Memories of Mayrig - December 1991 by Armenian International Magazine

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A Most Personal Film

Wshinglbu ABrightl\ewlban

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ffices of

RafrOuffalian Law Offices of Rafi Ourfalian 3900 West Alameda Avenue, Suite 2100, Toluca Lake/Burbank, California g1505 Telephone B'l 8. 841. 5757 / Telefax 81 8. 841. 9004

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/\INI CoverStory

Mayrig'sStory

A 25 million dollar ftlm starring Omar Shard

goes on

internntional release this month, telling the story of an Armenian family rebuilding their lives after fleeing the Turkish Genocide. For director Henri Verncuil, it is a personal triurnphandapoigrant

tribute.

SpecialReport

Unfinished Business AIM detailed what had happened to millions of dollars collected for earthquake relief by American-Armenian organizations inapioneering report lastyear. Now, onthe third anniversary of the disaster, a new investigation.

lnterview

Thinking Out Loud Former Prime Minister Vazgen Manoukian on why he decided to resign, where he goes from here, and whnt the future mny holdfor Armenia.

Business

Yerevan Galling Call waiting used to hnve a special meaningwhen it came to telephoning Armenia. Suddenly it's easy,withthe opening

of direct services to the republic, using state-ofthe-art

technology.

3.,

Travel

Hye Living Check in to two of the world' s most famous hotels, where Armenian hospitality attracted royalty, literary ginnts,film stars andweary

adventurers.

Design

Builders in Blue and Yellow Meet the engineer brothers who brought an artist's dream of giant umbrella landscapes to life.

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Armenian World Analysls

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1\INI any of the most striking images published in AIM have come from our photography team in Yerevan. Mkhitar Khachatrian, Zaven Khatchikian, and Roupen Mankasarian (pictured from left) are widely regarded as the top photographers in Armenia. Mkhitarjoined ourbureau recently from Armenhess, where Zaven had also worked for a time, and Roupen is a former Novosti staffer. The trio have ranged far and wide to capture history unfolding in Armenia, from independence elections and celebrations in Yerevan, to the fighting in Karabagh, to the continuing sffuggle to rebuild the earthquakestricken north. Mkhitar retumed to Gumairy for this issue to take pictures of a family he first photographed immediately after the disaster-a shot that was seen literally around the world (see page I l). But for all the euphoria of this year's

events, Armenia stands on the edge of darkness as 1992 approaches. Power shortages are commonplace, because Azerbaijan has closed a vital gas pipeline. Workers have been sent home in many industries because factories are unable tooperate. Once athome, they shiver in the dark, unable even to watch television for more than an hour. Food supplies continue todwindle, with thefirstbread

EDITOR-ll,lCHlEF: Vartan.Oskanian

EXECUTIVE EDITORS: Charles Nazarian; Minas Koiaian

IilANAGING EDIrOR: Raffi Shoubookian (English) MANAGING EDITOR: lshkhan Jinbashian (Armenian) DIHECTOB OF OPEFATIONS: Michael Nehabet

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS:Kevork lmirzian; Ara

(alaydjian; Haig Keropian : O. Keshishian: lilTL SECT|ON EDITOR: Jos€oh

Kechichian

ARIS EDITOR: Neerv Melkonian (Santa Fe)

MEDICAL EDIIOR: Mcken Babikian (Boston) COMiULTING EDIIOR: Levon Marashlian STAFFWRffiRS: Tonv HalDin. Viken B€rberian ASSISTANT EDITOR: l(athbrine Chilian CONTBIBUTORS: Gerard Libaridian, Florence Avakian. Moorad Mooradian, Armen Arovan, Gilda Kupelian, Unda Kirishiian, Christopher Atamian, Yvette Haipootian,Geny S. Graber, Michael Mastarciyan, Lola KoJndakiian. Su-san Pattie, Taline Voskeritchidn @RRESPONDENTS: Wrehiruton: Zanku Armenian, Chicaoo: Sonia Derman Ha-rlan Detroit: Simon Pavasiian Baston: Arlo Pavaslian San Frarrcisco: Janet Sainuelian lrontreal: Gullzar J. Mardirossian London: Ani Manoukian Paris: Armineh Johannes, Khatchik Kechian Brussels: Kevoft Oskanian Vienna: Sebouh Baohdovan AmsHam: Arsen Nazarian Tokyo: Sonia Kalchiah Amman: Ara voskian Sydnei: Haig Leoediian Buenos Aircs: Sam Sarkissian Moscow: TirirariXmalian YEBEVAN BUREAU: Paoken Gadachik (Chiefl: Mark Dadian, Gayane Hambartzoumian,souren Keghamian,

8ffbTu$fla?ifl

Los Anseres: Michaer Asyan, Kevork Jansezian, San Frandsco: Armen Pelrossian,

New York: Tonv Savino. Harrv Koundakiian l{errY Jersev: Ardem Aslanian Bostori: Lena Sahents, Ari StamStiou Providence: Beroe Ara Zobian Paris: Armineh Johannes, Aline ManoiJkian Amman: Karekin

Yerevan: Zaven Hachikian, Roupen Mkhitar Khaciatrian

riot reported in Yerevan, as Mkhitar's photos show

IVICES: Dicran Kassouny Vartan Karamhlanian :Thomm Yet6rian K. Sinanian

(see page 9). Winter is only

beginning and the situation shows every sign of worsening. The picture is a grim one. It will require all the skills of Armenia's new leaders to guide the country through the coming months. Many ordinary people in the Diaspora want to help, but feel helpless in the face of the scale of the crisis. What can you do? AIM will unveil a proposal in its next issue to enable you to give direct assistance to people in Armenia. It is a plan which we believe will help draw together the Diaspora and the Homeland on many levels. Christmas this year will have added significance for many reasons-we all have had much to marvel at and celebrate in 1991. AIM wishes season's greetingstoall ourreaders worldwide. Together, wecanmake a difference in 1992.

Kouzouian

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little comfort to their lives. Nonetheless, I feel more should be done, especially for the

with its gold and jeweled crosses which seems uninterested in the welfare of its

orphans who need emotional and moral support, as much as they need life's basic

children, the govemment which is given more to posturing rather than healing this

necessities.

disgraceful sore in ourculture; and I thought of the people who seem more concerned

I would like to participate in

a sponsor-

ship program for the orphans, much like the program offered through the non-profit organization WorldVision, wherein you adopt a child and become their family away from home. The individual child not only receives yourmonthly financial support, they also receive your warmth and love through letters, pictures, gifts. I believe efforts should be extended to form a sponsorship program through local Armenian organizations, if such a program does not already exist. Sophia Assadourian N orth H ollywood, C olfornia

Only the beginning Your October cover story, "The Nayirit Syndrome," was both visually and textually excellent. It was, however, inadequate in its extent, and discursive in its content. I met Dr. Hakob Sanasarian, president of the Greens Union, inmy mostrecent trip. The question he constantly poses still rings in my ears: "Would you prefer a million dollars or virile, healthy children?" I was told an attempt had been made on Dr. Sanasarian's life, as a result of which he had been hospitalized for three months. There are four monstrously complex problems facing Armenia. Nayirit is one; the near-tragedy ofl.ake Sevan is the second; the atomic energy plant, only 24 kms from Yerevan, is the third; and the metallurgical plant in Alaverdi is the fourth. Any false step in any one of these can have catastrophic consequences both for the present and future generations of Armenians. It is obvious, then, that all Armenians should stand shoulder to shoulder with Dr. Sanasarian, and give all the aid they can for the survival and progress of their homeland. Lemyel Amirian Palo Alto, Califurnia

House of horrors I was compelled to write this letter, after

reading "Bleak House" (October). This article touched me very deeply as it did my

family and friends.

would like

It is hard to believe thatArmenian parents who remember the atrocities suffered in the hands ofother nations are capable ofconsciously placing their own children in the deplorable environment of the orphanage you describe. I understand that Armenia is poor. But basic cleanliness and compassion are not virtues thatdepend on one's financial means. There is no doubt that the country needs to strive towards political and economic stability, but as importantly and concurrently our leaders must address the emerging issues of medical, social and humanitarian reforms and values if we are to survive as a responsible and respected nation.

G"#;i;,';:i;:':': I was moved to tears after reading Jackie

Abramian's special report. The author's

Jackie Abramian, the author, forraising the public's level of consciousness to the grim conditions in our homeland, and more specifically, the deprivation facing our nation's children. This was not an easy article to read. We hear about the horrible conditions facing our people every day; the situation, however, becomes unbearable when the children are affected. I would like to think that wealldoourpartas small as itmay beto add

bursting the rose-colored bubble through which I saw all things Armenian. I hope the easy road won't be taken by blaming Communism for this travesty and the moral decay in Armenia. The homeland must raise its society to a higer level, in which all members are loving and caring as one family, and of which Armenians the world over can be proud. George Ohanian San Diego, California

I couldn't stop my tears while reading Jackie Abramian's "Bleak House." Looking around me, I notice the extravagant luxury in which American-Armenian children live. Now that the Christmas season is coming,I urge all parents to help Armenia's orphans by spoiling their children with one less Barbiedoll orNintendogame this year. Let's all play Santa and put a smile on the faces ofchildren who have been denied the spark of life. Claire Samuelian La C resc'enta, C alifornia

vivid descriptions of the wretched condiSeventy years

tions and lack of care, combined with the photographs of these helpless children, made me want to do something to aid them.

How very discouraging that. outside adoption is not an allowable option and that outside money donated for their care is not used forthatpurpose. The children's care is rendered by "nurses" with no medical training. What care is offered to these children? What option is left to the community to aid these children?

Communism has

brainwashed our compatriots, stripping them of all human values and erasing all

pity from their hearts.

It is a White

Genocide, and I presume it is worse than

the

l9l5

Genocide.

Thank you for the wonderful reportage on the plight of the orphanage children in Yerevan. Zaven Jooharian Aleppo, Syria

Cynthia Arslanian- Engoren, RN, BSN

Toledo,Ohio

to thank Ms.

with having enough butter for their pilaf than about issues such as this. In the past, I had heard that Armenians would discard, with shocking callousness, a deformed baby, but I tended to disbelieve it. I now wonder if there was some truth to that story. A society isjudged by how it cares for its poor and hopeless. Armenia flunks this test miserably. I thank AIM for opening my eyes to the reality in the homeland and

I read "Bleak House" with pain and disgust. This horror is similar to the outrage in Romania with children left deformed and homeless. But I always felt that Armenians were somehow different because of our tragic history, and that they felt a sense of unity and love for one another. After reading about the stealing offood and toys from these poor souls, I thought about the cold and callous parents who have sent their children to this hell on earth, the church AlM, December 1991

In these times of veiled reality, truth is

oft-times deemed subversive. It was, therefore, with pleasure that I read the October issue without having to read between the lines, as so often happens with mass media coverage. In particular, I found "The Horrors of an

Armenian Orphanage" dispiriting. Regrettably, truth hurts the soul as well as readership. The October AIM was on target! Sona

Kludjian

Forest Hills, New York

read your special report on

the

Mankatun Children's home. Could you please provide me with the address and contact name of any American-Armenian associations working with Ms. Gulnara Shahinian of the Yerevan City Council Office of Foreign Relations. Frangoise Dadourian M ontreal, Quebe c, C anada Currently there are twofunds dedicated to the children of

MankatunNo.2:

Mankatun Fund Armenian H ealth Alliance Dr. Carolann S. Najarian, president 2 I 5 First St., Cambridge, MA 02 I 42 (617)259-0202, FM (617) 492-3729 CARE (Children of Armenia Relief Endowment) 2640 E. Gamey South, Suite 208 West Covina, CA9l79l (818) 332-2202, FAX (818) 8s8-0993 Board-4r. Garbis Der-Yeghiayan ( President, AAIC), president; Haig Barsamian, treasurer; Eugene Moses, Mayor of Azusa; Brian Bowcock, Dir. of Public Works, La Verne ; George Kasem, former U.S. Congr.,

Foreign univerc:ties While the Administration of the Ameri-

can University of Armenia (AUA) welcomes suggestions and appreciates constructivecriticism, Mr. Harout Bronozian's letter (October) contains several points that cannot be left unanswered. His first comment is that, instead of establishing a new university, we should have helped improve the existing programs in the Yerevan Polytechnic Institute and Yerevan State University. Assisting these existing universities is a noble objective, and as a matter of fact we are involved in such efforts. This kind ofactivity, however, falls far short of our objective to develop a first-rate teaching and research university modeled after the American system of higher education, characterized by its openness, academic freedom, democratic principles, and free flow of information. Theprograms of AUA are designed to complement those in the existing universities, and we hope AUA will provide a model forthese institutions in their ongoing reforms. The Poly-

technic and the Yerevan University are

Vahe

well-established state institutions with large student bodies and a faculty that is deeply entrenched in the Soviet system of higher

Collected funds will be used to purchase and deliver neededfood and supplies.

education. Changing these to Americanstyle universities would not be easy, and I

retired judge; Jack Mazmanian,

H e ki mian,

Norice Linquist.

am not sure it is desirable. I should note that

the idea of establishing an American university in Armenia was first mentioned by Professor Yuri Sarkissian, rector of the Polytechnic, in a conversation with me in February 1989. Since then, we have received his full support, as well as that other institutions.

Mr. Bronozian states that "establishment of an American university...will introduce another means of cultural and political control, similar to the existing Russian control." I believe the comparison is absurd. An independent Armenian culture will be assured by requiring that every child receive a primary and a secondary education in Armenian, a move the Armenian Government made only last year. At the university level, it is essential that there be altematives so that the graduates can function in an increasingly integrative world of arts, science, technology and business. In particular, scientists, engineers and business leaders have to be well-versed in English to compete intemationally, since this is the universal language of discourse in these fields. Armenians in Armenia must also learnRussian, sinceRussia will always be an important neighbor. Theexampleof Israel as acountry which has managed without an "American Uni-

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versity oflsrael" is not relevant. English is a required language in Israeli schools, and every educated Israeli is fluent in it. Israeli universities often use English textbooks for their science and engineering courses. One should also note that many countries in the Middle East have universities with English as the language of instruction. Mr. Bronozian goes on to state the AUA "will produce a generation that will have easy access to the United States where they can work, live and adapt very easily. Hence, a brain drain and emigration from Armenia." We do not believe that Armenians should be kept ignorant ofother languages

and cultures so that they would stay in Armenia. Rather, we should help improve the standards of living in Armenia and provide increased opportunities for its citizens, so that they would stay there at their own will. We believe AUA will provide both. Armen Der Kiureghian Dean, College of Engineering American University of Armenia

Either Dr. Akiskal has not grasped the Armenian psyche of the Diaspora ordoesn't know how to analyze what he has observed. Alan Krikorian, Ph.D. W e stlake V illage, C alifurnia

You have indicated that Dr. Akiskal was

"the first to investigate why 15 percent of depressives don't recover from their illness;" or that he was "responsible for opening a new era of psychiatric research on brain-mood relationships." Research in these areas has been going on since the early '60's both in Europe and in the United States, much before Dr. Akiskal was a psychiatrist. Dr. John Ouzounian San F rancisco, C alifurnia

ilelkonian memories In an otherwise excellent article about Armenians in Cyprus and the Melkonian Institute, Minas Kojayan was given some inaccurate information ("Island Life," October).

I feel that Harout Bronozian's concem regarding the establishment of the American University of Armenia is unjustified. The

economic and ethnic composition of Armenia is very different from that of Lebanon. Armenia is an industrialized country and a largely homogeneous society. I agree that existing institutions ofhigher learning should be assisted by the Diaspora in obtaining the latest state-of-the-art technology, but the addition of the AUA can

ofa technologically skilled population. I doubt very much thatthis institution will be aculturally polarizing influence on its student body. serve to accelerate the creation

The donation for an educational establishment was made around 1924, not in 1906, when the AGBU was founded in Egypt. The documents in its Paris office can attest to this. My brother-in-law, Aram Yessayan, was the private secretary of Mr. Garabed Melkonian. I have been many times

in the office of K & G Melkonian Tobacco Company inAlexandria, Egypt. Mr. Krikor Melkonian had passed away by that time.

Another mistake in the article is "the 600,000 gold pieces." The sterling pound and the Egyptian pound, both paper, were in parity at that time, and each was worth one gold piece.

