Karabakh's Cross - February 1994 by Armenian International Magazine

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COVERSTORY

KARABAKH'S

cRoss

16 in

1991, Karabakh has Since independence reinvented itself once again, fashioning its own socio-political structures and mustering every bitof itsresources to deal with adevastating war of attrition waged by Azerbaijan. But as the Azeris resort to increasingly desperatâ&#x201A;Ź tactics to crush the mountainous republic, a daunting question is hitting home: will the Karabakh equation be reversed?

ENCOU}'TER3

ADRTFT TN L.

For thousands of Angelenos, among them Armenianimmigrants whohave survivedfie 1988 Spitakearthquake, the January l7 temblorwas the worst wake-up call inrecent memory.

Editor'r Notc

Lcttcr!

Bytcr On Fllc

12 Doglcr Shevardna&e and Demirel get mushy.., Joining NATO becomes a possibility for Armenia-with strings attached,.. And the Azeris improve their sabotage techniques.

fntcrvlcw

With the PLO's Bassam Abou Sharif

Flcld

Report

Armenia's sb:uggling aviation industry,

Gontext

A Citizenship Law in limbo.

Analycb

The new face of the Minskpeace Process.

Prolllc Sarkis Assadourian, parliamentarian.

A Day In thc Lllc Of

Armenian court interpreters.

Vldeo Tsvetana Paskaleva's call for action.

lfudc

An overview of recordings by

42 Rouben

Hakhverdian and Arthur Meschian.

Organhatlon

Notce

ArtrJoumal

Pcoplc

.06

covER DES|GN By DtcRAN Y. KAssouNY; PHoToGRAPHY BY RoUBEN MANGASARIAN

AlM(|ssN1o5o.3471),FEBRUARY1994'vo|.5'No.2,|spub|ishedmonlh|y,$3!per.ye9.t!.byFour|hMi||ennium ie-i-si z-16-7 gz-9,

tevijwsorttriiirbtiitier'roradii{liinoq-u6ri.e|catt:r-eoo-z36:cii6.buuccrht|onlates|oioncyl'

Americi. ntrica:'$ss: Middls East, Austra'iiai g50; CommonwEalth of Independeni Slatos: $35; Armenia: S30. Postmaslers: S6nd address changes to: AlM, P.O' Box 3296, Manhrttan Boach, CA 90266, U.S.A.

SHUTTLE PHOTOGRAPHY If you think about the frequency with which images and stories from Karabakh reach

FOI'RTH MIIIENNIUM SOCIETY A l.l+brPFftt, hruic Bcncftt Caporotia

the worldnews medi4 it's enough to make onebelieve in conspiracy theories. But even without conspiracy theories, logistics and politics make the situation tough enough.

DIRECTORS

VAIOU.IAN NAI{AIIT

Yerevan-based photographer Rouben Mangasarian, whose stark black and white images are on our cover and thrcughoutthe cover story, documented the most recent Azerbaijani assaults in mid-January. It wasn't until January 30 that he was able to get them out on the onceweekly fl ight to Paris, where Kevork Djansezian put them onto the Associated Press wire. From there, it was picked up by En gland' sThe Gwrd-

NOIAIT OSXANIAN

tAtit ztNzauaN FOUNDING TRUSTEES

OAR:N AYIDIKIAN ,N:OO OODJATANI,AN YAROUJAN ISIGNDEITAN

HAROUT IA}TV:DJIAN

MAIDO XAPIIIUAN HAOOP KOUSHAI(.,NN

ZAI,OUHI ,||AIDITJAN

ian, andothers, andtheworldsawthe images of the otherBosnia. Djansezian, basedin Los Angeles, knows first-hand the hardships and

tor mowt YAIOUJAN NAHAIEI

NOIAIT OSKANIAN

ZAIIH SATrIS3IAN

risks involved in war photography. He shotthephoto above in southern

tatfl

ztNzauaN

Karabakh's Hatrut region in May, 1993, standing l0 feet from the soldier in trenches, behind whom the rocket exploded. Djansezian's retum to Yerevan was

207 SOUIH

delayedbybrokenaxles,blowntiresandtornairhoses-allinonedayonthel-achin-Goris

BRAND BTVD.

l0z

corridor, where roads have been damaged by bombing.

sullE

ofwar, undependable telephone lines and nonexistent technological support facilities, the work of photographers like Mangasarian and Djansezian, and filmmaker Tsvetana Paskaleva, whose work is also featured in this issue, serve the immense and immediate need to inform, explain and, perhaps, make a difference.

GIENDAII

In the face

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PUBUSHEn Mljrael Naheb€t EDITOF VadanOskanian

/NNI

stating his disappointment and embarrassment. His real intent is not to criticize the per-

formances, but to smear Mr. Vatsche Barsoumian's name and reputation.

EIECUnYE EDITOR Salpl Haroutinlan Ghazadan IA}|AOINC EDITOR lshkhan Jinbashian

ED|TOnnl CONSULTAUT

As tolvlr. Arshagouni'sreview oftheCD, itis also quite confu sing andratherconftadictory. On the one hand, he states that certain songs show a "tonal richness that many pre. fessional choirs wouldenvy," that, overall, tlp "CD will notdisappoint the listener," buthe concludesby writingthattheCDis a "mediocre performance." Itis hardtoundentand how a mediocre work could, as he puts it, "please the aural palate."

Minas Koialan EDITOR EilERmJS Chad6 Nazarlan EDITOR AT LARGETony Halpln ART DIRECTOR Dlcran Y. Kassouny

COiITRIBUTINO EDITORS Vlckon Babikian, Kevork lmlrzlan, Halg Korcplan, Mad( Malkaslan, Taline Satamian, Arls Sevag, Ronald Grlgor Suny, Jlvan Tabibian, Tallne Voskerllchlan ASSOCIATE EDITOR Garlne Zeltlian COI{TFIBUTORS Madne Arakeliang, Amen Aroyan, Mlchael A6hagounl, Artashes Emln, Yvotte Harpootlan, HorhannesHerullunhn, Anl Klcfilan, lola Koundakiian, Gilda Kupollan, Mlchael Maslerclyan, Llllie M6dgian, Moorad Mooradlan, Nancy Najarlan, Ara Oshagen, Susan Pattie, Simon Payaslian, Janot Samuellan, Retn Shoubooklan COBRESPONDEI{TS Ammln: Ara VGkian; Amd.rdlm:

Al€€n Nazadan; Brua..la: Kevorft O3kanian; BlrnoaAlrr.: London: Anl Manoukian; lloacow: Gayane

Sam Saddsslan;

Hambarlzumlan;

P.d.:

Papken Ga(bchik, Nune Magoyan, Tignn Xmalian PHOTOGRAPHERS Amo.n: Kal€ldn Kefolhn: B.l?ul: Amo Jihaniani 8or!on: Lgne Sanent8, Ari Stamellou; Lor An. gclca: lGdn6 Armen, Soesl Madzounhn, Ke\rort DiansEzlen; lllrml: Tony Savino; l{.w York Harry Koundakjian; Norih E tg.n: Ardem Aslanian; Prrl3: Amlneh Johannes, Aline Manoukian; Plovldanc.r Berge Ara Zobian; San F.rnclacol Amsn Pelro$lan; Yarayln: Mkhilar Khachatrian, Zaven l(hacftikian, Roubon Mang6sarlan ASSISTAI{TTOTHE EDITORS Aylin Baharisn PHOTO ARCHIV|STS Varant Goudlan, Parlk Nazarlan CIRCULATION ITIRECTOR Thoma8 Yetedan PROIIOTIONS DIRECTOR Both Brouesallan ADIIINISTBATIVE ASSISTANT Asdghig Mazmanian ADVERnSINO DIRECTOR Aline S. Kassebian ADVERTISING REPFESENTATIVES Anl Azar. Mellns Ounihn, Hratch Yefknabetian INTEnN fina Jizmeiian COLOF SEPARATION A & A Graphics, Canada

INTERNANONAL SUBSChIPTION AND ADVEFNSING REPRESENTATIVES CAIADA: Razmig Hakimian, 6685 Henry Bourassa Wsst, Montr6al, PO, Caneda, H4R 2E1, Tolephono 5 14 339 25t7; UNmD ARAB ElllnATES: Toro3 Babikian, P.O.Box609&1,

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It was thoughtful of you to present to your readers the problems ofLake Sevan (Cover

ThcGritbsAreComlry It was with great interest that I read Mr. Michael Arshagouni's indepth analysis of the latestCDreleaseby theNarotchoirunderthe direction of Maesfio Vatsche Barsoumian, ennjjd Komins, Rustic Scenes (Music, October). I was surprised to read Mr. Arshagouni's assessment of the overall performance as "mediocre." However, what triggered me to write in defense of Barsoumian and his Narot choir, which is made of up mostly amateurs,

theridiculous lettertotheeditorby Vartkes Dellalian @ecember). It was not at all my impression that Mr. Arshagouni had taken upon himself the awesome mission of rescuing'trs" from the "darkness" as Dellalian puts it. I wonder who he meansby "us", andwhatis this darkness that he feels he needs to be rescued from if not the darkness of his own ghetto mentality. Dellalian can rest assured that Barsoumian knows only too well his shortcomings and sffengths as a musician, and that he has all the self-confidence and humility to accept the need for improvement. I pray that all the volunteers that make Narot possible will not be discouragedby thenoise madeby thelikes of Dellalian, and that they will continue their goodefforts in reviving raditional Armenian music. Nelly Der Kiureghian is

mia

Story, November). Although neither Minister of Environment Garine Danielian nor Hagop Sanasarian, head of Armenia's Green Party, whom AIM has interviewed, are experts on lake Sevan, Mrs. Danielian is a good coordinator and communicator. As forthe so-called Green movement

in Armenia, which became powerful during 1989-91, we must remember that it was po-

litically motivated and has resulted in immeasurable damage to Armenia's economy. Using environmental concerns as an ex-

cuse, Armenia's Greens have forced the shutdown of many industries, including the two 400 MW nuclear power plants in Armenia, crippling the economy of the country. Today, the three or four hydroelecfic power plants on the Hrazdan river are the main sources of energy in Armenia, producing about 550 MW of elecricity, providing only about l5-20 percentofthe republic's energy needs and further lowering Sevan's water to a critical level. The proper management of the interrela-

tionship of environment, energy and economics is of utmost importance forthe socioeconomic development of the republic, something the Armenian government has

belatedly come

realize. People like

Sanasarian (who is a biologist with no educa-

tion or experience in environmental engi-

It is unfortunate that AIM has become a medium for expressing disgruntled feelings

neering or management) are opportunists who used environmental sentiments-which have some validity in certain instances-{o rise to power together with the Armenian National

againstoneanotherinourcommunityinstead

Movement.

San F ranc

Questions about delivery?

ForYoc

co, C alifo

of welcoming constnrctive criticism and exchangingideas. Mr. Dellalian seems to want to echo Mr. Arshagouni's comments, but in his confused mind, mixes the CD, which was released in the Spring of 1993 by the Hamazkayin Narot choir, with a performance at the Hollywood Bowl in the Fall by a different choir, and, instead ofa fair and balanced critique ofeither

performance, he finds himself content in AIM.FEBRUARY 1994

Harout Bronozian Glendale, Califomia

StaldadDeliuel The Fditor's Note entitled "Parts of a Whole" (November) seeks to portray AIM as pathfinderpublication which sfives to cover Armenian news and issues against the backdrop ofbroader, even global perspectives. In this attempt to link the "Armenian" and the a

"in0ernational" you cite the analyses penned byRonald Suny andNubarHovsepian which appear in the issue. Unfortunately, I failed to see anything in either article that attempted to link developments Russia (Suny) or Palestine (Hovsepian) with Armenian issues, whatever the context. Theirrespective articles struckme as''out of synch" with the purportedrationale behind AIM and the reason I subscribed in the first place. Suny's rehashing of developments surrounding the political crisis in Russia offered little new insight and has appeared in various forms in the US mainstream media, while Hovsepian's piece was little more than a political tract of a PlO-Israeli agreement

right. On the other hand, your Cover Story on Lake Sevan was both relevant and informative. It was balanced and sought out some of theplayen directlyinvolved. Irt'shavemore of this and less pufffeature articles and fillers. While I commend you for reaching out to

rejectionist-which

is his

people such as Suny and Hovsepian who are recognized scholars in theirrespective fi elds, let' s not fi ll the already ad-heavy pages of AIM with articles on the basis of name recognition alone. At $45 a pop, we subscribers deserve

more'

HrantGadarigian Bronx. New York

The two articles heralded in the Editor's Note of the November issue were disappointing. They shouldhave had aspecial Armenian bent, particularly Suny's "Detour to Democracy." Just because the authors are Armenians should notqualify their articles for publication in AIM. This criticism is motivated by the fact that I happened to be in Armenia during the "second October Revolution" in the company

of intellectually and analytically inclined Armenians from around Armenia and Moscow. Up until the time when the army and police came solidly on the side of Yeltsin, the anxiety level among this gathering was tortuous, to say the least. As *re drama in Moscow was unfolding, the main concern was with the Russian army splitting, taking sides and shooting it out. One could almost hear the rumblings ofTurkish tanks crossing the border and heading towards Yerevan. Professor Suny's article aboutthe events in frontof fte White Housein Moscow withouta discussion of their relevance to Armenia is not meaningful for the intended audience. The same assessment also applies to Hovsepian.

AsadourHadjian

Arlingto4 Virginia

ltodest Proposal Noonecanargueagainstttreneedforclean

waterandairinArmenia (Focus, November). As for casinos being the catalyst for prosperity, might I suggest that instead of turning the entire capital of Yerevan, already with "dozens ofcasinos," into a'Caucasian t as Vegas," why not convert one of its major environmentalpolluters, the huge Nayirit chemical plant, into a large casino complex? Maybe Ashot Sargissian and the copy writers and artists workingforhis advertising firmshouldspearhead a promotional campaign in this regard to fit their prescriptions of economic and environmental prosperity. Tnhrab Sarkissian Ontario, Canada

Notes From the Precipice I would like to express my feelings conceming the October cover story by Stephen Jones. It is a good piece of work. It is neither pro-Georgian (andnot all my compariots will like it), nor anti-Georgian (which will make quite a lotofGeorgiophobes both in and outside ofmy country unhappy). I don't agree with everything Jones has to say, but I admire his honesty. Still, the article contained some enors that need to be addressed.

