitsemakabert, ln July 1995, accompanled [y then prcsi-

To become law, the Bill must now ilential be passed by the Senate and signed by President Jacques Chirac. The Senate debate was initially expected in June but has been put offuntil October at the earliest. It may be only coincidence, but Chirac has since cancelled a

adyisor Jlrair Ubaridlan (sGcond lrom leftf.

visit to Armenia, planned for

to overturn the resolution.

September,

the Hebrew daily

Genocide. We deal with history not only to expose the past, but to attempt to influence the present and the future."

Jospin's election campaign promise is

eral relations. The Government

newspaper }Jaaretz in Jerusalem following the vote in France, Auron said: "There is a moral, educational, political and social responsibility of the fust

resolution becomes law. A French con-

thus carrying a heavy price

official recognition.

Israel, despite the history of its people, does not. The importance of Israeli recognition was underlined by one of its most courageous scholars, Dr Yair Auron, who has campaigned

ered for other huge contracts including projects worth $8 billion to supply tanks and a new generation of heli-

while another is bidding to build

President

Carlos Menem laid a wreath at the memorial to the victims during his state visit to Armenia in July, has

spleen. The Government suspended a $145 million contract to buy antitank missiles from the French company

will veto any

the

Belgium's Senate has already voted in favor and there is a move by deputies in the

dered relatives.

Turkey was quick

to far wider recognition of

Genocide.

nor the burial of the bill in the Senate, but the actual killing of it," said Hakan Tartan, an MP,

choice of words during a visit by a Turkish delegation to Paris seeking

in an unfortunate

AIM AUGUST 1998

"The denial of the Armenian Genocide has the same significance as the denial

of the Holocaust." Auron concluded: "Is it too much to expect that a member of the Knesset

will stand up to table a proposal for a resolution that Israel recognizes the Armenian Genocide?"

Since the election

of Robert

Kocharian as President, Armenia has placed Genocide recognition clearly in its new foreign policy. If Levon Ter Petrossian did not give the issue prominence in the attempt to establish relations with Armenia's neighbor, Kocharian places it boldly on the table.

NATION He insists that only honest and frank discussion can ever create the foundations for a long-term rapprochement, just as Germany first had to accept responsibility for the Holocaust before it could build relations with Israel. It is not a condition of bilateral relations but neither can it be ignored. Oskanian explained: "We want it on our

policy agenda in discussions with Turkey and with other countries. It is not raised to confront the Turks but we consider it an obstacle in our relations and we had better address it."

Turkey remains deep in denial. In his meeting with Kocharian at Yalta, President Demirel insisted that Karabakh was the only obstacle in relations with Armenia and that no other problems existed. Kocharian felt obliged to point out that Karabakh is not an ArmeniaTurkey issue and that, however much Demirel pretended otherwise, the Genocide was a fact which had to be dealt wi1h.

Turkey may have felt it could safely ignore the demands of its small and economically weak neighbor. But suddenly it sees the prospect of the lone voice growing into an international chorus of demands for a proper accounting of the past and for justice. Oskanian is now weighing the success of

Armenia's more vigorous foreign policy in deciding his next move. It has demonstrated that other countries are responsive to the argu-

will contribute to improved relations between Armenia and ment that recognition

Turkey, and therefore greater stability in the region.

The options for Armenia now are to choose carefully those countries most

willing

and able to fight the good fight, given that

Turkey's response to the French vote

has

prompted some reluctance elsewhere, or to adopt a "full press" policy, simply overwhelming Turkish opposition by persuading more and more countries to debate recognition. Oskanian's trip to Italy in late July, as well as scheduled trip to Britain in November, will doubtless offer such opportunities. With

municipalities such as Milan having already passed a vote ofrecognition, there are grounds for optimism in thinking that the Italian national parliament will be next to take up the

issue.During Oskanian's April trip to Germany, it was the gErmans who raised the

against them as it has on France. Ankara knows that in the long run, it needs good economic relations with these countries far more than they need Turkey, particularly if its dream of joining the European Union is ever to be realized. The French Senate already shows every sign of ignoring Turkey's economic blackmail and asserting its moral independence by affirming the decision of the lower house.

This is not just a matter of reputation for Turkey, though that weighs very heavily. For the regime to be able to face its past honestly requires democracy and open discussion, not

just of this but of other pressing

issues.

Recognition of the Genocide, therefore, has

many consequences for Turkey's internal political life as for its extemal image, a fact of which the generals are all too painfully aware. Ankara realizes to its alarm that it may yet end the 20th Century having to atone for the actions of its countrymen at the beginning.

Armenia's foreign policy and the French

genocide recognition issue. If Italy, Germany, and Britain were to address Genocide recogni-

vote set in motion a snowball effect, it will find it increasingly difficult to duck the issue. How Turkey faces up to that challenge will

tion simultaneously, it would be extremely difficult for Turkey to exert the same pressures

determine its character in the early years of the 21st Century.

1,,,

U-rtt$$ti

State of Rhode Island (1995) State of Virginia ( 1995) State of Wisconsin ( 1985) Parlianlâ&#x201A;Źnt,(19?& 1972)

Assembly (1985) ',,,,,...I;'':'

.stxate

ltlu) .tt,, l

-European Parliament ( 1987) :1Vqr,ld Cou{rsit, of,:e-liirldhes

9?9, I 983, 1989, I 995)

-Treaty of Sevres (1920)

1993,1e95]

lJoiltt.

Dectaratlo,It

by,{ltiâ&#x201A;Źd Governments'(19J5}

Uni6aNa*rix .$iiited-Nations Suf-Co, pqlgs,, n orl P.rev-Qrlti?;of , ' Digeq.i lnation and Pro&ptio:r of Mirrorities (1985) -United Nations Commission for Human Rigbrc (1979 yq.E.&f:i4ei!$ion.ofpara$.,3$}r ,.

';,

1995) 12, 1916)

-United Nafions War Crimes Commissisn i1946; l:ri::r:::.it:,.' .1,1t, ,-l

ir- : :r:.:l:

,:';,'r.,]$C tion by

enurtll.

Justtce

'::.'

::, .

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:,],,,:,'- t.,4::t, :;Hri;:*a?.x,l'fffi(;, '

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co* ;r rlrstiiiii.CIitneva ( l98 l l Germany: Criminal Court, Berlin (1921)

swit&erlnn{1

Thrkey:

Turkish Mititary Tribunal (1919) Compiled by'H{atch :hhilingirian

AIM AUGUST 1998

NATION

AIM AUGUST I998

NATION

Political Bealism or the lluth? Patri8l lleuedllan (RPR, Haus-de-selno),lhe only Ame[lan mGm[Gl ln the flGrch llational Assemily, dlscusses the allemafi ol fie frcncfi Dalliamcnt's lecoonltlon ol the ffmenlan Genocide with ua[e [atc[. Did the National Assembly take a risk by recognizing the Armenian Genocide? Devedjian - It took a risk with regards to French interests, but it was in accord with France's long standing policy of recognizing human rights.

with which it has good relations.

When the recognition of the Armenian Genocide will be debated in the French Senate? Devedjian

The French government, the cabinet

Socialist Prime Minster Lionel Jospen, has washed its hands and carefully avoided taking any stand on the recognition of the Genocide. It is the Assembly that wanted to recognize this Genocide. The cabinet Minister who was present during the debate in the National Assembly sim-

But why other European countries did not do

ply stated that the French government will con-

what France did? Devedjian - I think the Armenian community in France had its role in the recognition of the

it did not approve nor reject the decision. It is up to the Senate now to do what the National

Since therc always was a conflict of interest, why it took so long? Devedjian - That is a question we can ask the whole world. Actually, it is Turkish diplomacy that is extremely active on this question. It has opposed the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by governments and countries around the world and has used every means toward this

Armenian Genocide. Some

end. It has not hesitated to use extremely intense pressure on publishing houses. It has even tlreatened newspapers to halt the distribution of their publications in Turkey. And now we are witnessing how the Turkish govemment does not even hesitate to cancel international transactions. This, in a counry where unemployment is high, and therefore has a bearing on public opinion.

Genocide? Devedjian - It is a known fact that the Armenian Genocide was planned by the Turkish govemment, but was also directed by German officers. From the Johannes Irpsius diaries (the Germany

300-350,000 Armenians have been living here for the last 60 to 70 years. They have successfully created a place for themselves in this country, they have

certain influence and were able to make their voice heard.

Why didn't Germany recognize theArmenian

sider the decision of the National Assembly. But

Assembly did. It is obvious that the Government, for financial reasons and under pressure from Turkey, is trying to bury the debate in the Senate.

There are very clear indications of this, the Foreign Minister, Hubert Vedrine, made very blunt statements on the subject of the Genocide. He said that the Assembly's decision was a mistake. The Minister for European Affairs, Piene Moscovisi, has also declared that the Senate has to bury this issue. How is the public reacting? Devedjian

The French public is very favorable Genocide.

missionary and orientalist), we know that

to the recognition of the Armenian

German participation in the Armenian Genocide was not negligible. Although the responsibility of

on some declarations, Itrrkey seems ready to accept the "Arrrenian massacrrs" but not the Genocide lVhile this may be a play on words, wasn't the genocide a systematic operation which was dlrected toward other Christian minorities as well? Devedjian - Tirkey ffied to resolve pennanently

Specially because the Tirkish reaction is misplaced and is considered a provocation. To tell the French that "if you recognize the Arrnenian Genocide we will cancel your military contracts," is perceived by the French public opinion as saying "it is possible to buy your honor." It was also made public that the majority of suspended military contracts with Tlrkey were to be sold at a cost and were considered a loss for the French firms. We were selling with a loss just to keep the jobs of few workers, who were in danger of losing their jobs anyway, even if the company undersold the products. It was not a good business anyway.

tury represented 30 percent of the population. Today they represent less than one percent. In

ical concerns?

How can Thrkey fight against historical facts when its standing is questionable on ethical grounds, there are genocide historians, witnesses, historical documents and multitude of

it only truth prevails?

evidence. Is

a matter of time before the

Devedjian - Of course. The truth will always triumph. Turkey is not a democratic country. It is a false democratic counky. The government is only a mask to military dictatorship. It is the General Army Staff that rules the country. If a government does not please them, like fomrer Prime

Minister Erbakan's government, the military sends them away. Elections are a mockery in Tlrkey. They treat the Kurds with the same harshness as they treated the Armenians during the Ottoman times. Only international pressures are preventing the Turks to annihilate the Kurds. No, Turkey is not a democratic country.

Itrrkey is reproached for this by the European Union, especially when lirkey's candidacy for membership is raised. So far the EU has rejected Thrkey, particularly for its appalling human rights record. Devedjian - That's true. Turkey pretends that Europe keeps its doors closed because they are Muslims. For us French that does not make any sense because we have four million Muslims in France. We have had 130-year relationship with Algeria. We do not ostacize people for their religion. The truth is that Europe's doors are shot for Tirrkey because it is not a democratic country, and when we look closely, we see that Turkey has conflicts on all its borders, it is in conflict with all its neighbors. Tirkey does not have a neighbor

the Genocide falls entirely on Turkey, Germany let it happen and sometimes it even helped the Turks. I think Germany is not comfortable with the Armenian Genocide.

Based

the problem of Christians, which in the l9th cen-

one way or another, through deportations, forced conversions, massacres and so on, Tirkey has been trying for a long time to expunge Christians from their ancestral lands. And Kemal Ataturk's

aim was the complete turkification-language, culture, customs-of minorities living in T\rkey. He wanted the complete homogenization of T[rkey.

AIM AUGUST 1998

Is French public opinion detached fnom politDevedjian

The French public opinion is ani-

mated with noble sentiments.

started the French Revolution to acquire human rights. Thi$ is very much still enshrined in French mentality. The majority of French do not like political expediency, even under the pretext of political realism, even under the pretext of financial realism.

.:.&

j/l .i -.! '.r.

,':

i,',r?,Eh

.fl' $ It may not enioy ollicial recogniIion ol ils independence by woild community but inteJna'tryliaral ^r,i rrrA.rlrirr. tional a,rrarrirariara oruflnizations are on the gtound in Karahakh.

lhe s workm I

-r' " :

a.ir

,),

Vp ,Jr ar

r"( .r

)o/

.v*

{r-

Ph0t0sandTexthyARMlNEHJ0H[NNEs-..:-@.. linciprri anrortg lirc \ lllir)us irrtcrna-

tionll ugcncics. rhulitics

lrrrr.l oll.icr'

[)ersortrl licplesenlativc oi thc OSCE uus appointcrl b1' thc Chait'ruirrr-irr-ollice lirl thc

.\nthl:saikrt Antllzc.j lilrcprzvk li' l)r;lrinrl $ it. lrll1'rLlrt.tlctl in .lliniIir r I i)(j7. llis tlrsi' i\ trr r.l)r!:cttl il:L: tit('l'.

thc Olr:iinizlttion lirl Sccuritr lintl ('Lio1;g1'11i1111 in ELn'opt. chlrrgctl r.. ith tlrc

lir':t tirutr rn .\uuust 199.5. in conncctiorr itlr thc OSCE \.lirrsk ( orrlcrencc. tlrc !r'()uP ()t nllion: li:srlncti to pronloia lrcr()-

('lltnntltn-in olli.r' i( l()r,rrt jrrLrl' ir'i:ittri to tlit ,rrtrrllial. lr\\l.,1 LlrL-' { irrrii rr rrr il

nrairt lo]e ol scarclrinu lilr ir!r'cetl and litsling prrirc in thc coirt'lict u itlt Azerbui.jan. A

liitliorr bet*cen 1he plirtics. -['ltc ptcsent I)cr-sonul Rcprcrcn{lttirc.

rliLiort: tirr' thc

olganizltions u olkirrg irr Klr-abakh

i-'

Lr.LrUliul,;'r .