They will have received a good Armenian education prior to enrolling there. Also, we

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cannot impede the progress ofour youth for fear of a brain drain. Perhaps it is because of the massive aid to Israel by the United States over the years, coupled with the assistance of a much larger

and wealthier diaspora, that Israel never needed an "American University of Israel." Armenia is not the recipient of such aid. She

must virtually go it alone. I am confident that with the rebuilding of Armenia, there will be plenty of opportunities, challenges and incentives to keep her best and brightest athome. W atertow n,

Psychodrama After deriding psychoanalysis as being "speculative and far removed from observable facts," Dr. Hagop Akiskal (Interview,

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October) attempts-rather ineptly-to analyze lhe Armenian psyche in the Diaspora by making statements such as: "Hitherto, the Diaspora had been defined by the Geno-

The Armenian Connection lnc. Suile 138 30799 Pine Tree Road

DetZot monument We were elated but surprised that only architect Sarkis Balmanoogian was mentioned about the design of the monument in DerZor ("Monument to Survival," May). You have omitted to mention engineer Garbis Tomassian, who executed the project with such devotion and in a record time. Both men's names appearon the inscription at the entrance of the monument complex. ZavenJooharian Aleppo, Syria

Lucy Bedirian M assac hu se tt s

Ages 1B and older

1-800-626-2328

Nishan Nercessian n st e r, C al ifornia

W e s t mi

cide," and that the earthquake "in a way liberated them from the Genocide."

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AlM, December 1991

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Winter ol discontent All but essential factories

are closed and

their workers given leaves of "vacation." Electricity use in state and private offices, restaurants and cooperatives is strictly regulated. Television, including cable channels, broadcasts for only one hour each night. There are long queues in front offood stores,

and gas stations are abandoned. People sit in their dark and cold homes, fully dressed to keep warm. This is winter in Armenia, a country which produces only 40 percent of the power it needs and which, since November 4, has seen its gas

supplies

cut off

neighboring Azerbaij an,

Armenian lnterna! ilinistry militia ove(iee distribution of bread in a Yerevan bakery

throwing industry into turmoil and sending liv-

ing conditions plum-

energy emergency has been declared and a series of conservation measures an-

meting. Already hit by

THT STRUGGtt TOR U1{ITY Edited by

CHRISTOPHER J. WALKER Foreward by

GERARD CHALIAND I

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severe food shortages, shoppers searching for

increasingly

nounced.

scarce

a rirmpage in a Yerevan bakery on Nov. 7, stealing and trampling bread underfoot. The govemment is considering measures to switch some bakeries to diesel and mazut (heating fuel), of which the republic has large reserves. An

bread caused

Bicycleslor peace "For A United World," "Against

Vio-

lence and For Respect of Human Dignity," "For Safeguarding Nature." These and other

Azerbaijan has been enforcing a rail blockade on Armenia for months; the closure of the pipeline reportedly followed aborder shootout in which fourAzeris were killed. President lrvon Ter-Petrosyan has accused Baku of planning military action against Armenia, claiming the gas cut-off was only a preamble to attack.

ist, and seven other Russians, hopped on theirbicycles and traversed4,000kms on the

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April23, and fin-

ishing inAlexandria,

Egypt, on June 26.

Everywhere they were met by cheering crowds and re-

ceived wide coverage in the local media. Krassovsky later

AMERICAN BISTRO

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retumed to Armenia

to celebrate United

HEALTH CUI6INE

Nations peace week in Yerevan, Oct.24-

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Residents of Yerevan lorm the symbo! of peace in Republic Square, marking UN Peace Week, Oct.24-30.

- con6ciou6

genemtjon of today

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the "hot spots" of

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form the peace sign and perform tradi-

-Armineh

and

cyclists, all over 60 years ofage, across

capital's central Republic Square, to

tional folk dances. Similar events were held in Odessa and Baku through his initiative and with the support of local peace committees.

slogans were read by people in

non, Israel, Cyprus

Health{-ookng

children and adults joined hands in the

Johannes

For the Jecotd...

Project

lnitiator

Georges Krassovsky

makes round

Yerevan streets theMiddleEast. It was amission of peace and forpromoting ecological awareness started by a Rus-

sian expatriate living in Paris. Georges Krassovsky, 76, a joumalist and peace activAlM, December 1991

Due to a production error in the November issue, an article on Raffr Hovarurisian in the People column was missing its conclusion. It should have stated: "... commented Dr. Rich-

ard G. Hovannisian, professor of history at UCLA, on his son's appointrnent. "Raffi was bom for this position." Fluent in Armenian, Russian and French, Raffr Hovannisian is agraduate ofGeorgetown University [,aw Centerand received his MA in law and diplomacy at Tufts. He is married and has three

sons--4arin. Van and Daron."

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asked a simple question on the of the disaster-what hadbeendonewiththemorethan$34million donated to American-Armenian organiza-

;'itt

second anniversary

tions toassist reconstruction in thehomeland? Twelve months later, we asked the same

question. Some were happy to give details, others reluctant, andone, Archbishop Vatche

Hovsepian of the Westem Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, refused even to speak to

AIM.

The Armenian General Benevolent Union raised the largest sum, $8.3 million, and announced plans for a $5 million cold food storage plant, a plastic surgery center, an American University of Armenia, and an agricultural improvement program. Figuresreleased by theAGBU show that it received $8,538,961 in donations to its earthquake fund from December 1988 to September 30 1991, with a further

$l.l

million in interest. Presidenttouise Manoogian-Simone said

the 10,000 ton cold food storage plant in Gumairy, formerly trninakan, had been completed and should be operational in January or February. With just over $5 million spent so far, the plant and processing equipment was likely to end up costing $5.5

million,

she added.

Eleven doctors and nurses had retumed to Armenia to begin setting up a plastic and reconstructive surgery center in Yerevan, after training for a year at Yale University. The AGBU intends to spend $2.3 million between now and April on medical equipment for the center, in Yerevan's All-Union

Surgical and Scientific Hospital, Mrs. Manoogian-Simone said. Doctors were investigating potential patients in the earthquake zone for the program, which should commence in the spring. Training of additional staff was also expected to begin then, at a cost of $175,000. Part of the $4 million plastic surgery project is being paid with a $ I .4 million grant from the United States Govemment Agency for Intemational Development (AID).

The American University of Armenia enrolled its first students in September. The AGBU has spent $454,000 on this project to date andhas pledged another $1.6 million to September 1993. ln October, an agricultural improvement program in partnership with the University of Califomia at Davis was canceled. "The university decided that they wanted to emphasize education for agriculturists in Davis,"

said Mrs. Manoogian-Simone. "That was not our original agreement, which was to set up a base laboratory and model farm in Armenia." Of $625,000 set aside for the hve-year program, the AGBU had spent $100,0m before cancellation. The president said it would examine whether another institr,rtion can take on the venture. "We were out of money anyway," she added. t2

New housing is rising in Gumairy (above) but much remains to be done (right) The AGBU has $2,27 O,@7 remaining in its fund, plus the $l.4million AIDpledge.It will have to raise $800,000 to meet declared

project solrnrnilrnsnls-"We will come up with that," said Mrs. Manoogian-Simone. The Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church collected $7.8 million, making$8.7 million wiilr interest, according to figures released last year by Ared Bulbuljian, general managerof its Diocesan Fund for Armenia's Recovery. It had commenced a $6.9 million house-building plan, the frst phase of a proposed "AmericanArmenian village" in Stepanavan. Mr. Bulbuljian refused to provide fi gures aboutthe diocesan fund forthis report, citing

"concem" about last year's investigation, which he said had not included in-kind donations of aid valued by the diocese at $6 million. (AIM did not record in-kind aid received by any organization, because such donations were impossible to value accurately and were not purchased with money donated by the public.) "Thequestion becomes whether it is best not to give any information at all or to give information that produces what we consider

to be an erroneous

impression," Mr.

Bulbuljian said. Last year's report showed that the diocesehad spentjust $1.7 millionfrom its fund and had built only one l6-unit apartment building instead of 10, which were to have been ready by mid- 199

The plan was scaled

down to six buildings, with a possibility of an additional 200 single-story homes. The situation today is that two apartment

blocks have been finished, a third is "857o complete," and the remaining three are in various stages of construction, according to project director Glenn Ward. Weather permitting, he estimated they would be completed inthe spring. Nobody is living in the 32 finished apart-

AlM, December 1991

ments because Armenian authorities have still not connected utilities to them, despite assurancesthatthis wouldbedone last spring. "They are in bad shape in terms of resources and they are overwhelmed. It is understandable that they fall behind," said Mr. Bulbuljian, who conceded that Armenian authorities may also have been ignoring

the project at one time.

*I think

they are

genuinely putting some work in atthistime." He estimated the fint residents would move in by spring, but declined to say how

much the six completed buildings would cost. Mr. Bulbuljian was also unable to say whether further housing would be built, because theproject's final shape is underreview. "My guess is that we will go on with a next section of some sort because we finally

got this ttring straight and

it is moving,

especially in the last few months," he said. "By the time we are ready to move on, we will have made a decision as to whether or not we are stopping for good or whether we will move on to a next stage." Asked whether the diocese was considering halting the plan, hereplied: "I don'tthink stopping for good is

a strong option, but that has to be decided

yet."

the talkers or listen to the donors. The checks are commg rn. "I don't think credibility has a lot

equipment to manufacture eyeglasses and to set up shops where people can get tests and prescriptions. Still in its early stages, the project is unlikely to begin before March. A $75,000 proposal to set up three dental care clinics, staffed by Armenian dentists, has been drawn up, too, and is hoped to be established by spring, said Ms. Balekian. The $400,000 in unspent funds was be-

to do with that. We do send information to people who have contributed to

of AID reimbursements and to attract AID

gency Fund to assist Armenia this winter. Asked if a refusal to provide details about

No work has begun on a clinic to serve the

the earthquake fund raised questions about

village, for which the diocese set aside $900,000 in its fund, because nobody is living in the homes. Mr. Bulbuljian said it would be built if it was required by local

the diocese's credibility in handling such operations, Mr. Bulbuljian replied: "There are ways of looking at that. You can listen to

us, we do send reports to the parishes.

That is not a big deal. It's like anything else, people have to make up their own

minds." The Earthquake Relief Fund

Armenia said

for

had $400,000 of unallocated money from its original collection of $4.5 million. Its princi-

pal project, to build 100 homes,

school and akindergarten costing $2.7

subject after retuming to Armenia; another is now head ofneurology and has formed a clinic. The original $500,000 progmm was

intended to assist 50 personnel, but Mr. Bulbuljian said the number might rise or fall depending on demand. Again, he declined to say how much had been spent.

The earthquake fund had received some extra money in the past year, he said, though there had been no active appeal for donations. The diocese recently sent an urgent appeal to churches urging parishioners to send money and goods to its Food Emer-

support forpossible future projects, she said. Proposals included a computer network to

link up Armenia's health care system. The Armenian Assembly of America opened a $4 million manufacturing complex on October26 to provideconstruction materials forhousing in Gumairy. The three factories on the 2 I -acre site can produce concrete blocks, window and door frarnes, roof trusses, and sheet metal roofing forbuilding homes.

million, remains incomplete, despite

The Assembly raised M.2 million in its

expectations that it would be finished last spring. The schools and 48 homes opened in the village of Grashen in

September 1990. The unfinished

earthquake fund, of which$ I 8,0fi)remained on January I, 1991. A further $341,000 in new donations was received to October 30, and all but $5,000 has been spent on equip

houses are in Novemberian and Sariar.

ping the factories, said public relations di-

ERFA's medical task force chairperson' Lauren Balekian' blamed the 26 opening ol the housing maierials manulacturing plsildiliit-byili;Aift;iilG;;bitilCuiliri- delay on the political crisis and civil war which has engulfed Yugoslavia, needs, but he declined to give cost estimates. where the materials for the homes were The diocese's third project, a fellowship being purchased. Many of the Yugoslav scheme to provide training in the United work crews also abandoned the project to States for Armenian medical staff, is proretumhome, andERFA was forcedtochange ceeding well. So far, 20 people have taken contractors, she said. She predicted thehomes part in the three-month program, to expose would be turned over to villagers in May. them to westem medical techniques. One graduate formed the Armenian Diabetes Association and wrote a book on the

ing held because ofuncertainty over the size

The organization'

two-year-old Psychi-

atric Outreach program, to provide treatment and counseling for disturbed survivors ofthe quake, was continuing at a cost so far of$178,000. It also opened a $60,000 psychiatricclinic inGumairy in Maytoreplace a temporary building, and spent $155,000 this

year in a separate psychiatric care project involving AID funding. ERFA is providing equipment and supplies to two hospitals and three polyclinics in Gumairy and the earthquake zone under a multi-level health care project, which receives AID funding, Ms. Balekian said. It is also undertaking two new projects in Gumairy. It plans to spend $132,000 on

AlM, December 1991

rector Carole [rng. Another $2 million in AID grants is being used to purchase additional equipment and to establish a training program in modem consfiuction techniques forlocal Armenians, beginning in April. Some $632,000 has so farbeen spent from the three-yearallocation. Two wood-drying kilns are still being constructed at the complex, which the Assembly says is capable of producing components for 30 units of housing per eight-hour shift. Output is dependenton powersupplies

which continue to be erratic in Armenia of the Azerbaijani blockade-a typical work day presently has only two to

because

three hours of power, said Ms. [,ong.

The Armenian Missionary Association of

America still has $ L I million in its earth-

quakefund. ExecutivedirectorRev. Movses Janbazian said at least $l million would be used to build a 600-pupil school, which he hoped would begin in spring. Land has been assigned to the organization in Gumairy, but construction plans are not complete.

A further $l million donation from

anonymous AMAA benefactor in Los An-

geles will pay forboarding quarters for 100 students at the school, Mr. Janbazian said. A renewable energy project, which so farhas cost $510,000, iscontinuing. A wind turbine to supply electricity to the village of Dzaghkahovit began generating in July, and a water-pumping windmill is also working.

Projects involving portable electric genera-

tors, two solar thermal collectors, and a training scheme in renewable energy are in various stages of completion. Proposals to expand this program have also been submit-

tedtotheAMAA.

A $260,000 adobe brick-making machine, the cost of which was split between the AMAA and the Prelacy of the Arme-

lack offunds. The archbishop said no active fund-raising had been carried out in 199 I . The Armenian Relief Society had $1.5 million remaining last year from its $2.4 million fund. A $400,000 nurse and physiciantraining program inGumairyhas begun, and another $180,000 is being devoted to healttr services and psychological outreach as part of AlD-funded work with ERFA, ttre ARS's sister organization. The ARS had $1.1 million of uncommitted funds in 1990. Spokeswoman Rouzan Khachatourian said just under $l million now remained, and would be spent on a neonatafpost-natal clinic. But this is still being examined and no start date has been set.

nian Apostolic Church, ran into trouble

Asked why the organization had not

with Armenian authorities. They ruled that it could not be used to build homes because no construction codes existed for it in the republic. It is now at the Polytechnic Institute, where tests are being conducted to draw up a code. To date, the machine has produced just seven homes.

moved more quickly, she said: "We have to make sure thateverything is going to be right in Armenia. We can't just go there and start building without knowing if everything we are doing is to their standards." The Western Diocese of the Armenian

Two commercial ovens costing $ I 20,000 began operating this summer in joint venture bakeries in Yerevan and Dilijan, Mr.

of the $1.4 million donated to its earthquake fund when AIM inquired last year, but said it hadplans to build aschool in early I 991. This year, Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian refused

Janbazian said.

Apostolic Church had spent almostnothing

The Prelacy said it had $10,000 remaining from its fund of $2, I 59,729 .Thelwgest

totalktoAIM.

sum, $785,098, was sent directly to

by telephone were rebuffed. His executive

Etchmiadzin for local relief projects, Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian said. It also paid $350,000 to Pan Aviation, Sarkis Soghanalian's airline, as transportation fees for four relief flights to Armenia. Mr. Soghanalian was said to have donated in excess of 20 Boeing 707 flights during the earthquake emergency. But Abp. Ashjian said the Prelacy paid a bill presentedby the company. "We participated in the expenses of these flights," he said, adding that it was half the normal cost. Efforts to discoverhow many flights Pan Aviation had in fact donated proved difficult. Mr. Soghanalian is currently in federal custody awaiting sentence, after being convicted of aftempting to smuggle 103 helicopters and two rocket launchers to Iraq. A spokesman at the Miami-based Pan Aviation, which was found guilty too, said no official was available for comment. The helacy also paid $24,762 to cover the expenses of pontifical visits to the United States in February 1989 by Vazgen I and Karekin II. Asked whether this was an appropriate use of earthquake funds, Abp. Ashjian said: "There were no other funds, they said they were coming to raise funds for

secretary, Ann Movsessian, said: "The archbishop does not want to comment on it. He does not want areport." Pressed further, she told AIM that the Westem Diocese works closely with the Eastem Diocese and contributes funds to its projects. But Mr. Bulbuljian, of the Eastem Diocese's fund, said the two cooperated only

earthquake relief projects. " He said the visits raised awareness of the

situation in Armenia, but acknowledged that they were not successful in raising money. A proposal being considered last year to

establish a $96,000 incubator system in

Armenia capable chickens

producing 50,000

week has not been pursued due to

Repeated efforts to contact the archbishop

on "relief-type" work.

"The place where we each do our own thing is in themajorprojects,"he said. "They are building their school elsewhere." At Ms. Movsessian's suggestion, AIM sent a letter to the archbishop detailing the information we were seeking. It asked: I ) How much money, including accumulated interest, is presently in your earthquake fund? 2) How much has been spent on projects in the past year and what projects these are? Also dates of commencement and completion.