The number of Armenians in Tbilisi, according to the 1989 Soviet Census, was

150,127,not2ffi,000 as indicated in the story. The spelling of place names on the map was strange: I can guess how to pronounce Cxinvali or Axmeta but I strongly doubt whether an English speaker will realize that the x in these names is to be pronounced kh. Besides, why notusethesamex in the caseof

"Akhalkalaki" or "Akhaltsikhe"? (Incidentally, ttresearetheconectspellingsofthetown names-which in Georgian meannew town andnewcastle,respectively-and not the distorted ones used on the map and in the text. Iguess this is notthefaultofthe author). The village of Ninotsminda in the east of the country has nothing to do with the district of Ninotsminda in the south. Having submitted his article in Summer, Jones could not foresee the treachery of the separatists who have broken the ceasefire

brokered by Russia (the latter had peacekeeping powen but never used them) when thecivil population returned to Sukhumi and schools were reopened.

Taking advantage of the civil war in the western provinces, the separatists cleared the province of the Georgians by commining rue genocide-the meaning of the term must be understandable to you. Hundreds ofthousands ofGeorgians had to flee for their lives. And it is a pity that among the attacking Abkhaz forces, apart from the Russian Cossacks and North Caucasian "confederates," there were Armenian battalions (even before the conflict had erupted into war some Armenian political organizations in Abkhazia were openly supporting the secessionist cause).

Let us hope that this will not affect good AIM. FEBRUARY 1994

relations between the Armenians and the Georgians. RevazGachcchiladze

Tbilis i State U nive rs ity Tbitisi, Georgia

Thc HlglrcrGood As a faithful reader of your magazine,

regret to say that the article under the head-

ing "The Indoctrination Years Aren't Over Yet" @ssay, October) was disgusting. I have been to Armenia six tirnes and the lasttimeonlyrecently. Thesituationis notas bad as was demonstrated in exaggerated de-

scription by the writer who did not dare to even mention his real name. The writershouldberemindedthatwe are

dealing with anewly-born state, intotaleco. nomic blockade, deeply affectedby the war over Karabakh and not yet fully emancipated from the Communistmindset and the ways

ofgovemance. What is the purpose of publishing such articles? To discourage more foreigners and Armenians from the Diaspora from going

published expressing an opposing point of view. Can it be that AIM's readers are all of one mind? Or are the editors consciously trying to promote a socialist agenda?

To their critics, capitaliss and capitalist countries cannot seem to do anything right. But before we kill the goose that laid the golden egg, let us not forget that making moneyis whatprovidesthepowertodo good. I do not question frat Armenia's standard of living is far below what it was during the

Communistera. But to blame capitalism is like blaming medicine for disease. Today's problems in Armenia aretheresultof aCommunisthangoverand the warwithAzerbaijan. Capitalism requires free markets. But markets cannotbe free when a land-locked country is blockaded by its neighbon and when comrpt offrcials

demand bribes simply for performing their assigned duties. TheDecemberissue also containedan article about Kirk Kerkorian, certainly one of the world' s greatest capitalists.

Myadmirationis

AIM's December issue included a series of letters supporting Mr. Bagdassarian' s pro-

not simply forhis willingness, butespecially for his ability to help Armenia. He is able to help because he is rich. He is rich because he is a successful capitalist. If Mr. Bagdassarian had his way, people like Mr. Kerkorian, Mr. Alex Manoogian and Mr. Hirair Hovnanian

socialist opinions. Yet not one letter was

would all be men of modest means. Who

there?

AlbertBemardi Tehran, Iran

would Armenians turn to then forhelp?

ValnnJanjigian Boston, Massachusetts

WodforWord

I do hope that the new team ofAM has

been doing a

goodjob

peryourannounce-

ment some time ago. AIM has proved to be

worthy of its readers' admiration for its multiculnral anicles and the informative reports by qualified editors. However, some editors use words which are not found even in well-known English dictionaries. Imagine the discomfort of audiences in a musical competition where participants play complicated, skillful music. John Mesrobian Chap e I H ill, No nh C arolina

Letters to the editors shouldbe.brisiand include verifiablg name, signaiuro. address and daytime phone numbEr. Mail lâ&#x201A;Źttâ&#x201A;Źrs to

AIM P.O. Box 10793,

Glendale, Callfiomla

209-3793

orlaxto (818) 246-0088 Letlers may bs edited and/or condenssd.

InAIM'I nert A CO}ICORDANCE OF THE SEES An in-depth reporton the growing cooperation between Ejmiatsin and Antelias, an analysis of the Armenian politics of church and state, and interviews with CatholicoiVazgen I and Karekin ll.

TOXICBENT A look at the state of narcotics in Armenia. Who's getting it and how? Who's using the stuff and what's being done about it?

IS IT KITSCI{ OR IS IT KHACHATURIAN? CYMA Recruitment and Selection Committee

An overview ol the composeds works and available recordings, and an impression of his home-museum.

6 15 Stuart Avenue Oilremont (Quebec) H2V 3It2 276,19479, Fax: (514) 27G9960

A profile of animation artist Robert Saakiantz.

THE JAB lttl THE FBAME

AIM. FEBRUARY 1994

ESMHH

Number of children born to Queen Keran of Cilicia 1 3th c. : 1 5 or I 6

Some things never change: Number ofArmenian-named steamships operated by ttre Aramian Co. of Marseille, France, at ttre end of the l9ttr c.: 2 (Ararat and Hayastan)

Number ofArmenian bools printed in the year 1840: 60 Number of times Nerses Shnorhali's Jesus, the Sonwasprinted in ttre 20 yean between 1il3-166,3:4 Nnmber of feature films in color which existed before Rouben Mamoulian's Beclcy Slnrp: 0

AgeofSose(Vardanian),knownasMayng, whenshemarriedthesoon-to-be-famous fedayeeSerop:13

Area of the independent Armenian Republic, I 9 I 8: 3 4 sq. m. in 1919: 17,370sq. m. of theArmenian Soviet SocialistRepublic nl92l: L7 ,370sq. m. of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic by the end of l92l: ll ,502 sq. m.

Number of commercial operations to be privatized in Armenia this year: 9,000 Percentage with five or less workers: 80

Valueof anAivazovskipaintingpurchasedatanlsanbulartauctionin

1993: US $50,000

PercentageofAzeriterritorywhereoilrightshavebeenconcededtotheExxonOilCompany:

Bribe value to avoidAzertaijani military service: 150,00G200,000 manat (US $1,150-1,600). Number of Russian military officers who anived in Azeft aijan immediately after Azerbaijan joined the CIS : 200 Nurnber of newspapers circulated inArmenia per l,000 population : 468; inAustia : 445; in LJkrainq ?.02;in Azerbaij an: 7 3 I

989 per capita income for Armenia: $4,7

I0;

for Ttrkey : $2, I 00

Numberof young athletes taining inArmenia's winter sports facilities: 3,000 Number of operational fire engines servicing the crty ofYerevan: 6 sourcss:

t*tw'â&#x201A;Źr

teet;

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* *ffiJffffii,l;ffiffi,rriffi*inffi: AIM,FEBRUARY 1994

tee4 wutd Atnamc

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HENG

Cartoonists & Writers SYndicate

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LIANHE ZAOBAO Singapore

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SINGAPORE

OLIVER DER SfANDABD

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8.c. CANADA

AIM,FEBRUARY 1994

CANADA

SUMMIT JITTERS

indifference toward

Signaling a growing rift between Russia and many republics of the former Soviet Union, the latest CIS summitfailed to resolve someof thecoreissues facing the commonwealth. The event, held in Ashkhabad, Tfn*menistan, during December 23-24, yiel&d linle more thanpronouncements of mutual friendship, while Moscow fell shortof securing any meaningful agreements that would further shengthen its political and economic contnol within the CIS. To begin with, the idea of creating a unifi ed military structure, which many commonwealth republics and Western countries fear wouldpave the way forRussian hegemony and help redraw imperial boundaries, was rejected. According o a January report in ttre Turkish

press, General Andrei Nikolaev, commander of Russia's border patrol, asked the Azeri delegation during the summit to turn over the defense of the Turkish-Azerbaijani border to Russian troops, and threatened to close off the Russian border with Azerbaijan if the offerwas refu sed. Thereportadds that Azerbaijan might eventually allow Russian Eoops to patrol its border with lran, but that the TurkishAzerbaijani border will remain off-limits to Moscow. Economic discussions also went nowhere at the Ashkhabad summit. Proposals for a common markeg which would include customs coordination, regulated exchange rates and consumer prices, were ultimately struck down, frustrating efforts for economic unity. Another area where Russian pressurcbaclfired was the etbnic minorities issue. Moscow hoped to secure a docurnent on the rights of minorities, specifically for Russians living in the republics of the former Soviet Unioq butthe issue was altogetherremoved from the summitagenda. Despitethese setbacla, however, bilateralintentions of goodwill and cooperation were rcinforced ttrough extensive meetings. Russia signed individual agreements, including an extension of the CIS security pact that calls for joint operations if one member state is attackedby an "outsider," with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazalfistan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Russia saw the arrangement as a boost tothe I992Tashkentaccord, whichhadgivenMoscow the right to inlervene in the affain of CIS republics. Ulraine and Moldova had refused to sign that agreement. Not surprisingly, some of the most scathing exchanges during the Ashlfiabad summit were those between the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents over the Karabalfi war. Criticizing whathe tâ&#x201A;Źrmed the CIS'

AIM. FEBRUARY 1994

the five-year-old

conflict,

Aze6aijan's Gaidar Aliev asked the summit o adopta positiononhis county's financiallosses andthataspecial commission be created to investigate "the criminal actions of the invaders." I-evon TerPehossiancountered the dianibe

with

forceful reminder of Baku's refusal

toimplementthe CSCEpeaceplan and to follow UN resolutions, and Azerbaijan's apparent insistence on a

miliary solution

to the war. 'Evidence of Afghan mujatreddin and Turkish soldien fighting on the side of theAzeri army in military operations against Mountainous Karabalh demonstrates that Azerbaijan is banking on a military solution and thatits leadership's policy is geared toward theexpansion of the conflict and theinvolvement of the former

republics," Ter Petnossian said.

GarlneZeftllan

NATO MEMBERSHTB ANYONE? Adding yet anottrer ironic nrist to post-Soviet history, Czech PrasidentVaclav Havel and Presidents Lech Walesaof Poland, Arpad Goncz of Hungary and Michal Kovac of Slovakia accepted associate membership in NATO dudng US PresidentBill Clinon's European nip in January. The four Eastern European nations had previorsly formeda security pact, tlre so-calledVisegard Nations, as a hedge against Russia, but dissolved the alliance once they entered NATO. Clinton's Parhership for Peace plan holds out the promise of full NATO membership in the future forthe Easlern European nations, and is also an open invitation to all former Warsaw Pact members, among them Armenia. Benefits of associate membership include military information exchanges through NATO, joint mili-

tary exercises, humanitarian operations and crisis management but fall short of the full miliary protection theEastem Europeans hadhoped for. NATO, and particularly the US, would not wish to antagonize Russia by exbnding their influence in Eastem Europe too hastily, even though Russia is also eligible to join NATO. Granting the Eastern European nations full NATO membership based on their expressed mistrust of Russia would be viewed in Moscow as

adenigrationofRussia's integdty and democracy.

would also enhance thecall of the ulfia-nationalists for

RussiatobackawayfromaWestthatcontinuesto view Russia as an "enemy." US Deputy Secretary of Sate StrobeTalbott, an expertonRussian affairs, has argued

ttnt taking in the Eastern European states now would

Cartoonists & Writets Syndicate

rekindle historic Russian fears of being encircled by the West. What would Armenia gain as an associate member ofNATO? Notmuch inthe shortterm. Two criteriafor being accepted into NATO arre upholding existing nationalborders and agreeing to peacefully settle differences

with neighbon.T\rkey,

vocal and respected

rrember of NATO, has already branded Armenia the 4ggressoragainstAzerbaijan, and in all likelihood itwill try to force an untenable settlement on the Karabakh war-including an unconditional surrender of the Lachin humaniarian corridor and an immediate withdrawal of Karabalfi defense forces from all Azeft aijani

territories-as a prerequisite to granting Armenia membership in the organization. General John Shalikashvili, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, has stated that while associate mombership into NATO does "notextend specific securig guaranteâ&#x201A;Źs, it does in factprcvide forconsultative process should a partner-member feel its security threatened." In other words, more talk. Sarajevo and its people are being torn to shreds while NATO alks. The major military threat to Armenia is Turkey. Does anyone believe that NATO would do more than

alk in a similar situation if Armenia,

as an associa0e

member, is not guaranteed protection? Who but Russia might come to Armenia's military defense should Thrkey violate Armenia' s borders with ground roops? In the shortternr" itis in Armenia's bestinterestfor bothRussiaandArmeniato stayoutsideof NATO and !o work on strengthening their CIS ties. On December 23, Russia's Defense Minister, Pavel Grachev, sigled an oxtension of the CIS security agreement that called forjoint operations if one member state is attacked by an "outsider." Russia's leadership role in the CIS has helpedkeepTurkey more directly outof the Karabakh

conflictandhas discouragedTurkishadventurisminto Armenia. When or if Russia enters NATO. the CIS Security Pact would disintegrate.

MoondMooradlan

ALTEV'SDAY IN PARIS Azerbaijani President Gaidar Aliev's December visit to France, where he met with hesident Frangois Mitterand, French policy makers andoil company executives, spawned a reaty of friendship and mutual assistance, similar to the one signed by Mitterand and Armenian hesident Levon Ter Petrossian last March. During a ceremony at the Elys6e following the signing of the treaty, Mitterand called upon both Azerbaijan and Armenia to demonstrate goodwill toward a solution to the Karabakh conflict. During his meetingwithMitterand, Aliev had raised the issues of territorial integrity and Azerbaijan's allegiance to the CSCE pact" which outlined international principles for apossible solution to the war. Before inviting Mtterand to visit the Azerbaijani capital, Aliev, a former KGB

chief and member of the Politburo. stated that

Azerbaijan remains commitred b theprinciples of peace

and security, human rights, democracy and political

pluralism. Mitterand, for his part, expressed concern over the Karabakh war. "We do not accept bundary changes at gunpoint, nor do we accept solving the issue of selfdetermination through the use of force," he told Aliev. "We hope your country's independence and sovereignty are respected," the French Presidentadded. In her analysis ofthe diplomatic language used by

AIM,FEBRUARY 1994

mittee for National Security (SCNS, the former Armenian KGB), to replace Bdvard Simoniants. According to the presidential decree, it had become necessary to dissolve the committee's network and reorganize its

intemal sEucture, "taking into consideration that tlp objectives ofthe SCNS under conditions ofindependent stalehood differ fundamentally from the goals that the former KGB served during the otalitarian Soviet regime." Shakhnazarian, 38, former ambassador-atlarge, is called upon to improve the sinister image of Armenia's internal security eshblishmenl Both Asatrian and Shakhnazarian are prominent

membersoftheANM.