EPEBNHqH . ,. ..-.-. .. I / '!

-----------\\ \ Y/'

rl,li r', $ii ll;r '*l1ii\,

rrr'hicving iri) i.r!lc\rrlrrii ;.rntl iii,.rLrrlil:r,ol rle plor nrr"lrl i)l lrrr ( )5( i pcncc-kculrirt! {)l)tl ti}lioi} i.rs ltilrl ()i Llra II(lcCs: ril llrt iiilliiit,u lr ciirrrlrrr'lit'ri:iIi:

iroliticl) \clll('nl('nl. lIr rlgrorls orr ;rl1 ll\lcci\ til lrir lilir itit. t0 tirt ( i( i rrl lhc L)S('li. rLntl lhrriLrsh ihc ( l() lLr llr; ('oChlrilrurrrrsltip ol tlru OS(-l: \linsk lrrirlt. {l,,rrt rt itL'ttt lrr' i.r'u it. . rl..lr Lr-i i!'ilI Ir lrlso lissisls i]ttr pilr lir: ir) iltri)lt nltntilrs lirtti tlcrclopitty rorri rtlrncr-'-buillling. lrLrrrlrnitlLrilin lrntl ()thrr illail\Lrrcs.

PlulicLlllil lrr cneritrtl[itl! rlirt'.t a{i]ttiitt\; lttttl co oPctelcs uiiit rrrIrf\r'nlirti\':r i;1 lltt

IlN lrrttl olhct intr;r'r'rrlitrrtlrl

orr-llrnizll]tons

()llrilriino in thc a|crr {)1 llrr' r(iirlliIi. 'l

ffi

hr: Pclrorutl I{c;rtcsu:1uiir r i! ir!.i\lrri l-r Iir.' [;iclrl .\rsiritrnlr lrlrpointetl l.r tlrt" ('lO. nlro urirk iir IlrrLrr^ \'crelun. l'hili'i linLl Slcltalakt-i'1. (rr il r()tirlirlr lrilelrr. n ith thc i'ilih rllcrllraI lrelin-t ii: pcIrlrlttiit ollr

cial. One o1'thc l'iclri ,\:sistlini:. u lrr lr:],.'tl rtot 1o be nartrcti^ slrir-1. '\\c,.1i, rirorilolinrl

\l\1 .\i (iiiq.I'l9ilri

I -**=-

.-..1 --*-l

#,"9 l.i'

i 'r#

&r.r

und s() to the fnrnl lirtc tt.rgethcr

t'itlt

the

Irorr'igrr !linister antl the Delertsc Nlrnistcr rntl rithcr- l)ersoirxlitics. tirrrning a grottp ol sir or se r e n pciiple . where u'c rvave thc O\('l ll,r.-.'()rrI ri!)rj\clltllli\r'. rLLilmnil nicd bv thc corlcspotttlittg ntitlrstcl's lrtltll thc opposite sirle, llso colrlcs 1o the i'ront linc lrt the siinrc tinie. atl(l we talk via

-talkir's or ct u '00 tlte ter dislllnce i bctrvccn us. thc tct't'itot'r is lirll of larttl* r.r'irlkie

rni ncs.

*..

"Thcsc tncltsures arc 1akcll lbl br-rildins confidercc ancl gathcling irrfbrmatiort, and to help encourage peacc-kccping. AhoLrt six months ago. rluring rtttc visit to tlle tront

nrcnti()u cve

i1-

tltm which side tlre shooting calltc. it appcurs obvior"tsl Now. whetr r'vc

go to tlre front line. wc \\'citr bullet proot' .iackets ancl hclrttcts.

Sirnilal issucs ttf protttcol and netrLr-ali-

line. we wcre shot ltt. but therc \\'cre no injr-rries. On another occasion in f;ctrrtrary.

t\ (l(r! u\cn tllc.itllpl(''l

therc \\'as shooting atttl an Almenian soldier'

Asslslant |ccountecl hrl$' thcy irad w|ittcn a

rvas woulrlecl." So thc shot clutrc lir.rtt-t thc

lLrtter ;\zcri

sicle. I

askcd'l lle replied: "l catt onll' say tha{ therc rvas shooting.. I am not allou'ecl ttr

Stepanakert Prosthetic Center (below) estahlished through the elforts 0l Bar0ness Caroline Cox and CSl. 0uring official opening ceremony in August 1997 Baroness Gox's bust (top right) was unveiled at the entrance of the Center in appreciation 0f hel years 0f humanitarian aid to Katabakh.

t:r:k. Tht'Fieltl

to N.-aillt Nlclkotrrtrian. Folcigt't Minister ol'Karabakh. "\tVc atklressed the letter to Mrs. N. Slepanake rtlKha nkcndi. lVl clkr'lu nr ian.

Khankendi is thc ;\zeri lri.trrlc fbr

Stepanakcrt, and we arc obliged t() write both nanres in all correspondencc." he said.

"-l'hc lettel rcad: Dcar

Mrs.

Melkounriarr.... ltncl as a resttlt it u'as returncd to us firr rcasons tll protocol. I callcd our Ambassador in Polarrr,l in order to ask u,hat should bc tlone, aud hc told rne Lhi.lt

tlll(lr'l l'lo r'ilr'Lllt]\titllccs Lillt ue wrile: of Naportio Karabakh or Hcr

Republic I

(.a

[-l,t

Excellency, thc ljorei gn M inister, otl]er$' i se u,e will have pr"oblems with Arcrbaijan. "So rve scnt the Ietter as it rvas atld erpiained that thc OSCE, ctruld not do oth-

crrvise. This tinre they wclc obligecl lcccive the letter."

trr

International Committee of the Red

Cross: Thc ICIRC has lrecn rvorking in Armenia antl in Nagolno Karablkl-r since F-etrruary I992. It. has firul expatriatc clelegaies and 25 locally hired pelsonnel in Karabakh.

Ijilih

grade pupils a special

Kalabakh f'ollow

thloughoLrl c()Lrrsr: on

).5

N A T humanitarian law provided by ICRC last year. Delegates also carry out visits to detention centers, and all detainees are given the opporftnity to write Red Cross Messages to their relatives and to maintain contacts with their families. The dispensaries of two prisons are regularly provided

newspapers (such

as The Republic of

Mountainous Karabakh which is published three times a week in Armenian and once a week in Russian) into English. She also gathers information and statistics to send to the main office in Yerevan via e-mail, which

are

transmitted

washington DC.

with basic medicine and dressing materials. ICRC assists the health services treating those with war related injuries.

Soussana also acts as a guide to foreign visitors in Karabakh.

Four military hospitals, one civilian

Medecins Sans Frontieres has been working in Nagorno Karabakh since 1988. It has three expatriates and ten locally hired

hospital and two regimental medical points have received dressing, surgical supplies and medical equipment. It also runs a Relief and Agricultural Programs, whose main objective during 1998 has been to help the populations of41 villages to become self-sufficient in food. In January and March, 6,605 families received an individual food parcel composed of l0kg of wheat flout 3 kg. of sugar, one litre of oil and one bar of soap. Agricultural programs of the ICRC in

the regions affected by the war have in importance to restore agricul-

increased

tural production and self-sufficiency at the

family level. During the last three months 5,500 vegetable seed kits were distributed in

43 villages, benefiting nearly 17,000 people. Contracts were signed with eight farms to undertake a l0 hectare potato growing program.

ICRC water engineers have

also worked to supply sufficient water for household use and to provide irrigation to restore

agricultural production

in the

personnel in the area. MSF has been running a special program in co-operation with the Ministry of Health to tackle tuberculosis since 1997 and has rehabilitated the specialized tuberculosis hospital in Stepanakert. Out of the 45 beds in the hospital, 40 are currently occu-

pied. This

is almost an epidemic in

Karabakh due to poor nutrition and postwar conditions. The Army is particularly concerned since the disease is highly contagious. "We provide the medicines and make sure that the patients take them, as it is a

students, aged 12 to 24, mainly beginners, attend every day for two hours of instruction under teacher Hovik Gevorkian from Armenia.

Armenian Missionary Association of America: All programs of the AMAA are directed by Pastor Rene Leonian and the director in Karabakh is Arsen Manassian.

The AMAA is currently renovating

kindergarten in Stepanakert, which will serve as its offices and worship site. Prayers are said every Friday for the children of the kindergarten, aged two to six, there are Bible lessons. AMAA works in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs, which provides lists of those in need of assistance. AMAA also helps 200 families of war victims, as well as large families, with food (sugar, butter, oil, pasta, rice etc.), and money. The families receiving aid live in

it takes eight months of treatment to achieve recovery,rr a spokesman said.

"While the patients are hospitalized, MSF helps their families with foodstuffs. We also provide food for the patients to

sorship of AMAA, summer camps have been organized for orphans, those from needy families and children of families who

maintain their calorie intake.

were victims of the war. Last year 800

long term treatment, over two to five months in hospital and then at home. In all,

The Solidarite Protestant FrancoArmenien (SPFA), based in Paris but with

The Armenian Assembly of America employs one representative in Karabakh, Soussana Mikaelian, who attended university in Baku. She translates articles from local

which started in June last year. About 50

Stepanakert, Shushi and the Askaran region, but Pastor Leonian hopes to expand the aid to other regions soon. They are also given gifts such as calender, religious books, and Bibles. For the past three years under the spon-

villages

affected by the war.

the region. Two classrooms in School No.3 are allocated for free lessons in a program

a vice-president in Yerevan, does not have a

in Karabakh. Its programs are solely cultural and aim at introducing the French language and culture to religious ministry

attended these camps and another 600 are expected this year for the nine-day camps in Karkar, near Stepanakert. This year, for the second consecutive

Christmas, the

AMAA also

organized

Biblical play in Stepanakert, Shushi

and

Martouni, and invited the Armenian puppet

NATION to perform for the children. Gifts were distributed to 1,600 theatre from Yerevan

children, said Manassian.

From July, AMAA will provide 100 children with powdered milk. It has also

supplied

a mobile medical clinic for

Karabakh Educational text-books on mathematics, language and the Armenian alphabet have also been published.

Christian Solidarity International: CSl, based in Switzerland, is a human rights

organization campaigning

for

Christians and other victims of

persecuted oppression

across the world, it is most famous in Karabakh for the initiatives undertaken by Baroness Caroline Cox, whose statue is erected outside the entrance of the CSI building in Stepanakert. CSI runs a prosthesis laboratory for legs and feet, buying orthopedic materials

from the German based OttoBock

Co.

Every month l0 to 25 patients come to the lab from various regions of Karabakh to have prostheses made or repaired. The majority of patients are war veterans but some have injuries resulting from illness or accidents. Last year, CSI made and repaired 302 prostheses. It employs ll people, of which five are prosthetic technicians. Since 1991, CSI has provided Karabakh with 400 tons of emergency aid for victims of the war.

The Helsinki Initiative '92 Nagorno Karabakh Committee, the first intemationally recognized indigenous NGO in Karabakh, is affiliated with the Praguebased Helsinki Citizens Assembly. Vaclav Havel was one of the founders of the organization in 1990. The Karabakh branch was established in 1992 through the efforts of

human rights activist and parliamentarian Karen Ohanjanian. The Committee in Karabakh works in the areas of conflict resolution, human

rights protection, establishment

of civil

and the of the release negotiated committee has hundreds of Pows *o trortu*"r u",*..n ,*iaty,

Pow

monitoring refugees, status

Lxchanges. Since its;stablishment

Stepanakert and

Baku.

"-"'-o--

the social service arm of ARF, under directorAnnaAssaterian, helps 106 families with clothing and other material aid. It also trains about 50 children to do needlework, make toys, and paint, and then organizes exhibitions where these works can be sold to aid those children'

ARS sponsored the opening of a kindergarlen in Stepanakert in May' with 3??;333

Armenian Revolutionarv Federation -Dashnaktsiutiun (lnri: dh. enr i-r.r

riTffis,

?lrlH

,:Ji',l'" tl1

B.ranches of ARS in Syria and in Iran have also helped with materials' Sose kindergarten' damaged durthe war' was renovated through the ARS TF efforts and today serves 55 children' 85Vo of

been present in Stepanakert since 1989, ,-- 'n" though officially ,in.. is;a. il; c;;;;i Committee representative- .l*""iSgi i;"r are victims of the war' r"rai.. whomThe been vachakan zakaian,; i;;; rest are either children of those who became a commander, was iniured durinjured during the war' orphans' or from sining the war, and rorro*irg ih" 1""r" iir.,

gle parent families' ARS has 53 women working voluntarHadrut. ily in Karabakh to take care of needy famiARF operates its youth associations organization plans to create jobs lies' The and scouts, with about so r.ortr t.*-;'o* is composed of by opening a bakery in Stepanakert' soon'

was made govemor or nis ulttage, near

Arevshat,

Central Committee here

seven members. There are four committees Armenian General Benevolent in each region, with five members each." ,,We also ,ry ,o ...ur" a balance Union;The AGBUdoesnothaveofficesin for the time being' Louise between internal and external political Stepanakert has donated $l million for the issues. For example, we meet with various Simone of Angels Street, renamed representatives oi the Russian Duma; there reconstruction Street' in honor of her Manoogian Alex are oil lobbies and national lobbies in the is This street 900 meters long and is father. that if Duma, and the latter understand gardens, founKarabakh is lost, it will be to their disad- to.be totally renovated' with vantage,,' said

Zakarian.