3) How much money will remain after completion of all planned projects and what the Westem Dioceseproposes to do with any surplus?

Whether the proposed school in

Stepanavan, which you described last year, has been started, completed, or canceled? 5) Ifany additional earthquake relieffundraising has been undertaken in the past 12 months, and if any is planned in the near future? To date, AIM has received no reply from Archbishop Hovsepian tothesequestions.

Alt

photos by

tkhitar Khachaltian

AlM, December 1991

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Armenia Abroad

After 70 Years under Moscow, the Republic Must Now Decide its Own Foreign Policy Priorities By VARTAN OSKANIAil rmenian foreign policy sounds like an oxymoron, but the pace at which the Soviet Union is disinte$ating gives a sense of reality to the whole notion. For70 years Moscow devised and implemented not only the foreign affairs of its constituent republics but also of the entire Soviet bloc. Those days are gone for Eastem Europe, but Moscow's continuing propositions, backed by pressure, to form a political union still casts some doubt over the future independence of the republics. Most of the republics, but most avowedly Armenia, are determined to achieve full independence, and any economic or even political association is made contingent upon the acceptance by the centeroftherepublics' sovereignty and right to self- determination. The visit last month of Armenia's newly

elected president,

lrvon

Ter-Peffosyan, to

Washington and Ottawa to meet with Presi-

dent Bush and Canadian Prime Minister Mulroney, was intended to give some legitimacy to its claim to independence, to its right to conduct Armenia's foreign affairs independently of Moscow, and to put pressure on Moscow to recognize that independence. It is well understood on both sides that Moscow has to recognize Armenia before the United States does. In his inaugural address, Ter-Petrosyan sfessed the importance of forming a strong ministry of foreign affairs to formulate and conduct the nation's extemal policies. It is easier said than done.

With almost no experience in foreign aftairs, the absence of any foreign policy tradition, and alackofqualified personnel to fill key posts in the ministry, the govemment faces the mammoth task of building a whole institution from scratch. Raffi Hovannisian, an American-Armenian from Califomia, was the president's choice to take on this historic challenge. As foreign minister of a newly emerging deAlM, December 1991

mocracy in a very hostile and complicated environment, Mr. Hovannisian faces the difficult task of putting the right team together, formulating aworkable short- andlong-term policy agenda, and finding the means to implementthem. *I think that President Ter-Petrosyan, by asking an Armenian from the dispersion to join him in his cabinet, was making also a gesture to the Armenians scattered around the world to show and demonstrate ttrat the Armenian people, wherever they might be, areindeedonepeoplewith acommondestiny and common homeland," said Hovannisian in an interview in Washington. Indeed, his other difficult task is to mobilize the Diasporain support of the govemment, because a united and coordinated Diaspora could play an invaluable role in Armenia's domestic and foreign affairs.

The guiding light for Armenia's foreign

policy, as with any nation, is its national interest. Broadly speaking, at this critical stage Armenia's national interests center on ensuring the physical survival of the home-

land, which includes protecting the lives of

its citizens and maintaining the tenitorial integrity of the state; the promotion of the economic well-being of its people; and the preservation of the right to self-determination overthe country's govemmental system and the conduct of its intemal affairs. The problem with the national interest, however, is that its definition is extremely

vague and provides few clues for policy makers to follow in making decisions. Does the protection of Armenian lives include the lives Karabagh, Armenians Nakhitchevan, Akhalkalak and other regions? Does the maintenance of territorial integrity encompass also the Armenianterritories in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia and elsewhere? Does Armenia's economic wellbeing entail economic self-sufficiency? Finally, where do Armenia's national interests end and its regional or intemational interests begin? The reality is too complicated to be explained by a single factor. It is necessary for policy makers to go beyond an explanation based only on national interest and to look more systematically at the welter of factors that could affect Armenia's behavior.

Paramount among these is Armenia's geography, the number of borders to be

is the case in

Africa or the Middle East.

At this

stage, the world seems to be a unipolar system dominated by the United States. In this new configuration, the global balance of power will give way to considerations of regional stability in isolated theaters of competition. This development reduces the scope ofRussian influence outside

its immediate region, giving Armenia the opportunity to maneuver with more freedom.

Onthenational level, acountry's size, the

skills, motivation and homogeneity of its population, the capabilities of its economic system, its military strength, and the structureof govemment, will all provide opportunities and impose restraints and restrictions on policy makers as they formulate foreign

policy. Finally, the perceptions of policy makers will certainly play a role in the formulation of foreign policy. "It is illusion to believe that leaders gain in profundity as they gain experience," said former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. "The convictions that leaders have formed before reaching high office are the intellectual capital they will consume as long as they continue in office."

Some circles have

Hovannisian's appointment

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West. Russia has already ex-

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historically competed for dominance in the region.

perceptions about the

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Another systemic factor most likely to affect Armenia's foreign policy behavior is the overall intemational structure. The international system is going through a transformation and the final outcome, whether it is a unipolar, bipolar or multipolar system, will certainly have great impact on the international behavior of smaller nations. Ifaregion is inthe sphere ofinfluenceofa major power, that power might insist on approving the important policy moves of weaker states within its sphere. Certainly, freedom of action for minor powers is somewhat greater in areas that are not clearly in the geopolitical sphere of a single power, as

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Armenia's involvement in intemational politics should be limited to its immediate region. The

country's leaders should think globally but act locally, since the arena for the fulfillment of their interests does not transcend the boundaries of the Caucasus. Armenia's domestic interests ought to dictate its foreign policy behavior.

Within the region, however, Armenia should adopt an active foreign policy by taking initiatives, making propositions, and not simply reacting to unfolding

events. Bilateralism and multilateralism should both be regarded as viable options for the conduct of foreign policy. Engaging in alliances and forming coalitions should be weighed care-

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AlM, December 1991

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"llllar ls lnevitable" Vazgen Manoukian on the Dangers Facing the Republic By VARTAN OSKANIAN and GAYA}I E HA]TI BARTZOUIIIAN Vazgen Manoukian,45, resigned as

pime ministerin

October,

justovera

year after taking office, and quit the Armenian National Movement in a highly public split with Lquon Ter-Petrosyan. Generally regarded as the ideologue of the ANM, Manoukian has now set up his own pady, the National Democratic Union, to challenge his loimer colleagueis. An

oigi nal member of the.Karabagh Committee, he

was jailed lor six months

in 1990 before becoming premier. AIM=

Whatwasthe main reason foryour resignation?

MANOUKIAN: I have explained the reasons thoroughly and would not want to discuss the issue in more depth now. Let me say, though, that it was impossible for me to work in ttre situation which had been created. I was forced to resign because in the event that the task [of prime ministerl was not carried out properly, the whole of Armenia would suffer. In fact, there were hardly any ideological disagreements, because the principles against which I could have struggled or with which I couldhave agreed werenotevidenttome. I was infavorofconducting a different policy during the [present] post-revolutionary phase. There was no ideological struggle though. What is taking place in Armenia is against my principles-as a human being, as an Armenian, and as a citizen. I betieve that an immoral struggle for authority is being waged. Individuals who have no national purpose are seeking power; their only aim is the acquisi-

tionof authority.

function, and our [political] work had several components. Levon Ter-Petrosyan did not usually interfere in the [development ofl ideological and strategic policy; hedidnotcontribute. There was also the organization of the units and the formulation of political decisions. There he participated. So that each one of us had his place and there were no political clashes. Essentially, I determined that policy,

although we took decisions collectively. Lately, though, a truly particularizedpolicy is being conducted andlhave already described the reasons for my disagreement with it. I did not see a clear direction and purpose to that policy; I expect terrible things. But did you wish to 0er,ome president of the pailiament? I have examinedthat issue withlrvonTer-Petrosyan. Forme, the work has always been more important; it has had more meaning than

the position.

Was the creation of the tlational

bmocntlc Union intended *eking

as a counter-balan@ to the ANM or werc you directly a d ilte rent orientati on ?

No. Unlike other members of the Karabagh Committee, I have not been in the movement for two, three or four years. I have been in it for more than 20 years and have a clear vision of our national aims and goals. For the realization of these aims, I myself have created many

in their activities. The Karabagh Committee was one such organization with which I have worked. So was the position of prime minister, which was a ransitional phase in the continuing pursuit of my objectives. If the ANM is not the vehicle for the attainment of our national goals, it is neressary to create a new entity. I believe now that the ANM can not serve those goals. organizations and participated

Had you r d i*g

rement with IP residentl Levon Ter-Petrosyan alrady bqun at the Armenian tlational Movement 6Nff) meting in August I 9il), which was to present its candiitate ii,

What are your main goals? Throughout my life I have dreamed of an independent Armenian state in which I would participate through science, business or some other activity. Because that state was not in existence, I had made its creation the purpose of my life. If that state was normal, independent and Armenian, I believe that, as is the case in every other country, the most thoughtful members of the elite would participate in its political life. If there is an independent Armenian state, I will not participate in political life, but because there is no such state yet, I feel it is my duty not to create-no one individual creates a state-but to provide assistance and support. After an independent state is established there is a lot of really interesting work to be done.

You were prime minister for more than a year.

What do you consider your most important achievement?

electionstothe presidency of

the partiament?

was so. Every member of the Karabagh Committee had his

We received independence from the outside. Paruyr Hayrikian andthe Karabagh Committee are struggling for independence, but I must say that whatever achievements we have recorded in this sphere have all come about because ofthe disintegration of the Soviet Empire. No one among us should think that he has

AlM, December 1991

given Armenia its independence. Our attempt to instill in the people the idea of independence is another matter. Here, everybody has his function and relative successes. But fundamentally extemal forces have defined the issues, and we have often been incapable of benefitting from the opportunities given to us. It is difficult to say what has been the most significant achievement ofthis year. Privatization could have been achieved at another time, five years laterperhaps, during the term of anotherprime minister. So, I do not think of that as an achievement. For this entire movement, two things were important-the departure of Azerbaijanis from Armenia,

ments and shortcomings otthe Kanbagh Movement? Ambiguities in its political direction havecreatedobstacles on the course of the Karabagh Movement. It is difficult now to tum back and say that, had another course been chosen the achievements would have been more concrete. At the present time, Karabagh is facing a substantially difficult situation. I believe that war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Karabagh is inevitable. It is obvious that we are in a weaker position. The Azerbaijanis are cooperating with their authorities. [n Armenia, although ourpeople did gradually consolidate

which was becoming a national problem, and the restitution of Armenian schools. These two are perrnanent national achievements; the others are transitory.

Didthe privatization of land lead to any positive results? Basically, 70 percent ofthe arable land was given to the peasant, and the problems of the remaining 30 percent will be resolved. The people believed that the land was not to be taken back from them. Unfortunately, the plots of land are very small. Cultivating these plots is difficult in Armenia. But the years will pass, one person will become rich, another will become poor, they will buy land from each other, they will expand the area, and finally everything will be taken care of. There is an unavoidable path which must be crossed; it is impossible to expedite this process by artihcial means.

agr* with the notion that the repre*ntatives ol the old generation are not capable of satistying the cunent empl oyment need s of Ameni a? Do you

ln some areas, they cannot work; in others, they can. There is no person here who can direct an Armenian national bank. In the Diaspora, there are such individuals, but bringing them here is premature because they do not graspthe situation in the SovietUnion and in Armenia. At the present time, it is necessary to appoint an Armenian citizen as director of the bank, and a diaspora Armenian as

his deputy, who will familiarize himself with the situation so that when Armenia becomes completely independent, he in tum will

itself, thinking from anational perspective is still absent.

But inthe pastyou wereableto unitethis peopleand brtng

become the director of the bank.

tothequare.

your opinion of the appointment ot Raffi Hovanissian asforcign minister of Armenia?

Yes, but now that is already impossible. People have been sent home, through both natural and artificial means, and have been divested of patriotic thinking. During critical times such as these, the

Vilhat is

I know Raffi Hovanissian and my impression is very positive. He is a very good young man. As to how he will function as foreign minister, it is difficult to say. When I was studying in Moscow in I 967, there was a Haroutunian who was the ambassador of the Soviet Union to Canada; later he became head of the planning section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A groupof us students hadcontacted him to organize an April 24 observance. He wanted to make us into political figures, giving us books and delivering lectures about diplomacy. Now I lookatbooks inEnglishandtranslationsofEnglish texts authored by British diplomats andrealize that during those years I learned a lot; I understand what it means to be a diplomat. I am not sure ifRaffi knows all that. I also know that he is an intelligent, honest man. Even though one may have limited knowledge, in time it is possible to achieve all that is needed of him.

How would you characterize your relations with your former friends, members of the Karabagh Committ*? Friendly relations have been maintained with the founding members of the Karabagh Committee. That is not the issue. Friendship and political destiny are different things. I have a lot of other friends to whom I would not want to entrust the fate of Armenia. [n effect, in the

present situation, politics is in the hands of individuals rather than specific political forces. This is natural. It has always been that way.

Since 1988 [when

started], what have beâ&#x201A;Źln the achieve-

sense of the national should be more acute, more elevated among the people so that the crisis can be overcome. Through the newly created national idea, the people will become part of universal structures. With these general conditions, we can build a state superiorto France. If we endured the I 9 I 8- I 920 period, it is very probable that we will endure until I 993 and then be desfioyed. I am ofcourse exaggerating, but I want you to understand my concem.

What is anticipated in theeconomic sphere? The socialist economy has been destroyed and fundamentally replaced by

new economy. But the creation of this new economy is

complicated by the fact that these days investors do not invest in production. Nowadays, commerce generates a much larger income. The same is evident in Eastem Europe. Accumulation of initial capital takes place, which later is invested in production, but for the time being the crisis persists. In the area of privatization, we are ahead

of other republics, but we must accelerate the process,

because

private enterprises are doomed to failure in such inflationary conditions. The intention of our present leadership is the destruction of the economy. Afraid of change, they want to centralize it more, but such centralization leads to the opposite result. Two days ago I met with representatives ofcooperatives, and asked these enffepreneurs and special enterprises to present to me documentary evidence indicating

AlM, December 1991

the degree to which the decisions taken during my tenure as prime minister (and the decisions taken after my resignation) will benefit new investrnents. That is, what mistakes have we made and what mistakes have they made since our departure, so that we can regulate the solution of those economic problems through the parliament.

We must not be afraid of chaos. If we ty to manage chaos, the situation will deteriorateevenfurther. Whenthebridge is buming, we must cross it by running fast; we must not think about bringing water and puuing out the flames. Behind us the bridge is being destroyed; we must traverse it as fast as we can How do you e-xplain thg

ilprentof

thevote?

el*tion ot

Levon Ter-Petrosyan with

Or with 60 percent of the general electorate vote. This is quite a

Armenian people could be brought about only by the ARF. Then a political party was established in Armenia whichtook upon itselfthis same goal. Perhaps I am mistaken, but it seems to me that there developed in the ARF a sense of envy. There was also a secondconsideration. TheARF, having seen the massacre of 1.5 million Armenians, was dealing more cautiously with the destiny of the Armenian people and conducting a more careful policy. One thing, though, was unacceptable to me. The ARF insisted that regaining the occupied territories of Westem Armenia was to be achieved through Russia. Thatlfound absurd, because it was evident that the Russian Empire was disintegrating. There developed in me a new attitude toward the ARF. When I look at existing political forces, I see the ARF as one of the

unique political organizations which, in spite of all of its shortcomings, has apolitical thinking and orientation. This gives us greathope because a non-national wave is on the rise nowadays among our people, in spite ofthe factthatthere is an organization which is trying to protect national thinking.

What is the status of rclations betwen Armenia and Turkev

lnn? How do you view the pesent poticy and wh;t pssibilities do you *e tor the futurc?

and

It is natural that in those conditions we believe that we should have

normal relations with our four neighbors. But that does not mean sacrificing everything. We can maintain very good relations with Azerbaijan while sacrificing Karabagh. But if we sacrifice Karabagh, we will not have Armenia. We can have absolutely good relations with Georgia if we sacrifice Akhalkalak andAkhalskha. But if we do not compromise, we will not gain benefits, we will have bad relations. With Turkey as well, the question is our lands. I believe that no

political organization must remain indifferent to issues of foreign policy, but the govemment itself is responsible for raising only ttrose issues which can be resolved. And the resolution of these issues is not possible at this juncture; that is why it is unwise now not to have relations with Turkey. Work must be done in the development of normal political relations. During future negotiations, it will also be

difficult question and there are rumors about the organization of the elections. But lrvon Ter-Petrosyan was elected. Anyway, it is praiseworthy that hundreds ofthousands ofpeople did not vote in a partisan way. This shows that the nation is not entirely made up of lrvon Ter-Petrosyan supporters. Victory was achieved with a60pâ&#x201A;Źrcentvote, notmore. l.evonTerPetrosyan was atthe forefrontof the changes in Armenia, hereceived the publicity during this time. In 1987, they could have elected Sylva Kaputikian with asimilarpercentage, in 1988 Gourgen Mouratyan, in 1989 ZnnBabyan. In 199 I , they elected [,evon Ter-Petrosyan.