BEHIND

TTIEDIPLOMATIC TUG.OF.WAR:

TerPetrosrlan andAllev.

Mitterand, ArpikMissakian, editor andpublisherof the French-Amreni an duly Harach, underlined what she saw as two rather positive points in the presidential statement. The flrrst concerns Mitterand's referpnce !o self-determination as a legitimatefactorin the Karabaktr war, which may be interpreted as an indirect acknowledgment of the right to self-determination at work in Karabakh. The second relates to the fact that while

MtteranddidacknowledgeAze6aijan'sindependence and sovereignty, he did not comment on the issue of tenitorial integrity. In an interview published in the French daily Iz

Figaro, AJiev

stressed that "Karabakh was non-transferrable" and saidhehopedthe conflict wouldbesolved politically inthecontext of the CSCE's peaceproposal. Since the Azerbaijani President's visit to France, however, Balu has rejectedthe CSCE initiative.

G.Z

DOWNWARD

MOBILITY hresident Levon Ter Petrossian sacked two key ada move many in Yerevanhave seen as aconsolidation tactic bv- thenrling Armenian National Movement (ANM). On January I 2, Isahak Isatrakian, the Directorof the

minisfiation offrcials early this year,

Central Bank, was replaced with Bagrat Asatrian. lsxfiakian, 66, had headed the Cenral Bank for almost 30 years. Two days later, the President appointedDavid Shakhnazarian, Acting Chairman of the State Com-

AIM,FEBRUARY 1994

The opposition in Parliamentreacted O the personnel changes by pointing out the political overtones of tlrc shake-up. According to some sources, Isahakianhad opposed the subjection of0re Central Bankto government control as it was demanded by hime Minister I{randBagratian. AsaEian, 37, the formerChairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Social Welfare and Health, is expected to be more accommodating. The Armenian Republican Party offered an even more inhicate reading of the govemment shake-up: it said the underlying reason of the replacements was to prevent a coup d'6tat by the former KGB and to concenmte real powerinthe Ministry of Internal Affairs, which raditionally has been loyal toTerPetnossian.

TlgnnXmallan

PERFECTING COWARDICE Part of the pipeline carrying fuel to Armenia via Georgia exploded on February 10, limiting Armenia's supply of natural gas and fuel in the middle of winter. The explosion occurred in Georgia's Marneul disEict" populated primarily by Azeris, about 15 km from ttre Armenian border. The damaged pipeline is located at the critical juncture where the borrders of the three Caucasian republics meot. The pipeline had already been damaged three times at this samejuncture last December. The fuel service to Armenia, which had resumed through a temporary pipeline set up on January I 8, has thus been disnrpted. This last series ofexplosions began on December 18, the firstday of tlre large-scale Azeri anackon Karabakh. According to the Tlrrkish newsp aper Te rc wnaq " Ctwy

Wolves"-associated with Azerbaijan's Popular Front-had claimed responsibility for ttris explosion. A second explosion had damaged the pipeline on December 24, atajuncture about 8 kmcloserto theArmenian border than the area of the first explosion. Yet an-

other explosion had occurred in Gardapan, another Azeri-populated area of Georgia, where the pipeline

crossestheKuraRiver.Theblasthadderailedthepipelineby five meters and created an 80Gmeter breakin its length. Repair engineers estimate that the river has !o be diverted before this section of the pipeline could berepaired. In ilre meantimg the immediate neighborhood of ttre damaged pipeline continues to be bombed froma nearbyelevation. This furthers both thedamage and the diffi culties associated with repair. What is more dangerous, the pipeline was mined after the December 24 explosion to hamper repair work" The Armenian dailyAag, published simulaneously in Yerevan and los Angeles, reports that such operations should be.seen as diversionary techniques in the oontextof the military escalation on the various fronts

in Karabakh. A4g editors point out that the most significant aspect of this event is Azerbaijan's use of the tenitory of a third country to complete Armenia's economicblockade.InitsFebruary l2coverageofthis most

clared that "a new page" was to open in the history of Turkish-Georgian relations. Shevardnadze ttranked the Tlrkish government for having assisted in the preservation of Georgia's tenitorial intâ&#x201A;Źgrity throughout the

counEy's two-year long civil srife. In turn, Turkish President Suleiman Demirel stated that the renewed cooperation with Georgia will create theopportunity to solveregional crises. Whilethenro presidents expressed hope that their cooperation will usher in peace in the region, tensions penistin both counties. WhileTurkey has her hands full with the Kurdish uprising in the soutlreastof the country, the civil strife continues to take its toll on the possibility of fast economic growth in Georgia. According to the protocol signed by the two presidents, Turkey and Georgia have agreed on the construction of anatural gaspipeline andotherprojecs that would "link Asia to Europe tbrough the Caucasus and

recentexplosion, C4g writes that the frequency of these explosions leads one to believe that there might be a silent Georgian acquiescence to its Azeri population's actions. On January 5, the Deputy Prime Ministers of the tbreerepublics of theCaucasus hadmet atKraaiiMost, near ttre Azeri-Georgian border, o discuss the issue of theexplodedpipeline. Themeetinghadbeenheld atthe initiativeof the Russian army's borderparol unit serving in the Transcaucasus. The discussions had focused on the necessity to involve the Interior Ministries of the tlree repubtcs and to cooperate toward the security of the pipeline in question and its repair. According to the protocol worked out at the meeting, in case of either party's failure to meet the stipulations, the high com-

the Black Sea." Transcontinental communication

mand of the Russian forces of the Transcaucasus would appeal to the Russian govemment, seeking economic sanctions against the responsible party. The protocol

exports to UlraineandRomaniaandbecausetheexist-

was signed by the representatives of Armenia and

projects such as thejoint construction of a railroad, an airfield and a highway connecting the two continents form the core of this agreement. Otherprojects discussed during the meetings pertain to industry, trade, tourism, security, customs, drug conffol, sports and cultural exchanges.

BothTurkey andGeorgiaaremembers of theBlack Sea

Cooperation Organization which was founded last

year. It is significant that the agreement came two days afterRussiacutits natural gas supply oTurkeybyhalf. According to the Tlrkish newspaper Hurriyet, Arkara had wanted to increase its gas purchases by at least 2 billioncubic meters a year. Russia hadbeen unable to meet this increased demand because of extensive gas

ingpipelinestoTurkey neededrepairworkwhich, atthis poing Russia could not afford. G.Z.

DESPERATE MEASURES:

Inc$santbomblng otthe Georgla-Armenla

fuel plpellne by Azerl seboteurs hag forced Yerpvaners to all but obllterEte the clty's trees

tor heatlng.

Georgiaonly.

The reopening of the Metzamor nuclear power plant is the only way

of ending Armenia's energy crisis and its pipeline dependency, President Levon Ter Petrossian told Oilgram N ews on February 9, during his official visit to England.

G.Z.

THISWAYTO GEORGIA During a trro-day official visit to Turkey on January 13, Georgian President Edvard Shevardnadze de-

AIM,FEBRUARY 1994

MMBffH'S

GROSS Will the Equation Be Reversed? By ABTEN BAGIIDASARIAN and SALPI IIAROUTINIAN GIIAZARIA}I

n the Lachin corridor's once Azeripopulated village of Zapukh, a family from theMaragha villageof Karabalh's Martakertdisnicthas been living forover ayearnow. They'vetakenoveran house in the centerofthe village, afew meten from the Goris-Stepanakert highway, on the river bank. The father of the family proudly calls himself an inhabitantof Arkayatsor--the new name given to the village by the setders, even though he believes that sooner or later

he would return to Maragha, which the

vinced that, whateverhappens, Karabakh will not cede the Lachin corridor and also, sooner

or later, we will rehrrn. As far as the war is concerned, we didn't start it. So, ending it doesn't depend on us."

night, asopgovemmentofEcialsmeettolook for ways out of the crisis. It' s not hard to guess what is being argued behind closed doon. The political debate in the living rooms of Yerevan can't be too far from the approaches and options which are doubtless being weighed, considered and reexamined by a government which has been faced with one major, all-encompassing crisis since its inception: Karabakh.

With no end in sight, Yerevan's dark sreets and cold homes seem darker and colder thanever. Thefaithandconviction which had supplanted gas and electricity fortwo miserable winters is being sorely tested with each piece of bad news from the Karabakh front. Every new Azerbaijani advance, each addi-

Bchlnd thc Ontlaught There are many unanswered questions. How did Azerbaijan getorganized soquickly? Whatrole is Russiaplaying at thisjuncture in the Karabakh conflict? Why did the Minsk peace process fail? Should Armenia actually get involved in defending Karabakh? Were oppormnities for peace lost in the last two years? Sincethe liberation of Shushi, Karabakh's capital had seen relative calm. Now, after monthsof silence, Stepanakertis thetargetof aerial bombing again. An experienced populaceheads to thebomb shelten, taking along food and supplies. After all, they never know

how long they'll stay. Compared to the months spentin shelters, duringthebombing of Stepanakert from Shushi and Kochalu, these air raids are easy to take. The mid-winter attack was expected, but its impact, intensity and scale were astounding, and the army's size and degree of organization shocking. hiorto the assault, opinions in Karabakh regarding Azerbaijan's military capability were divided. There were those who thought that when Azerbaij an finally attempted to organize militarily, it would take the Azeris a

year to become

tional casualty, is slowly putting out the emotional and psychological fire that had

Aze6aijanis desnoyed in the summerof 192 and killed 60 of its inhabitants-mainly women and children. "I didn't want to go to Armeni4 because thatwould mean acceping forever the idea that I can no longer retum to

been fueled by a sense

Maragha," saidthe4Gyear-old. "Hereatleast, my children and I are safe, since I am con-

oneofthefewbuildingsin Yerevanregularly supplied with electricity--are on late into the

ofjustic+and

tastp

of victory. The dim lights of the Prcsidential

AIM.FEBRUARY 1994

Palac.e-

a viable opponent of

Karabakh. Everyone knew, however, that with Russian personnel and equipment, mobilization would take place much faster. But, clearly, no one had a clue that Russian help would come so quickly and reach so far. In hindsight, itcanbe said thatmaybethe clues were there. After Gaidar Aliev's assumption of powerin mid-1993, and specifi-

cally after Hassan Hassanov Azerbaijan'

became Foreign Minister, Azerbaijan's

policy on Karabakh underwent

serious

change. The chief advocate of this changewas

Hassanov himself, a hard-liner whose approachto the Karabalfi conflictcarries great weight with hesident Aliev. Hassanov clearly and eloquently articulated his policy on Karabakh at the CSCE Council of Ministers meeting in Romeinearly

ment of Karabakh's independent political status-something that was absolutely unacceptable to Azerbaijan. Second. Hassanov believed that Azerbaijan should actively utilize its great

December, 1993. Fint, Hassanov noted that *reArmenians of lGrabakh had become more rigid in their negotiating positions and more forceful in their demands after having suc-

cessfully occupied significant portions of Azerbaijani tenitory, and further, that Karabakh hadcome to linkthereturn of those occupied lands to Azerbaijan'

advantage in numbers, e,conomic power and

tenitory-all far greater than ttre combined resources of Karabakh andArmenia. Third, having assumed power on the ru-

acknowledgI

insofseveral adminisnations whichhadfallen largely overtheirlackof success in IGrabaldu

, Aliev's-and Hassanov's-ptestige and le? 2

gitimacy depend on successes in Karabakh, and Azerbaijan has no choice but !o affect changes in the tenitorial conflict. At the same time, there was mounting pressure by Russia on Azerbaijan to allow Russian peace keepers into the regionsomething which scared Azerbaijan, because peace keepers brought in under adverse conditions would mean extending an unfavorable status quo.

It was imperative, therefore, that Azerbaijan change the military-territorial equation quickly before the advent of any outside peace keepen. Perhaps towards this end, Aliev spentthe last six months conducting quiet, sophisticated diplomacy. He visited Russia several times for serious negotiations. He called on neighbors-and potential allies-Iran and

il$r

lr, l,'li

;

,'l

tary advisors. This, coupled with its purchases of arms from Israel, China and Ukaine, resulted in

military operations which were initiated beforethe endof 1 993-Karabakh's yearof astounding military successes. Azerbaijan's new military doctrine and shategy are obvious-for the first time organized under a central command, the Azerbaijani military forces are able to carry out intensive, continuous, large-scale at-

tacks on many fronts: from the Omar mountains and Kelbajar in the west to Agdam and Fizuli in the east, and on

Turkey, as well as soon-to-be-helpful Af-

ghanistan. At the same time, Azerbaijan put together

Mujaheddin, Ukainian and Russian mercenaries, as well as Turkish and Russian mili-

coalition army including Afghan

PRAGTICING

STATE

Martakert in the north, the pounding attacks have not let up. However, if the Baku was counting on a quick and successful blitz, it has not succeeded, despite its clear military advantage. So the next question is obvious: How long can the Azeris maintain this intensitv. anl how long can Karabakh hold on? Hard as it is for Karabakh, with limited

manpower and resources, it isn't easy for Azerbaijan either. With hundreds of caskets from the front arriving in Baku daily, it is

l"'#ffiiliftfl*Tirffi* recent Azerbaij ani onslaught. lllTi$"::Hr#Hffi#$ff5r,TeT

The lns and Outs of a Young

Republic

The polyethylene strips which had repr"""o rf," funo *".e r,nally replaced by glass, and although it's

'i"ilJ*J;il;;

'the

country. with hdating pipes I buitOlng in any from the windows and whose Protruding I reunification with Armeniaio-a struggle for I waitingroomsarefilledwithpiles.ofwoodfor Karabakh now has all the attributes of an in- | self-determination, the five Oistricti"ot ,5" I heating, the busy personnel rushing about in dependent slate: control over its own, 2,000 | previously auronomous region of Mountain- | thecold corridors and offices, buming the squaremilesofterritory,agovefflmentstruc- | busfaraliakhandtheShahlumiandistrictbe- | midnight oil, attest to the fact that the ture, and the freedom to conduct its own for| came part of the self-declared republic. I tfarapatn leadership qs wgrking feverishly, eignaffairs-facititated,toagreatextent,by I ttrbOifficultperiodofbuildingagovern- ldespite----orbecauseof-thestateofwar. theopeningofthe-stepanaken-Lachin-Goris I mental structur; thus began. thi eifective | _ motorwaywhichhasguaranteedKarabakh'slfunctioningofitssupremeiegislativebody-lEeyond-1""1 ' Authority accesstotheoutsideworldthroughArmenia. I tfre patianient- his been iampered During the months immediStill,theinternationalcommunity,including I from the start because of basii a g F N >. ately following theproclal*q4u,h-as yet to formally recognize the I problemsoflogisticsandwar. ^O!l-:=:11{ftrr, RepublicofMountainousKarabakhasanin-|bfxarabakh,i220to*nsrW-1!.olgK'*abakh'sin-