,,We also

try to

create closer

so between the Diaspora -here.and Karabakh

tains, and decorated side-walks. Even telephone and electricity cables

ties that are being installed

For example, memthey may invest bers of the Union of Armenian Workers in I Iran, have planted 40 hectares of potatoes near the asmran region, the proiucts of which will be sold to the Army.

The Armenian Relief Society (ARS),

under the ground' Presently,anArmeniansculptorispreparing a statue of Alex Manoogian, to be placed in the street. The official opening is planned I for September' '

o N

AHENI]|EMN Men and women in the amed lorces delend Amenia's lt00 miles ol bordeJs. By ilUBlAttl GAUttlE

n the gravestones of Yerablur, Yerevan's military cemetery you sometimes find flowers with broken stems. People break the stems so that the flowers won't be stolen to decorate other graves. But one should not, they say, offer broken-stemmed flowers to a woman. That is why Nune, who died at the age of 27 on the Arax river road, often smiles out at you from a gravestone without a single flower on it. Yerablur has become a city of granite. A church is being built there, and, on April 8 of this year, Armenia's Defense Minister had 100 trees and 1,000 rosebushes planted in the cemetery, in between the likenesses of the dead fighters engraved in the stones. Fifteen women died on the front in Karabakh. Seventy were maimed or wounded. Between 1991 and 1994, four hundred saw action. There is Janna, the most famous of them, an actress at Stepanakert,s Dramatic Theater. There is gray-haired Siranush, who started the women's rebellion in Haterk against the Russian occupation. By the eve of the Moscow putsch against Gorbachev, the peasant women had captured 60 young Russian

soldiers, and, hiding loaves

of bread under

their aprons, would sneak out to the forest to

feed them under the officers' very noses. There is the woman who is carrying on with one leg, because the other was ripped offby a mine. There is Karine, who came away from Shahumian with four metal splinters lodged in

her skull. On the bumpy road back from Jebrayil, Lusso lost her baby Nazik, wounded for the third time, managed, but just barely, to give birth to a daughter.

lrnna, Nazik, Marietta, Araxia, Nvart; young offrcers or supply corps staft, nurses (like Nune), cooks, or seamstresses, they marched with the men into the cities the Armenians had taken,

when the soldiers

of it-marking the spot where a soldier fell. The name of another is engraved in the metal of a fountain you bend over to drink from some-

stationed

behind the lines and the women who attended to their day-to-day needs fell victim to the bombs or mines. The women had leamed how to handle arms in school, in accordance with Soviet practice.

Often, their villages had

brought the bodies

been

long enough to make putting them on an operating table worth the trouble. Later, we would hear that Mekhak or

destinies, so the 1994 cease-fre

reintegrated them into civilian life, and quickly led to weddings and babies. For them, peace was

Spartak was dead. But we hadn't seen them, we hadn't had the time to tell them good-bye."

odors,

They took shelter

images, and rituals. "The war follows you even in your sleep. Every time a shell comes crash-

mile, a hundred yards off.

you

get wrapped up in a dream, You're a goner!"

On the map, the territories that surround Karabakh tell the story oflosses, victories, and sac-

rifices. On the path that strings together the watch posts on the front lines, out

in the middle of nowhere, you can find, here and there, a stone with two shells to either side

where on the side of the road. Conquering every one of these hills, from north to south, took its toll in blood. The base at Jebrail has

log

or under

canopies

stretched over dugouts.

After the

cabins.

ing in, you calculate where itjust

fell: half a mile, a quarter of

from

would check them first, to determine which of them might live

soldiers' barracks. After that, these women had volunteered for service. Just as the war altered their

patchwork

Talish to Madaghis. We would lay them out on the ground in their own blood; we didn't even have the time to see if we could recognize them. The doctors

reduced to heaps of rubble, so that the only way to continue living in them was to move into the

still a

become Mekhakavan, in honor of the soldier who fell here nine days before the ceasefire. After one battle on the plain, on a night during which the green light of the shells turned the darkness into broad daylight, Lenna remembers that they counted 59 bodies: "We had captured Fizuli, and we thought we knew what war was. In April 1994, we

army had been organized, they took up quarters in houses they would decorate with deers' antlers, fox-tails, or crossbows trophies of their new-found trapper's life. Those who took Shushi and Fizuli had been faint with hunger. Today, wires carry electricity as far as the outposts, and the conscrpits'rations are calculated in calories, as the Russian military handbooks prescribe. On the Polygon, the field where

Betow: lamous actloss Janna Galstlan (second lrom left). Top: Karabakh uromGn helplng a uound8d s0ldl0L Right officer llazik.

training exercises are carried out, the conscripts and future officers are selected on the basis of their aptitudes: physical training, target-practice, lessons in maneuvering a tank. The young recruits in their immaculate uniforms learn the rules of military life. Salutes, first-aid, discipline, endurance. It seems a long time ago now that young deserters would take to their heels, fleeing the fear and and boredom inspired by these bare, muddy mountains as much as the war itself. The custom was to shave their heads when they were caught, so that they would give themselves away if lhey ran away again. It seems a long time ago, too, that recruits would be rounded up in the cities or on the road. The battlefield was losing its nobility. "Yes, I had young people conscripted by force

into the army," Defense Minister

Vazgen Sargsian admitted last March, in a talk before

gToup

students. 'rBut there was a war what means I had." Today, you find plants in the barracks, and the draftees paint portraits of General Antranik and Avo on the walls. The present will have to

going on.

used

posts, on the one hand--at least one of them lies between the iron fences of a graveyard in

make people forget the mistakes of tlre somberyean.

range of enemy artillery--and those who have of it doing their military service in the suburbs of Yerevan, on the other. But, even there. corporal punishment is not uncom-

Armenia's 1,100 miles of borders have to be patrolled day and night. The soldiers post-

Forces, the disciplinary measures are of dubi-

ed along the borders are at the mercy of incoming shells, surprise attacks, kidnapping and ransonrs. Hundreds of attacks and kidnapping occur every year, even now that the cease-fire is in place. And land mines, disease, and brawls continue to take their toll. On one of the guard posts in the south, a fever carried off an 18 year-old draftee in the space of four days. The snoq as it melted, had contaminated the water reserves.

There is nothing remotely resembling equal treatment for those stationed in the out-

an easier time

mon. In the barracks of the National Security

ous pedagogical value: for example, doing laps with a gas mask on one's head and a brick on one's shoulder. The soldiers' families insist that there is only one way to win the lottery whose losers get the dangerous posts--bribes. And the price goes up from one battle to the

next. Every year, coffins are sent back to Armenia. The conscripts'mothers are told that their sons commit suicide: one has a bullet hole in the middle ofhis forehead, the body of another has been beaten black and blue. Some mothers reject the ofiicial versions, and inde-

NATION fatigably demand justice from the authorities, like the Argentine women famous for their adamant demonstrations on behalf of their "disappeared" sons. "I know that young men are appreciated for serving in the army, and that there is still a great deal wrong with the way those who give orders relate to those who take them," responds Albert Bazeyan, of the Union of Yerkrapahs. The army is trying to attain the level of professionalism of its Russian rival and model; many of its officers have come from the Russian ranks: "The army's vices and

shortcomings are one more legacy of the Soviet system. We were fighting a war and trying to build the nation's army at the same time. Those are the conditions in which the army came into existence. Moreover, the armed forces obey the same laws society does. If society is corrupt, the army becomes corrupt as well. And in a country that is not based on the rule of law the army can only reflect that nature

of society

as a whole."

The war wiped all the familiar

social

landmarks offthe map, dictating its own priorities. The booty taken in the war was used to finance the professionalization of the volunteer brigades and to pay enofinous ransoms. An official source says that it cost up to $60,000 to free Samuel Babayan, the current Karabakh Defense Minister, taken prisoner at Shushi in 1992. Now, on the postwar stage, the veterans are exhausted, superfluous extras. They have come back to a world they can no longer recognize, where the shadow economy can impose its laws in the absence of a strong state. Some of these former soldiers have taken control of trade with Iran, or have put themselves at the head of the factories, and, as in Moscow, have acquired considerable economic privileges. Of those who have become high-ranking officers, very few have failed to capitalize on their war records in order to

obtain honorific posts in Yerevan or

Stepanakert. Nor is the anny a homogeneous body: the stars on the epaulets of a colonel who boasts 18 years of service in the Russian anny can hardly be highly symbolic outcome,

tie

same nominal rank of colonel. The road back to the home front also runs through financial and moral poverty and broken families. Many of the men have chosen to stay in the service so as to benefit from the protection offered by a uniform, an identity, and a link to the best part of themselves, to the last l0 years of their lives, to their youth. A lieutenant-colonel's pension comes to 9,000 drams a month - barely ten dollars. "All men are not born equal," is Albert Bazeyan's way of summing up the situation. "One is capable of

has

working, another isn't. Only law can guarantee

equal rights for all in those spheres where such equality should prevail. In the fields ofhealth and education, it is the state's responsibility to see that it does. Only a minority among the Yerkrapahs entered the business world when state assets were privatized, I know. We need

to inject a bit of morality into the situation. Those who have joined our Union and taken the oath must provide assistance to the families of their comrades-in-arms. That is why, in our ranks, the richest help the poorest." "I know the role that every single officer played during the war," then President-elect Kocharian maintained, "and the role he should continue to play today." Kocharian must now shoulder the moral responsibility of reconciling those who fought for the country with those who, feeling that they own it, continue to dream of a "military democracy" in Armenia. Then there are those who have yet to return home, like Mariam's brother, captured in Hadrut in 1994. He is a native of Karabakh, and those who are citizens of Azerbaijan in Baku's eyes quite simply do not figure on the lists of prisoners of war. Although, under the supervision of the Intemational Committee of the Red Cross, several hundred prisoners have been released every year, Baku has kept the fate of

hundreds of Karabakhbom fighters a secret. A year ago, the ICRC handed the authorities in

Yerevan,

Stepanakert, and Baku a list of more

than 2,000 men from both sides who were

"reported

missing"

between 1992 and 1994. The Committee also suggested a mechanism for

resolving the problem. Since 1994, the list has

grown

continuously

longer on the basis of information provided by soldiers' families, whose problems have yet to be resolved; in fact, most

have not even had a response to their inquiries. As certain areas are liberated, the mortal remains of the soldiers of

the "army of the are discovered

dead"

in the no-

man's-lands between the lines, where they sleep in

AIM AUGUST 1998

their mass graves, forgotten by

everyone

except their families.

Others have been luckier. What

has

become of the Azeri doctor, taken prisoner in Hadrut, who looked after the Armenians wounded in the battle of Fizuli? He used to sleep in a room next to an Armenian doctor

near the infirmary, and his door was left unguarded at night. What has become of Simon, an Azeri captured in Mardakert? Baku

refused to exchange an Armenian for him, since he was only an enlisted man. Simon tended the vegetable garden and learned Armenian - I can testify to the fact. A general arranged for him to be baptized at Ejmiatsin. Simon was 20 years old at the time; if he had not forgotten Baku altogether, it was only because his fiancee was still living there. Has he found his niche? Did the National Security grill him until he revealed the secrets he glimpsed while sharing the dayto-day life of a brigade in Karabakh for two years? Do they forces

call you "the Armenian" in Baku Simon?

now,

BUSINESS

ECONOMY

IMAGINATI[lN

& IEGHNIQUE 'Fashion lUlan' lUms ladies inlo Pfincesses By GUIILAUIUIE HAiIAIIAI{ small build, mid-length tousled hair

and always accompanied by his faithful greyhound "Baron," John is much more an artist than a busi-

Sahag nessman. The press, which has featured his work since he was 14, calls him the hairdresser of the stars. Sahag fell into hairdressing before he was 14, in Sydney, Australia. His family was transplanted from

Beirut, Lebanon where his father was

popular couturier, and Sahag "was a tiny assistant, whose main job was to break all the crystal ashtrays." He performed his responsibility well, but at the same time, he witnessed "the closest thing to a miracle. I would watch ladies walk in as they were, and walk out looking like princesses."

In Australia, he experienced

culture

shock: a very Anglo-Saxon country, very

regulated. He began to do hair at age 14 and soon, he was doing hair for fashion sessions in a fashion magazine titled Flair. He left for Paris, in 1971, "for six months" and hasn't looked back. His accent gives

away the Australian-French mix. After working illegally in the suburbs for a short time, he was discovered by the creative director for the L Oreal salon working with fashion magazines. His first cover was the December 1976 issue of the German Stern magazine. He worked with Europe's top photographers and top fashion magazines from the French Elle to Marie Claire to the French, Italian and British Vogue."I used to think it's funny that these magazines fly hairdressers across borders to do hair. But Vogue would send me to Milan twice a month." For years, his work was noted as Hair

by Manatis, because he was under contract to the Greek-French hair designer.

When that contract ran out,

the

American models with whom he worked had convinced him to try New York. "I fell in love with New York, it's like the Wild West. I am still fascinated by the energy this lady has."

His clients are fascinated by John Sahag's energy. Sahag at first rented a loft

in Chelsea and hired a secretary who booked transcontinental appointmentsone month in Paris, one month in New York.