How do you assess the role of the diasporun in the political lite of Armenia?

pliticat Wrties

Until the beginning of the Armenian Democratic Movement, the only political force which existed for me was the ARF. Its inspiration led me to believe thatournation was notentirely lost, thatthere was a political force that promoted the national question. I have always dreamt of the establishment of ARFbranches in Armenia, to educate ouryouth andmake ourpeople awareof thepresenceofnational goals and political issues.

But after the beginning of the Movement, I was deeply disappointed in the ARF, because from the beginning it refused to understand and support the motives of the Movement. Instead, it appeared as if the ARF had joined forces with the Armenian authorities. Sometimes (perhaps without basis), I used to detect a game in that. But anyway, the party's pretension was that the progress of the

possible to raise the question of our lands. Iran, which has quite intricate relations with Turkey, is a very important neighbor strategically. It is interested in having an opening to the Black Sea through Armenia and Georgia, so that it will not be entirely dependent on Turkey. So far, our attempts at creating relations with Iranhavebeenfruitless, in thatthe Iranians realizedthat they mustdevelop these relations only through the SovietUnion; they do not want to antagonize their powerful neighbors because of us. Currently, new paths are opening up and direct negotiations have become more meaningful. In this way, we can reach considerable results.

lf you had ben el*td president, what would have been your fird steps in thefirstthree months ot yourterm? The first step is the unification of all political parties. Then, providing all political parties with possibilities of participating in these sffuctures, accelerating the process ofprivatization, and working for the dissemination of

truly national ideology.

But now the most important thing is the preparation for war, because this is inevitable between us and the Azerbaijanis. Preparation

for war

demands organization. Arms are needed as well as the people's solidarity. The present situation is such that those who go in the army are sacrificed, while those who do not go prosper here. The victims do not contribute positively to our nation. We have had hundreds of victims. "What did we gain?"...this is the thinking that enters people's mind, and parents do not allow their sons to go in the army and fight. The idea is not there in the population; it is lost, it has disappeared. Translation trom Armenian by Taline Voskertbhian Yerevan photos by Zaven Hachikian and Roupn Mankasarian

AlM, December 1991

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AStory of OurTimes scene Bepod and Photography

from his latestfim,Mayrig, the story

of an Armenian family after the Genocide.

By ARilINEH JOHAI|NES PARIS

mar Sharif was breathless from running after a departing train at Paris' Austerlitzstation. "Areyou

tired," I asked. "No," replied Sharif. "Hagop is tired!" Thestarof suchblockbustersas Lawrence of Arabia and Dr. Zhivago was shooting a

He plays Hagop, representing director Henri Vemeuil's father, in a movie which also stars Claudia Cardinale as the title character. Mayrig is based on Vemeuil's novel of the same title, which sold over 200,000 copies within two weeks of its release in 1985

and has since been translated into

l0 lan-

guages.

Vemeuil, bom,A,shod Malakian, is convincedthatthis work is the crowningmaster-

AlM, December 1991

piece of his 45-yearcareer in fi lmmaking. "It is the most personal film I ever made; it is a film which can be characterized as on the margin of my career," he said. The story traces the sublime, tender, loving relationship of Vemeuil's dear ones, the Zakarian family. "[n mutual modesty, though we never expressed ourselves in words, not wanting to put emphasis on something so obvious, through the years I realized that we loved each other since birth," he said. Itishis 35thfilm and, with its sequel,588

Marseillefrom Turkey, andending atage45; Mayrig as his life story. "I wished topay tribute to my farnily and,

in their struggle to achieve some sort of credibility and success in theirland of refuge,

through them, to all Armenian families. I had promised my motherthat I would talk about our past, what we had been and not what we are today as a diaspora. "It took about 45 years for the whole project toripen and take form inmy mind and the desire of making a film came to me after I had the book published." For 59-year-old Sharif, who plays Hagop from age 35 to 85, the role represents afulfilling new challenge. "It is dffierent, but in the past two orthrce years,I have started a new career playing the roles of an olderman. It is very interesting and I was very happy toplay

entailed a certain alienation from their roots until later in life, when they felt they could revert to their origins again. "In a sense, we can say that it is a historical film because it relates all of the phases of Armenian immigration since the Genocide, starting with the death of Talaat and the rial of Tehlirian, and is continued by the arrival of Armenians in Marseille, amongst whom were the Zakarian

but he feels uncomfortable describing

where they formed the Armenian Diaspora.

For many, the road toward integration

thisrole inMayng. "Henri spoke to me about making this film fi ve years ago," explained Sharif. "Every time we had dinnertogetherhe would say that he wanted me to play the role of his father

n Mayrig.

Years were going by and nothing was happening until one day he told me, 'we are shooting.' "It is a film which does not resemble others since there is no sex or violence, apart from the scenes of the massacre. There is just family love, so it is different, and I think it is either going to be a great success orthe public is not going to like it. "But in any case, I know that all Armenians will go to see the film, and they will go to see it two times, so that represents al-

Claudla Cardinale ls Mayrig

ready an important number of

Verneull and Sharit on the set of the

Austerlltz statlon Rue de Paradis, had a budget

of 140 million

francs ($25 million), making it one of the most expensive European productions. Shot

in France, Switzerland and Tunisia, both films run for 135 minutes each. Mayrig received its world premiere in Marseilles on November 25 and was scheduled to open in Paris, Switzerland and Belgium two days later. It is expected to go on wider release in other countries soon, and will be dubbed from the original French into English, German, Spanish and Italian. The sequel is plarured to debut in Paris on January I 5. The

two-part saga spans Vemeuil's early life, starting at age seven, when he arrived in

spectators!" Nor is it the first time that the Egyptian-born actor has encountered Armenian culture. "One of the reasons why Henri asked me Bichard Berry has a supporting role; to play in the film is that I have (below ) an extra gets makeup known Armenians fora long time. In fact, I grew up with them in Egypt, I had

many Armenian friends in Beirut and in Cairo. I would go to their houses, so I know how they live and think, and I know their cuisine! I also know some Armenian swear words," he added, laughing. "I go to Egypt once a year, but there are not many Arme-

nians there any more. Most of them left during [President Jamal Abdul] Nasser's time." Vemeuil, represented by the character Azad in the film, in 1924 anived atthe portof Joiliette in Marseille, accompanied by his parents and two aunts. Through his own family, Verneuil reflects the story of many Armenian families who experienced the Genocide and deportation, and were forced to live through tribulations and humiliations

AlM, December 1991

Exit Aznavour, Enter tercessian, Smiling I

child, I suffered

ackv Nercessian has his sense of humor andCharles Aznavour's busy schedule to thank for getting what he considers his first important fi lm role. He plays Apcar n Mayri g.

"Speaking Turkish forme was ameansof communication, and it is only laier;when I was older that I understood why ihis:both: ered Armenians. I was brought up by my grandmother, who was from Kaysai, and she only spqkeTurkish becauseif, you spoke Armenianfhey would cut out yourtongue. It was later in life, when I got married to an Armenian*rat I leamed Annenian. "Thirty years ago it was probably better to have a name like Verneuil instead of Nercessian; Armenians have done everything"rei.mingle in with the massee 4nd to,

resernble the French.

tlni$.ia[tse,,ther-s a$:nriny:people who :

dorotknor:r

Whstuu

is;andthisis,.: .

Jacky was particularly touchedby one scefie,inthe film.'"fhe part filmed in Tunisia, which was about the Afmenian massacre, was very hardto see- Iremembe-red that my grandmother would

due to the fact thaa we haye not opq!en$$eht4t-.bp( ourselve*: ..:

talk to me about the time when the Tu*s had cut up my

am very glad that I have played in this

grandfather into pieces; filming the scenes of the massacre in the Tunisian desert seemed to me like I was living through the

reality of that period," he said. Now 40, Nercessian was born and raised in

poor area of St.

Etienne, France, where many immigranti lived. "When I stepped out of the house, I had to leave my oriental part inside and face the Western world, which was so harsh! As a

family," said Vemeuil. He had difficulty financing the film. "The first sponsor I found, an important French building contractor, was threatened by the Turkish Embassy that he would have his contracts canceled in Ankara if he provided financing for the film; everything was ready to be signed, and just one day before the signature, the sponsor gave in; I had to restart and find another sponsor. "I do not know ifthe second sponsor was

also influenced by Turkish threats; in any case, he also retreated. When I found the

Thisisthefi rsttimetlr*theArmenianQitit$,4isuo-.ihgo,'..tod";1; to the world in the form of a filtn with ani*â&#x201A;Źid*donal cast, and I

i:::i..

Voleuseihewrtlbeplayingsognin Mlerfilm."Vemerrfltold me, 'You will see: plal+& inll{.qt1'fuiis goi11g to.makdyorl go very far in your career.l l.lnveai@.of qdqr{f_S-ion f,gr this man," said Nercessian. "He krxitns'fii*woflt very 19gll arrd q!g$ .'r,,.ir:l'i:r1,i1.,:1 to bring out an actor's real talents:'.?

third sponsor, we signed the contract immediately and in total secrecy."

That sponsor was Tarek Ben Amar, Mayrig's producer, said Vemeuil's son and flrst assistant on the film, Patrick Malakian. Quenta Communications, a group directed by Ben Amar and Italian media magnate Silvio Berlusconi, combined with the French television stations TFI and Canal Plus, the finance company Soficas, and Verneuil himself to raise the money to make the movie. Since Mayrig and its sequel were not behg aimed solely atanArmenian audience, said Patrick, Tarek Ben Amar saw no reason not to support it financially. The two French stations have a

order not to have a guilty conscience." Of the reaction among the French-Armeniancommunity tohis project,Verneuil said:

"The Armenian community in Marseille reacted very well; when we had to film the arrival of immigrants in the port of Marseille, I asked for 300 Armenian extras, but 600 showed up; it was fantastic! "The other part of the Armenian commu-

nity, the well-to-do, relaxedbourgeois

rype-

very Armenian but just to the necessary dosage in order not to disturb anythingwait impatiently forthe film to come oul As

usual, they wait for others to do something, then they will go and buy a ticket and see the

fiIm." The intemationally renowned producer

mini-series for television viewers.

of Le Clan des Siciliens, Lo Vache et Le

Had Vemeuil received offers from Armenians toward the financing of the film? "No, not at all. I

Hour, and The Battle of San Sebastian,

neverasked them anything because

film directors.

I know that I could never get any-

"What has been significant about making this film is that the family is Armenian-the characters as well-but the film has to appear like one which isn't about Armenians, and it has to interest everyone. We cannot expect the public to show interest in the Armenian Question; would Armenians go to

thing from them!

Verneuil consults a camera man during lilming

frlnr.r'

Prior to Mayrig, Nercessian's acting career included small lelevision and film roles; such as.ClaudeMiller's l"a Pe$r'.,

the rights to turn the films into

I spo*e '

recalled.

Director Henri Verneuil had already offeredhim avery smallrole inMayn'g---butnot before he came for a short interview. "When I arrived, we talked for one hour and I made him laugh; he decided to give me a bigger role. One month later he called me up and told me that he had a surprise for me; he told me that he had given the role of Apcar to Charles Aznavour, but because the latter was already busy playing in another film, he had decided to give me that role. o'You can imagine how happy that made me feel, I ttrink that Verneuil expressed his trust in me by giving me this role. Apcar is a very kind and gentle pâ&#x201A;Źr$ory he has lived through the massacre and is a friend of the

family."

a great deal because

only Turkish up to the age of six, and as a resulL I was rather perturbed by the reactions which came'firim some adults,'? he

had a purely professional

hlmmaker's approach to this project. Armenians give money to the AGBU or to similar associations just as it is expected from them-in

AlM, December 1991

Prisonnier, Melodie en Sous-Sol,The 25th is

known as the most "American" of French

SeeafilmonBangladesh?'',lI|applauseorthegratitudeofthose

ThechoiceofSharifandre-,l|wtroareengagedalldayselling t,"l who'as Mayng, rep. rei.) resentsVemeuil'smother'notrtimesthattheyareArmenian,arrd

something,iniwhorememberal

!y^,-*ulaStutecastingtoo...The;Iandpartieswearingit,"i.''iie difficultyresidedinthefactthatItrclothisandflashyjiwe|rydoes had to form a family: the father, 'l:rl the mother-who starts at the agg of35inthefilmarrdgetstobe75speakaboutArmenia,siiceI at the end of the film- and her twosisterswhoformratherdif-languagearrdmyieligion.Isang

notinterestme. "I think I have some right to

Cardinal_e,

onlygivesthefilmstarquality.iIgotothebenevolentgat}rerings

know very well my literature, my

ferent age groups, since the older verneuil with wite veronique, daughter sophie,26, and son sevan, atthechurchchoirupiotheageoT sister did not get married in order e. ltoi in tlre 22,lstartedgoingto rhechurih at frroto iieroeiiibr-iitlicr,ieianritrr-eioungesi, to raise the_twoyounger sisters; year-old theageoffour,holdingthecandle; then the child, who is seven, I am-the child of ttrJ Armenian 12,20 and 45. I had to form the Zakarian is Armeniandoes nothave any importance," church for over 20 years. For Mayrigl asked family; it was a difficult task but I managed," saidVemeuil. Archbishop Kude Nacachian of Paris to bless saidVemeuil. ls Mayrig his last film? "I do not know the stage, I wanted to debut with Hayr Mer," "When you see the film, you will know yet; as soon as I finish filming,I wanttogoto saidVemeuil. that is an Armenian family. I thought of bed and sleep for a year and a half. But I He hopes to attend the film's premiere in Claudia Cardinale after having seen the film know I will be up and about in three days," he Armenia. "I will have about 150 premieres at Srorja, where she plays the role of a mother; Iaughed. "It took me six months to make the the same time in different countries, I will Claudia is a fabulous actress. She is extraorfilm, every day working for 15-16 hours. have to see if the trip to Armenia can be dinary, so dignified-just like my mother One needs to be as healthy as a horse to make arranged. I had sent a group to Armenia to was." thisfilm!" film the Easter Mass; even if it is for 40 The cast of I 20 includes Isabelle Sadoyan But it is clear that this project was driven seconds, there will be a reference to (a well-known stage actress) and Nathalie by more than the filmmaker's desire tomake Etchmiadzin in the fi1m." Rousselle as the two aunts, and Jacky films. Archbishops even visited Vemeuil from Nercessian as Apcar, a family friend. "I "It is in memory of my parents that I made Armenia, asking how they could help. "I told never took an actor because he was Armethis film, and through them I pay homage to them 'just pray forme'," he said, laughing. nian; professionally speaking, the fact thathe the family in general," said Vemeuil. "The "It is all I could ask

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orf]r|antcn lavtaw Published quarterly since 1948, the Armenian Revievr is the leading iournal o[ modern Armenian studies. Recent issues have

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the nationalities problems of the Soviet Union, guestedited by Profussor Ronald

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The Grescent Ascends Tadzhikistan's Muslims Flex Their Political Muscle By THEODOBE KARASIK Special to AIM

I !

n the wake of dramatic changes throughout the t-ormer Soviet Union', tt p"o!t"

ii #,'.1,*:'f Lh?

il?:il;l$::si,:

the existence of a political vacuum as

golden opportunity to assert their heretofore oppressed rights. They also recognize the

tions, in whichatleast lfi)people werekilled and non-Tadzhiks such as Russians and Jews were attacked. One group behind the rioting was Rastokhez, a Tadzhik nationalist group whose members demanded more rapid democratization in the republic. Muslims were also implicated in the rampant acts of violence. Two joumalists fromTime magazine

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TAAXHI|ll-pytt

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mnrK(n$$t

the

Tadzhikistan

non-

Tadzhiks. Following the

disturbances, the com-

munist

government

struck back by arresting

six Muslim clerics, including Mullah

tlemonstrators in the Tadzhikistan capltal of Dushanbe call the ouster ol loca! Communist Party chiel religious significance of theterritory on which they live.

The existence

of holy

places in

Tadzhikistan contributed to the survival of Islam under communist rule. Not only did these religious sites provide a venue for preaching and the performance of ritual obligations, they also encouraged a sense of membership in a large community of Muslim believers. Although there is no way to estimate the number of mosques, tombs, and other sacred places, including fresh water

springs-both real and mythical-in Tadzhikistan, theirpowerto attract the faithful has never been stronger. Thousands visit these sites during the year and, according to news reports, pilgrimage rituals may be on the rise. Along with this awakening, the rise of Islamic militancy has led to violence between Sunnis, Tadzhik nationalists, and communists. hominent mullahs, for example, soughtto make poverty, and the need to improve their flocks' economic lot, a key issue in their drive to establish an Islamic state. In February 1990, disturbances broke out in the republic over poor living condi-

lor

ffiH Tadzhik Muslims,

Muslims, democratic rule does mean stateIslamicrule. The IRP also united with the otherpolitical parties in a joint attempt to oust the communist rulers. According to TASS, on September23, atleast l0,000anti-communist protesters responded to a call by opposition groups for a rally in front of the Tadzhik Supreme Soviet. Rastokhez, the DPT and the IRP organized the demonstration

jointly.