When

Karabakh movement was transformed from a stfuggle aimed at

dependentstate.

dependence,therewasa I and villages, approxi- ZP-@-X^X when the domimatety zd' trave Leen I L?y V\\G\ time What'slnaFlag? nant. force in the totally destroyed by pgt | Azerbaiiani /:*/ parliamant was the Much has changed since Lenin's starue statue I Azerbaijani troops. troops. /o=/ F \?\ stoodinthetown_squareofStepanakert,|st.p"nt.'i,*t'JseN),'.z=z__tghArmenianRevoluKarabakh scapital. Forquitesomerimenow, tionary Federation I pre-tSeZ population (ARF), Armenia's the flag ofthe republic, rvhich declared its I of 60,000 has been independenceonSeptember2, lggl,hasbeen most active opposisubsequently augI wavingabovetheparliamentbuilding,andthe party. Both the tion mented by Armeniin I coutoiu.'nr-a crowned *iilr- rp*.a ;;d;r"'

iffi#;":"J"*'lt*

i;il"^;h; 2 i ".gr. ffirl#*#ihlfrt;;[rffi:: jmx:fu#j -L9' .;r*il;i;;;il#; s*i;;;;.;"i." ;;,";;;ffi ;;'il: I ;,;s'"?;;ffi;J?,'ffiL 'op^xd@epF -tfYO-KAl$t"rs*il;;#"ir-;;,;;i;;;;;: "f "fi?;ililJ"ol#?o_'o. weremembersofthatparty. AzeritricoloreverywhereinAzerbaijan- lment.withall aspecrsoflifeAIM, FEBRUARY

1994

anyone's guess how long Azeri public opinion will toleratc Aliev andhis exEemepolicies.

ln Scerch

ola Stntegy

If this no-win sinration

persists, then,

in-

evitably, Karabakh and Azerbaijan will be forced to reconsider their positions on the conflict-and the enemy-that won't go away. Karabakh will be compelled to reexamine the premise that Azerbaijan is not a viable

military opponent-notif ithas managed to organize so well so quickly. Whag afterall, is o stop Azerbaijan ftom regrouping, and in a few months, carrying out another, perhaps more successfu I offensive? At the same time, Azeftaijan must comprehend thaq despite its obvious advantages,

amilitary vicoryisnotsoeasy. And if Aliev's power depends on the return of occupied Azerbaijani territories, then compromises mustbefound. That is what Karabakh is banking on.

Karen Baburian, acting president of Karabakh's Parliament, is convinced that

Azerbaijan, not having succeeded nilitarily as quickly as itexpecte4 will finally be forced to the negotiating table. If in the short ruq however, Azerbaijan succeeds in rccapturing certain territories, then Karabakh's own territory, too, is up for grabs. After all, if Aze6aijan is able to win in geographically inaccessible Omar and Kelbajar, ttren Karabakh is left completely vulnerable. Hassanov has made clear that given the nearly one million Azeris who have been made homeless by the actions of

and

Karaballt-

ally Armenia, Azerbaijan has no

compunctions about turning Karabakh's entire population of I 50,000 into refugees in its intent to capture tenitory.

Armenia, too, becomes fair game for Azerbaijan, since it has ascribed its initial tcnilorial losses to Yerevan's military involvement. No wonder then. that there is serious fear that Armenia can become completely embroiled in war-to stop the depopulation of Karabaktr and to defend iself. President levon Ter Pehossian has publicly stated that if, atany time, the Armenians

ofKarabakh are threatened ofgenocide, then Armenia will indeed step in

miliurily.

Busria lsWatchlng Meanwhile, as the two main players, Karabakh and Azerbaijan, fight it out on the fi eld, Russia is watching. Like the rpferee that stands on the sidelines until just the moment when one or the other side is about to hit the ground, Russia doesn't want to see anyone come out on top. Indeed, it wants to prolong the game-andthe disputo-in orderto continue to play some role in the region. For that rcason, when Azerbaijan approaches what looks like a possible military solution to the Karabakh conflict Russia will abandon its seat on the sideline and intervene-with or without the use of force. Although Russiawould draw outtheconflictatalmostanycost justtomaintainitsown leverage in the region, it would nonetheless prefer that both Karabakh and Azerbaijan recognize the impossibility of a miliary se lution and accepta cease-firc andnegotiations. Even then, Russia would come out on top as the only major power willing and capable of

providing peace keepers. The irony is that Russia, today, is attempting to sftengthen its own position in the region by exploiting ethnic conflicts, just as, for 75 years, the West had utilized the ethnic groups of the USSRto weaken RussiaThe Caucasus is just one area where the competing interests of Russia and the West

are being played out. Together with the CSCE's plan and timetable for a cease-fire andnegotiations, thereis also aRussianini-

tiative. However. the West knows that even if it is the CSCE plan which is accepted, the peacekeepers will stillbetheRussians. But, at least under the CSCE umbrella the Russians won't have a completely free hand. Nevertheless, Russia's attitude has

changed significantly. The acquiescent Russia of a year ago, much more agreeable to the Minsk plan, is becoming more confident and aggressive, as time puts greater

distancebetweenthenewRussiaandtheold SovietUnion. AIM.FEBRUARY T994

This change in Russia, combined with Azerbaijan's winter readiness, forces the question: Was there the opportunity to agee

on a cease-fire a year ago, under CSCE monitorship secured, and with reduced Rus-

sian influence, and did we miss the boat? So long as more than one proposal is being bandied about, the sides have the luxury of playing one initiativeoff againsttheother, and delaying the cease-fue. Indeed, Russia's

last failed initiative, which was accepted by Karabakh and Armenia, but not Azerbaijan, may result in the weakening of Russia's position within the Minsk group and lead toward a merger of the Russian and CSCE plans. While the cease-fire is being delayed, thecasualtycountis skyrocketing. There are reports that as many lives have been lostin the lasttwo months alone as in the whole oflastyear. Although neittrer side has released official figures, estimates placeAzeri losses at 3,000, and Armenian losses at less than one third ofthat. 'T pity the Azeri soldiers," says a 30year-old fighter in Karabakh sitting in the fenches on a hillside neiar an Azeri vil-

lage. '"They are 18, l9-year-old and inexperienced. It's tough for me to lift my armto shootthem. This is notanoblewar. We are being thrown at each other until both sides give out. The Azeris should

undenand this soon, they'velostsomany men,

"When the Azeri POWs

ulh

they cry.

They're young men, younger than me, and theirlives have been shattered.

Butit's

not my fault. It's been two years that my

wifehasbeentillingmyland. Ihavesmall children. I don't know ifl'll be alive to-

morrow."

COMMONGROUND

An Armenian.Amefcan Judge and a Russian Journalist See

AIM. FEBRUARY 1994

lt All For Themselves

ESI Next

Stol Peace Tf(

Denounced for25 years as the quintes sential terrorist group by most of the international community, the Palestine Liberation Organi zatton has now become aprivileged interlocutor with the state of Israel in the

MiddleEastpeaceproBassamAbou Sharif, spokesman of the PLO and advisortoYasser Arafat, talks of thedaunting task of establishing meaningful autonomy in Palestine, Armeno-Palestinianrelations andhis organization's interest in helping resolve the Karabaktr conflict.

NMLESTINE Forthe PLO's

(! Karabakh? Intewicw by Domlnhuc Fcrnndinl and llikc Kazandllan.

Alt/LilA: Whcrc do relatlonr bc.

twoon Annonlanr and Pelcrtlnlanr rtand todag? Baoam Abou Sharif: Wehavealways

maintained relations of solidarity with the Armenians-forseveralreasons, chiefamong thembeing the gxeat similarity of ourrespective political causes. The munnl support between the two peoples has always been real andveryvaluable. On ourparq wehave triedto lend ahelping hand by clearly insisting on the right to self-determination for the Armenians. And now thatArmeniais independeng we wishto establish sr,ongtieswiththis state. Armenians and Palestinians still face identical pr,oblems and recognize the needforeconomic development; Iamcertainthatthis will leadto even greater Armeno-Palestinian cooperation in the future. We hope that Armenia can settle the Karabalfi matter quickly so that it can conoentrate its energies on growth and developmenfi only a snong Armenia can play

Excfurfvc to Les Nouvellec d

making

Arm6nlcandAlt

positive conribution in this area.

Do you thlnk that thc pcacc for. mula appllcd to tho lsnclhPaleo. tinian confllct mlght bc urcd as a modcl for thc Karabakh varlant? Dialogue andnegotiations remain thebest

ffiiff:'#itf'H""'1il I

"9nlv *tr;##"HH*;

a SlfQnq

with Hamas and other Pales-

Arafat.ThePlOisafriendof

the Gazaassassinationshaveno

theArmenianpeopleaswell

play an Z;-t -;-' gffecllVe

bearingwhatsoeveronthose

settled by negotiation. And

Armenia Can $#il i##':llHh:i:* Fi::"ffim:*:ilffi'J: KarabakhconflictisYasser with vfolence..I think

fr.",ff.::x[:l]*?'Hfr role

wasthearchitectof thedifficult agreement drawn uP between-Palestiniansandlirae-

th(9 pllObrcms

race-dbY R"H""f*ffiilil3: ing Israel all --; andthePlO?Ithinkilntifhe is asked n inervene as me- Afmgnlalls." diator, he will be ready to act reached beiween

b therr actuel contact bctwcen thc PLO and Armcnia?

As far as dealing with the Palestinian matter, the agreement with Israel has caused numerousproblemswithinthePlO,andthe

Contact does exist through delegations, andweplanto setup apermanentPalestinian

controvenial.

What

lr your pooitlon on thc

Kerabakh confllct?

Wehopewithall ourheartforanimminent endto the hostilities so thatthis wound may heal and Armenia can then focus on its economical and social development. To us, the rightoselfdeterminationandsovereigntyfor Armenians mustextâ&#x201A;Źnd !o all Armenian territories.

Do you ruppor. th.t thc PLO can play thc rolo ol mcdietor In thc Kanbakh war dcspltc ltr good rr. letlonr wlth Turtey?

I think it is very possible. When asked, kesidentYasserArafathasneverbalkedfrom

in_

Ovgl'leominq r- - - - - -.- -.--- --

climate.

mission in Yercvan once national autonomy is esablished in Palestine.

However, when differences within Arafat'sFatah grouporproblemswith Hamas are blamed for the recent assassinations in Gaza, we sart worrying. A

meanstoreachanacceptable

effective role in overcoming the problems by all Armenians, including the Diaspora. an

faced

ment in principle, the conducting of the negotiations, andthis is tobeexpected.Ido not believe that these opposition groups will go beyond the democratic framework.

as such and the result

will

be a very

positive

wayArafatexerciseshispowerremainsvery

The Palestinians operate according to democraticprinciples:opinionsareexpressed openly, in the news media or within the structures of the PLO. I believe this to be very

i,",Hlf":f#fi$lri'irrT* but the fact.that the Isiaeli army andmilitiascontinueto

hunidown andreson!o vio-

ffitrf,HffiXtr*TfJg Wehaveaskedeverybdynot to resort to violence and to calmlywairtbrrheagreement to

beputinto effect.

I In your ar.ossmcnt of thc Palcr. I tiniandrugglcofthclatt3oycals, I what do you contidcr romc of ltr I bcst momont!, and do you thlnk | thelr htvc bccn mlscd oppoilu. I niticr?

Inmyopinion,themostcrucialmoments happened when the Palestinian National Council took a series of initiatives paving the wayforpeaceintheMiddleEast.Therewere obviously other important dates in our snuggle wittrout which we would not have

| | healthyinsofarassecuringthefreedomof I speechandbringingoutthemostconstructive I views for resolving things. I come so far: the resistance to the I 982 Israeli But the recent criticism of Arafat's au- | siegeinBeirutandthel98Tuprising(Intifada)

thorityisaslandercampaign.Differencesof lofoccupiedteniloriesaregoodexamples.As

opinions do exist among Palestinians. Some,

far as missed oppornrnities, there was the af-

IikeGeorgeHabash'sPopularFront,Nayef ltermathofttrcOctoberl9T3war.Atthetime Hawatmeh's Democratic Front and the I the Palestinians were invited to attend the Hamas Islamic movement flatly refuse the I peaceconferenceanddeclinedtheofferonthe

Israeli-Palestinianagrcement.Wedorespect lgo*arofinternaloppositionandalackof theoppositionpointo{v.r9qbut, in retum, we I srong su_pq9^qpr partigipation in the peace expect minorities to abide by the rule of the I process. In 1974, we missed an opportunity. majority. Furthermore, wittrin the majority I Tranelated lrom the French by Otllle movementinfavoroftheagreement,opinions

differabouttheimplementationoftheagreeAIM,FEBRUARY 1994

I Bailh |

THE PERILSOF ATARTNOTS

Armenia's Aviation lndustry Takes the Long Way Home

.,{ r:Jl

By PETER KELEGIAIII PHOTOS BY IIKHITAR KHACHATRIAN

al l}f

hahen Petrossian. the Armenian

govemment's Representative in Civil Aviation, pulls out a map of

Armenia and surrounding coun-tries. "Look," he says, "you have chaos in war with Aze6aijan, a blockade by Georgia, Turkey, and a land connection with Iran that is a practically nonexistent road. Armenia would be cut off from the outside worl4 our county would cease to exist, were it not for whatcomes in and out of this airport." Playing a key role in what is more an ad

hoc airlift of passengers and supplies than schedule4 predicable air raffi c is Armenia's new national airline, Armenian Airlines or AAL, made up of planes appropriated from that part of Aeroflot's fleet stranded on Armenian territory atthetime of the dissolution

of the SovietUnion. Whilenot allof AAL's planes arecurrently flyingorevenairworthy, its fleet consists of three IL-86s (each with a 350 seat capacity), I I TU-154s (170 seats), nine TU-134s (80 seats), nine Yak-49s (36 seats), and eight helicopters. Fourteen Antonov-2s, which onceprovided airservice between Armenia's cities, are indeflrnitely grounded for lack of fu el. AAL has scheduled flights to Paris and Tehran once a week, and to six destinations within the CIS, while private charten connect

,$i€l

Armenia with Moscow (trro to three flights per day), the United Arab Emirates (up to six times a week), Aleppo (three-four times a week), Athens andSofia(onceeveryweekor twoweeks).