His clients-the magazines, editors, ad

agencies and photographers-booked around his schedule. He didn't drop the fashion industry when he opened his Manhattan salon in 1984; it continues to this

day having grown to ateam

of 27 employees.

"I am not looking for fame,"

explains. "It is a means and not an end. I work on queens, princesses, actresses and also some adorable grandmothers who are

just as important to me." His

secret?

"Ninety-nine percent of my work is imagination and vision. Technique is one percent but it weighs nearly as much as the 99 percent vision."

Walking into his 5,400 square foot salon in the heart of Madison Avenue is like

walking into a futuristic universe, a friendly and very natural setting. It's serene, like a big loft, with water running everywhere. John's signature and invention is the dry cut.

"This is very important for our industry, because it allows for very individual results." He acknowledges that a haircut which would otherwise take 10 minutes, can take closer to an hour with dry hair, but the results are "unique shapes". But of course, this method is a luxury and many others won't be able to afford the process, he explains. Nevertheless, keeping up with fash-

ion-and just a few steps ahead of

it-is

important for the 42-year-old who says this is how one becomes "respected and considered a leader of sorts."

For John, "hair is mystical. You won't hair. It's private

let just anyone touch your

and personal." Those who allow Sahag to

touch their hair include Jennifer Aniston,

Winona Ryder, Gwyneth Paltrow

and

Claudia Schiffer. "Did you see Demi Moore in Ghosts? I did her hair. And Brooke Shields in the Calvin Klein campaign? That was me, too. And I've worked with Isabella Rossellini for years." No men? "This is not some sort of unisex place," Sahag says repeatedly. The only

men who come in are those who are some-

coveted Schwarzkopf, the International

how related to or referred by his regular

Prize for hairstyling in Milan.

clients.

In his "spare time", John has spent years developing hi-sown professional line of products. "We're in all the A salons in

He works from 8 a.m to 8 p.m. regularly. But, "I feel as if I've never worked a day

in my life. My work is a form of meditation. His nickname "Fashion man" is a good description for the pace of his work. "The

New England and we'll be

minute your client leaves the salon, the style is already dated. We are always innovating." John is reaching another hallmark by starting a professional line of products. "I have spent eight years with the help of the former international Director of research at Gillette to have a top quality product." The distribution of his products started in the US in 1998; they include shampoos, revitalizing treatments, conditioners. Last June, this "hair designer" won the

extent to which he's interested in commer-

Florida,

California and Hawaii in just a few months," he says proudly. But that's the cializing. No franchising for this entrepreneur.

"I am not looking for the ready-to-wear approach to hairstyling. It is more the modern haute couture. It is less a question of financial means than quality of work and personalized

care."

Translated from the French by Harry Dikranian

Ihree maior inueslments stir dehale and controucrsy 0n priuatization in Armenia Br

l. H. AtEXAllllRlAll; Plrolos by tlllffillAB

believed the Yerkrabahs were also opposed, but they later backed off, possibly satisfied by political concessions such as the nomination of local governors from their ranks. Opposition to the agreement had several strands. If concern about the low price was genuine and understandable for many,

l$lAGllAIRlAll

others were undoubtedly led by political interests linked to the upcoming legislative elections of 1999. A drive to discredit at all costs the present authorities can not be disregarded either. The executive certainly underlined this point. insisting that, apart from the communists, the other opponents of the deal had voted just a couple ofyears ago in favor of privatization. President Robert Kocharian clearly stated his opinion: the cognac deal is one of the best the country has achieved so far and the issue is being unfairly exploited by political opponents. Besides the main Yerevan factory, Pemod-Ricard will also take over branches in Artashat and Armavir, which special-

ize in producing alcohol used in

the

cognac industry. The French company paid $2 million at the conclusion of the deal and must pay the remaining $28 million by December 10. The contract included a set of conditions imposed by

the Armenian side, requiring

Pernod

Ricard to invest $4 million in the next five years on modemization of the factory and in international promotion of the product. Other conditions state that the cognac must always be produced exclu-

sively from alcohol made from local ever before had a privatization project provoked such an uproar. The disclosure of negotiations between the Armenian govemment and the French firm

Pernod-Ricard for the sale Cognac factory at a price

of the Yerevan of $30 million

Political tensions reached such levels that, after attempting without success to block the agreement in parliament and bringing the issue to the streets, opposition parliamentarians threatened to bring a case to the constitutional court and to call a vote of confidence in the National Assembly. From the government side, there were vague hints at the dissolution ofthe

aroused extraordinary public conftoversy and triggered the fust serious showdown between parliament and the new administration. Dissatisfaction reached new heights with the signing of the final agreement on June 12. The govemment was accused of "selling national ffeasures" at a "ridiculous" price and even of taking bribes amounting to $100 million. Prime Minister Darbinian counter-attacked by labeling opponents ofthe deal "economic national-

Manukian's National Democratic Union, Edward Yegorian's Democratic Fatherland

ists and fascists".

party, and the Communists. Initially,

Assembly.

Opposition to the deal has brought togeth-

er factions whose cooperation might

have seemed unthinkable only recently. Ministers were faced by joint resistance from the former ruling Armenian National Movement, Vazgen

AIM AUGUST 1998

was

grapes. This important condition becomes invalid if the French side find that the factory has recently relied on non-Armenian grapes for its production.

The agreement provides for bottling to take place exclusively in Armenia and for Pemod Ricard to preserve the distinctive feaof taste, flavor and texture, of Armenian cognac. All bottles will have labels identifuing it as "Armenian brandy" and traditional marks tures

and

denominations such as "Dvin", will be retained.

"Vaspourakan" etc,

Pemod Ricard pledged to keep the averof the marketed product at a minimum of 10 years, and to continue over the next five years to increase its reserves. In addition, the quantity of cognac produced by the factory is a5e age

expected to rise to 425,000 decalitres within five years as against an average of 270,400

was announcecl in.lune 1991 and, Pernt>dRicard was selected trom just two bidders, the

decalitres in the last three. For this purpose, the cornpany intends to strengthen relations with

other being the Canadian company, Seagram. With a tumover of $2 7 billion in 1996. PernodRicard is the flfih largest worlcl producer of high quality alcoholic drinks. It is tar. how-

ever, fiom being a leader in the French

,]l

cognac industry. Negotiations are said to have started in autumn 1997. Difterent unconfirmed sources assefi that at that time the price of the factory was set at anything between $100 million and $180 million. Apparently, however. agreement was not

ffi

reached and the tender w'as postponed.

government!s privatization list, they were told it would fetch more than $400 million. They were certainly encouraged in their expectations by

the factory's accounts. According to Albert Heroyan. its director until privatization, the factory showed a 24 percent increase in production in the first quarter of this year, to 93,000 decalitres ofcognac. It was planned to increase that volume by 56 percent, bringing it to a market value of l3-14 billion Dram ($24-26 m11-

lion). l-ast year's production grew by 68 percent 364,000 decalitres as against 216,000 in 1996. By these lights, the claim that production would rise to 425.000 decalitres as a result of privatization looks misleading beczruse the increase in volume was already occurring. The factory has ample reserves of alcohol of diff'erent ages, the oldest dating from 1902, totalling 1.66 million

decalitres.

The cognac factory

nrore than 190,1' ol' the company.

Alier this term expires, the tactory can be solcl only it' the new buyer agrees

to assunre all of the

Yerevan factory itself had debts, but as

,r;,w.,1:jrg

firns tbr

sale

of the

or less than $2 rnillion. One of the main arguments of proponents of the deal is that it would save the country's ailing viniculture. In recent years peasants ol the Ararat valley, on which the whole of the cognac and part of the wine industries rely, have

1995.

special

national symbolism invested in Armenian cognac.

In addition, the ll0-year-old

been transforming hundreds of hectares of their vineyards into flelds of wheat and potato. This trend, a result of the collapse of

state-owned Yerevan cognac facto-

ry is

one

ol the

most profitable ir

firnrs in Armenia. While

some

oh.lceted on prine iple to privatiza-

tion of the 'national heritage' - and were even more outraged that the buyer was tbreign - most were more concerned by the price tag. They claimed the alcohol stocked in the factory reserves alone were wofth roughly three times the $30 million paid. The international tender firr the factory

result of the consol-

with those ol the main company. it was sold with accumulated debts amounting to 970 million Dram,

and the National Asserrbly had twice approved the initiative. But the eonlroversy has a tulismanic

cluality because

idation of the accounts of the Arlashat and Armavir branches

same

obligations. The decision to privatize the factory was not new - the government had included it in the list of state owned

Armenia's largest exporter selling 90 percent of its products abroad, mostly to Russia. It is also the country's biggest taxpayer, contributing 3.4 billion Dram ($6.8 million) in taxes in 1997. The

local vine-growers by signing longtcrnr ilgrecrncrrts with them. Finally. the agrccment stipulates that the buyer has no right within the nexl l0 years to sell

Negotiations resumed in early 1998 around a price of $85 million, according to some sources, befbre the sides finally settled at $30 million.

Some of the deputies opposing the deal claim that when the factory was included in the

AIM AUGUST I998

the grapes market, due among other things to the collapse of the wine industry, threatens an entire agricultural and industrial tradition. In soviet times, the yield of vineyards reached 320,000 tons per year, but the estimates for 199'7 were on1y106,000 tons. The cognac lactory itself has been purchasing smaller and

BUSINESS

smaller quantities of grapes. Heroyan thinks the new owners will buy 40,000 tons this year compared to 32,fi)0 in 1995 and just 17,000 last year. The finn's new director Jean Francois Rouquet has said the company will provide Armenian vine-growers with technical support to improve the quality of vines and of irrigation and production methods. The government hopes too that the French firm, one of the biggest players in the world fruits market, could also become a major customer for Armenian fruits besides grapes, in particular for apple and apricot. Supporters of the deal argued too that the state-owned company could not provide the

necessary marketing and distribution for Armenian cognac to succeed on the international market, without which it has no future. Prime Minister Darbinian claimed that nowhere in the world is Arrnenian cognac competitive, and that even in Russia and other CIS countries

comes second behind French cognac. Rouquet believes the Russian market is too small for French cognac, but offers ample opportunities for the Armenian brand. PemodRicard will do everything possible so that the Armenian and French cognacs have separate and different sales markets, he said.

ECONOMY

Vigen Khachatrian, an MP and one of the

They argue that this would harm Armenia's

most vigorous opponents of the deal, did not see any sense in selling the whole firm for $30 million in order to improve the distribution and marketing networks. He argued that selling just

credibility at a time when it is already considered a high risk country for investrnents.

the distribution rights

to a foreign

company

would have solved that problem. There were strong complaints, particularly from local investors interested in making a bid, that the tender process lacked openness. The terms of the tender were not announced in the local press and the economy minister Edward Sandoyan acknowledged that "formally, the privatization was open, but informally the aim of the govemment was to sell the factory to a known foreign company." At least one local candidate did come forward after news of the

agreement with Pernod-Ricard. Andranik Manoukian, a wealthy businessman and member of the Yerkrapah parliamentary group, said he was willing to buy the factory for $35 million and on the same terms as the French. The minister of economic and structural reforms, Vatram Avanessian told him the tender was closed. Govemment circles accept that a lack of information was one cause of the uproar, but they claim too that a determined effort has been made to undermine this specific privatization.

Darbinian asserts that, despite the risk fac-

tor, "Pemod-Ricard's investment would be the first which is not guaranteed by any intermedi'ary." The low price of the deal seems indeed to reflect the high risk to which Pernod-Ricard is committing itself. President Kocharian has been robust in defense of the agreement, saying: "When the deal nears its end, you see the appearance of people and companies ready not to pay more-nobody would pay more-but to undermine it for their own reasons. "Nowhere in the world does the State deal with the production of drinks. A big company should come to Armenia with its distribution network and technology. That would give a big boost to our viniculture." He added: "Today capital knows no borders, and if we try to create obstacles to capital, create a special status for Armenia, we will find ourselves outside the world economic processes." Taking into account the restrictions set by the Armenian side-Armenian grapes, bottling in Armenia, and so on-he believes the price was a good one.

Glochrlse lrom top: ARtEillA Hotel; hotelt lotbr; lnyestol Uatche illanoukian and President locharian at ilARS; ilIARS complex.

AIMAUGUST 1998

BUSINESS

ECONOMY

Bv lNvrrnrox Eeon&

"There could have been no restrictions at case we would have lost the notion of "Armenian cognac", said the President. For his part, Darbinian, in a.jibe at local pretenders, said: "Pernod-Ricard is a serious partner, and not an unknown personality or group of persons unable even to declare their revenues and resources. We haven't yet witnessed an investment by a firm which is a world leader in its sphere. Another price would have been possible if the first, second, or tenth such deal had already been signed: but the price of the cognac factory reflects our reality for the time being." The sale of the Yerevan cognac factory is one of three major privatizations announced by the Govemment in a bid to attract foreign investment into Armenia.

all: in this

Talks have been going on with

the

Hl$ffi

park, with special tax and customs authorizil-

try minister Garnik Nanagoulian revealed

Pending the sale, Manoukian has already rented 9,500 sq meters for a pharmaceutical plant to begin work. Pharmatech is a joint venture between Manoukian and the French branch of the US company, Bristol-Myers, infusion solutions are produced and pills imported fioni France are packed for sale locally and fbr

third privatization in June, declaring that the lamous Marriott chain was expected to buy

the

Yerevan's most renowned hotel, the "Armenia". He refused to disclose details but said that within five years Marriot chain was

export to Transcaucasia and Central Asia. Some $13 million has been invested and, according to Manoukian, around $12 million worth of production is expected in 1998.

expected to manage Yerevan's most renowned hotel. the "Armenia." He didn't name them but the "Ani" and "Dvin" are both on the government's privatization list. The three transactions amount to the largest privatization since the sale of Armentel,

The Mars factory was built in 1988, in the last days of the soviet regime. Designed to sup-

joint

ply Soviet nranufacturing with automated electronic precision equipments, the tactory, then worth several hundred million dollars, was

London-based businessman Vatche Manoukian fbr the sale of the premises - though not the equipment - housing the Mars radio-electronics

never properly put to work befbre the collapse of the Union and the ensuing economic slump

tactory. The 100,000 sq. meter building will probably cost Manoukian $10 million. He plans

nomic and structural

to divide it into high technology

Afier much speculation, tlade and indus-

tions.

the Armenian-American telecommunications venture. iast Deccrnhcr to a consorlium headed by thc Greek company OTE. The state

earned some $80 million out of that transaction. plus a commitment by OTE to invest around $300 million in the country's telephone net-

work.

in Armenia. According to the minister of eco-

fbrn-rs.