Ignoring the state of emergency's prohibition against public gatherings, they constructed barricades in the city center, paralyzing traffic. Tadzhik Muslim leaders, led by Kazi AkbarTuradzhonzoda were reported

to have taken great pains to assure the Russian-speaking population of the republic that

the anti-communist demonsffations

Dushanbe were not aimed against Russians.

it was unclear whether the coalition would last once its declared goal ofousting the communists-the majority of whom Yet,

owed their positions to and supported Russians-was achieved. Tadzhikistan's 5. I millionpopulation was truly diverse. Tadzhiks made up about 66 percent of the population, and there were Uzbeks (22 percent), Russians ( l0 percent),

and a smaller group located

Gomo-

Badakhshan. Significantly, however, these numbers were in flux in the late 1980s. Over 36,000 non-Tadzhiks, mostly professional and skilled workers, have left the republic, leaving uneducated workers to carry on medical care and industrial production. One reason for the emigration was a 1989 law declaring Tadztrik the state language, leading many citizens to leave because they were

not intimidated by the

unable or did not want to leam Tadzhik. Others presumably did not want to live in a

Communist hierarchy,

state where Islam could become dominant.

have sought to create an effective political party for at least two years. Key Muslim leaders have indeed set up their own party, the Islamic Renaissance Party (IRP), which claimed over 10,000 members within the republic-a number which swelled to several hundred thousand by the end of l99l. The authorities banned the IRPon the grounds thatits members soughttocreateaKhomeinistyle Islamic state, but other parties, such as

Rastokhez and the Democratic Party of Tadzhikistan (DPI), were allowed to function because the communist regime could keep them in check. The Communists'ban on IRP activities until October l99l specifically illustrates how they perceive the party as the only real threat to their authority. The failed coup attempt against Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev assisted the IRP's drive to establish an Islamic state in Tadzhikistan. It launched an increasingly successful protestvigil inDushanbe's downtown square, demanding that the Communists inthepadiamentbuildinghandbackthe reins of govemment. Most of the senior mullahs argued that, in a republic where as many as 90 percent of all citizens were

AlM, December 1991

Over the next five years, it is more than likely that a true Islamic state will be established in Tadzhikistan. Countries which are located near the republic recognizn the sigrificance of its possible future. There are persistent mmors that the anti-communist mujaheddin in Afghanistan view Soviet Tadzhikistan as a "lost province" that they would like to recover. kan also seeks to establish close economic and political ties with the republic, in a possible effort to nurture its development and influence its political outlook. A March l99l Komsomolskaya Pravda article stated thar if the people of Tadzhikistan if they would like to live in an

were asked

"Islamic Republic"-without specifying exactly what that entailed--+he overwhelming majority responded favorably. There were no reasons to doubt they preferred an Islamic regime to a communist one, because of the promises of the former and the failures of the latter.

Thadore Karaslk is a consultant on Russian and @ntral Asian political-wurlty policies

AWK.ward Times for Mid-East By JOSEPH A. KECHICHIAN RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA

he worldhas indeed changed since the fall of the Berlin Wall. In the Middle East, a new marker-the war for Kuwait---has been intro-

duced. There is now a Before War for Kuwait (BWK) and an After War for Kuwait

(AWK) period.

In ttrc BWK era, Israel and the United States adamantly opposed an intemational peace conference because, the logic went, Washington did not want to give Moscow a seat at the negotiations table. Of course, Israeli hardliners were also worried that the price of peace was withdrawal from more of the territories captured in the 1967 war. In AWK time, on the other hand, Israel and the United States see a good deal of utility in sharing a platform with President

Mikhail Gorbachev's weakened and in-

Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq Al-Sha'ara is applauded by Palestinian delegates after his speech at the Middle East peace talks in Madrid on Nov. 1 drag on for an indehnite time. Meanwhile, how the involved parties will handle all the raised expectations remains the unanswered question. For the moment, there is every reason to believe that bilateral talks between Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and the Palestinians will continue. That may need the prodding of the United States to push the process for-

ward, and may require Secretary of State James Baker to retum to the region

for his

ninth trip since February.

Until then and beyond, the AWK-ward march toward improved relations in the Middle East promises to be an interesting period, during which antagonists cill no longer pretend to want peace but actually be forced to make it.

creasingly irrelevant Soviet Union. Still, what Mr. Gorbachev achieved at the Madrid Peace Conference remains a mystery. Beyond its symbolic value, the "show" was an embarrassing moment for the world

to witness. Next to the sole remaining superpower's representative, Gorbachev's general utterances added precious linle. Even less forthcoming were the Israeli and Arab delegates, save for the usual fare. It was, at any rate, difficult to identify the real intentions of the unimaginative participants who were successfully bullied by Washington to be in the same room. The bright spot was the emergence of an

enhanced Palestinian leadership which proved to be articulate and effective in presenting its case. Speaking eloquently and reasonably, Dr. Haidar Abdal-Shafi and his colleagues appeased world fears by defusing popular images of extremism. Even more pronounced were the reactions ofthousands of Palestinians in the occupied territories

who rushed into the streets with olive branches, waving peace to their Israeli "neighbors." It was the intifada of the olive branch and stranger things may yet occur in

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"saw" the world "seeing" them as a civilized people, capable of political discourse and yeaming for justice and a homeland from behind a conference table. The drawback was the process itself which, because of its convoluted nature--{ebating where to meet as much as what to talk about-may well

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ButfirstArmenianeeded permission from the central Soviet authorities. Nicoghosian met with Avoyan in April 1990, promising to back the idea with her bosses if he won approval from Moscow. '"That was the hardest part, they worked very hard." In August that year, a meeting was set up in Califomia between Avoyan and AT&T officials, at which the ministerdisplayed the approvals he had gathered from Moscow. The project was on. "The concept was developed, the technology was available, the traffic was there. All we had to do was work out the details,"

said Nicoghosian. President

kvon

Ter-

Petrosyan backed her proposal on his visit to the United States the following month, and a contract was signed in October. Armeniacontributed $2 million of the $6 million deal toinstallthe fintdigital swirch-

Armenia Galling

ing system anywhere in the Soviet Union, build two l8-meter satellite dishes, and pro-

By TOilY HALPIN

global network. "Like every cause, you have

vide the lines. The calls are routed through the Intelsat communications satellite rather than the Soviet Intersputrrik to ensure the system's complete independence. "I wanted to make sure of that," said Nicoghosian. The project was not without drama. One shipment of parts for a dish disappeared

to have one champion pushing it through. This was a combination of people being at

KGB racked it for us.

hey are only four little numbers. But 7 885 is a code which breaks Armenia's communications dependence on Moscow and connects the republic to the late 20th Century. Those touch-tone noises in your ear are the sounds of 'phoning home. Armenia acquired twice as many tele-

right place in the right time," she said. When AT&T installed a telephone system in l.eninakan to assist rescue work after the 1988 earthquake, it also leamed how Armenia's network operated. Nicoghosian, who was then the

The New Republic Joins the

GlobalVillage

the

company's deputy director for Eastern Europe and the Soviet

of Union, did some research after retuming from Moscow, and found the old Soviet Union put together when it that only 600 of I 1,000 calls a week became the first republic to acquire direct dial services on October 24, using the latest American Telephone and .{ 1r .. phone lines tothe outside world as the rest

Telegraph systems.

,:e

The gleaming white satellite dishes can relay 180 simultaneous calls in and out of Armenia. The republic ranks second only to Mos-

cow in the traffic of intemational calls trying to get through to the SovietUnion. "Today, Armenian telecommunications leaps seven decades from the 1920s to the l990s," said Robert Avoyan, Armenia's Minister of Post and Telecommunications, at the

of-

ficial opening. As if to emphasize the transformation, and the significance of the event, Armenia issued its first postage stamp since 1922, bearing AT&T's logo and a picture

:i5 jc:

BMENI

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Iuinlster Avoyan makes the farst telephone call on the new Ilnes ln Armenia, watched by Mariam Nicoghosian (top). The lirst stamp issued by Armenia slnce 1922, to mark the openlng ol the service (above), and (right) part ol t}te contro! room lor the network

of a satellite dish. At the center of this story of diplomacy

were getting through to Armenia from the United States. "I had a

and determination (not to mention a little help from the KGB) was Mariam Nicoghosian, a pdect director for AT&T's

at AT&T and say 'let's do something here."'

good reason to go back to my people

AlM, December 1991

during its joumey through Turkey. "The

It was in ftucks

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was tenified that this was not going to work, they could very easily have said'for-

it'." At present, only people in the United States can call Armenia directly, but

ger

Nicoghosian said talks were taking place with telephone companies in othercountries lo provide access to the service.

While anyone in Armeniacan be reached through the AT&T lines, only those who have one of the I 80 private lines may dial the rest of the world directly from the republic. Armenia's outmoded network is not capable of monitoring the length of calls and billing the correcl cost to customers.

Minister Avoyan gave a different, economic, reason. "Almost every Armenian citizen has a relative or an acquaintance in the States whom he would like to contact. That will cost us dollars and our govemment does not have that kind ofdollars to allocate. I will eventually be in debt to AT&T and the U.S. Covemment." All intemational calls will be charged in dollars, though Nicoghosian said the ministcr may choose to assign some lines forruble customers. She said she had also encouraged the govemment to place some lines in hotels and at the airport to increase public access. According to a contract obtained in Armenia, the govemment is charging foreign and domestic businesses,joint ventures, hotels and cooperatives $3,932 plus4,200 rubles tbr an AT&T line, as well as a monthly fee of $44 and the cost olcalls. Govemment ministers and parliament members must pay

take care of themselves. They needed it just much as we do.

ture company between Turkey and Northem

that [telephone network] are possible. They

Telecom, for a digital network and 40,000 lines providing intemational and local calls. The intemational calls willbe routedthrough

had greatdoubts, and we said'OK,let us take care of it and just watch'."

Northem Telecom's exchange in Ankara. One major hurdle remains before Arme-

Ministers of Communication from every republic were invited to the opening ceremony for the very reason of proving that a

nia can truly claim to have joined the world-

"We demonstrated also that things like

network could be set up, she said. Several have expressed interest in acquiring a similar system. The Ukraine and Belarus (Byelorussia) have also inquired about gaining communications access to the outside world through the Yerevan station. On November 7, Azerbaijan signed a $2 I

million agreement with Netas,

ioint ven-

wide communications revolution. The country's intemal telephone system is a shambles, impairing the success rate of calls from abroad and inhibiting communications inside Armenia. Nicoghosian said she had impressed upon the govemment the need to

tackle the problem.

"They understand, but it is a tremendous investment. If you really want to do it, it costs hundreds of millions of dollars."

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panding to handle 500 intemational lines, depending on demand. "Hopefully that will happen for the Armenians, that means their industries are doing well and business is booming." said Nicoghosian. "There is an indication that the lines are being used very ef

ectively and many calls are going through.

But it is not a situation of expansion at the present time."

The level of use has been so high that Nicoghosian estimated the Armenian govemment will recoup its costs within a year. The pace of business negotiations is also picking up with the new easy contact. Despite all the technological wizardry, the biggest question about the telephone system is a political one-why? Why did the Soviet authorities, who for so long jealously controlled all access to foreigners. permil Armenia toestablish an independent channel to the West? "We had to give everybody a reason to think that it wasthe rightthing forthem too," explained Nicoghosian. "The Soviets had many reasons to not let us, andmany reasons to let us. For one thing, it clears their traffic. There are not even enough lines for them to

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named Syonan Ryokan and used for rest and

Royal Shelters

relaxation by Japanese officers (the staff buried the hotel silver in Raffles' Palm Court Garden and dug it up again when the Japanese were defeated).

Armenians, World-Renowned H otels on Both Sides of Asia Still Make History

F ounded by

By KATHERINE CIIILJAN ocated on opposite sides of ttre globe,

they served as a home away from home for kings and queens, film stars and writers, adventurers and travelers. Two of the world's great hotels, Baron's in Aleppo, Syria, and Raffles in Singapore, became legendary examples Armenian hospitality.

Sir Stamford Raffles founded modem Singapore in 1819, but it was the Sarkies brothers who founded Raffles Hotel. Martin, Aviet, Tigran and Arshak hailed from Djulfa in Persia. Martin, an engineer, launched the family into the hotel business with the Eastern and Oriental Hotel in Penang in the early 1880s; the E & O, as it is popularly called, still operates today.

Sarkies Brothers

heyday, Raffles was the place for social events, from annual fancy dress balls to rollerskating parties and billiards contests. The brothers held ownership until 1933; Martin retired in the early 1890s, apparently retuming to Djulfa, and the business was nearing bankruptcy by the time the last surviving brother, Arshak, died in l93l. Beside visits by famous guests such as CharlieChaplin andElizabeth Taylor, Raffles boasts a colorful history. In 1902, a tiger was chased under a billiards table, where he was shot by the local schoolmaster; it was the last tigerto be killed in Singapore, but lived on at the hotel-stuffed. The Singapore Sling, a concoction of gin, cherry brandy, lemon juice and soda, was founded at the hotel's

Long Bar

in 1903. For l0

"Feed at Raffles when visiting Singapore," advised Rudyard Kipling, an early visitor. Raffles became a mecca for literary figures, including Somerset Maugham, Noel Coward, James Michener and Herman Hesse. Legend has it that Joseph Conrad dreamed up Lordlimwhile sitting on thehotel's veranda, where he spotted a newspaper story about a British crew that abandoned its ship and left 200passengerstodie. Themovie Pretty P olly, starring Trevor Howard and Hayley Mills, was filmed at the hotel in 1967. After years of neglect, the "Grand Old Lady of the East" was in danger of being demolished, until aflood of protests prompted the Singapore govemment to declare the hotel a national monument in 1987. Raffles' present owners, DBS Land Ltd and Raffles

years,

ho-

prietors opened several small hotels in Singapore and Penang, and the Strand

Hotel in Rangoon. Martin and Tigran founded Raffles in 1887 by converting an old

bungalow into a l0-room hotel. They rented the land and buildings from the prosperous Arab trader, Mohd Alsagoff. At this time, Singapore was thriving as a British colony and major port. After rapid enlargement, Raffl es became a traveler's paradise, a unique blend of clas-

sical architecture and tropical garden settings. Rubber planters, merchants, ships captains and other colonials were regular guests. In its

Raffles before and alter facelift. The

neo-classical main building laces the South China Sea Raffles had its own post office, serving guests and the surrounding area.

When the

Japanese

bombed Singapore at the start of World War II, the hotel band carried on playing fora few weeks. During

the Japanese occupation (1942-45), Raffles was re-

AlM, December 1991

Investments Ltd, closed it for a $93 million renovation in 1989. Restored to its former glory, the lO5-year-old hotel reopened this September. The two-story building now contains

l(X

luxurious suites arranged around a courtyard. The rooms retain their original l4-foot ceilings, teak floors and ceiling fans. Adjoining the hotel are the new Raffles Hotel Museum, the Jubilee Hall (a recreation of a l9th-

with a grand ball, to the accompaniment of aTurkish ArmyBrass bqnd. Famous guests in the early days included the Shah ofIran and l-awrence of Arabia--*ris bill is now enshrined in a glass case. [,awrence never bought an oriental rug without Armen's advice. These felicitous days came to an abrupt

end with the declaration of war

1914.

From then on most of the guests were highranking Turkish and German officers. General Liman von Sanders gave a dinner party atthehotel forGemal Pasha, commander-inchief ofthe Suez front. To reciprocate, Gemal Pasha instructed Armen to repeat the dinner the following week with the same menu. Armen absolutelyrefused. The general could not believe his ears, until his charming host added: "No, for my pasha I'll do a different dinner!" It pleased the pasha to leam that one does not give the same dinner twice. Thanks encounter, the

to this

Aleppo's only modern historical site: Baron's Hotel today and in the 1920s architectural details are dotted throughout the hotel to evoke the era; over 50,000 plants

sunound the buildings to enhance the tropical feeling. Cad's Alley, a popular rendezvous for lovers in the early years of this century, has also been restored. The new hotel has 700 Oriental carpets, with several in every suite and even in the hotel's London cab limousines; a restored l9-foot red carpet is ready to roll for important occasions. A book telling the history of Raffles is planned forpublication in March 1992.

Aleppo's landmarks: the Byzantine citadel and Baron's Hotel Without the luxury of renovation,

the

historic Baron's Hotel maintains its Old World atmosphere, as well as four generations of hospitality from the Mazloumian family.