Although demand for Yerevan-Middle East connections is high (especially for a Yerevan-Beirut rout€), flying between Armenia and the Middle East is difficult, with Turkish airspace offlimits to air traffic to and

planes must

more difficult than finding the money to pay for the fuel (at US$30G450 per ton, mnning twice as high as the international market price). Virtually all fuel is brought in by air tanker from the southern Russian towns of Sochi and Min Vodye or purchased from commercial flights thathave some to spare. It is hard currency from the Paris and Tehran flights and from charter fees thatbuys the fuel that keeps at least some of AAL's aging, inefficient Soviet-era planes flying.

hrst fly across the Black

(Iicketsalesforflights withintheCIS, which

Sea and then circumnavi-

account for the bulk of flights into and out of Yerevan, are primarily in nrbles and cover less than 25 percentof thecostperpassenger.) According to Petrossian, while daily fuel needs amount to 300 tons, officials are only ableto locateon average about60tons aday, frequently forcing unscheduled stops in outof-the-way places on both outgoing and

fromArmeniaandthecontinuing UN imposition of a no-fly zone over northern

haq. The Aleppo flight, formerly a one-hour commuter hop, now takes three to

fourhours

key.

A creative solution to this problem may be the establishment of a regular

Yerevan-Athens-Beirut routp. and even

Yerevan-

Sofia-Aleppo rout€ to begin soon, according to Garbis Titizian. advisor to the Armenian government

International Civil

Aviation. To keep essential air

links open involves

frenzy of activity as authorities struggle to find enough fuel to keep the planes

flying-a

FEBRUARY 1994

task even

ingoingflighs. The charter situation itselfis in constant

flux. The longest running charter of all,,the Paris-Yerevan route, once run jointly by Sidon Travel, Levon Travel, both of Los Angeles, and Saberatours ofParis, was

November I officially identified as an Armenian Airlines flight on the international aviation listing. EconoEans, a seven-month-old, Los Angeles-based outfit that chartered an Aeroflot

IL-86 in Moscow and flew Yerevan-Mos-

i.,,

passangers unsure ofthecanier's longevity. Others say that part of the problem is the conflict of interest in the dual role played by Titizian, who is simultaneously a govemment advisor and owner of Irvon Travel, a

travel agency long-involved in air travel to Armenia. Titizian disagrees, explaining that "it is ironic that the work that I do to try to improve Armenia's civil aviation adminis-

radon, to improve Armenian Airlines, to will give any travel agent the opportunity to sell more increase routes and frequency,

tickets."

Thc Dubai Run One of ttre longest running and most lucrative of the charter runs is the YerevanDubai (United Arab Emirates) route, the scene of frerce competition between four charter companies averaging a combined total of up to six flights a week.

Rubas, among the more professional of the Dubai charters, is run by the Hagopian brothers-Hrair (the owner and a former professor of economics) and Versant (his advisor and the assistant director of the passengercargo handling division atthe airport).

Operating from a first floor storefront in downtown Yerevan, the Rubas office,

cow-Anchorage-los Angeles, stopped flying in mid-December. Although no oxe at Econonans alks about why, others in the industry andclosetothe govemmentsaythatit was the Armenian government, whichgrew tired of so much hard cunency ending up in Russian hands rather than the cash-srapped coffers of its aviation authority, andinsisted that Econotrans-which benefits from the Yerevan market, not Moscow---entprinto a different financial alrangement with Armenia. TransArmen, the newestkid on the block, began flying in September, 1993, by clartering aTU-154 from AAL and flying from Yerevan to Milan on a weeklY basis. TransArmen appeared to be the perfect case study in the kind ofentrepreneurship, salesmanship and hard work that is Armenia's only hope of overcoming the frightening in-

ertiaoftheSovieteraandthedaunting, some would say hopeless, economic and political quandary in which it finds itself. Why it folded remains unclear.

"UntilTransArmen came on the scene,"

saysEmilRezaieh,TransArmen'sowner, "it was basically once a week via Paris. The problem is that Air France (the major carrier iinking with the Paris-Yerevan charter) does notconnect!oUS cities otherthanNewYork

orlos

Angeles.

"sincaindependence you have people

from theWorldBanlg PeaceCorps, the UN, US Departnent of State, and private companies coming to Armenia. It's notjust a New York and LA market anymore. Rezaieh cites the example of a doctor in Canada frusrated by a $3,500 air fare in his attempt to sponsor an Armenian professor at aconference in Hawaii. Rezaieh was able to gethim !o Hawaii and back to Armenia for only $1,600.

decked out in Italian furniture, plush carpeting and some smartlooking artificial vines, is always busy and Versant says they rarcly have difficulty filling a plane. Mostpassengerson anyDubaicharterare traveling expressly to purchase goods in the United Arab Emirates for resale in Yerevan. The Rubas charter, which leaves every four days, is made up of two TU-154s, one for passengers, the other, with its seats removed, for their purchases. Payment is in two currencies. the dram and dollars, for which a

The invective born of fierce competition for the Armenia charter market car-

ries with it the potential to destoy. No one atEconotans has anything good to say theothers in thebusiness flying people into and out of Armenia. And Rezaieh says the Armenian Diaspora has

of $ of t

been slow to support tlp work of his company. He wonders

whether the Armenian authorities ruly understand the

potential benefits from the establishment of routes like the MilanYerevan run. "As many air bridges to Arme' nia as possible should be the goal," he emphasized, just weeks before his own bridge fell. Whether it flies again in March is prob' lematic, depending as Rezaieh does on AIM, FEBRUARY 1994

customer receives

round-trip ticket,

accomodations in a Dubai hotel forfourdays' rips to andfrom theDubai airpo( and two meals a day. Customers can have their purchases delivered free of charge to their hotel. One can

aviation sectorhas been broken down into its componentparts along the lines of a typical European aviation sector: a national airling an airport adminishation, and a civil aviation administration, the last g€atly pared down and responsible only for promoting air

rans-

portin Armeniaand setting outthe guidelines within which the airline and airport operat€. All thre€ organizations (semi-autonomous, with ttreir own intemal hierarchies) reportand are

ultimately subordinate to Petrossian, who

in turn reports directly to the first Deputy Prime Minister, Vigen Chitechian.

AccordingtoTitiziao AALandtheairport arelooking for foreign partners as they considerprivatizing parts of theirrespective op erations, including ground andramp handling, duty-free shops, restaurants and bars, and a

even buy from

a catalog over the phone from the hotel. Rubas' workers weigh and ship the goods to the plane. The fust 50 kilograms are free, with an advertised US$l per additional

kg. Ifit is not convenient to take possession of their goods at the airport customen may pick them up atRubas's office. There have been customer complaints, however. One group of passengers had to sleep in a hotel lobby because their rooms, supposedly booked as ablock in advance, had

lot, "but trying

o fairly

distribute what little

exEa we occasionally have among the char-

ters is a challenge." When available, the aviation authority also sells some fuel tohumanitarian aid flights and other international

calnen. Itis in the fuel ransferand allocationprocomrption flourished in the waning

cess that

planned cargo terminal. Titizian cites the 500-plus penon airline catering deparftnent (no one has been able o figure out the exact size of the staffl as an example of an area that would benefit from privatization. "What all those people are doing over there I don't know," says an obviously exasperated Titizian. Cargo handling is another problem area. "There is no reason it should take fourhours lounload aplane," says Titizian, who would like to see competition in ground and passenger handling-at least two service com-

days of the USSR and the fint days of independence. According to Petrossian, whose postwas created inpartto combatcomrytion in the aviation sector, most problems arose with the managers of the fuel depots, who were infamous for their arbinariness in deciding who would getfuel and theirwillingness to be bribed. "It was possible to become a king as head of one of those depots." It may still bepossible, he admits. Petossian confinns thatjet fuel is still reaching the sueets illegally. There is ahigh profit margin to be had selling fuel on the sfteets, especially in the winter.

forth rights to collect paymens in hard currencyandtherighttotakepayments outofthe country. Standards in almost every asp€ctof airport

capital. Asked whether, given the lucrative nature

Hopes Forthc Futuro

and airline operation mustbeupgradedbefore there is any realistic chance of a foreign carrier

illegal and perhaps coercive pressure to share its

achieve internationally acceptable standards

wealth, Versant simply smiled and said he'd

with simply trying to keep its planes aloft . The decision of the govemment in March, 1993, to overhaul the civil aviation sector was followed by the passage in Parliament of an aviation reform package and ttre creation of the post of Government Representative in Civil Aviation, which Pefrossiannow occupies. Petrossian (an archilect of the reforms in Parliament, of which he is still amember) is tasked with rooting out comrption and wastein the aviation sector and overseeing its transition from a massive yet powerless in-

been rented out. Passengers on another flight report that the Rubas reprcsentative in Dubai

suddenly demandedpaymentof an additional 50 cents per kilogram of goods before they

would be placed on the return flight to Yerevan. By many accounts, the new tax on goods imported by individuals was targeted primarily to the Dubai charters. It is too early to assess whateffect these levies (up to 25 percent on alcohol) will have on business or on the availability ofgoods on the sfreets

ofthe

of the charter, Rubas ever came under

rathernot say.

Although Rubas has just signed a new year-long agreement with AAL for continuation of the charter, Versant admits that the

swiftly changing face of Armenian civil aviationcouldeasily puthim outofbusiness. In the meantime, he says, he tries to keep prices low and to give customers reliable, quality service, whichhebelieves gives him overhis competitors. And so fornow, Versant says, business is good. an edge

TlrcGorncrOar Station All the charters operate under "dry" contracts and are responsible for finding and buying theirown fuel. "We sell to themwhen

we have fuel to spare," says Samvel Markarian, acting Chairman of the Civil

Aviation Authority and a former Aerofl ot pi-

Armenian civil aviation is sruggling to of operation despite intense preoccupation

strtrmentofMoscow'swilltoadecentalized entity capable of operating cost+ffectively, meeting intemational aviation standards and providing internationally competitive servtce. Once an organic whole binding a civil aviationadministration, an airlineandan airport within one organizational sfructure, the

AIM.FEBRUARY 1994

paniesineacharerto givecarriersachoice. Service by major foreign carriers to Yerevan, while something that aviation authorities are anxious to atiact, is contingent upon a number ofsteps not yet taken. Such service must be preceded by a bilateral air

agreement between the governments in question whichwould, among otlrcrthings, set

fly to Yerevan. By February, Yerevan will have access to an international telecommunications system connecting the agreeing to

world's airports and airlines. Immediate benefits will include instantaneous communication with aviation authorities and air-

planes worldwide. Cunently, Yerevan's Zvartnots Airport does notknow whetheran Armenia-bound plane has aken offor where it is until itenten Armenian airspace. Irss obvious than the need for technological upgrade is the need for acceptable accommodations for foreign flight crews. Some may have to lay over for as long as a week, and "while there is no need for luxurious accommodations, comfortable and affordable accommodations are a necessity,"

saysTitizian. Talks with several foreign airlines have already taken place on the feasibility of forcigrr

carrier service into Yerevan. Delegations from KLM Airlines have visited Armenia three times to assess aiqport passenger facili-

ties

andcargohandlingcapabilities, andtalks

continue.

Benefits from foreign carrier service to Yerevancould gobeyondenhancedaccessto and from Armenia. Titizian would like to solicit foreign carrier advice in effecting infrasuucture changes and equipment uPgrades at the airport. "It could be as simple, but as critical, as telling us whatkind of forkliftthey needfortheirplanes," saysTitizian. "They'd be helping themselves and Armenia at the sametime." Recognizing the dangen thatcompetition with foreign carriers could pose for the stnrgglingAALandits aging, inefficientfleet, Civil Aviation Chairman Markarian comments that"ideally, ourplans to upgrade our own fleetwillprecedeoroccurintandemwith ttre beginning of foreign carrier service into Yerevan. TalkshavetakenplacewithAirbus and Fokker Aircraft, as well as Boeing and McDonnell Douglas, with an eye toward the leasing, perhaps sale, of aircraft to AAL. If

reached, an agreement with any of these companies would go beyond simply leasing an aircraft to providing a complete package of services, assistance, and adviceintended to create a functioning airline from scratch. Any such leasing or purchase of modern Western aircraft would be exfiemely expensive. To pay for it, eventual privatization of pan of the fleet is being considered.

Other developments include a European Commission grant to train air traffic controllers, airport personnel in marketing, ac-

counting and ground handling, and civil aviation workers in how topromote Armenian airspace and airports to the world. These developments would make Yerevan one of only a few CIS cities with such capacity.

Financing from the European Bank for Reconstruction andDevelopment (EBRD), of which Armenia is a member, will make possible a cargo handling and storage complex which calls for ahandling capacity of 100,000 tons

peryearandwhichwouldmakeArmenia

one of only a few counties in the CIS wittt such a capability. Plans to resEucture AAL's financing are also underway. Petrossian and Titizian are fighting hard to convince the government to

deregulate ticket prices. In a sign of some progress, as ofJanuary 1, fares haveincreased on all flights, including those to CIS destinations, enough to cover each flight's basic cost--an innovation, since, until now, most flights hadbeen operating at a loss. And in an apparent move to increase public trust in the new Armenian currency, there are plans to sell departures from Yerevan in drams. Aviation authorities would also like to begin collecting overflight fees, which cur-

rentlyarestill goingtoMoscow. Armeniahas

applied to join the International Airline

Transport Association (IATA), the organization through which these fees are paid, and payments are due to be shifted to Armenia

sometimeearlyinthenewyear. I

AIM. FEBRUARY 1994

THEPRICEOF BELONGING

Soviet Passports, a Frustrated Diaspora, and a Gitizenship Law ln Draft Form By TIGRAN XIIALIAN hree years after independence, Armenia has yet to pass a Citizenship Law, while the residents

of Armenia still bear

Soviet

passports and a frustrated Diaspora waits for Yerevan to resolve a host of national identity issues. The Armenian Parliament this year

will againtrytohammeroutafinal versionof the proposed Citizenship Law-a draft document that was drawn by the combined efforts of the Armenian National Movement (AI.{M), headed by hesident Levon Ter Petrossian, and the Parliament's opposition block, headedby the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARD. We interviewed twoparliamentarians who were involved in the preparation of the draft law: KimBalayan, amemberof theARF and Chairman of ttp Parliamentary Committee of

Legal Affairs; and Vartan Zurnatchian, a member of the committee and the ANM.

Allft

Who will have a right to be a citizen of Arrnenia? Klll BALAYAI{: According to the Dec-

laration oflndependence and the draftofthe Citizenship Law, every Armenian has a right to be a citizen of the Republic of Armenia without any obstacles. The citizens of the former USSR who live in Armenia will get Armenian citizenship automatically, but they canrefuseitwithin ayearof thepassageofthe law. Every child who is born in Armenia is an Armenian citizen if one orboth parents are of Armenian heritage. In addition, anyone who lives in Armenia and wishes tobeacitizen will be given citizenship.