Vahram Avanessian, its current annual output does not exceed $300,000. During the past decade, the re

The Government published a list last year 19 major state or mixed enterprises to be pri-

vatized through international tender.

hopes

Siemens, Alcatel, Bayer, and HoffmannLaroche. The premises may eventually be

equipment has become out-dated and consequently devalued, but the premises, specially designed for modern and cornplex production,

they will tempt foreign investors capable of bringing new technologies, jobs, and greater export oppofiunities for Armenian products. The income fl'orn the sales will also serve to

transformed into an expofi oriented industrial

have lost none of their qualities.

balance the state

production

units fbr use by various western firms, such as

AIMAUGUST I998

budget.

Building Bridges in the Holy Land Harry Hagopian is Executiue llirector ol lhe Jerusalem 0llice ol the Middle Easl Gouncil ol Ghurohes. By FETIX G(IRTEY erusalem's Armenian community may be small, but it has at least two things going for it: a famous presence in the Armenian Quarter of the Old City and an outward-looking commitment to shape events in this troubled part of the world. Palestinian negotiator Albert Aghazarian is perhaps the best-known local Armenian to gain prominence in the Palestinian cause, but he is not alone. Another Jerusalem Armenian with a con-

cern for the u-ider community is Harry Hagopian, the executive director of the Jerusalem liaison office of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC). Trained as an intemational lawyer in the UK, Hagopian, 38, has wide-ranging interests. He has worked on the legal background to the Karabakh dispute and he hopes his proposals to resolve the conflict will soon be published by the Holy See of Ejmiatsin. His current brief at the MECC is to be the voice of the local Christian churches, most of which are made up of Palestinians. As such, his work forces him to speak up in the political arena, where he is a vocal advocate of Palestinian rights. He is highly critical of the

Israeli government of Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu. 'I didn't expect

to go back so recklessly on the peace process," he declares bluntly. He points Netanyahu

to many of Netanyahu's actions---closure of large sections of the West Bank and their isolation from Jerusalem, his continued building of Jewish-only settlements on Arab land, his demolition of Palestinian homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, his refusal to implement the further redeployments of the Israeli army out of the West Bank-which, in his opinion, represents Netanyahu's abrogation of the 1993 Oslo Accords.

Almost two years on, Hagopian still recalls Netanyahu's uncompromising election pledges: No to discussion on the status of Jerusalem (it is to remain the "eternal and undivided capital of Israel"), No to Palestinian statehood and No to "land fbr peace." These attitudes have led to the recent clashes, as much as they have increased the tensions in the Holy Land. One of the Palestinians' most bitter com-

plaints has been over the "Judaization of Jerusalem." The eventual status of the city is, according to the Oslo Accords, to be decided in the final status talks by 1999. Meanwhile, the Israeli govemment has been continuing its policy of building new Jewish housing, demolishing Palestinian houses under various pretexts, refusing to grant Palestinians new

building permits and-most dangerouslyconfiscating Jerusalem identity cards from

AIM AUGUST I99tt

local Palestinian residents which would of their birthright of living in

deprive them

Jerusalem. This has significantly changed the demographic balance ofthe city, whose eastern half was seized by Israel in 1967. There are now

some 175,000 Jewish residents, compared to

only 150,000 Palestinians. The closure of to West Bank and Gaza residents has now been stepped up, with checkpoints meant to stop Palestinians from visiting the city. As Hagopian stresses, "freedom of moveJerusalem

ment impacts

freedom

worship."

Palestinian Christians from outside Jerusalem are barred from worshiping at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, for example, and Muslims

are barred from worshiping at the al-Aqsa mosque, lslam's third holiest shrine. "We have joke: that it is easier for an American or an Australian to visit the Holy Sepulcher than for a Palestinian from Bethlehem five miles down the road." a

The creation of Palestinian self-ruled towns and areas under the Oslo Accords has, in the words of Hagopian, led to the creation of Palestans, a reference to the apartheid-era South African government's bantustans or "homelands". Each Palestinian town is now cut offfrom others. "The organic link between

them has been severed. Jerusalem is cut off from Palestinian cities to the north and to the south. This is a very serious matter in an economy as fragile as the Palestinian. It has been done on purpose." Hagopian is frank about the impact. "This has led to an increase in crime, banditry violence, drug abuse, religious intolerance and prostitution-all connected to economic deprivation. The eruption that is taking place is from bottom to top. It reflects the deep dissatisfaction among Palestinian Christian and Muslim communities." But Hagopian has another role: "We have to constantly remind people of the existence of

acknowledges. But Hagopian believes the pressure on Palestinians is at last bringing the different Christian Churches closer together, a phenomenon he first noticed in Lebanon. The Jerusalem Inter-Church Committee, which he coordinates, is bringing together the churches

to plan a major Pan-Christian celebration for the year 2000.

Despite their modest budget they are inviting Armenian Church leaders, as well as the Pope, the Archbishop of Canterbury, all the

Orthodox Patriarchs and senior figures from the mainline Protestant Churches. "It will be a ringing testimony to the life and witness of the Christian presence in the Holy Land today."

local Palestinian Christians, members

We are

unaware

often are

We are a fundamental part of the fabric or embroidery of the Holy

moting better links between in the Holy

Christians and Jews

Land. Coexistence between all peoples of the Holy Land and an

inclusivism that would put aD end

to the exclusivism

ical leaders he points to Hanan

is a

serious problem," he

Jerusalem, Hagopian's

One of his most repeated sayings is that coined by Patriarch Sabbah: "Jerusalem is a city of two peoples and three faiths." Part of his work involves pro-

Armenian quarter with its ancient monastery, is another part of this rich mosaic. Hagopian reports that many of the prominent

"Fragmentation

Ejmiatsin.

work is dedicated to promotrng the ideal of tolerance and mutual respect between two often warring peoples and three religions that have not always been in harmony.

Manoogian, and centered on the

Ashrawi, an Anglican. Now Minister of

derful Armenian and ecumenical

ership, although the Orthodox bishops are still Greeks. The Armenian community, headed by Patriarch Torkom

Higher Education in the Palestinian Authority, she was elected to the Palestinian trgislative Council as one of the guaranteed six Christian representatives (out of a total of 80). Yasser Arafat's wife is a Greek Orthodox Christian and she is still seen at Mass. Arafat himself attends Christian churches on major feasts. In the past there have often been tensions between the Christian Churches, including the unseemly fights over territory within shared holy sites such as the Holy Sepulcher church.

become

"paganized," but he is hopeful

leader, a great pastoral figure and a distinguished scholar. "

Middle East Council of

polit-

Armenian

"Catholicos Karekin I is doing a lot to reverse this trend. He is a won-

Churches. The Anglican Church also now has a Palestinian lead-

Christians. Among current

faith and language." The Armenian Church is, to Hagopian, the foundation of any Armenian community. He knows the communities of the Middle East well and is highly impressed by the devotion to the Church of the Armenians of Iran. "It is a joy to observe and meet with the Iranian

the new mood in

Land." The biggest Christian community is the Greek Orthodox, closely followed by the Catholics. The head of the Latin-rite Catholics is Patriarch Michel Sabbah, a Palestinian, who is also the president of the

been

"vibrant". "Their sense of belonging to the larger Armenian corpus is embodied in their

the country has

local Christianity.

Palestinians have

remaining community as "cohesive" and

Christianity. They are a strong pillar of the Church." Although he has not managed to visit Armenia since the late 1970s, Hagopian is saddened that

and

ignored, marginalized and over-

ridden. Many people

palpable." However, Hagopian describes the

strong sense of

Christianity: Catholic, Eastern

Protestant.

munity. "The community was anyway very small, so the drop in numbers has been more

Armenians. They have such

of all four families of

and Oriental Orthodox

This emigration, caused by economic concerns, has severely hit the Armenian com-

Despite these signs of hope, there is still the constant drain on the local Christian community caused by emigration. Although many Palestinians have left the region for North America, Australia or Western Europe over the

past decade or so, Christians-who until recently made up more than a tenth of the Palestinian population-are leaving at a disproportionately high rate. "Many say they can't feed their kids, educate them or find work for themselves. The idea that they should stay out of solidarity or patriotism is noble, but quite unrealistic; they can't survive."

AIM AUGUST 1998

peddled by

many from both sides would, he E believes, put to rest the conflicts which, he notes, have existed for only 50 years-a relatively short time when compared with the whole of history. "We have got to accept our neighbor as they accept you and we must accept the humanity of the other side." Hagopian believes that it is precisely in this area that the local Armenians can play a key role: "They could be very good bridgebuilders, not because they are any cleverer, but because they have themselves suffered persecution and genocide. They know what it is to

be oppressed. They know how to build

bridges."

i;i

',.1i:

:Lt\:

ike many second

generation

Americans, Maria Armoudian holds a strong belief in the socalled "American Dream."

This land

opportunity has

long promised to reward those

amGl to Washington lo Gel the ol Politics

who work hard with success and happiness, but it's a promise Armoudian feels those in power are undermining. That is why the 32year-old freelance journalist has decided to run for US Congress this November.

Of course her reasons go beyond that, but a return to the American Dream is the foundation for Armoudian's campaign platform. You may be surprised to leam which party she belongs to. Armoudian says she stands first and foremost for improved education, health care and environmental protection. She wants to see more incentives given to small business owners, an end to corruption in politics and a move toward the ideal democratic system where representatives are elected by the people to lead the country for the people, not for campaign contributors and corporate sponsors.

"One of the themes throughout my campaign is to do away with taxation without representation. You know we pay our taxes but nobody represents us, they only represent the big money interests," charged Armoudian. "The most important thing at this point is to get the big money out of politics." Sitting inside a busy Southern California coffee shop on a Friday afternoon, young patrons are aiming curious glances at Armoudian whose voice has risen above the canned music and the whir of the cappuccino

machine. She is stating in an

impassioned

tone, "I think the biggest job of the legislature

is to answer to the people, they're their employers. One of the things I always say is if you have to pressure, cajole, or prod your representatives to represent you-fire them!" There is no doubt about Armoudian's pas-

sion for politics. She is not afraid to speak her mind loud and clear, in public, to everyone within earshot. The petite young woman with the long permed hair is an attention grabber. Her brand of outspoken criticism is reminis-

of young activists in the 60's, yet Armoudian spent her politically-formative

cent

in Ronald Reagan's 80's. Her take on issues could place her in the Democratic, Republican, Reform or Natural Law parties, years

but-she's a Green. Actually Armoudian started as a Republican, then became a Democrat and ultimately signed on with the Green Party after realizing the big two truly differ very little from each other, and seldom

Natural Law and Libertarian parties are also

physics. For awhile, the Armoudians lived in New

running. Armoudian would like to

to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, he's refused to really support the Armenians," Armoudian charged, "People should know

that small college

Armoudian points out the need for Armenians to have a representative in

town

travel.

Not long after arriving L.A., Armoudian met

Gabriel Injejikian. the princi-

pal of Holy

teacher,

called World Chart, which is a weekly musical countdown heard in countries outside the US.

The other is consulting for a state

agency

experience that

taught her a lot about the Armenian community in Southern California. "I had over a thousand students, I remember every one of their names," claimed Armoudian. The teaching experience also added to her belief in the importance of a

of the

called the Joint Legislative Audit Committee.

one

investments, that's the only way to keep our country strong. That's the only way to keep us knowledgeable about what's going on," Armoudian stated.

spending, "I see a lot of what the government wastes its money on," Armoudian remarked.

of Southwestern

State

University in Oklahoma, with a Bachelor's degree in political science. Armoudian, who sings and plays the piano, saxophone and clarinet, attended college on a music scholarship. After graduation she started a business managing musicians and songwriters. That enterprise prompted her to leave Oklahoma for Los Angeles. "So that's what brought me here, and then a couple of things-particularly the Armenian community kept me here. Growing up I really didn't meet any Armenians. I was

just an oddball in a white Anglo-SaxonProtestant town. We were the only ethnics. I didn't even speak English, and nobody knew what an Armenian was!" Armoudian recalled with a smile. Armoudian was born in 1966 in Baton Rouge, Lousiana where her parents attended graduate school. "My Dad's from Lebanon, my Mom's from Cyprus, they met while they were in college at the American University in

Beirut," Armoudian explained. Aghavni and Garabed Armoudian moved to Lousiana after getting married. Aghavni is a philosophy pro-

that because they're not being represented."