1880 pilgrimage to Jerusalem im-

pressed

young village couple from

Antcherti, not so much for the city itself but for the pleasant accommodations available. It was a far cry from a stop in Aleppo, where they had slept in bare rooms and washed at a

table, washbasin and restaurant. He leamed the languages of Europeans and catered to them. The Hotel Ararat was soon patronized by bankers, foreign notables, adventurers and archaeologists. Krikor's two sons, Onnig and Armen, grew up in this cosmopolitan atmosphere. As they reached maturity, each opened a little hotel of his own in the then-modem section of town, with the rather pretentious names of Azizieh Palace and Aleppo Palace. Hotel guests were intrigued when the allArmenian staff addressed the owners as "baron." They in tum called them Mr. Baron orsimply Baron. The two brothers prospered--+he daily full board charge was one gold sovereign plus l0 percent service. Pooling their resources, they decided to build a modem hotel, expressly named Baron's. A wellknown architect, CasparNafilyan, cirme from Paris to draw plans and supervise the building. Cement and floor tiles were brought from Egypt, together with the workmen. All the furniture, china, linen and a German headwaiter were imported from Europe.

The three-story hotel opened AlM, December 1991

in l9ll

Mazloumians enjoyed enviable protection during the days ofthe massacres, and used it to serve less fortunate compatriots. They took in the celebrated writer Krikor Zohrab, the poet Vartkes, Yervant Odian, and Aram Andonian, who authoredMe moirs of Naoum Bey.

During Gemal Pasha's absence, Aleppo was sent a govemor. When each new Turkish appointment arrived, he inevitably patronized Baron's and inevitably fell under the spell of his host's hospitality. Many Armenians were saved from massacre due to the intercession of the Mazloumian brothers. Relatives of the unjustly imprisoned alerted the brothers, who would then appeal to the governor to release his "relative." When officials caught on, an unshakeable brute was sent as govemor. Then a telegram

arrived, ordering the cleaning of"that nest

serpents"-the Mazloumians. It called for their exile to Mosul, which every Armenian knew was certain death. When Gemal Pasha learned of this, he ordered the Mazloumians to report to him in Jerusalem. They managed to stay in Zahle instead, in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. "My grandparents filled the train full of Armenians, claiming that they were all relatives, which they weren't, andtookthem withthem 35

to Zahle. A lot of people escaped the massa-

likethat,"

Armen's granddaughter, Mary Momdjian, now a resident of Encino, Califomia. Baron's was requisitioned as a Turkish headquarters but, as soon as the Ottoman Empire fell, the brothers returned to Aleppo cres

says

many other

Armenia have enjoyed the hospitality of the hotel. Even

the sfreet where the hotel stands is named after it. When

Baron's was built, it was on the outskirts of

and reclaimed their hotel.

Armenian

writers and ofhcials from

town. "My

The inter-war years found Aleppo as a terminus of the fabulous Orient Expressthe only land link between Europe and the East at the time. Baron's hosted an impressive list of royalty and celebrities including aviators

Charles Lindbergh and Charles Kingsford-Smith, dancer Isadora Duncan, chanteuse Josephine Baker, and former U.S. President Theodore

Roosevelt. Agatha Christie and her

archaeologist husband, Lord Mallowan, frequented Baron's;

she

wrote M urder on the Orient Expres,r on the hotel's balcony, while he worked at sites near Aleppo.

World War tr brought more famous soldiers tothe hotel, namely Major-Gen-

erals Sir Claude Auchinlech, Maitland Wilson, Catroux, Admiral Muselier and General Charles de Gaulle. A British bomb once hit Baron's by mistake, but only chipped an outside comer. Aleppo's fortunes changed when peace came. Airplane routes skipped overthe city and the nains stopped coming. The selective

pre-war class of tourists was replaced by those on cheap package tours, yet luminaries continued to sign Baron's hotel register: President Hafez Al Assad of Syria, therulers of Kuwait, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, the President of Mauritania, French Prime Minister Louis de Guiringaud, Italian hlm directors Rossellini and Pasolini, Soviet astronauts Yuri Gagarin and Valentina Tereshkova, financier David Rockefeller and exiled Brit-

ish spy Kim Philby. William Saroyan and

(Top) King Gustav Adolphe of Sweden with Queen Louise, Prince Bertel and Princess lngrid; (above) international banker David Rockeleller, exiting the hotel; (right) Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lindbergh, who made the world's flrst nonstop solo flight across the Atlantac an 1927

father used to go duck hunting about lfi) yards from the hotel, and when they built the street, it was called Baron's Street. When my grandfather built it, they ridiculed himwho was going to come all the way out there to stay in the hotel? Now it's the center of

town," says Momdjian. Baron's was passed on to Armen's son,

Koko Mazloumian, who has

witnessed Baron' s heyday and the grand hotel 's present decline. Eighty-year-old Koko, hotelier par excellence, has been often mentioned in print with his colorful stories and remembrances.

He is still actively involved with Baron's, alongside his son Armen, the fourth generation of Mazloumianhoteliers. Nowadays Baron's is up against competi-

tion from new

large

chain hotels. "It certainly

has its own clientele," saysMomdjian. "Alotof archaeologists, a lot of people interested in his-

tory and the Old World

Wllliam Saroyan, Koko Mazloumian with daughter

ilomdjian

Ebe

style of life. You don't get the modern traveler, people who are interested in minibars in their bedroom. They come out to see more of the country than anything else."

ilary

-With Aleppo

Roupen Boghossian reporti ng hom

AlM, December 1991

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A Passion for Print One Man's Ltfetime Pursuit of the RareTbme By KEVORK llllRZlAN Speclal io

Altl

ark Kalustian is partial to bowties. And next to bowties, he's passionately attached to antiquarian books.

Kalustian's bowtie collection does not go beyond the one he sports presently, as he is

quick to admit. Buthe has tumedhis entire

house into a repository of more than 10,000 rare books thatrivals some ofthebestcollections on the Near East this side of the Atlan-

tic. "This is the second best private collection in the country," asserts Kalustian with a characteristic scowl that typically accompanies his pronouncements. "I wouldn't know which one's the best," he adds after a brief pause in anticipation ofthe question that he knows will follow. "That's why I always claim it's the secondbest." A small and energetic man of 80, Kalustian appears invariably to be in perpetual motion. When he sits still, even for a brief period, to engage in some debate, he is visibly impatient: he shuts his eyes and crosses his hands over his belly while delivering his opinion in agruff voice that betrays a New England upbringing. He reveals two large, sparkling eyes when he opens themon occasion to emphasize a point. It would have been easy, indeed, to mistake Kalustian for acurmudgeon if it weren't forhis engaging penonality and his love of good talk. Sitting in ttre armchair like a life-

size Buddha in his book-lined study, he weaves elusively, even charmingly, in and out of his commentary, often punctuating his remarks with the question: "Am I right or

wrong?" The practice, while intellectually challenging, sometimes seems intended as much to display his mental agility as to convey athought. A native of Fitchburg, Mass., and an MlT-trained engineer by profession, Kalustian has spent a lifetime building his collection, as he is fond of saying, "one book at a time"-books that now take up the entire second floor, the basement, the bedroom and the study ofhis two-story colonial house in a westem suburb of Boston. The books are stacked everywhere: on bookshelves, tables, windowsills, couches, dressers, and on the floor. Even the television console in the living room doubles as a bookcase.

Although there are detailed, hand-writ-

ten card catalogs for his library, Kalustian willingly acts as a walking index for the visitor. Beside knowing the precise location ofevery book in the house, he can sum up, in 50 words or less, the contents of almost any book on command. "I don't collect books for the sake of collecting them," he declares in his usual swagger.

"I read them."

Presently, he walks over to one of the shelves and fetches what appears to be an antiquated coffee-table book. He places it on the desk and opens it to a page that unfolds

into a four-foot panorama of

Europe as well as in America. "The chase is now practically over," says Kalustian, though his lament is less due to his advanced age than to the dearth of quality rare books. "Now the market has dried up; you cannot find these books any more." Still, eager to expand his collection while remaining extremely choosy, he cherishes what Iittle he finds after one of his excruciating searches. He is barely able to contain his excitement as he tums the cover of his latest acquisition-a collection of 100 color plates of Armenian silk designs from the Kelekian collection. "Look at the fine job they did in

putting this together," he exclaims. 'And there are only a hundred copies of this. Just one hundred copies in the entire world."

Kalustian's collection has attracted the attention of numerous scholars, organizations and, after being featured on Armenian Television last year, the State Library of

Etchmiadzin. "This :! is the oldest picture

i $ he savs I

of Etchmiadzin in existence."

while taking e."ut

care in handling it. The book is the

original edition of Jean - B apti ste Sim6on Chardin's Travels, published in 1686. Itwas,Kalustian confesses, his unquenchable interest in the history of his

peoplethatprodded

himtocollectbooks

on the Near you

"If

East.

-want

to-

Kalustian:Tirelessconnoisseurwithawhiffolwhimsy

know the history of the Armenians, then you should know the history of the area," he explains. Kalustian's "all-inclusive library" therefore boasts sizable collections on the Hittites, the Persians, the Ottomans, the Kurds, and even the Etruscans. Over the years, he has also assembled a respectable collection on rare children's books, William Saroyan, and Westem Americana, not to mention an ex-

tensive inventory of out-of-print books in Armenian. Kalustian, who did not begin collecting "in eamest" until after World War II, put most of his collection together while employed full-time as an engineer in Boston. For long years, almost every day during his lunch break, Kalustian would gobble up his sandwich and would rush to one of the old bookshops nearby. "There were about three bookshops in the area in those days," he recalls, "and I would coverone each day and

choose what I liked." Following his retirement about 15 years ago, Kalustian cast his net wider and searched for rare books in

AlM, December 1991

Armenia. Kalustian has been swamped with offers and suggestions conceming the future of his collection, yet he is ambiguous about his plans for it. "I guess I'll bum it before I die," he rejoins with an impish smile that breaks through the frown brought on by the question. Kalustian may be thought of as bookish but he is hardly a hermit. Last year, after26 years, he bought a new car and enjoys driving it into town to check out new arrivals or to visit old friends. The rest of the time he keeps busy cataloging, researching, and penning articles for the Armenian press. He has also started, afterabout 35 yean, a new visitor's book in which people like Sero Khanzadian and David Marshall Lang have expressed their admiration, gratitude, and even envy forthejob he has done through the years.

"You see, I'm a small fellow who eamed a living," he says, stirring uneasily in his chair, "but I think I did pretty good, consider-

ing."

A New Lookat The Old Book the four Gospels include the non-occturence of the expected Parousia (Second Coming of

UNDERSTANDING

THENWTESTAMENT By Rev. Dr. V alan H. Tootikian Arme nian H eritage C ommitte e,

P.0. Box 531 ,Southfield, M|48037 1991,300pp,$25

By FRED ASSADOURIAN' Ph.D. ery soon after his highly informae A Survey of thc H ebrew B ibl e,

Christ and World's End) and the need to refute philosophies like Gnosticism, which did not accept Jesus' full divinity and humanity. Matthew and Luke are viewed as using the earlier wrinen Mark as a principal source, but also incorporating independent material. Matthew, sometimes considered the most important Gospel, has such unique features as is apocalyptic nature, Sermon on the Mount, and miracles. Mark, the "nearest approach to an eyewitness account," tells

Rev. Dr. Vahan H. Tootikian issues this remarkable explanatory

background of the New Testament. His guidelines offer a peephole for viewing the complex theological structure constructed

by Biblical scholars over many

years.

Tootikian strives to "dealcandidly withmajor problems of biblical-research, present opposite positions, and give a balanced account." This approach is a natural byproduct of his course on the subject for 15 years at

Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan. Writing as a professor rather than a minister, he persuades his readership to seek further clarification on many absorbing subjects by individual biblical research. He cites various uncertainties

about date and authorship of many New Testament Books, and also their many translations of which he has selected the 1973

New Intemational Version for his own

scriptural quotations. Readers are thankful for a schedule of "Major Evens in New Testament History," maps of the Roman Empire and Palestine boundaries, and locations of some Middle Eastem cities in Paul's missionary itinerary during 47-56 A.D. It is observed that Paul

established most

of the early

Christian

churches in westem Asia Minor and Greece.

Tootikian illuminates many individual characteristics and interrelationships of New

Testament Books. The fust known canon was adoptedin 140A.D., andthebasic shape ofthe Christian canon evolved at the end of the Second Century. Written mostly inearly Greek and possibly Aramaic, several unidentical New Testament manuscripts were translated into more modem GIeek, and later into modem languages after the invention of printing. Even after the classical I 6 I I King James Version, other English translations resulted from ongoing research. Part I also thumbs through the Jewish community surrounding Jesus, consisting of

Pharisees, Sadducees, and the Essene Qumaran community, which received renewed recognition after the 1947 discovery of its Dead Sea Scrolls. Reasons given in Part 2 forthe writing

of AlM, December 1991

more about events and actions than teachings and discourses ofJesus in an unpolished but

vivid style. Luke, a talented Greek physician, presents an accurate, orderly account

Christ's

life and

teaching,

stressing Christianity's importance as auniversal faith. With a less biographical image of Christ than the p,receding Gospels, John is more spiritual, theological and devotional, with heavy emphasis on Greek philosophical concepts. L*e's Book of Acts in Part 3, considered of historical value "impossible to overestimate," faces the Christian Church's crucial growth from birth in Jerusalem to St. Paul's death 35 years later. Urgent reasons for this Gospel included his desire to commend Christianity to Roman authorities, evince its

universality as a "religion for all people ofall countries," and demonstrate the Holy Spirit's effectiveness in the lives of the Apostles as a symbolic realization of the prophecies of Jesus.

Tootikian delineates many noteworthy

The splendor of Alpupen Frlr\ilEhIIFN rrbP[TFBEY

aspects aboutthe l0 Epistle sby Paul ("a great theologian, a vigorous campaigner, a competent administrator, a powerful teacher, and a skillful debater"). Among his letters from

Ephesus after an l8-month ministry in Cointh,l Corinthians l3 (thefamous "Love Chapter" or "Hymn to Agape") is esteemed as "one of the great bits of writing in all literature." Galatians, the Magna Carta of Christianity, is "the document of Christian freedom." Ephesians advances Paul's matured perspective on God, Christ, creation, and the church. His "Prison

trtters" include

Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon and Philippians (a "letter of joy" amidst imprisonment and sufferings). Philippi was the hrst

church Paul founded in Europe. Colossians contains the fullest expression of the Christian Doctrine of Incamation.l Thessalonians (Thessalonica is known now as Salonika in Greece), his earliest surviving letter, concems Parousia.

Hebrews, one of the "most clearly reasoned, detailed and highly theological

wrir

ings," although difficult to read, contains a

rhetorical masterpiece in Chapter I climaxed by the "Hall of Fame" citation of 22 Old Testament heroes. lames, a loosely developed letter, offers many gems. The two Peterbooks display a pastor's affectionate solicitude and plea for Christian faith against heresies. The three"Ioft z books involve church matters, targeting of heresies, and traveling missionaries. Jude exhorts believers to "faithful life and service." The final section ofthis study is devoted enthelytotheB ook of Revelationby John (the Apostle or otherwise), "one of the least understood and most misinterpreted books of the Bible," written in cryptic style and dealing largely with prophetic visions. The first six verses of Chapter 20, describing Satan's seizure and enchainment for 1,000 years, have been "the most divisive in modem Christian history" conceming the significance of the time period. After finishing the book, the reader will greatly appreciate the broadened understanding gained from a vivid tableau of the New Testament. Clearly visible are the glories, trials and turbulence in early Christianity. The olderreader accustomed to historical interpretations dependent on the 16l I King James version of the Bible will welcome the opportunity to examine any fundamental changes in later times. All readers will be stimulated to renewed or fresh reading of the New Testament with the more complete outlook gained from the present book.

The Armenian Alphabet with its rich history comes fully alive in this beautifully illustrated poster by Seeroon Yeretzian Size: 23" x 35"

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To place your order please write to: GEMINI DESIGNS 1604 Ghuenga Blvd., Suite 115 Los Angeles,

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(213) 465-3156 or fax (2131 465-0334 AlM, December 1991

Ghristo's Mediterranean Friends in Abu Dhabi.