What about thc Armenianc who catry/ Soviet passports and llve outridc Armenla?

alone, so ifwe recognize them all as citizens of Armenia, Germany will deportthe lotthe

verynextday.

Zumatchian:

On the other hand, the

dignity of the state is no less important, so citizens of Armenia living abroad mightlose their citizenship if they voluntarily cut links with the country or its missions for a period ofseven years.

What about Armenians who emigated from Armenla during the Sovict cra or those who wlll cmi. gratc in thc futurr? Balayan: The state has no right to deprive anyone ofcitizenship against his or her will. Citizenship is an inalienable right, and democratic Armenia should give her people a freedom of choice.

What kind of status will the

Diaspora enjoy?

Zurnatchian:

Diaspora Armenians is not prohibited in thecounory they're living in and if they carry out their main responsibilities-taxes and military service-toward the Republic of

will get dual citizenship if it

VARTAN ZURI{ATGHIAN: Armenians

Armenia. As for foreigners, whoever asks for citizenship of Armenia will getone afterthree years of residence. We are not going to create

living within the CIS will

a state based on

be given Armenian citizenship without a passport for a year, during which timethey canrefu sethecitizenship.

If they don't, they passport.

will

also get an Armenian

Balayan:

We have to give the people time and choice. For instance, Germany insists that we grant citizenship immediately to all Armenians from the former USSR now

living abroad. But there are reportedly 200,000 Armenian refugees in Germany

ethnic purity, and we

will fol-

low intemational standards so thatthe national heritage of citizens is not mentioned in Armenian passports. However, we will give

people the choice to have their ethnicity mentioned, since the Yezdi and Kurdish communities of Armenia insist on this.

Balayan:

Our party will never accept a

Citizenship Law with these pre-conditions and obstacles. The Armenian people lost is historical motherland because of the Genocide, so we must allow every Armenian to reestablish his or her right of citizenship or to maintain a dual citizenship without anv obstacles. Of course, *e muit avoid legafconflicts with thecountries oftheirresidence, but ifdual citizenshipis acceptableto the second counbry, Armenia will grant Diaspora Armenians citizenship with minimal responsibilities, that is to say, no taxes and no military service.

Zurnatchian: Citizenship without responsibilities and rights is a vague formality. If we are going to maintain two sorts of citizenship then we would be forced to adopttwo different Constitutions. Maybe we should allowtheDiasporatoruleArmenia. Letusnot mix the legal issues with national sentiment.

Balayan: ANM opinion holds that the President of Armenia has the right to grant citizenship. And, incidentally, it was Levon TerPetrossian who appointed several citizens of the US as key offrcials of his adminisnation. Any legal issue can be solved by mutual agreement.

AIM. FEBRUARY 1994

GITIZ;ENSHIP:

RIGHTSAND RESPONSIBILITIES citizen he should have all the privileges that go along with this status, like the right to run

By BETH BROUSSALIAI|

forpublic office." s the budding Armenian government grapples with a seemingly infinite number of domestic and foreign policy issues, the

matter of citizenship continues to occupy sessions of Parliament. This is in no small part

due to the pressures the govemment is receiving from Armenians in the Diaspora to render a decision. Because there are countless factors which

must be taken into consideration when discussing citizenship, thepossibilities for a viable formula are endless. There are nonetheless three fundamental questions to consider: Who has the authority !o decide the rules and

regulations of Armenian citizenship? Is it possible foranon-residentof Armenia to receivecitizenshipstanrs? Whohastheright!o become an Armenian citizen and what are the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship? Most Armenians in theDiaspora seâ&#x201A;Źm to agree thatttre govemment and people of Armenia should make the decision on citizenship. While some feel that input from the Diaspora and even from the political parties there, can be included in ttre process, the ultimateauthority shouldremainwiththerepublic. "It should be the right of the Armenian govemment !o decide to grant citizenship," remarked Kourken Sarkissian, directorof the Zoryan Instinrte in Canada. Vartkes Broussalian, hincipal Advisor !o the Minister of Finance and professor at the

On the other side of the debate are those

who believe that it is possible to be a nonresident citizen of Armenia. One woman, whose husband spends most of the year in Armenia, suggested a limited concept of citizenship for a non-resident. The law might require a p,erson to spend a certain number of months outoftheyearintherepublic in order to attain citizenship status, she suggested. In her opinion, this individual would claim the right to vote and run for public offrce, and wouldbeavailableforthedraft. Shebasedher position on the fact that an Armenian in the Diaspora will always have intemrpted perids of residency, particularly if he or she has a family outside Armenia.

Others approached the matter of nonresidency in more technical terms. Piene Tenian of Paris, a specialist in oil and natural gas, said, "The mattâ&#x201A;Źr [ofdual citizenship

for

non-residentsl must be negotiated with state-

to-state agreements." Terzian continued, "This will take a long time to do because in the intemational community rules and regu-

lations are always increasing in number and complexiry." Citing l-ebanon as an example, Terzian commented, "Citizens of Lebanon

whoarenon-residentsdonothavetherightto

theDiaspora btrttlrcrewill inevitably be many differences of opinion which will cancel each ottrer ouq bringing the final decision back !o

vote because there are too many lrbanese Iivingoutsidethecoun0ry. Itwouldnotbefair ifthey were allowedto votebecausethemain impact of the decisions would fall on the people of the counory." Does anyone claiming to be Armenian have the right to become a citizen of the rcpublic? The first part of this third question is probably the most difficult to answer. Sarkissian suggested that every Armenian in

thegovernment-"

the Diaspora

American University of Armenia, stated, "The Parliament may try o take input from

On the second question, Diaspora Armenians seem to have more divergent opinions.

According to Hagop Panossian, principal engineer at Rocketdyne and president of ARPA (Analysis, Research and Planning for Armenia), anyone seeking Armenian citizenship should be a permanent resident of the republic. "A person cannot be a full citizen he lives outside the country... simply claiming he is Armenian is notfairforthegovern-

ment." Sarkissiantookthis matlerone step further.

"In order not to abuse theright to citizenship, Anreniashouldnotallowdualcitizenship. At the sametime, whenanArmenianbecomes a

shouldhavetherighttobecome a citizen of Armenia. "Anyone who declares himself to be Armenian, and has parents or grandparents who are Armenian, and accepts the culture and causes ofthe people, has the right to citizenship," he said. This statement is qualified by Sarkissian's outline defining

who should actually receive citizenship. He suggested that a person must be able to pass some importanttests: 1) he musthave a clean criminalrecord; 2) hemustbeofsoundhealth and mind; 3) he must have economic independence so that his presence in Armenia will not drain the republic's resources. One addition to 0ris plan, madeby anotherindividual, was to allow theequivalentof theMinisterof

AM,FEBRUARY 1994

the Interior to have the authority to refuse citizenship to anyonenotpassing oneof these tests, thus being labeled'tndesirable." Along these same lines, Broussalian noted that it would be "unrcasonable to extend citizenship to anyone who simply wants to be a citizen." He based this comment on the fact

ttrat it is "impossible to define what is an 'Armenian.' There are no scientific criteria, no blood tests to make this determination."

london businessman Asadour Guzelian offeredyetanotherperspectiveonwhoshould become a citizen. "In the Diaspora, if people make a concrete or physical contribution to Armenians, they shouldbe allowed lobecome citizens based on their merit." Guzelian noted that individuals such as Louise Manoogian Simone and Hirair Hovnanian are among those deserving honorary citizenship. Regarding the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship, there is more general agreement: citizens should have the right to

vote and run for public office (although Sarkissian suggested that the position of President may be reserved for a native-bom Armenian), perform military service and pay annual income taxes.

Embedded in this conversation about citizenship is the issue of land and property ownership. However, as Broussalian pointed out, the two are not necessarily connected. "Presently the Parliamentis allowing corporations and partnerships to own property in Armenia," he said. Broussalian does notbelieve the Armenian government would agree to private foreign investors purchasing property because-at the currentexchange rate-land in Armenia isridiculously inexpensive. Onewaytomake property available to private foreign ownership, according to Broussalian, would be loweringthe exchangeratebetween thedram and foreign currencies, thus allowing the Armenian govemment !o benefit morc from the transaction. One final question is the status of Soviet Armenians who emigrated prior to independence. Archbishop Aghan Baliozian, Primate of Australia and the FarEast, is among those who believe that "people who migrated from Armenia should receive automatic citizen-

ship." Infact, in many cases, Armenianemigr6s have retained their original citizenship. For MarineFstkchian, whomovedtotheUS from Armenia in 1980, the issue of citizenship is clear. As an Armenian citizen, she feels she should be granted the right to vote in national

elections. She also supports non-resident citizenship because for herthis stahrs best suits her situation. As far as her two children arc concemed, she plans on applying for Armenian citizenship for them as soon as the laws and guidelines are established. It remains for the Parliament of Armenia to pass a law which defends the rights of its people, without ignoring the needs and Po-

tentialofttreDiaspora.

THEMINSK

alternative,

usual, there are some bad news and some marginally good news in the lGrabakhpeace efforL The s

bad news is that the Minsk process, which was to lay the groundwork for a

conference-in Minsk, Belarus--during

atimethatall theseelements werepresent, and Armenia and Azerbaijan had both given

tlpirOK, but Karabakh hadrefused arguing that there were insufficient intemational guarantees thatthe ceasefire wouldhold and

tiations for a conference in Minsk, where the final status of Mountainous Karabakh would be determined. It's been two years of many ups and downs and no noticeable results.

Thelittlebitofgoodnewsis thatthismost recenl andmost serious, stalematehas coincided with a regularchange of chainnanship: Italian chairman Mario Raffaelli' s increasing frusffation and occupation with othermatters have already taken their toll on the p'rocess,

andforttnthehadbeenthebus of criticism. With the selection of Sweden as chair, and the appointment of Jan Eliasson, an experienced diplomat and former

UN Undersecretary for Humanitarian Affairs, there is hope that new life can be injected into acomatoseprocess. The most visible outcome of theMinsk Group effort thus

far-theconceptof atirneable for implementing the neces-

sary groundwork

for

the

Minsk Conference-has evolved in response to the concerns and reservations of all the parties concemed.

But more than anything else, the concept of the timetable has reflected Armenia's foreign policy approach to the

Mountainous Karabakh con-

flict. ' If they had asked Armeni a to develop a timetable, we

wouldn't have written anything differently than what appears here," announced Armenia's Deputy Foreign Minister and chief negotiator on Karabakh, JirairLibaridian, All eyeeatton Jan Ellauon.

which the political status of Mountainous Karabakh was to be decided, has reached a

dead-end as the positions

Karabakh,

during apress conferenceearly last year. Armenia' s approach to the solution of the Karabakh conflict has been based, all along, on two importantpremises: fust, that Armenia does not foreseâ&#x201A;Ź a quick

Azerbaijan and Armenia have grown further

political resolution; second, that Armenia

apalt

does not forpsee apermanentmilitary solution

The MinskGroup of nine "neuEal" coun-

ries-Russia,theUS, Rance,Italy,OreCzech Reprblic, Belarus,GermanyandTirkey,plus Armenia and Azerbaijan, and sometimes

Mountainous Karabakh-was set up in March, 1992, by a CSCE Council of Ministâ&#x201A;Źrs mandate, to conductpreliminary nego30

l:chin

was

Wlll a llew Scandinavian Face Save the Karabakh Peace Process? GIIAZARIA}I

the blockade is lifted, the

tainous Karabakh continues to be conholled and governed by its own people. Dr.uing the evolution of the timetable, there

STANDSTILL

By SALPI IIAROUTINIAI{

corridor continues to function and Moun-

whichcan bring stability andpeace tothereglon. So, Armenia has concluded, since the current situation is quite unstable with grave, daily implications for Armeni4 an internationally supervise4 durable ceasefire leading to negotiations in Minsk is the best available AIM, FEBRUARY 1994

that the Azeris wouldn't attack after

Karabakh's self-defense forces withdrew. While Azeft aijan' s approach to the whole Minsk process was much more accommodating during the Elcibey era, since Gaidar Aliev's electionseveralmonths agotherehas been a change

ofpolicy.

Chief among its policy reversals is Azerbaijan's new insistence that the final political stanrs ofKarabakh notbe decided at Minsk. According to Azerbaijan, the Minsk Conference can simply present a recommendation as to Karabakh's status, which willbe finally determined by Azerbaijan's Parliament. Other Azerbaijani reversals became evident at the CSCE Meeting of Ministers in Rome, in early December-including such previously agrced-upon points as not making the withdrawal of Karabakh forces from the Lachin corridor a pre-condition to the ceasefire and startof negotiations. Azerbaijan has even backed offits recent acceptance of Karabakh as a party to the conflict. That Azerbaijan's grave about-face was

swiftly accompanied by severe military snikes on Karabakh, from many fronts, was

tobeexpected.

Up to that point, the reversal of Azerbaijan's positions, coupled with Karabakh's successes on thebattlefronq had served to harden Karabakh' s own negotiating

position. Although Karabakh, too, had agreed that Minsk would decide the formal political status of Karabakh, now it has made acknowledgment of its independent political status a prerequisite to withdrawing from captured

Aze6aijanitenitory. When the CSCE meeting proposed that there be two CSCE missions stationed in the region, one in Yerpvan and theotherin Baku,

Armenia objected, insisting that one of the mission sites

shouldbewheretheconflictis-

in Karabakh. Besides, getting from Yerevan to Slepanakert is not easy. For political reasons, Baku objected to having a CSCE mission in Stepanaker( even as part of a compromise proposal to include Yerevan as the third site of a mission. Although this proposal was dropped in Rome, it will probably be picked up again, and perhaps by Sweden itself, which has always pushed for a more active, on-site approach o resolving the conflict. With Sweden coming into thechairmanship so soon after another Scandinavian

counhry-Norway-was insffumental in

brokering a Palestinian-Israeli agreement, there is reason to hope thatthe daunting challengefacing the new chairman to revitalize the

Minskprocesscanbemetbyintroducingnew

concepts. After all, the same wizardry that produced at least a preliminary success in Norway-secret negotiations, a neuffal, uninterested parfy in the role of mediator, and a

FORMULA FOR PEACE? The Aaland lslands Model Gets a Hearing By IIIOORAD MOORADIAN

willingness to subdivide a complex, explosive temtorial dispute into small, manageable economic, social and land-related issues-

canbesummonedhere.

that "geographical factors indicated the natural affinity of the archipelago with Finland rather than Sweden and that, Finland had, on independence, inherited existing Russian sovereignty over the islands." This determined the League's decision to favor Finland, thus sweeping aside Woodrow Wilson's concept of self-determination and disregarding the factthat the Aaland Islanders had voted overwhelmingly in favorof political union with Sweden.