Congress, "Armenians as a whole need to start

to raise their voices. We're a fledgling little country over there and we need some support, and we have a really unique opportunity to grow that country into something strong." Armoudian advanced past the June 2 primary with 1,785 votes to Democratic encum-

bant Berman's 35,833. The election

November 3rd, Armoudian will need a majority of the votes to win. She realizes it is an uphill battle against a strongly entrenched Congressman, but as before believes the victoI ry is in the trying.

solid educational system. "I think that education is

That organization investigates government

She is a graduate

Martyrs

Ferrahian Armenian High School. Injejikian recruited Armoudian to become a

tions. At the moment she has two jobs-one as a writer for a syndicated radio program

defeat

Berman not only because of her mistrust of "career politicians," but because of his record on issues important to his considerable Armenian constituency. "Berman has refused

tiny Weatherford, Oklahoma where Armoudian and her brother Anto grew up. Her parents remain in where they enjoy teaching and taking long summers to

bring about the real reform she is seeking. A freelance journalist by profession, Armoudian has written for, edited and even owned several small newspapers and publica-

fessor, Garabed has a PhD rn

York and Garabed taught at Columbia University. Ultimately the family moved

I t't

most important

Armoudian entered her first political race, a city council election, in 1995.

She lost.

but gained an insight into the power of connecting with people, "It's the best time I'd had in a long time, because you're actually out there standing for something and talking to people and interacting and really getting a sense of what's going on out there-whether it's anger or happiness," she noted. This time around

Armoudian says she

has entered another difficult race to win. The 16-year encumbent in

the 26th district is Democrat Howard Berman, a member of

the International

Relations,

Judiciary, and Standards of

Official Conduct

committees.

Two other candidates from the

AIM AUGUST 1998

A1IER RADI

By lffilSlEl{

Klllll

ask me about JonBenet J\on't I tdir..,oi lRamsey," kids David Barsamian, I and host ofthe weekly pro-

available to Americans; that includes radio, television, film, music, books, magazines

concern him. Perhaps that's not entirely true, like all Armenians, Barsamian strongly

and newspapers.

wants Turkish acknowledgement

gram "Altemative Radio." The interview show is heard on more than 125 stations in the US and Canada, and in more than 100 countries via shortwave on "Radio for Peace

"This kind of concentration of power is almost by definition a threat to democracy!" declared Barsmanian. Dressed in a t-shirt and shorts standing in the center of the

genocide that left his mother the sole survivor of her family. "The denial makes it a double murder. There is no closure without it," Barsamian said. However he disagrees with what he calls the "politics of the leaf' approach to persuading American politicians to take action. "There's an entire eco-system that can't be concemed with the problem of just one leaf," Barsamian suggested. For a start, he believes Armenians should be galvanizing around the upcoming 50th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights in order to call attention to the plight. "Alternative Radio" (can be found on

International."

It is produced in Boulder,

room, no more than 5'6"

height,

Colorado the city now best known as the site of the murder of a six-year-old beauty

Barsamian commands respect through his voice and words. Years of talking on the

pageant star. "I just got back from Greece and people over there were asking me about

radio have taught Barsamian how to play to an audience, how to tell a story with humor and sarcasm, plus enough official source

JonBenet Ramsey," Barsamian exclaimed. The fact that Europeans know about this particular murder story provides proof to Barsamian that the mainstream media in the US have gone completely off track. "Much of the corporate-controlled media is not performing a watchdog function anymore, if it ever did," said Barsamian who prefers to call the press a "lapdog to corporate America." Speaking animatedly to a class full of art design students in Pasadena, CA Barsamian has the undivided

information to sound credible. Students laugh at all the right moments and ask questions that move the discussion into different and interesting directions. Impressive considering only two of these 2O-somethings had ever heard of Barsamian or his radio show before their instructor's introduction. If Barsamian is critical of the main-

stream media, he is equally unimpressed with the so-called alternative ethnic pressArmenian included. "Ethnic media primari-

attention of each of the 22 students. All eyes and ears are riveted throughout the nearly

perform a cultural role," Barsamian charged, "I find them totally irrelevant.

three hour interaction. Their questions

What

could have continued all night long, and one gets the sense this is a perspective none of these students has heard before. They are intrigued and alarmed to hear Barsamian explain that less than ten corporations now control nearly all of the information outlets

to any of the Armenian magazines or newspapers because they don't cover issues that

I find most deplorable

is that they are

completely jingoistic! They are not only micro-nationalistic, they're macro-nationalistic tool" Barsamian says he does not subscribe

AIM AUGUST

1998

the

www.freespeech.org/alternativeradio) is supported solely by its listeners who purchase cassette tapes or printed transcripts of the various programs. The stations that air AR don't pay for the programming and are

therefore unable to claim that they can't afford to run such viewpoints. Guest interviews have included Ralph Nader, Noam Chomsky and Peter Balakian, among many others. Topics range from politics, corporate policies, consumer safety, the environment, education, the rewriting of history, military action, and exploitation to labor union struggles and technology.

athleen Nartuhi's approach to life is quite the opposite of most. Rather than doing something left-brained for a living, Nartuhi earns an income off her art-

work. Nartuhi is a ceramicist; she uses her imagination and her hands to sculpt decorative pieces of artwork out of clay which she then glazes to create a bronze-like finish. "People often say my work looks Japanese," notes Nartuhi who is half Armenian. "But I think tlat's because we live on the Pacific Rim," she adds with a smile. Nartuhi is a native Californian who lives in Chico with her husband Sarkis Baronian (sp?). Nartuhi began sculpting 20 years ago, she makes a full-time living at it with the help of Baronian who handles the business-side of things. Her education is in English literature, she earned a B.A. from U.C. Berkeley and an M.A. from CSU-San Francisco. At one time Nartuhi thought she would go into teaching, but her artistic talents took over. She still enjoys literature though, it helps her relax after a long day behind the wheel. Every one of Nartuhi's pieces are hand-made, either thrown on a wheel or handbuilt from slabs of clay. Nartuhi limits herself to just one glaze which gives her work a signature style. Most of her sales are through the wholesale market. She attends at least 2 trade shows a year and also creates sculptures for custom orders. The pieces range in price from $90 to $250 each. It is gratifying work but Nartuhi disagrees with those who consider it recreational, "Fun is the wrong word," she explarns. Some weeks Nartuhi may spend as many as 80 hours creating pottery, and this full-time career shows no signs of slowing, 'It still fascinates me and I'm still learning," Nartuhi says. You can find her pottery in dozens of cities across the US, Canada and in Germany and Switzerland, including "Newman Harris Artwares" in West Hollywood and "Nancy Margolis Gallery" in New York.

ifty-years after leading his college football team to a Rose Bowl victory, Alex Sarkisian has been inducted into the "College Football Hall of Fame." Sarkisian was a center and linebacker for Northwestern University from 1946-48. He was named to the "First Team All-Big Ten Conference" squad in 1948 and played in the "Chicago Tribune All-Star Game" in 1949. Sarkisian was the captain of the 1948 Wildcat team. His winning spirit was revealed in the first conference game of the season when the Wildcats were trailing Minnesota 16-0. Sarkisian reportedly shouted to his teammates, "Anyone here that doesn't think we're going to win this game get off the field!" The Wildcats rallied for a 19-16 win. That same year Sarkisian led Northwestern to a Rose Bowl victory over California20-14. After his playing career at Northwestern, Sarkisian became a member of the football staff. He spent many years serving as a teacher, coach and administrator System.

in the East Chicago Public School

He is a member of the "Northwestern Sports Hall of Fame" and the "State of Indiana Football Hall of Fame." On April 15 it was announced that Sarkisian had also been inducted into the "College Football Hall of Fame," an organization with other notable members including Dick Butkus and Roger Staubach. There 608 players and l2l coaches in the College Football Hall of Fame. Each went through a strict election process to be chosen from the more than tlree million who have played the game. Sarkisian is now retired and living in East Chicago, Indiana.

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1998

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in some costs associated with Armenia's recent participation in the European Youth Games in Moscow.

According

Avetissian's

assistant,

Michael Sogomonian, airfare for 105 (80 athletes; 25 trainers, coaches, doctors, officials) cost $12,000 (Aeroflot gave the team a 50 percent discount). Uniforms (the cheapest costs $120) totalled about $14,000. And housing, food, transportation cost for the 25 trainers, etc. cost about $20,0(D (approximately $100 per person for 8 days). So, if the European Youth Games are a reasonable measure of costs, that event alone

would have taken nearly one-third

the

Olympic budget.

Some help has come

from

Adidas,

Butterfly and Coca-Cola, though more in the form of materials than in money. (For example, when a public Intemational Olympic Day Run was held June 20 in Yerevan, Coca-Cola provided 1,000 T-shirts.) Money is the muscle of modern athletics and nowhere is Armenia's apparent lack of it more obvious than at the Head Olympic Sports Complex in Tzaghkadzor, where the training

facility that once was the crown jewel of Soviet Olympic training is now a crumbling, rusting, cracking shell of former grandeur. Chosen for its high altitude (located about 60 kilometers north ofYerevan it is the country's only ski "resort,") and mountain seclusion, Tzaghkadzor was opened in 1968 as a facility that would help Soviet athletes acclimate (it is 1,800 meters above sea level) to the

oxygen deprived air

of the Mexico

City

Games.

Its massive complex set the standard for Eastem European athletic training. Its great hall of gymnasium, Olympic styled swimming pools and diving platforms, soccer fields, boxing rings, wrestling mats were all state of the art. And when the day's training ended, saunas soothed the aching muscles of young men and

ln better times... the opening celemony of 1980 0lympics in toscow Mnatzakanian says. "I know him. For him life is better there." In the cases of Armenia's Olympic hope-

fuls-many of whom, like Gevorgian come from impoverished villages-it takes little to make life better. Still, the life they find at Armenia's premier training facility is only relatively "premier." To illustrate:

At his Yerevan office of the National Olympic Committee of Armenia, Avetissian was asked what he would most like to see

made available to his athletes.

The Committee president answered: "Hot water. "

Money for Armenia's Olympic training comes from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport which has a national budget for sport of

$450,000. Of that total, $150,000 per year is designated to Olympic training. Trying to get exact financial figures here is something like trying to win an Olympic

medal. But the problems

of training

Olympic team and paying its staff and administration on $150,000 a year can be understood

AIM AUGUST I998

women pushing their limits to wear CCCP across their vibrant hearts. A dining room big enough for several hundred hlled their bellies with fuel for the next day. It is from the camp at Tzagl*adzor that such Armenian athletes (representing the Soviet Union) as Faina Melnik (Munich,

1972), Yury Vardanian (Moscow, 1980), Eduard Azarian (Moscow, 1980), Oxen Mirzoian (Seoul, 1988) and Levon Julfalakian (Seoul, 1988) became Olympic medalist. On a June moming, his first session of Graeco-Roman wrestling training finished, Aghasy Manukian, barefoot and with a t-shirt

SPORTS

lelt ilolo:

l(arGn

Youth GamGs and

tna$alanian (letll and

Aghasy lllanullan [affie ln lc, mounlaln sDiln0 uatGl Blght Afiloles dreparlng l0] fiG Eur0IGan lhe Sydney 0lmplcs g0 [lruug[ m0ming exerclses on cracHn0 ]umlm facl(s.

fashioned into a turban to protect from the sun, led a visitor to the very site where Robert Emian trained to become Armenia's greatest long jumper (European Cup record holder, 1987).

"This was the landing pit," Manukian says, his explanation punctuated with a sarcas-

tic laugh at the present site: a patch of high

it would seem since days when a single blade of grass would have weeds untouched

meant poor groundskeeping. Samuel Haroutuinian, a wrestling referee. kicked at the cracks in the rubberized track

of democracy." As a group of Olympic wrestling hopefuls jogged the track where Melnik trained for track and field greatness, they dodged cow manure left by the new inhabitants of this infield, rich with weeds where a manicured and said: "These are the traces

infield was meant to be. And when they finished their moming exercise, it was not to the residence hall with its "sauna" where they first went but, rather, to a place in the nearby wood where a pipe fed spring water, under which the athletes took turns bathing. For in the dormitory in June,

there was neither hot nor cold water.

Privately, some coaches and athletes complained that in only

days their govern-

ment would make water available for the tourists who make Tzaghkadzor a summer resort location. Yet these athletes -- among them 7 Champions of Armenia, 4 European Champions, and one World Champion -- must bathe outside in icy mountain spring water.) Nor was there electricity, as these future Olympians and some 80 younger athletes training for the European Youth Games spent their early summer days at the Head Olympic Sports Complex. (The kitchen has gas ovens for preparing meals.) Such "traces" (to use the referee's philosophical analysis) do not flatter democracy. Still: "For many of these boys the conditions here are better than they have at home," says Olympic Team doctor Stephan Grigorian. "Three or four times a day here they can eat all they want." But Grigorian shares a common concern among sports enthusiasts who have seen other countries win the courtship for Armenia's athletes.

"Little by little our sportsmen are losing their patriotism," Grigorian says. "When they feel that maybe they are not taken care of, then they look for ways to get to other countries where they will be paid and taken care of." The doctor uses Gevorgian to illustrate his point. "He is the best athlete in the world in his sport now, but he has no money," Grigorian says.

The Ministry of Culture gave Gevorgian

Ihe swimmlng D00l and dlulng ilalloms are am0n0 ffie decaflng lacllllles al he Genlml 0lymplc Sporls Gomplex In lzaghkadzor.