By KATHEBIilE CHILJAN y Mediterranean

friends"

is how intemational

art

superstar Christo describes brothers Vah6 and

Berj Aprahamian. When 3, 100 huge umbrellas opened simultaneously in locations in Japan and Califomia on October 9, the trio celebrated the birth ofanotherofthe Bulgarian-born Christo's spectacular artworks. The surreal and colorful displays were a triumph of engineering for Vah6 Aprahamian, who has acted as chief engineer for three of Christo's projects. "The umbrella is my design," says 56-

"I came to know (Christo) indirectly through Vah6 and he came to know Vah6 directly through me," said Berj. Another Armenian engineer, Sarkis Safarian, had worked with Christo on his previous California projects-Valley Curtain, a huge white sheet hung between two mountains, and his Running Fence, in which Christo stretched a piece of fabric across 24 miles of land to the Pacific ocean. When Christo was searching forconnections in the United Arab Emirates for his 1979 MastabaProject, Safarianremembered

that his friend Vah6 had a brother in Abu Dhabi. "I helped him because he didn't know anything about prices, talent there. From that point on we remained friends," said Berj. When Safarian could not participate on Christo's I 983 Miami Islands Project, Christo asked Berj about his brother Vah6. Vah6's frst project for the flamboyant artist involved wrapping 6.5 million square feet ofpink woven fabric around islands in Biscayne Bay, Florida. Two years later, he helped engineer the wrapping of the Pont Neuf in Paris with ,140,000 square feet of fabric. "They call Christo a'wrap artist'," observed Berj. Vah6 explained the concept behind the transformation of Paris' oldest bridge: "He wanted to bring attention to it because it's a beautiful structure that has probably been neglected, so he wanted to wrap it to focus attention on its structure, to

year-old Vah6. Christo required that it be octagonal in shape, with a certain diameter for the pole (for aesthetic reasons), and that the umbrella be light enough for people to carry. Several small-scale models and prototypes were made. Later, the umbrellas came under a battery of tests, first in special wind tunnels in Iowa and Canada, then in open fields with fans in the already windy city of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Each umbrella finally consisted of 470 pieces and weighed 500 pounds. The open umbrella shade is over 28 feet in diameter and consists offabric stretched over an aluminum superstructure. The base above ground consists of steel frames with molded polymer base covers. Underground screw anchors hold the 20-foot-high structure. The Umbrella hoject World Headquarters, a one-story offi ce building in tiny lrbec, Califomia, 60 miles north of Los Angeles, was guarded by one of Christo's "children," a giant yellow parasol. Along 18 miles of hills and ridges in the Tejon Pass, 1,759 of its siblings were gracefully dispersed. Yellow

Umbrellas stood next to gas stations and restaurants in the towns of l,ebec and Gorman.

In Ikabari, Japan, 75 miles outside Tokyo, 1,340 blue umbrellas were placed in a valley, or in a river, and sometimes in the backyard of a home. Mary Poppins would have been proud. Berj and Vah6 Aprahamian were bom in Jerusalem, where theirfamily hasresidedfor over 700 years. Vah6 is a structural engineer who works as a freelance consultant in Des

Moines, Iowa. Berj is acivil engineer, presently a consultant contractor who once managed the largest road construction company

Vah6 Aprahamian in the land oI giants; (inset) designing brothers Berj and Vah6 with Chrislo, center

â&#x201A;Ź,dc$F

It was during this project that Christo intimated to Vah6 his

emphasize its beauty."

dream of creating umbrella landscapes.

down hills and valleys was equivalent to scaling Mount Everest three times. "Working with Christo interested me both artistically and from the engineer-

ing point of view; o o a I

a p ca @ D

all his projects need lots oftechnicalen-

gineering knowhow and imagination, so you plunge

intoit,notknowing o what to expect," o

explained

Vah6.

Berj added: "He stimulatespeopleto work for him. The

wayheandhiswife workinanyproject, they exhaust themselves to the maxi-

dent. The umbrellas had wittrstood very strong

winds inJapan, where typhoon weathercontinued beyond the usual setrson. "But this

mumlimitandthey BIue

let us work as hard as they do. In the first few days inJa-

theJapan site

Vah6 began working on the umbrella project in 1985, and beyond the engineering problems, public relations became a major partofhis work. "We had difficulty in Japan. I used to travel every month for two or three days, to get the permits for the (umbrella) superstructure." The Japanese did not have a

code for aluminum, so nobody wanted to take responsibility for approving the sffuc-

The $26 million project was the subject

ofcontroversy and acclaim when it opened, until MotherNature assertedherself. A freak storm in Califomia caused some of the umbrellas to topple, one of which hit a woman and crushed her against a boulder. The umbrellas were immediately closed on both continents, ending the three-week display four days early. Iocal authority officials believe the death was an unfortunate acci-

= =.

"Many engineer friends and professors admire our position because we're always doing something different. It's important to do something different; it integrates your thinking, your scope ofhow to solve technically not only forbuildings and bridges but in the field of art. Very few artists use engineers, so it's a very unique situation to be involved in these projects."

pan, we were probably averaging three hours of sleep, and we were happy!" "You get involved when you see so much dynamism there and if you're not capable of that dynamism, you just fade away," said Vah6. "To us it's very very beautiful-the interconnection of art and engineering, which very few people know about.

wind orshort gust-which was very quickwas exceptional. It came out of the blue," explained Berj. It was a tragic event to an extravagantly conceived enterprise. But it has not changed

the Aprahamian brothers' enthusiasm for future large-scale art. They will be interested in rejoinning Christo for future projects, such as those involving the Reichstag building in Berlin and the sidewalks of Central Park in

New York.

ture.

"I provided them with all the documentations, all the calculations, all the videotapes, and it took four or five different meetings before it was finally approved," said Vah6. The Japanese also wanted the umbrellas to withstand I l0 mph wind for the typhoons, which would have made the structure too heavy to carry. Ultimately, they negotiated a design at 110 mph wind in the closed position.

After fine-tuning the design and getting the necessary approval, Vah6 worked with Christo in plotting all the locations for the umbrellas in Japan and Califomia. He worked with surveyors and aerial photographers for up-to-date information on the region's topography, and advised the artist on various technical matters. The brothers say there was no definite pattem to the placement of Christo's umbrellas. "It's random, it's his vision," said Berj. "He has them in different configurations: sometimes you see an umbrella standing all by itself, sometimes it's aclanofumbrellas, a family ofumbrellas, sometimes in geometrical shapes, sometimes hugef,reldsof umbrellas. He is a very talented artist." Once everything was in place, Berj and Vah6 worked together helping the contractors, checking the umbrellas up and down ridges to ensure bolts were tight, or for signs of loosening fabric. From the outset of the project, Vah6 estimates thathis climb up and

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AlM, December 1991

has brought out.

"Both Americans and Armenians have similar [social] problems. But Americans face these issues," he said.

Whether dealing with drugs and sexual did in his previous play Youth Quaker or materialism and sex tn Devils C hildren, negative reaction from spectators has yet to have a chilling effect on abuse as he

Mankerian'

creative output. From someone

who brassily announced losing this year's Saroyan essay competition, possibly for submitting apiece on masturbation, one expects nothing less.

"I don't censor myself just bercause the community might react in a certain way," he said.

"AndIdon'twrite tobe conEoversial or

I write because that's the way feel. Sometimes I feel if I stop writing, I need to see a psychiatrist." shocking.

So he writes prodigiously, fusing personalexperience withhyperbole. Since 1988,

Rebelwith A FewGauses

By VIKEN BEBBEBIAN AIM photos by Patriciade la Rosa

omewhereinat

os Angeles studio

Saro sat on a stool, a towel wrapped around his waist. Karen, dressed in white terry cloth, stuck her derridre to Saro's thigh, shaving his dark, handsome face. The mildlybawdy scenebelongsto Shahe

Mankerian's latest taboo-bashing production, Devils Children (sic),aplay about broken love, status and betrayal in the Armenian-Americancommunity. Forall its sexual audacity, Devils Children is nothing like Laclos' l8th-Century steamy novel,Les Liaisons Dangereuses, which paints a critical portrait of an ancienne noblesse wallowing in sensuality. If Laclos ever saw Mankerian's play, he

wouldprobablyyawn. Butatleastonewoman in the audience was wide awake tonight. During the towel-stool scene, she fidgetted in her chair, then shook her head disapprovingly. Her body language translated shame. Her face oozed matemal pain. It was the second time I was seeing the play, so I made a point of gauging audience 42

mild sexuality. Of all three reactions, Mankerian seems to relish the latter the most. Mothers have tauntedhim, colleagues have wamedhimfor his brazen sfyle, but the rotund 24-yearold has plowed ahead.

"There never was talking in my family," he said. "I kept it all inside. The only way to communicate was to put my feelings on paper, and then on stage." With his three plays-all

Pasadena High

School's Little Theatre in

Califomia-Mankerian

Ayearlater,theteam staged Youthquaker. as

usual, parents did most of the shaking.

Youthquaker, which explored inter-racial dating, drug abuse and child molestation in the Los Angeles Armenian community, elicited mixed feelings from older spectators.

girlfriend continually, and the heavy-set woman remained concemed by the play's

ents.

But

reaction. A blond girl to my left radiated ennui. A teenager on my right kissed his

staged

Mankerian, an English major at Pasadena City College, has written and directed three plays and published a collection of lewd poems called "Children of Honey." With a group of disciples called The Chronic Players-all students and friends-in 1989 he staged Teenage Wasteland, a play about drugs, modem music and the age wedge dividing Armenian youth from their par-

has

triedhard to disrobethe social and psychological blemishes hidden in our hush-hush community. To that end, the

kbanese-bom writer

has taken ahead-on, sometimes

sensationalistic approach

to make his point. Still, few have focused on his stylistic sensibility. Most of the debate has centered onthe sensitive issues he

AlM, December'1991

"The audience was shocked," Mankerian,

victim of sexual abuse himself, said. "Even if I got a positive response from parents, I never got a specific response of what bothered them. There is a problem in the Armenian family. There is no communication between parent and child. We're not emotionally secure enough to talk about our feelings." Last month, the Chronic Players staged a

Devils Children, and Mankerian, with his

because of familial constraints, he can't. His

melodramatic style and impish smile once again fanned the fires of melodrama. This time, three young girls and two boys in their twenties took center stage, each typiffing a fundamental failing in the community.

family lives a squalid life. The father works in a pita factory. Their only hope is Alex.

The principal female roles-a sultry

He'sfapped. "[ove isn't importantanymore,"he added.

"It's money that counts. I blame

the parents

honically, parents have subsidized a good portion of Mankerian's productions. Devils C hildren cost $7,000 to stage, amore

Armenian-American community. Of the male characters, one is a suave, self-confident painter driven by misguided ambition; the other is a medical student who shelves his passion for poetry to support his family. The narrative takes an ugly tum when

than threefold increase from

status-seeking princess-leaves her boyfriend Alex after he drops out of medical school. Meanwhile, Alex's painter

friend who sleeps with Karen-the liberated nymphomaniac-manages to alienate him by having sex with his virgin sister Anoush, the high school dropout. Alex somehow ends up in an asylum and Saro, the painter, moves

toNew York with aone-wayticket provided by Hagop, Anoush's and Alex's disgraced

Teenage Wasteland. Along with the cash advances, Mankerian has also collected complimens from cheering adults. But the proud playwright says neither

cash nor compliment can stop him from revealing the community's social and ideological failings-subjects of Mankerian's next play.

politics and religion."

tistic talent," Mankerian said. "Wehave killed so many minds because of materialism. This

guy, Alex, wants to write passionately but

faced.

"The play is an attack on parents who don't encourage their children to pursue ar-

R(rcEN K. DERDENIAN FINANCIAL CONSI,'LTANT

SHEARSON .,

MHMNT

BROTHERS

Enterthe topic of the community's political and spiritual patriarchs. "I want to write about our political groups and churches, and why we have so many of them," he said. "The reason why we're dividedisbecauseof

that sounds sweeping, loud and cartoonish, it probably is. Mankerian's plays are all three, which leaves little room for nuance and complexity in his characters. Moments after stressing that he intends to rein in his style, the rebel Mankerian resur-

father.

forthat."

nymphomaniac, a whining stah.rs-seeking princess, and a high school dropout-are supposed to represent a cross-section of the

Nayri-the

"There will be a scene in my next play where someone will cut the Armenian flag with apairof scissors," he said. 'Why?" I asked. "In whatcontext?" "I'm not sure yet," he said. "But I want to have the scene."

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WORLDCONGRESS \url FdZtttulrut \ruftuZlUunhurJhfu b \tudtuqndrup T he C o n g re s s v, i I I br i try

ge t he r

Arme nian phy sicians and

he a I t h p r rfe

ss i

onal s of the

diaspora. The Republic of Armenia will be represented by a team rf distinguished sc'ientists. Multidisc'iplinary themes, state of the art presentations will be made on current topic's of interest.ln light of the recent politic'al r:hanges, there w,illbe aforum to assess and intprove health care delivety in Armenia.The congress will give us all the opportunity to socialize, to deyelop newfi iendships and ties, as w,ell os streng,then old ones.The activities are scheduled asfollows:

Dr. Serge SIMONIAN, prdsident Dr. Richard BALASTRE, vice prdsident Dr. Patrice DJOLOLIAN, vice pr6sident Dr. Michel DERVICHIAN. trdsorier Dr. Serge KAZANDJIAN. secr6taire Dr. Jean-Piene KIBARIAN

Thursday July 16, 1992: Meeting rf the exec'utive committees of the Armenian M e d i c' a I As s o c' i at io n s. W e lc: o mi n g C oc ktai l. Friday July 17, 1992: Scientific' meeting. Cultural evening,. Saturday July 18,1992: Scientific' meeting. Gala Dinner Dance. Sunday July 19,1992: Debate: The Armenian Diaspora.

Dr. Kevork APKARYAN Dr. Rohrt DONIKIAN

The meeting willbe held at the: MERIDIEN PARIS ETOILE: 81, boulevard Gouvion Saint Cyr75017 Paris FRANCE Phone: 33 OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: English, Armenian & French.

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DRAFI in French

I I

IPEGPLE -lompiled

by Katherine Chiljan

The Armenian connection The next secretary-general ofthe United Nations is aveteran diplomat whose life and

accomplishments are an intricate part of

Acting physician.to.be "I'm

Egyptian and Armenian life. Butrm Butros Ghali, chosen last month by the Security Council to become the sixttr secretary-general of the UN, traces his Armenian roots to an aunt, Anna Aslan, a close relative to Nubar Pasha-an Armenian who came to Egypt in 1868 and later became prime minister to Khedive Ismail. "Mrs. Anna was very dearto my husband's family," Mrs. LeaGhali told AIM in a telephone interview. "The families werevery close, andtheties very warm," she said, indicating this may be the reason he is assumed to have an Armenian grandmother.

pretty shy and shady character," says Joe El

Rady, speaking of his gang-member role in the new fiJm, The l,ast Boy Scozr. Shot on location in ganginfested East [,os Angeles, l4-year-old Joe appears early in the picture. "I come into the scene and I try to mess around with Bruce Willis." In only two years of acting, Joe has appeared onDyzasty,The W onder Y ears, Days of Our Lrves, in TV commercials and in the theater. Confident he will eventually shake the acting bug, Joe maintains one great ambition-Harvard Medical School.

"When

went to the doctor for the first time, I

thought, 'What a great job!' I came home crying, but I ttrought what a great job." He was three years old. A sfraight-A student, when Joe is not studying or auditioning for a new role, he plays on his computer, practices karate (green belt), and is involved with the new charity

Intemational Medical Education Foundation, which supplies books and medicine for the poor. Joe, whose mother, Sylvia, is Armenian, was 17months-old when the family immigrated to America. He claims that only his close friends know he's an actor, but after one ofhis shows airs, "the next day you go out, people start to

A Coptic Christian, Ghali married Lra Nadler, of Jewish origin, at a time when intermarriages were frowned upon. Friends say the future UN secretary-general was introduced to Armenian foods and traditions through Anna Aslan, who married his paternal uncle. She and other family friends of

recognize you."

Armsfull of trouble Millionaire arms dealer

Soghanalian conspired with two former ex-

Sarkis

Soghanalian last month was found guilty of violating

federal

weapons

smugglingandconspiracy statutes in connection with a failedattempttosell 103 helicopters and

two rocket launchers to haq in 1983

which he claimed wereboundforKuwait.

Turkish-born Soghanalian faces a

jail and fines up to $2,10,000. The jury decided that maximum penalfy of 24 years in

ecutives of Hughes HelicopterCorp. to dodge a U.S. export bill on arms sales to Iraq. His lawyer said he will appeal the verdict.

A lrbanese citizen, Soghanalian lives in apalatial home on an island in Biscayne Bay, Florida. The irony of the situation is that many of the Iraqi weapons used against allied troops in the Persian Gulf war were supplied by Soghanalian during the Reagan Administration, which encouraged arms dealers to assist Saddam Hussein during the Iran-haqwar.

intemationally known figure,

Soghanalian's annual eamings of $12 million ranks him almong the world's richest arms brokers. His client roster has included the lrbanese Christian Forces, the Argentinians in the Falklands War, Romania and Nicaragua's Somoza.

various ethnic backgrounds may have been instrumental in nourishing his multicultural appreciations, they say. Ghali, 69, is a specialist in intemational law who played a key role in talks that led to the Camp David peace treaty with Israel. Egyptian deputy prime minister since 1977, Ghali will succeed outgoing Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar at the end of the year for a five-year term.