The Dividends

an the Aaland Islands be used as a peace model for Karabakh and Azerbaij an ? Forming an archipelagoof 6,500 islands, theAalands are located between Sweden and Finland, in the Gulf of Bothnia. Representatives of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Karabakh met there for two days in December (21 and 23), ostensibly for a "confidence-building seminar." Also participating were representatives of Russia, Belarus, Kyrghizia, Sweden and Finland, and more than 20 experts and observers. According to the Finnish news agency. special Russian envoy Vladimir Kazimirov told the Armenian, Azerbaijani and Karabakh representatives that the peace process cannot be realized until all military operations come to a halt. He then invited the warring factions to accept mutual concessions. Robert Janssen of the Aaland Islands Peace Institute was quoted as saying that "the important thing is that the sides will sit around the conference table and address each other." He acknowledged that the Karabakh conflict was a thorny and painful issue.

A Scandinavian Precedent-Minuc the Savagery As a site forpeace negotiations, Aaland Islands is wrought with historic significance. Janssen said that the Karabakh war reminded him of the 1920s Aaland Islands conflict, minus the bloodshed that has come to characterize the dispute in the Caucasus. Noting that the delegates to the conference have shown great interest in the Aalandlslands model, Janssen echoedKazimirovin statingthatthe model would work only if the warring sides made concessions. Janssen was referring to the plan initiated by the League of Nations in the 1920s that has brought tranquillity and prosperity to the Gulf of Bothnia region for most of this cenzury. Thepartlyiutonomous Aaland archipelago was once an areatorn apartbywarthatpittedFinland againstSweden andthelslanders in a seemingly inffactableconflict. The Aalandlslands, where90percent of the population is of Swedish extraction, was ruled by Sweden until 1809. After numerous wars with Russia, Czar Alexander I forced Sweden to renounce all claims to the islands in favor of Finland. Until 1917, Russia ruled the Aalands and Finland as the autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland. Upon the defeat of Russia during the Crimean War, a provision of the 1856 Treaty of Paris committed Czar Alexander II to neutralize and demilitarize the Aalands. TheBolshevikRevolution in 1917 enabledFinlandto seek complete independence from Russia. The Aaland Islanders followed Finland's leadand soughtpolitical union with Sweden, while Russian troops garrisoned on the Aalands sided with the Bolsheviks. Finlanders who sympathized with theRussian opposition to the Communists retreated to the archipelago and locked in battle with the Russian roops. Sweden, in answer to the Aaland Islanders' call for help, occupied the archipelagoin 1919 andreclaimedit. AbitterdisputewithFinlandensued. In l9?l,theI-pague of Nations' Commission of Enquiry reported

Despite the initial reservations. distrust and tension, the compromise worked out by the League of Nations became ultimately acceptabie to all sides . Today, Finland and S weden boast about some 60 years of good relations. Once sovereignty was decided in favor ofFinland. the Finns encouraged peace by guaranteeing real sovereignty across a wide range of issues: the Aaland Islandersmaintained theiruniqueness, language, cultural identity and way oflife, These issues were guaranteed and safeguarded by the lrague ofNations. Finland officially recognized the Islanders as a "minority" within the Finnish siate and awarded them a large measure of autonomy. Thus, Aaland Islands was allowed aProvincial Assembly, firstrights to the purchase of lands by Islanders, and a five-year restriction on settler voting rights. The Provincial Assembly had the right to nominate the governor in the event that the Islanders did not agree withFinland's choice.Finally, the languageof instruction in all state schools remained Swedish. Finland also agreed that the Islands would be kept demilitarized and neutral. ln I 95 1, theFinnish governmentexempted ttre Islanders from military conscription, agreed that all govemment employees of the Aaland Islands should have full mastery of spoken and written Swedish, and allowed the Provincial Assembly to assess additional taxes for local purposes. The Islanders were granted and guaranteed the same level of services authorized in other parts of Finland, regardless of cost to the latter. In 1 954, the Islanders were grantedtheirownflag. In 1984, theyissuedtheirownpostagestamps and acquired additional control over the allocation of finances withoutthe loss of special granrs fiom the Finnish govemment, which retains full control overforeignaffairs, defense, and the administration ofjustice. Despite the compromise, Aaland Islands has grown into one of the mostprosperous provinces of Finland, with burgeoning shipping and touristindustries. Islanders have free access to Sweden to live, work, own property, and to attend schools and colleges. The solutionhas workedforboth the Islanders and Finlandbecausetheparties concluded that thecost ofwarfare did not outweigh thebenefits that all sides wouldgainfrompeace. Thecompromiseconcentratedless upon positions andmore upon whatthe Islanders wanted in thecourse of running theirownlives: remaining Swedish, retaining theirown culnrre, using their own language, worshipping as they chose, protecting their identity, and provisions that would protect these into the future. Perhaps, some day in the future, the Islanders may be granted full independence-if they still desire it. Will a similar approach work in the Caucasus? Many profes-

sionals in the conflict analysis and resolution field maintain that model solutions arenevercompletely applicableinothercases. The Aaland Islands model, whenpliced onto the Karabakh scene without modiiications and considerations for the specifics of the ArmenoAzerbaijaniconfl ict, couldresult in greaterdangers. Yet, the Aalands model remains intriguing and rnay be a constructive point of departure that could lead to a cessation of the violence and the blockades that are sapping the strengths of the republics of Karabakh, T Armenia and Azerbaiian.

AIM, FEBRUARY 1994

ADRIFT IN L.A. Of Mass l?auma and Deia Vu

businesses were leveled, and millions of lives around the city werepenrunently altpred.

By BETH BROUSSALIAN

hen the residents of Los

An-

geles' San Femando Valley went to bed on the night of Sunday, January 16, itwas impossible for them to know that they would

beawakenedatthepredawnhourof 4:3 I am. on Monday moming to a violent and bnifying earthquake. Once the 6.6 temblor hit, however, it was clear that a powerful earthquake had barrelled through the Los Angeles Basin. In a matter of thirty seconds, glass shattered, walls collapsed, freeways buckled,

shopping centâ&#x201A;Źrs disintegrated, homes and

News of the disaster was disseminated throughoutthecounfy andworldthanks othe rapidworkoftheCNN's LosAngeles bureau which sethadup asatellitetruckon acurbside ofSunsetBlvdby5:

15 am.

Ktsott{Y

Broadcastinglive

Builder Sinan Sinanian and his family

destruction were seen by millions

were especially hard hit when their affluent home in the hills of Tarzana gave way as a result of slippage of the soil bedding. Ac-

from fourlocations around thecity, images the quake'

tM / dcm

around the globe. Not surprisingly, Annenians in faraway places like Syria, Irbanon, Greece, Armenia and France saw footage of

thetemblorandwerecalling tocheckontheir loved ones in t-os Angeles who themselves remained without elecEicity. Among thethose sifting t}rrough the rubble were the some forty-fi ve thousand Armenian residents and business ownen of the San Fernando Val-

ley.

However, the quake

knew no boundaries. It spread devastation through-

out the city, from

Monica to Hollywood, af-

rage Cleaners owners Hayrabet and Ani Celikian was similarly trying. Their dry

fecting Armenians from one end of Los Angeles to the

likeithadbeen struckbyabomb. Ceiling tiles

Santa

other.

Every aspect of Arme-

nian community life was

impacted. In addition to personal losses, Armenian merchants suffered fiemen-

dous damages, Armenian churches and schools had to be closed, and senior citizens

were rendered homeless. Community organizations were immediately

mobilized

to help Armenian victims apply for federal aid and short-term recovery assistance.

ABSORBINGTHE SHOCKWAVES: The Natlonal Guard

patrolllng Hollywood

, Boulevard, left; soclal a canlersthroughout dbtrlbuted ! Los Angeles i aldtothe vlctlms, top;

E an Armenlan man

fi aeseulng the damage,

cording to Sinanian, the earth survey he conducted before building the home did not reveal the "non-cohesive layers of earth" that caused the damage. As did many residents, theSinanian family lostthousands of dollan in personal valuables, like antiques, and were forced to move thebelongings thatdid survive thetemblorinlo storage. They arenow living with relatives until their home can be reconstructed. The aftermath of the earthquake for Mi-

far rlght.

FEBRUARY 1994

cleaning establishment in Northridge looked came down, heavy equipmentjumped across theroom, glass-paned windows shattered, and yean of hard work were lost in a matter of a few seconds. Without earthquake insurance - which is purchased with an exorbitant de-

ductible generally costing about l07o of a business' insuredvalue-ownerslikeCelikian are looking at considerable financial hardship to repair the damage. He, like many others, will be depending on receiving low-interest

loans from organizations such as the Small Business Administration to help defray the reconsfr uction expenses. Armenian churches were also not spared. For example, St. Peter Armenian Church in

VanNuyswas forcedtocloseforatleastthree months. Inthetremor, the marble altarshifted and collapsed, dry wall cracked, ceiling plaster littered the pews, stained-glass windows broke, and chandeliers came crashing down. Although the sEucture of ttre church is intact, the clean-up will require several months of work. In the meantime, weddings, baptisms, and other religious ceremonies have been either postponed or deferred to other Armenian churches in Los Angeles; Sunday

Relatlve concentratlon of Armenlans In earthquake-affected areas of Southern Callfornla. services are being held

in the

adjacent

Karagozian Hall.

Encino, Holy Martyr's Armenian

Church suffered some damages

the

structure's interioras did St. John's Armenian Cathedral in Hollywood. Ironically, His AIM

KEVORK OJANSEZIAN

AIM MAP AY

OICMN Y. MSSOUNY

Holiness Catholicos Karekin II of Cilicia was in the midstof a three-weekpontifi-

cal visit to California, and on Tuesdav toured the quake-damaged Armenian institutions in the San Fernando Valley and Hollywood. In Canoga Park, the AGBU Marie Manoogian Elementary School and the

AGBU Sarkis

and

SetaDemirdjian High School were among the community insti-

tutions hardest hit. According to school

Principal

Hagop Hagopian, the school had to be closed one week to clean up the classrooms, and more than a week after the quaketherewas stillno drinking water. While structurally the school faired quite

well. financiallv the AIM, FEBRUARY 1994

ramifications of the 6.6 temblor will be felt

for some time.

Hagopian remarked, "Many of our students' parents are small business owners who lost their businesses. These parents are going to have difficulty paying the tuition for their children and our school is going to bedirectly

affected." The C. & E. Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School in Sherman Oaks was also affected by the early-moming earthquake. In order to repair extensive cosmetic damages, school ofhcials were forced to close the institution for a week. In addition, an adjacent building, purchased in December as a multipuryose center, which was already being renovated, received damages which will de-

tents set up by relief groups. Interestingly, a similarresponsetothe tremorwas seen in the

theelderlyresidents ofthegrand AraratHome

disasterrelief centers, likethose opened by the Red Cross, to translate and help Armenian quake victims file applications for financial

locatedinMissionHills. AccordingtoHome

assistance.

Guatemalan immigrant community who experienced the devastation of the Guatemalan

administrator, Reverend Hagop Janbazian, volunteers were arriving in large numbers

Another important aspect of the [,os Angeles earthquake was of course the psychological impact of the

quakein 1976. Unfortunately, there were those individuals who saw per-

lay its use until spring. Thequake was perhaps mostunnerving

for

immediately afterthequake struckto assistthe elderly residents of this otherwise impressive and very comfortable institution. "Amazingly," said Janbazian, "the residents remained calm and cool as they were laken one-at-a-timeby the hand down the two or three flights of stairs to the first floor." "Although we had much superhcial damage, we thank God that no-one was hurt." Of the Ararat Home's ninety residents, two-thirds are presently living with family members, while one-third have been temporarily relocated at the Home's newly-opened convalescent hospital. The repairs are expected to take up to four weeks for the residential section, whilethe George Deukmejian Ball-room, which sustained water damage from a broken sprinkler system, will require additional time.

And

if all of this

devastation were not

sonal gain in the face

For the Armenian im-

disaster. In Glendale,

migrants who were experiencing this type of tragedy for the second

the Department of Public Social Service

time, the January

quakevictimsneeding additional food stamps,requiringonly a name, address and signature. Newsofthis handout spread like wildfire through Glendale's immigrant Armeniancommunity andwithinafewhours, the welfare office was swamped with unaffected, unqualified

quake brought back ter-

rifying memories. As psychologist Dr. Levon Jernazian explained, "Some of the patients I am seeing who are immigrants from Armenia are displaying untreated symptoms of PostTrau-

matic Stress Disorder

Avo's Bakery and St. Peter Armenlan which has been latent all Church were hlt hard, though thelr these years. This recent structures remalned Intact.

has

earthquake

who experienced the ravaging temblor of

pounded this condition, especially in the children." "Symptoms seen in the children

checks from the Federal Emergency Man(FEMA), subsequently allowing them to seek alternative housing. agement Agency

Fortunately, the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) sentoutheldworkers to these and other

opened its doors to any

enough, thousands of Armenian immigrants December 1988, once again found themselves scrambling for safety. In Hollywood, a senior citizens' centerhadtobeevacuated. Residents weretakento local shelters werethey awaited

sasteron thecommuniry.

im-

people

demanding

food stamps.

include changes in behavior, sleep loss, temper tantrums, uncontrollable crying and rebelliousness," Jemazian noted. Because the pre-dawn quakebroughtback memories of the 1988 disaster, many immigrants were afraid to return to their homes despite the fact that their houses were safe. Instead, entire families slept in cars, parks and

: . z

The Glendalepolice was called in to control what had become an unruly crowd. Responding to the near-riot situation, the regional headquarters of the Armenian Relief Society issued anotice in the Armenian languagewaming that anyone caught lying about their need for food stamps wouldbe subject to a $250,000 fine or20 years imprisonment. Despitethis admonition, the welfareoffice continued to be tlooded with thousands of Armenians falsely claiming losses from the earthquake. It took more than a week forlos Angeles County officials to computerize the process in orderto weed outthecases of fraud.

Umfortunately, County officials suspected that the negative publicity created by this confuson would ultimately manifest itself in an anti-Armenian backlash. Aside from the actions taken by the ARS, the Armenian community leaders were slow in responding to the crisis. While this activity occuned in the immigrant Armenian community in Glendale, similar activities were taking place in the local centers of otherethnic communities.

While each and every resident of Los Angeles has his orherown "Earthquake'94" tale to tell, one story stands out among theothers. At4:.31am. Monday morning not everyone AtAvo'sBakeryinReseda, workers were busily preparing bread for morning delivery. When thequakehit, they ran outside escaping the heavy equipment dislocated by the force ofthe quake's movement. Less thanfivedayslater,Avo'sBakery was up and running. Armenians, Arabs, Persians, Americans, and Hispanics stood in was asleepinbed.

line waiting to purchase baked goods from the only bakery open for operation in the entire area. Needless to say, the beSt therapy for recovery seemed to be business as usual.