AIM AUGUST I998

SPORTS "He wants to be here, so that his children can see him," Mouserian says. Perhaps. But in a recent interview with "Armenian Sport," a Yerevan week-

Wrestling

ly, Gevorgian had bitter things to say about his experience representing Armenia and said that he would no

Ior Germany

longer go out of the country to compete because "they feed me with their promises.tt

And the patriotic Gevorgian described by his "godfather" was a contradiction to the Gevorgian who, when asked by the weekly whether he would encourage a son to take up his sport said he would encourage his son to leave the country. Armenla's 0lm[lc gold mcdalisl Armen llazafian (lelll and sllrer medalist Amcn tllrrtcltlan at lhe 1990 Allanla oames. Gurenlly ilazarian Is mil 0l the Bulgarian 0lympic leam. a car as a gift for winning one championship. But, says Grigorian: "A car is not the most of

his needs now."

Gevorgian

is from the village

Kakhtzrashen and is recently married. He and

his family were staying at Tzaghkadzor, Grigorian says because "he came to me and

said'I have no money.' " How then, does Armenia keep her athletes, with only regular meals as a payoff for their efforts when other countries offer state of the art training facilities and comfortable living?

One (officially unconfirmed) report is that Gevorgian himself was on his way to another country when he was intercepted in

Moscow

by a

member

of the Olympic

Committee and was persuaded

to return to

The interviewer countered with

questions about the flag, about patriotism. Said Armenia's best hope for Gold: "Those are just words." The head of the Federation and others make a good point in their claim that the conditions under which their wrestles train is part of what makes them champions.

Certainly, their challenge inside the ring is minor compared to the challenges they face outside it. "We are used to these facilities," says European Games champion Mnatzakanian. "That is why become winners. We see the con-

ditions of other countries and their conditions are better, but we feel better than them because

we are prepared for the worst." Which may work to a wrestler's advantage. But what of other sports? What of gymnasts? What of swimmers? What of cyclists, for whom one bicycle for competition could cost as much as $5,000? And what of winter sports, for which the country currently has no

Armenia.

training facilities? (Seven Armenians who

One official also told AIM that the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport had

competed in various events in Nagono earlier this year trained in Moscow, but for only one month, costing $5,000.) Somewhere between official flag waving

promised Gevorgian $3,000

if he won the

European Championship. When Gevorgian's match was a draw and he got only Silver,

Gevorgian asked, according to an Olympic Committee member, to be paid half of the $3,000, but was told no money was available. (Over a period of two weeks, AIM made 12 requests for an interview with either the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport or with the Deputy Minister. No interview was granted.) Asked at Tzaghkadzor if he had been recruited by other countries to wrestle for their teams, Gevorgian said that he had. But before Gevorgian could elaborate, Garik Mouserian, president of the Armenia Sport Federation, who calls himself Gevorgian's "Godfather," intemrpted with answers that dredged memories of Soviet-era "state approved" media, having to do with patriotism, nationalism and ending with family:

Greco-Roman wrestler

Alfred

Ter

Mkrtchian, 2'1, was born in Iran, but immigrated to Armenia before his first birthday. He is a graduate of Yerevan Sport Institute.

1992 he won second place in

Barcelona and was subsequently invited by Germany to play in its team. While his parents

Iive in Glendale, CA, Alfred liveo in Schifferstadt and plays in Germany's national

Olympic team.

ln 1994 Alfred won the gold medal in wrestling at the rJy'orld Charrpionship Games in Tampere, Finland (below) and panicipated in three other world championships. His.record in European championships is impressive: one first place, two second place and four third place. Alfted is now preparigg for the August

'98 World Championship Games in Slockholm, Sweden. He is training in Los Angeles with coach Sako Demirjiaa. Not satisfied with the result of Olympics '96 when he was in the 9th place, he is training hard and has high hopes for the Z)00 games in Sydney.

of its Olympic training facilities lies the truth about Armenia's future in sport. And somewhere between the decaying training facility and and the near primitive conditions

future Olympic medals, these athletes and officials hope, is a diasporan donation. But with more imminent needs throughout the country it may be that the 2000 Olympics will be history before Armenia's current athletes see improvements in accommodations for sport. "The arrangement of the Sydney Games are going on now," director Avetissian said in June, having just retumed from Seville, Spain and a meeting of the 198 countries comprising the Organization of International Sports Committees. "We have an agreement. Armenia will be present." r

AIM AUGUST

1998

Illlmal ed

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Arminae Azarian sings in Disney's illulan By

lffilSlEl{ lflllll

e performer from Tehran is among the fortunate few to have added their talents

to what some are calling

Disney's best film yet. Azarian sings the part of Mulan's mother Fa Li, a smaller role, but an experience

will lead to bigger and better opportunities with the entertainment giant. She had auditioned for Aladdin and had sevshe hopes

eral callbacks during the casting of Hercules, but apparently the third time was the charm. She explained how it works. "They send you a tape of the music so that you can get familiar with it, then you audi-

tion and if you're hired they book a time for

you to go to their studio and record it." Sounds simple enough; the trick is beating out all the heavy competition. Azarian began studying the performing arts at the age of seven in New York City. In 1980 Azarian she landed a dancing role in the first national touring company of the musical Evita and spent the next two years

travelling the country with the troupe. When she returned to New York, Azarian played the lead character Diana Morales in Chorus Line. She also had a recurring role on the CBS soap opera Guiding Light.

"I would live on a soap the rest of my life if I could," Azarian laughed. "I had a great character, I played a woman in Lebanon disguised as a boy, a runner for American journalists, and I got tangled up

in a love story. It was an interesting part and the money was great!"

"My career goal is to keep working," Azarian explains. "I'm not looking for fame and fortune. I love to act, I love to sing, I love to entertain, it would be wonderful to have a series or recurring role or something,

but you have to realize that the cookie crumbles where it does." "The emphasis is really on your looks, what's hot and now," says the performer who is now in her 30s. I think there's work out there for everybody, I just think it's easier when you're younger because most of the parts are for 18 to 24-year olds." Five years ago Azarian made the move from New York to Los Angeles. She's had guest roles on the television police drama Brooklyn South, theFoxhit Melrose Place, and a role that brought her a lot of attention on the wildly popular sit-com Seinfeld. Azarian said that appearance still eams her points with potential employers, "Every audition I go into, the first thing they ask me is what did you do on Seinfeld?" During their chats on the set, Seinfeld's Julia Louis-Dreyfuss (who played Elaine) encouraged Azarian to keep her real name rather than using something less ethnic

sounding, "I asked her if she thought I should change it and she said absolutely not." Even so, Azariar has occasionally

used Austen as her stage name. "I've been back and forth on how Azarian plays, I feel like it's hard and I worry about typecasting, but I think I'm going to stick to it. I think it's

got more umph!" Azarian declared, "And

':::, :

t::

M I

my parents certainly prefer t}rat

Hasmik and Hampik Azaian moved their three children to New York from Tehran in 1964 to be near other family members. Azarian says she and her siblings were deeply involved in Armenian activities

went to Armenian school,

Armenian camp, Armenian church, I mean

was really really involved as a

kid. I

belonged to the Armenian Youth Federation, I went to camp six years in a row. It was some of the best times in my life," Azarian recalled. Since moving to L.A. Azarian said she has had difficulty reconnecting with the

community.

think it's probably very

cliquey. I may be a little too Americanized, but I feel like an outsider here." This is not to say she has lost her identity altogether. Azarian and her husband, Robert Reames, enjoy attending the United Armenian Congregational Church in Los Angeles. Azarian married Reames, a per-

sonal fitness trainer,

in a

traditional Armenian ceremony. Azaian said. "I go to Armenian mechanics, Armenian grocery stores, I love speaking Arrnenian to these people. There's definitely a wonderful warm feeling and it's wonderful because there's an instant camaraderie." However, Azarian says she is thinking

about returning to New

York. "I like this

Iifestyle. My husband has his business here, have a house, a dog, I love the weather. But I would love to do New York theatre

again," admitted Azarian. More than 20 years

in the business have taught Arminae Azarian how to be

patient and prepared. A lifetime as an Armenian-American has taught her to remember the past but keep moving

go by

Azarian!"

growing up,

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and Pholo

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7-flh.y started small. Karen Aykanian I Demirjian's own daughter and five I other children of Boston area families came together in September 1988

form the Armenian Children's Choir of Boston. Their first program was "a concert of three songs," remembers Demirjian, an energetic woman in her 40s. Now, they're big. This year the Vienna City Council hosted the group which participated in the city's annual musical celebrations. They sang in German, French,

Spanish,

Latin, Greek, Hebrew

and

Armenian. They have also contributed to the AYF CD, An Anthology of Armenian Patriotic Songs.

Demirjian started as

a music

and

German major at Brandeis University. She took courses in choral music at Harvard.

suppose

looked like a middle aged

woman with a hobby," she says of her initial efforts to recruit members for the choir which now numbers close to 40. And the children aren't all children any more. Ranging in age from 9 to 17, Demirjian says there is a natural attrition, yet the teenagers are "a very enthusiastic group." They can afford to be. In April, 1997,

they traveled to New York's Carnegie Hall

to sing at the National Children's

Chorus

annual event which brought 10 choruses from across the country to sing together. Not all children are allowed to travel, however, and not all parents see this as a worthwhile activity. So, Demirjian's task is even harder when it comes to recruiting new members.

The repertory is difficult, too. While Demirjian would like to include some of the older songs "which nobody sings anymore, for example Hinkala," she is not sure that "the people who come to the concerts want to hear these lovely songs; they prefer the more modern ones." Demirjian doesn't charge tuition and is not affiliated with any organization. Yet, after investing so much time and effort in

finding the "font" as she calls her initial group of young singers, she is determined to develop the choir further. "I know the sound I want to create," she says. "We're not there yet." But those who

have heard the group's rendition of Sartarabad, and Kedashen among others on I the AYF CD, might disagree.

Japanese lourists make an annual trek to sample tate and endangetcd llower species lound only in Armenia.

side will hold forests teeming with woodland species, the other may be semi-desert, Mediterranean marshland, mountain steppe or alpine meadow. Autumn has a twinge of regret in it, even as bountiful harvests make their way to market, the metal stands groaning under the weight of succulent fruit and vegetables. In September, people sigh with relief at the end of summer's heat waves,

and the streets and sidewalks teem with

ilGl( llEY; Pholos by ZIUEil lffiAGHll0All rive along the highway between Giumri and Yerevan in July, and you

will swear you are passing through North America's Death Valley. In the height of summer, Ararat Valley is a mirage of rock, dotted by irrigation-fed oases of melons, vegetables and fruit.

Drive the same Giumri to Yerevan road in May, and you could be forgiven by locals for thinking you have entered a verdant paradise, akin to the emerald green of Ireland. Spring is a glorious time in Armenia. Literally within an hour's drive of Yerevan, five completely different topographies lie, each with its own varieties of flora, on opposite sides

of the highway. While one

AIM AUGUST

1998

strollers and passers by. But by October they are already talking about stuffing plastic in their windows, cleaning out the wood stove, or stockpi]ing fuel for the coming winter. The fields are spent for the year, and the myriad shades of

red and brown wrought from months of rainless weather begin to change to gray.

The mountain tops are already sleeping under a blanket of white. Soon winter's snows will blast the land to sleep, and neighbors

will bunow into their

homes for

the long night of winter.

Spring is promise forever, though.

From the top of a ,no*-*.rurt.d mountain

in February, one can already spot ripples of green in valley snowlines. And by April, the ever-changing terrain seems like waves of pastel colors in the breeze. Red. pink. blue. yellow and purple toss like waves of color in fields of green-a green that suddenly erupts in April across the valleys and moves in concentric circles up the mountainsides in May and June. With 17 vegetation zones,

Armenia's variety of plant-life is truly astounding. The country has everything

from semi-desert scrub to deciduous

and

coniferous forests, from wet marshlands teeming with water flora and fauna, and sub-tropical regions in both the north and South of the country. to alpine meadows teeming with wild flowers. There are even virgin fields of wild grain, the forebears of the first wheat in the ancient world. believed to have been cultivated in Armenia 12-15,000 years ago. Known by their genus names Triticum Urartu and Triticum Araraticum, they are native to the Ararat valley and can be found in small protected fields between Yerevan and Gami. Also native to Armenia are the apricot and peach. The apricot was taken by Alexander the Great's army back to Greece, where the Romans then spread it throughout Southern Europe. Other fruits that grow in the country include apples, pears, cherries, mazzards. plums, pomegranates and an amazing variety of grapes.

Armenia has over 3,500 species of plants, more than half of the total that can be found in the entire Transcaucasus region.

Armenia too. For two years running, Japanese botanical tourists have been making an annual trek to sample rare and endan-

While Europe has around 20,000 species, Armenia, with a land mass of just under 30,000 sq. kilometers (about the size of

gered flora species found only in the republic. The Japanese visitors come in May, when flora are still abundant in valleys, and beginning to bloom in upper elevations. Internationally renowned botanist Professor

Belgiuml. has a breathtaking diversity and density of so many types of flora. Its flora draws fans from outside of

Nora Gabrielian, of the Armenian Academy of Sciences, serves as a host for these "Flower Watching" visits. She explains that

the attraction to Armenia's flora by Japanese is not as unusual as it first sounds. In Japan, where the art of flower arranging has become something of a national

obsession, heautiful and rare flowers are

highly prized. Unique species of iris. ranunculus, colchicum, fritillaria, gladioti, tttlips, hyacinths, orchids, crocus, punica, tournefortia, calendula, and vincas are but a few ofthe thousands that draw annual pilgrimages of Japanese tourists in the

spring.