-Li*ttePoole Sex bias in heart disease? Heart disease is the biggest killer of men and women, but both physicians and the public

and women have a similar severity of heart disease, men are significantly more likely to have an angiography (a common test to leam if arteries are clogged), and the two major techniques used to unclog arteries-angioplasty and coronary bypass surgery. "Whatwe don'tknow as of yet is whether men are receiving too many procedures or women are receiving too few," says Ayanian, a 3l-year-old intemist. A Harvard Medical School graduate, Ayanian last year won the National Research Award. He advises that both patients and physicians need to better understand the importance of heart disease, so that when symptoms arise, they will be aware of the risk factors to modifu them, such as smoking, high blood pressure and high choles-

perceive it as a male disease. As a consequence, women are being reated differently in medical

accordingtolh. John Ayanian and Dr. Amold Epstein of Brigham

procedures anddiagnosis,

and Women's Hospital, Boston. Both doctors had been interested in the role

that social factors play in medical procedures; whenthey leamedthat womendid more poorly after coronary bypass surgery than men, they studied the treatments of over 87,000 heart patients. "The reason for this was that they were not referred until they were more severely ill," says

Ayanian.

Published in the New England Journal of Medicine,tlrc study found that even when men

AlM, December 1991

MUSIC

tSacred Art'

HOVHANESST A list of Armenian-

Remastercd

VISIONARY LANDSCAPES. Music tf Alon Hovhaness Sahun Ar:runi. piano PntduL'cd by Louise Sintotrc und

Ar:rLtni

l99l . Hcarts of Spacc HSI 1021-2 (CD) HSI I

021-4 ( c'assette ) ; 47 minutes : ADD

inspircd works

vaults lor some time. Even more rare is the recording whose individual parts are quite engrossing butwhose whole is abit tiresome. This recent reissue, which helps celebrate the 80th birthday of one of this century's most prolific composers, Alan Hovhaness, falls into the latter category.

Although the symphonic music of

Reviewed tor AIM

By MIGHAEL H. ARSHAGOUNI

Hovhaness is more well-known, this disc lealures a collection ol his piano miniuturcs. Pianist Sahan Arzruni recorded this varied program forthe Positively Armenian label in 1986, and the recording engineers served him well. The transfer to compact disc has produced an even finer and more realistic

sound. No brittle sound here as both the lowest and highest registers of the piano are richly and wannly recorded. The program itself represents a quarter-

---Alan Hovhaness

elebrations of a composer's birthday always seem to yield a preponderance oi rccorded music. Sometimes thcsc rcpresent imporlant new releases, but more ofien they are

century span in Hovhaness' creative output. What becomes apparent in Arzruni's choice of music is that from Tv'elvc Armcnian Folk Sr.rn,q.i ( 1943) to Suire (1967), the cornposer enjoyed experimenting with a wide range of styles. From the plucking of thc piano strings

in Ilymn to A Celestiul Musicion and the striking of the strings with percussion sticks in Pa,ytoral, No.1, to thc use of ostinato techniques (not drone-likc as the magniloquent and pretentious liner notes state) in the first crl' the INr.r G hazu I s. to thc imitation of exotic instruments as heard in Achtuntar, to the youthful innocence and vigor ofthe duet Child in the Gurdett, Hovhaness has shown an understanding of many styles and a mastery of the vignette.

While each of the f-ive

is finely crafted, the three piano cycles-Srllr,, Tv'elte Arsingle pieces

menian Folk ktngs, and

Visionary Lands<'apes contain the most satisfying and stimulating music on the recording. Each is convincingly and meticulously woven to create a beautiful tapestry of sound,

full of both brilliant earl ier recordings of competent performances,

either remastered tbr modem digital sound or merely rereleased in more attractive and colorful packaging. Once in a while, record companies will reissue truly remarkable interpretations that have been hidden in their 48

and

subtle colors. Highlights fiom these include the impressionistic "Mystic Temple" fiom Saite (which pays homage to Claude Debussy's "La Cath6dral

Engloutie") and the otherworldliness of

"Midnight Bell" from Visionar,- Londscapes. The whole of Folk Songs serves as a

AlM, December 1991

After 70 years of "scientific atheism," there is presently in Armenia a considerable demand for Hovhaness' compositions---+eligious in nature, inspired, and characterized by lofty moral ideals. But today the challenge i s i n be ginnin g the i nt e rp r e tati o n of H ov hane s s' works, which incorporate Armenian national mythology, legends, tales, history and religious themes.

Following is a complete list (nearly 60 opuses of various genres) of his Armenianinfluenced compositions to date. Even though Hovhaness

continued to proArmenian-

duce

based works for

several

decades (from 1927 todate), the 1940s seem to be the most fruitful

years

from

that

point of view.

OPERA: Etchmiadzin (1946)

Hovhaness

OPEREffA: Afton Water, on the play ol William Saroyan

)

SYNPIIONIES: First, Exile (1937); Ninth, St. Vardan (1950); 14th, Ararat (1961); 21st, Etchmiadzin (1970); 23rd, Ani (1972); 65th, Artzach (1991) COIICEBTOS: Lousadzag (Coming ol the Light) for Piano and Strings (1 944); Return and Rebuildthe Desolale Places, forTrumpet and Och. (1 945);Akori, for Flute, Cornet, Bassoun, Trumpet, Timpani and Stings (1946); Arlik, for Horn and Orch. (1 948); Zartik Park im, for Piano and Chamber 0rch. (19,18); Diran, for Trombone and Strings (1948); Arevagal (Coming of the Sun) lor Orch. (1951); Khaldis, for 4 Trumpets, Piano and Perfl,ssion (1951); Talin, lor Viola and Stdng Orch. (1952) OTHER ONCHESIR AL WORXS : Armenian BhapsodiesNo. 1 , No.2and No.3 ( l 9,14); Khrimian Hairik, for Trumpet and Strings (1944); Anaht, for Flute, Engiish Horn, Trumpet, Timpani, Percussion and Strings (l 945);Tzaigerg (Evening Song), lororch. (1 945); Gohar, Ior Orch. (1946); Prayer of St. Gregory, forTrumpet and Strings (1946); Harouliun (Resurrection), Afla and Fugue for Trumpetand Sfings (1 948); Sosi {Forest of Prophetic Sounds), for Violin, Piano, Horn, Timpani, Giant Tam-tam and Strings (1948); Vostan, for Orch. ('1948); ls there Survival? (King Vahagen), for Orch. (1949); Janabar, 5 Hymns tor Violin, Trumpet, Piano and Stings (1949); Tapor, lor Band (1949), Hymn lo Yerevan, forWind Orch. (1969)

CHAMBERMUSIC: Oror (Lullaby), for Violin and Piano (1927); Varag, for Violin and Piano (1944); lnv0cations to Vahagen, tor Piano and Percussion (1945); Jahakir, for Viola Solo (1945), Yeraz (Dream), for Violin Solo (l945), Shatakh, forViolin and Piano (1948)i Sharakan and Fugue, lor Brass Choir (1949); Three Visions ol St. Mesrop, for Violin and Piano (1962); Sanahin, lor Organ (1 951, rev. 1 968); Nerses the Gracelul, for Three Clarinets (1970); Ruins ol Ani, for Four Clarinets {1972); Khorh0ort Nahatakatz, for oud (Lute) afld String Quartet (1 972, rev. 1973)

PIANOPIECES: Armenian FolkSorqs

(1 943); LousnakGuisher(1943);Mazerd Nman Behani (1944); Artinis (1945); Lake ol Van Sonala (1 946); Akhtamal (1 948) WORKSFORTIIIO PIANOS: Mihr (1945), Vijak (1 946)

VOCALWORKS: Avag the Healer, for solo vocal wilh string orch. and fumpet (1946)

SONGSWITHPIAIIO: Yar Nazani (1939); The Flute Player ol the Armenian Moun-

tains

946); Songs with Armenian words (1948).

-Prof.

Dt. Nikoghos Tahmizian

l l

constant reminder of the

astral aura,"

why

cized his music at Tanglewood, destroyed

exciting and brilliant set

doesn't the author tell

dances by

us that his recorded ver-

Gomidas (wonderfully played by Arzruni on a Musical Heritage Society recording several vears aso). Tof,e'sure, Arzruni

sion of Snire represents Hovhaness' revision of

and suppressed his earlier works and began studying Armenian music? And finally, his dating of three pieces disagrees with those found in theNew Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. He dates Child in the Garden,Two G hazals, and the revisedversion of Suite,as 1961, 1967 and1968; N ew Grove lists their dates as 1958, 1963 and 1967. For an 80th birthday celebration, Hovhaness deserves more accurate and informative liner

of six

the original 1954 version? Why doesn't the author tell us that Pas-

produces many pleas- o

inqmomentsforthisre- E Witt thecrisp, -; "oiOing. hammered effect in i "lnvocation Jhala" from f, Suite, _the simple and Azruni limpid beauty of the opening of Hymn, the lightness of touch in Ac htamar from l'32" (which is wanting elsewhereinthedisc

), the

Celestial Musician are numbers I and2ofOpus 111? Why doesn't he

notes.

tell us that Hovhaness wroteTwelve Armenian Songs in I 943, the sameyearthecomposer, disappointed that Foss and Copland criti-

Folk

Michael H. Arshagouni, a Ph.D. candidate,

studrbs historical musicology at UCLA, studied atthe Royal College of llusic, London, and holds an MFA in conducting

improvisational sounds

ofthe first of Vrsionary Landscapes, and the immediacy of the flrst, seventh and I lth of the F olk Songs, Arzruni has established himseHas

toral ard Hymn to A

capable interpreter of this music.

At other times,

however, his performances lack concentration. The left-hand

ETHAIIAttEI[

figurations in the opening mov ementof Suite

could be more even and clean; the inner voice in the contrapuntal sectionof Pastoral should sing out more; the fast passagework inTwo Ghazals needs more clarity and evenness of rhythm. Where Hovhaness joins Arzruni forthe dlet C hild in the Garden, one would have hoped for a better balance between the two performers; from the beginning until 44", the balance favors the bottom. Taken individually, each piece is enjoy-

able and worth hearing. But collectively, they lack a sense of involvement from the performer. These interpretations need more

fun and more excitement in order for the listenerto digest the whole disc in one sitting.

True, they were not written as one grand composition, but as individual pieces orsmall groups ofpieces. Listened to one or two at a time, theperformances do standup very well indeed. As such, they serve as a welcome birthday celebration of an important Armenian composer. Normally in a review such as this, one would not devote too much space writing about the progrirm notes, but one can't help asking a few questions in this case. Instead of trying to sound intellectual by using empty rhetoric such as "leads toward a wonderfully

limpid luminosity" or "a deliciously lubricous piece," or "lending the composition an SELEGTED DISCOGRAPHY Sha/lmar Hovhaness, piano (Fortuna) Mysterious Mountain/Lousadzak Keilh Jarrett, piano (Musicmasters) And God Created Great Whalesi Philharmonia Orch. (Crystal) Music of Alan Hovhaness, Vol. 4:Royal Philharmonic Orch., Hovhaness conducting (Crystal) Musicof Alan Hovhaness, Vol. 3/Majnun Symphonlt: Nalional Philharmonic ol London, Hovhaness conducting, (Crystal)

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AlM, December 1991

lnside Shusha Prison By DAVID W. LEOPIOLD attention, and Plavsky again began asking leading questions. It was

lease lift your shirt," I asked the prisoner, an ethnic Armenian from Nagomo-Karabakh. He hesitated

for a moment, looking at the chief prosecutor for the Karabagh region, Mr. Plavsky, who stared back at him in silence. Slowly the prisoner pulled up his shirt, exposing a neat pattem of fresh bruises and contusions along his back, some of which had not yet begun to heal.

obvious that unless we intemrpted him, we would not be able to conduct a meaningful inqurry. We began to ask our own questions. The first two prisoners gave noncommittal answers. Plavsky seemed satisfied. The third, however, thought for a moment, hesitated, and said that he had not seen a lawyer and that he wanted to see one. Plavsky suddenly barked: "We have to leave! The helicopters will be taking off immediately." Until this point, there had been no mention of an imminent departure. But we were not ready to leave. "After a11," we insisted, "we have not seen any of the prisoners on our list." Plavsky was adamant: "It's

"What happened?" I asked. The prisoner, his eyes fixed on Plavsky, who had insisted on being present, hesitated and replied: "I fell off a horse." Somehow, his answer did not explain the welts on his back. But time to go." We continued to demand to see the prisoners that we had neither I nor my colleagues, Alexei Semyonov and Felice Gaer, requested. Plavsky continued to push us out the door. He claimed we we after man's safety about the worried We were probed any further. would be able to retum to the prison in a couple of days. left. Besides, the evidence of torture was clear. It was clear he was not going to produce the prisoners that in NagornoWe had heard many things about Shusha Prison aftemoon. Upon our retum to Stepanakert, we strongly protested to Karabakh. In Stepanakert, the capital, Armenians had pleaded with us Viktor Polyanichko, the Second Secretary of the CommunistParty of to come here and look forfamily members. They told us of the torture Azerbaijan who had accompanied us to which was said to be a part of the prisoners' Nagomo-Karabakh, and again to Plavsky. daily lives, of savage beatings and even Shusha We told them point-blank that if we did not scalpings. meet with prisoners of our choosing, we be an I expected Shusha Prison to be an intimiwould have no choice but to include that fact dating place, a large imposing stone structure I was surprised in our final report. Two days later our grawith a thick iron gate. I was surprised to see it was a cious hosts brought us back to Shusha Prison. that it was a small unassuming building. But We were again taken to the warden's somehow, the plain nature of the jail made it the plain office. Finally, after waiting for an hour and seem all the more ominous. a half, the first prisoner was brought in. made seem of We entered the prisonthrough several sets Plavsky re-entered the room in order to quickly gates, were and and of iron bars the morg ominous.t' aftend the interview. The prisoner was lrvon ushered into the warden's office to see the Norie Aramian, who had been detained on prison authorities. July 9, while working in a field nearhishome. We had methis mother First and foremost, they said, under no circumstances could we two days earlier on the streets of Stepanakert. Alexei had taken a meet with a prisoner alone. They demanded that the prosecutor be Polaroid picture of her and showed it to him. Aramian began to cry presentduring the meetings. His presence, weweretold, wasrequired and asked us simply to tell her he was OK. He had not seen a lawyer by Azerbaijani law. We were not to take pictures nor were we to stray and was not really sure why he was in prison. off on our own and make individual contacts. Thenextprisonerwas AganPetrosyan, anolderman in hislate50s would limit which terms Clearly, ourhosts were settingrestrictive or early 60s,He had been arrested on July 4 by Azerbaijani OMON the prisoners' ability to speak openly about what was going on inside troops who had asked for his passport while he was working with his the prison. But it was already 5:30 p.m. We agreed among ourselves liveitock. He produced a military subscription document, which not to waste valuable time arguing with them. After all, there were should have satisfied the soldiers' request. But the OMON arested men within walkingdistance who may be indire needofintemational him anyway because, they said, he had argued with them when they attention. first approached him. To his knowledge, he had not been formally We presented a list of prisoners that we demanded to see. Many charged and had never seen an attorney. were husbands and sons of people we had met on the streets of By the time we left Shusha, we had interviewed 14 Armenian Stepanakert. The surprised Azerbaijanis saidit wouldbe "impossible prisoners, six ofourchoice. None ofthe detainees had had any contact to find the people on the list on such short notice." We protestedwith next-of-kin nor access to counsel. Many of the prisoners did not "Surely, you must know where each and every prisoner is kept." The even know why they were being held. authorities only responded that they would try to produce the prisonWe also found that the detention of Armenians was not confined to ers but made no guarantees. Karabagh. In Kirovakan, Armenia, we met I militiamen who Finally, Plavsky led the way to the hrst cell. The door opened to vividly described their detention by Soviet intemal ministry troops reveal three prisoners standing at attention. The large room had more and their4T-day incarceration in Gandja Prison in Azerbaijan where cots than people. There was acrude hole inthe floorwhich apparently they suffered daily beatings. They showed us bruises and contusions served as a toilet, and a table in the center upon which sat a brand-new and told of brutal prison conditions, including deprivation of water backgammon set. and the provision ofexcessively salty food to exacerbate thirst. We all crowded awkwardly into the cell. Plavsky, who was With the failed coup in August and the subsequent efforts to standing in the doorway, immediately began to interview the men broker a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, there is with questions that suggested imswers: "Are you being treated all perhaps more of a chance that those under detention will be afforded substanask a single we could "What your Before is name?" right?", due process rights guaranteed them under intemational law. tive question, we were ushered out into the hallway and to the next to leave the We tried five minutes. lasted less than cell. Our visit had David W. Leopotd is an international human rights tawyer based in prisoners some peanut butter that we had brought from the United Cleveland. He investigated abuses at Shusha Prison in July as part States, but it was quickly confiscated by a guard. of a team ot exprts sent to Nagorno-Karabakh by the First Andrei The next cell looked the same as the first. Three prisoners stood at Sakharov Meniorial Congress in Moscow, ot which he is a member

tt expected to place.

Prison intimidating

seellret

small unassullllng building. But naturB somelpw, it all theiail

AlM, December 1991

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