OTHER

PEOPLE'S

MAIL

THESE ARE REAL LETTERS TO REAL PEOPLE. SEND US YOURS. ffi,t66$; AnoeurtruR Dear'D, It's late at night but I've decided to write back to you today, since I've been answering you in my mind ever since I got your reply. It was, in a way, as if it had been my first visit to Armenia. We spent 17 days there, all

Yerevan except for a day-trip to Ashtarag and its churches one Sunday. So my spent

impressions are those of the city, not the coun-

tryside. We stayed at the Armenia II Hotel, an airconditioned warm paradise of a room which

soon became very popular with our friends. the houses we visited were rela-

I visited universities and schools, talked to the teachers, who work for free; to the students --lovely adolescents, so eager to know more about us and the way we live. No, I'm not idealizing Armenia, but there's so much to it. We often think of winter in Yerevan as it was the 1992-1993 winter. streets like a frozen desert and people gathered in a corner of their house, praying for the coming of spring. That's a stereotype which no longer works. It was so heartening to see such a multitude of people in the street, busy traffic, girls and women so beautifully dressed,buddies playing and chatting, loving couples. Such things we are accustomed here and there, but our guys from the

All

yet the similarities are striking. People in Armenia excel at the art of survival. I felt a millionaire in Armenia, but couldn't stop wonon their

dering how these people get by salaries

-if

any.

Women were dressed to the nines. At least many of them. They seemed very beautiful to me, tall and slender, so far from our short and plump looks!

your life in America were

changed

Love V

Use Dear S. Women in Armenia.... they are a different

Armenia months before, and I started to seriously consider joining him. I am very glad I went for the experience it turned out to be. My mother asks:"Was it worth it? Going to the other end of the world to find

Hot water is of course the problem in a city with no natural gas. The female members of our family used our shower as often as they could. They hadn't had a shower

reality than an American is: I live, after all, in the Third World. Buenos Aires is huge and beautiful and offers all you can ever ask for,

world. That is Arevelk after all. I don't have to tell you what you already know, do I? P. had made up his mind to go to

tively well-heated, most of them electrically. A couple of them had this gas tubes they call "ballon".

"yergoo tserkov" for eight years. The city itself has changed so much since my first visit in Summer 96. There are many shops, restaurants, cafes. Of course only a few can enjoy these things. Perhaps I'm less shocked by Armenia and its

feel

overnight?" He had to agree with me on that. Those Armenian eyes... they kill me. It's the expression in them, regardless of their colour, size or shape. This longing, this "garod" nothing seems to erase. The same longing in their eyes and mine.

these answers?" I only know I would now be regretting it if I hadn't. West don't expect to see

in Armenia, because

they still think Armenia

something like

Somalia, Liberia, or some remote corner of the

world, deprived of everything. It's not right. They lack all sort of things, but they have plenty of others. They get 20 dollars a month, but they manage to live.

And, against the political

uncertitude,

they still keep their hope in a better future. As to politics, before leaving home we thought Kocharian was something like "the only candidate". Once in Yerevan, however, we were surprised to see people were sure there would be a second round. They knew better. Many people dream of the past. As I told G., "Can you blame them? How would you

AIM AUGUST I998

I still feel at a loss. though.

Ashot is not well- a party animal, although we have yet to host an honest to god party here. However, Ashot is a nature nut. It had not occurred to me that I never saw any fire flies in Hayastan. Ashot called me to the window, asking "what's that?" I looked outside and saw them, almost swarmed around our house. I suppose he might have thought something was on fire nearby and these were flying sparks. But we went outside and sat on the ground, just watching them. It was something truly cool to share with someone else. Bye R

CYBERPAGES By ARA GHIIUIJIAI{ What is it called? One World Multimedia: Photojoumalism: Nagorno Karabagh

Where you'll find it: http ://www. geocities.com/CapitolHill/9574lartsakh.htm

What you'll find: A serious photo-joumalistic display of the struggle of the people of Karabakh. Impressive black & white photos depict the people's life with real life quotes from the protagonists who are living and leading the struggle of freedom. The site includes regional map, articles, photographs and web links to the neighboring people's struggle against the oppressors. Upside: Very inviting pages with some artistic appeal to the viewer. Downside: The site is not available at all times. Tlpical quote: No, no, in our life we will never leaveArtsakh, We will never search for a heaven in other lands, Let Artsakh be our grave. Forgive me dear motherland, that for a minute thought to leave and get away.(Gegham, l1 years old) The author: Onnik Krikorian

tlr

What is it called? Armenian Highland, Land of Ararat Where you'll find it: http ://www. geocities.com/Paris/LeftB ank/6507/index.html

What you'll find: Excellent information on Armenia's pre-history, including the relationship of nations in the cradle of Indo-European civilization and architecture. Detailed resources on the Urartian civilization before the formation of the 'Armenian' nation. Well-ordered facts and data on Armenian history throughout the centuries is provided as a count-

down to the year 2001, the l700th Anniversary of Christendom in

reiEf$q

rT$'#ru Armenia. There are also other interesting sites created by the same web authors on the city of Ejmiatsin (seeAIM June 1998), the historical city

k@ainfqwt

lmiz$0l nm;ial

- 170& Asirataz

otS* &isahq

ofAni

and Yerevan.

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Upside: Very informative and scholarly resource for Linguistics and

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Ethnography. Downside: The site server is not available at all times. The author: Gevork and Sarkis Nazarian

@ What is it called? Uniart's, Armenian Directory Yellow Pages Where you'll frnd it: http://www.armenian.com/ What you'll lind: This is the WWW format of a publication dedicated to provide the most complete, up to date information to individuals and business in all communities. The site plans to reach Armenian communities wanting to research and do business with each other. The directory contains very simple search tools of listings of Armenian churches, schools and organizations. You will find also business yellow pages with display advertising as well as residential white page listings. Among other selections there is also a special general information section that will cover special interest pages such as an updated Armenian history, and Armenian chronological history Armenia's year end Report. Another valuable tool is the Government and State Administrators Listings of Armenia. Upside: Excellent and easy to use tool to find anything you would like to find in a directory. Downside: The server is not available at all times. The author: Bemard Berberian, Editor

AIM AUGUST 1998

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UNDEREXPOSED Who are Armenia's top officials and what exactly do they do? Listed below in the Constitutional line of authority are Armenia's top officials and their American counterparts. Not all offices are the same, however. For example, Armenia has no elected vice-president; its appointed prime minister has no direct equivalent in the US govemment, yet the responsibilities of the two offices are similar in some ways. The two men are at the top of each country's judicial system are also included, although they are not in the direct line ofpower. Educational backgrounds and salaries are provided for comparison.

Bill Clinton, President

Robert Kocharian, President

Age:43; Education: Engineering Professional background: Annual Salary: $1,920

Age:521' Education: Law; Professional background:

Civil

Civil Servant, Attomey; Annual Salary: $200,000

Servant

Khosrov Harutunian. Chairman of the National Assembly Age: 50; Education: Mechanical Engineer Professional background: CiviI Servant Annual Salary: $1,440

Armen Darbinian, Prime Minister Age: 33 Education: Economist Professional background: Financial Services Annual Salary: $[,440

Vartan Oskanian, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Age: 43; Education: Engineering, Political Science and International Affairs; Professional background: Civil Servant Annual Salary: $960

Vazgen Sargsian, Minister of Defense

Age: 39 Education: Physical Education; Professional background: Writer; Annual Salary: $960

Newt Gingrich, Speaker of the House Age: 58; Education: European History Professional background: Educator Annual Salary: $175,400

Al Gore, Vice-President Age: 43: Education: Engineering Professional background: Civil Servant Annual Salary: $175,400

Madeline Albright, Secretary of State

Age:.62; Education:Law and Government Professional background: Civil Servant Annual Salary: $151,80O

William Cohen, Secretary of Defense Age: 58; Education: Law Professional background: Attorney Annual Salary: $151,800

= E

Gagik Harutunian, President of the Constitutional Coun; Age: 50 : Education: Economist Professional background: Professor Annual Salary: $1,440

William Rehnquist, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; Age: 74; Education: Law Professional background: Attomey and Judge;

Annual Salary: $175,400

AIM AUGUST I998

o u1

SPORTS

WORTD GUP TggS

FRANCE WON THE WORLD SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP. Two Armenians, Yuri Djorkaeff (second row second from right) and Alain Boghossian (seated fourth from right), played in the historic final match beating previous world champion Brazil 3-0. The game was watched by over one billion people around the world.

Commemorative 100 Dram coins dedicated to the World Cup games in France issued by the Republic of Armenia.

PRESIDENT CARLOS MENEM OF ARGENTINA and nearly two dozen high ranking officials, visited Armenia on the

same

day that Argentina was scheduled to play a World Cup Soccer game. Menem's daughter and friends also accompanied the delegation. Although former president Levon Ter Petrossian had visited Argentina, this was the first official visit of an Argentinean head of state to Armenia. So, the red carpet was rolled out, and the band played. A

lavish state dinner

was

planned, too, despite

scheduling

conflicts.

After all, Menem couldn't dine while the team

played. But. it wasn't clear until a few days

before his

arrival whether his team would play at 6 in the evening Yerevan time, in which case, the official dinner

would have to be much

later-or whether it

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midnight-then the dinner would obviously have to be much earlier. It all worked out. Dinner was early. The game was at midnight. Argentina won.

Latin music played right beneath the Matenadaran, at the official government Guest House.

AIM AUGUST 1998

A Y

Good Luck in Albanria By JOHN HUGHES

ll I needed was business cards. The name of this magazine. Its address in Yerevan. Phone number. My name. Something to hand out at cocktail parties to people who'll forget about me until the next time they reach into whatever pockets they wore while I was trying to make a meaningful impression. An essential as easily supplied as paper clips in any other job I've taken in 20 years of doing this. But: Three professionals who make their livings with words looked at each other temporarily silenced. Then finally: "How do we spell his name?" What they meant was "How do we spell his name in Armenian?" There was some debate and no word offered sounded anything like what I've been called for 43 years. This would have been a lot easier if my mama had named me Vahram. Or if my father's father had foreseen this unlikely shift of the universe that has flung me into a Yerevan flat, in need of a name that ends with "ian". Hughes. There aren't very many ofus in the Yerevan phone book. could read the Yerevan phone book I would tell you exactly how many. But since I can't, believe me if I say the number is, as of now, one.

IfI

Well, two, if you count my cat. I brought him with me. Seven years ago providence guided this move when, for reasons I'm not sure of, I gave him the

"Could you spell that please?"

,A-R-M-E-N-I-A."

"Yes, but what's the name of the country?" "That is the country." "kt me get my supervisor . . ." (For the record: Compuserve does in fact serve Yerevan. It's

More than one person expressed concern over whether the locals

would have Brian for dinner. I thought of them last night as I walked passed the Moscow restaurant. I can't vouch for is 4-star rating. It is out of my price range. I thought of my confused friends this morning as I walked to this office past the Marco Lionello boutique; and this afternoon when I paid 40 Dram (8 cents) to ride the subway to the U.S. Embassy. I thought of them as I shopped for an answering machine yesterday in an electronics store with floors full of camcorders, cellular telephones, computer games. I tolerate un-informed perceptions. (And, to be fair, it is not just non-Armenians whose impressions are outdated.) Ttvo years ago I'd have suffered the same lack of understanding. Three trips changed that. One actually. Then two others that con-

firmed my attraction to this place-such an unlikely home, even temporarily, for someone of my extremely anglo heritage. So here I am, hoping to dispel myths. Hoping to expose beauty. Willing to see if the

name Brian.

Br-"ian". I suppose his business card would pose no problem. Two months ago I heard myself say to a Southem Califomia neighbor: "I'm moving to Armenia-" Such was the out ofbody experience that I almost tumed my head to see where the words came from. His reaction was typical of others I'd get before the plane left Los Angeles International Airport, May 29. "Why is that?" Then, conspiratorially: "Or can you say?" A selection of others: "You're moving

wa(s-and there are many- are And vice versa.

Most here cannot afford the items in , boutiques, and many would consider the batteries to operate those highelectronics a luxury.

Last night I ate sheep testicles in an unmarked barbecue joint. Tonight I have been invited to a restauant that serves lobster.

Somewhere in between is the Armenia that has drawn me.

It is the

"Oh, that's just across the water from Italy isn't it?" "Aren't you afraid?' "Isn't that the place where they ride those small horses?" "What language do they speak?" "What do they do for condoms over there?" My favorite came when I was closing out an intemet account.

ask why you are canceling Compuserve?" said the

woman at the 800 number. uWell,u I said, "I'm moving to Armenia."

"Would you like me to see

"Yes, that would be nice." "Ok, well, where was that again?" "Yerevan, Armenia."

nature of what

do to

intrigued by a place such as this. But I have been in more predictably exotic places and left as easily as I arrived. This one is a temptress. There is no explainable link. My blood does not find its fountain here. My kin knows no suffering from her past. I am the odar-Abe other, the foreigner. My eyes look from the outside. In the coming months I hope to show you some what the odar sees.It won't all be pretty. But I hope it will all be worth look-

Compuserve has connections

there?"

dormant

beauty marks.

where?"

"May

toll call.)

ing at.

I'll

get started,

just

as soon as those business cards come in.

Meanwhile, my thanks to those whose final U.S. words to me were: "Good luck in Albania."

AIM AUGUST I998

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