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THEWELL. EARNEDSHARE

political leaders of various ideological predi-

lections. Furthermore, such diversitywhether winning or not---4an provide the Armenian community with multiple poinc of access through the political parties. In doing so, each party in its own way can facilitate representation of our communities. Such diversity, however, also makes for

Sarkis Assadourian Reaches theGanadian Parliament

Toronto, and the more that 200 volunteers of the Armenian Community Center, played a critical role in his successful bid. Interestingly enough, each ofthe six Ar-

By SlllON PAYASLIAIII n October 25,1993, Canadians voted to change the composition of ttreirleadenhip in government. In the process, Sarkis Assadourian, the first Armenian ever to win office in the Canadian Parliament, was elected by about 60 prcent of the vote in Don Valley North. a suburb of Toronto, Ontario. Voters more or less rebelled against and virtually decimated theProgressive Conservative Party (PC) Orat had been in power for nine years. In its stead, they overwhelmingly voted forthe Liberal Party (Lib) led by Jean Chretien, and two protestparties---the ReformParty and the Bloc Quebecois. The Progressive Conserva-

menian candidates belong to a differentparty, while three are from the province of Ontario and three from Quebec. One clear advantage of such inna-ethnic

certainpolitical liabilities. Fint, one can easily imagine an election when all of the six fumenian candidates are of the same winning party and therefore members of the Canadian Parliament. It is certainly preferable to have six Assadourians in the Parliament. Another disadvantage is that financial resources, so essential to winning a political

ofEceinthis age of TV politics, remainfragmented. Greater communiW-based cenfral-

tive Party, which had been a formidable

force+ither as the party in power or the official opposition party since Canada was confederated in 1867-lost l5l seats and consequently its status as a viable party. The

Liberal Party, of which Assadourian is a member, went from 79 to 178 seats in Parliament. TheReformParty andBloc Quebecois gained 5l and 46 seats, respectively. The list of candidates running for office

included

five more Armenians:

Aida

Baghjajian of the Progressive Conservative Pafiy, St. Denis, Quebec; Haytoug Chamlian of the Independent Party, Ahuntsic, Quebec; John Arakelian of the National Party, Oshawa, Ontario; Haig Baronikian of the Libertarian Party, Parkdale-High Park Ontario; and John Ajemian of the Party for CommonwealthRepublic, Laval-Ouest, Quebec. Election results, as published by the Canadian press, indicate that Assadourian won 22,510 votes, while the incumbent and his closest challenger, Barbara Greene of the Progressive Conservative Party, won 7,238 votes-l9 percent.

In an interview with AIM. Assadouriar expressed his hope that the Armenian communities in Canada as well as the US view his election not only as an absEact success but as concrete proof that determination, organiza-

tional strength and cultivation ofpolitical culture can create opportunities and facilitate successes.

diversity is that leadership in various political parties facilitates diversification as different parties rise and fall. The October election demonstrated that exclusive reliance on a single party simply because it had been the dominant party for some time would certainly have nullified the six candidates' chances for offrce. "Don'tputallyoureggsin onebasket" Another advantage is that through thepolitical party mechanism, the Armenian communities-at least in theprovinces of Ontario

knowledged thatthe Armenian community in

tutional base to cultivate new generations

seems to be the message here.

Quebec-+an establish

AIM,IIEBRUARY

suffi cient insti-

1994

be to establish a Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Association !o strengthen the relationship between the Canadian and

In Assadourian's opinion, such an organization would bolster

Armenian parliaments.

Assadourian stated that while he technically represents the Don Valley North area, hisresponsibilities andcommibnents extend well beyond and encompass the Armenian communities throughout Canada. He ac-

and

ization of fundraising and manpowercan give future Amenian candidates an added advantageoverpotential opponents atthelocallevel. Having assumed office on January 10, Assadourian says one of his top priorities will

ties and improve understanding not only between Canada and the Republic of Armenia, but alsobetween Canadians and Armenians

hereathome.

ARMENIANGOURT INTERPRETERS ByCYXTHfA dRETand SAI"PI HAROUTI}IIAI{ CHAZARIAI{

Thcrs Gocs thc llelghborlrood 'In Hollywood, it's domestic violencg" says Greg. "And driving under the influencp of alcohol." There is a different understanding of he

law among immigrants, including Armenians. Greg's first case this morning at the courthouse in downtown Los Angeles in-

I I II

n small courthouse in Burbank, Cali" just outside Glendale, home to fornia, over 40,000 Armenians, the public defender asks the Armenian interpreter to call the name Altunian. In a room full of Hispanic, Armenianand someAsianfaces, three men and one woman stand up. They are Alhrnian'

Indeed, the SanFemandocourthouse sees Armenians implicated in "chopshoy'' cases several times amonth.

father, mother, brotherand cousin.

Alnrnian himself is in jail-not for the first time. Earlier thatmorning, the court clerkrememberedthenameandthecase. "Oh, him!" she said. "He's really nuts," The public defender, an attorney representing Altunian, appointed and paid for by thegovernment, askstheinterpretertoexplain thatshewishes o speaktoeach memberofthe

family individually. All four of them step forward. It takes three requests and a tug on the mother's arm to separate her fromtherest and sart the questioning, "I need to know what you know about the charges sothatlcandetermineifwecan goto rial and defend your son," she explains.

of petty theft. '"This is typical of the cases in this area," she explains. "Ifit's Burbank or Glendale, chances arc it's shoplifting." She recalls the fint day she walked into a courthouse in the San Fernando Valley and askedtheclerkwhatthecasewas about.'"The clerk looked at me and laughed," she remembers. "'It's the Armenians, isn't it?' she said to me, 'so it must be a chopshop case.' That was the firsttime I'dheard the term." Lucy explains the complicated process which usually involves an auto body repair shop receiving stolen cars in good condition, then purchasing similar model cars in poor mechanical condition, therefore cheap. The shop owner chops up the parts of the cars which carry vehicle identification numbers and switches them. in order to mask the fact that the used car in good condition ttrat will be sold was in fact a stolen car.

volvesamanwhowastakeninforhavingover the minimum allowable level of alcohol in his blood. Greg attempted to calm the defendant who insisted that he was not drunk. "Explain to him that the law does not mention being drunk," repeated the attorney, a blonde young man, half the defendant's age. '"The law simply says you may not drive there is more than a certain amount of alcohol in your blood. Period. No one is doubting his ability to handle drink. Butttris is tlp law." The attorney-and the judge-had to read the

samelitanyafewmorctimes,beforethefather of three, who was aboutto lose his license for having driven without insurance-the law in Califomia-gave up in disgust. "This is nothing yet," warns ajadedGreg. The next case involves domestic violence and an uncooperative

witness--the wife. She,

herhusband and theirtwo young children

live

"\Mhatdoyouknow?' sheasksthedisnaught

. woman, clutching

her pune to her chest, and

holding a kleenex to her eyes.

'My son didn't do it," the mother insists. "He was home that day." Afterhearing the interpreter' s franslation, the attomey-athin woman in her5Os who

hasheardjustabouteverystoryinher lS-year career, continues. "What day? What was the dateon that day?' And the ineviable happens. "Please, I beg

you," the mother turns to the interpreter. 'Can't you look in the papers, find out what day it was andtell me? Please, please."

ao.

u!, Ili

Ghop.ShopGlub The Altunian case is nothing new to Lucy Tashjian. Sheandherhusband, Greg, aretwo of the dozen certified interpreten playing gobetween for the 300,000 Armenians and nearly 50 courts ofSouthern California. There are over 400 Armenian cases per month and no two days are alike for the '"Tashjian team," aname atEibuted to them by a judge who requested them together on the same case. "We aIâ&#x201A;Ź a service for communicationbetween the Armenians and the legal systâ&#x201A;Źm," says Greg. "We are offrcen of the court, the same as the clerk, the bailiff, the lawyers, and our first obligation is to the

judge." An interpeter in court for over

S -

(/p

10 years,

Lucy gets her first assignment today,

a case

AIM,FEBRUARY 19%

with her inJaws. She cries as they bring her husband

ia wearingjailhouseblues.

won't

look at her. She can't look in his eyes. His mother is in the audience, crying. "Husbands who are accuslomed to hining theirwives orchildren find that one tâ&#x201A;Źlephone call can create incredible havoc in the family," Greg says. "On television, someone calls for emergency help, ttre police anive, the beating sops and maybe the man gets scared a little bit. Butin real life, suddenly, the breadwinner, the authority figure, is arrested, and what's wone, he's at the mercy of family members who are called to testify against him, even ttrough they usually don't wantto. "The conflicting emotions and helplessness are difficult to watch. Sometimes the judge orders counseling. But even then, they'rc not quite convinced they need it. And besides, wherecanthey gotoseekcounseling in a language ttrey undentand?'

BealltyGhcck Just a few hours later, Lucy is sent to the Van Nuys Courthouse, in the middle of the San Fernando Valley, where a defendant has been given a last chance--counsetng instead ofjail, andhe mustshowuptodaytobringhis

"proof of completion." Lucy is waiting to translatethelawyer's wordstothedefendant, then backto the defendant and to thejudge.

WordsarewhatLucydealswitheveryday

and she is aware of the constant emotional bwden. "Your personality has to be suited to thisjob, othenrise you collapse," she says. "You arerepeating words like aparrot nonstop. Yet because you are Armenian, the defendants or witnesses expect 0rat we should somehow intervene and help them. And we

can't." The defendant still has not shown up and Lucychecks withtheinterpreter'soffice. She

still hasn't shown up. Lucy checks with the courtclerkto lethimknow thatshe is goingto

is sent to anotherdepartment for a sentencing.

lunch. As she heads down towards the cafete-

"It is difficult enough for a native English speaker to undentand legaljargon and the justice system, let alone a new immigrant

ria, she carries with her a book of parables,

whoseonlypointsofreferencearedramatized television courtooms which have little to do

withreallife. "Another interpreter told me how she translated for an attorney whose client had been charged with two counts of grand theft. His maximum possible sentence was nine years in state prison. The attorney had managed to have one of the charges dropped, shifting the blame to a second person implicated in the case who was a fugitive. The attorney had explained to thejudge that this was his client' s fintoffense, and thatthe defendant was not in good health, that he had a large family to support, and thathe was ftuly sorry. Thejudge agreed to let him go, but with three years probation, with a mandatory restitution fee of $300 that had to be paid to the victim,

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which she likes to read as she is eating. "Your mind absorbs crime all day. It is

disturbing, especially child molestation or drug cases. It is important to stay centered. It is especially important since you can'tbeexpressive about what you observe. I can't say anything to the father whose 30-year-old son has been apprehended three times for assault androbbery whileundertheinfluenceof narcotics, and who insists to me that the reason his son doesn't want to take his attorney's advice and plead guilty in the hopes ofreceiving a lighter sentence is because I aminterpreting incorrectly andhis son doesn't understandme. 'This manthinks his sonis stilla littleboy, incapable ofbearing responsibility for his

actions. Everyone else is responsible, including me. I see all this and I can't say any-

thing." Atthe Van Nuys Courthouse cafeteria, five music is performed at lunch time. And a blind man is playing the piano. Lucy smiles, b@ause itreminds heragaintoexpecttheunexpected. "In thisjob you learn very quickly that you can't judge," she muses. "Nothing is as it appears." Having an open mind is the most im-

portantthing."

Thc Emotional Toll

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down to a fine and some hours volunteering. Do you know what his client said to the atlorney?'But Jack,' he said,'You know Ihaveno money. Whatdo you mean $300? You're my attorney. Why didn't you defendmyrights?"' It is now almost noon, and the defendant

If You want to learn Western Armenian

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munity agency. That's it, from nine years

AIM,FEBRUARY 1994

06437

Greg, who has been working as an interpreteralmostas long ashis wife, tookalunch break in nearby Chinatown before retuming to court. His first assignment is a case of

vending without a permit, which the judge dismisses.'Thejudgeaskedthe man ifhehad been selling watermelons illegally in the sreets of Hollywood. And do you know what themananswered?'Yes,yourhonor,' hesai4 'good Watermelon!' I guess that made the difference, becausethejudgejustlethim go." Thenextdefendantis waitingforGreg. He is 19 years old, and is accused ofstealing an audio-cassene worth 10 dollars. The young man is accompanied by his brother, and seems

panicked. Greg asks him to step outside in order to understand what the man is trying to say.

"You have to make sure that the defen-

dant trusts you, by showing concern and making him realize thatyou are there to bring to light the elements that can be helpful to him," Greg says. It is now 4 p.m., and Lucy is still waiting for the defendant to show up and prove that he has followed counseling, as ordered by the judge. Time is running out. "Sometimes you

sit and cry with the victim because you think you also went through the abuse," Lucy explains. "Wehavesatthrough ragic accidents. Juvenilecases are the mostdistwbing, especially when kids join gangs. The impact on

one's mind and spiritis evident I comehome and caution my 24-year-old daughter and tell hertolockallthedoors. Sheteases meand says I should loosen up since I'm not in court any more. But our stories have clearly influenced her. She's studying law. I guess she's been hearing these stories a long time.

"Infacg we'vebeendoingthis solongthat the attorneys have become familiar faces. Somehow, the same half-dozen attorneys seem to end up with most of the Armenian cases.

orpofthemcallsGreghis"goodluck'

becauseevery timeGregis onacasewithhim,

hewins." And she's remindedof anothercase.'"The otherday Iran into thatat0orney in Lancaster, 70 miles outside of L,os Angeles, on a case of fishing withoutalicense, andhe lold mehe'd lost two of his clients on the same day. 'One shottheother,' he said,stillincredulous.'The guy who gotkilled I had gotten off on federal charges ofpossessing

When floods devastated the midwe,st recently, The Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA), representing the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the United States and Canada, responded with relief aid to the victims. Special offerings collected by member churches were directed to the AMAA, who in turn channeled them to the disaster area through the Church World Service of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.

Another natural disaster has struck our country. A major earthquake has devastated southern California. The latest reports indicate that the earthquake has caused widespread destruction of homes, businesses and

public service facilities near downtown Los Angeles and in the San Fernando Valley area. Many lives were lost and homes were destroyed; and the lives of several hundred thousand people have been disrupted.

$2,0fi) in counlerfeit

money. Just recently, he had been accused of credit card fraud together with the guy who shot him, whom I drop@ because he hadn't paid me on the last case I did for him.' I hear stories like this all the time."

Thc Statc ofthe Absurd By the end of the day, the judge decides to issue abench warrant forthe defendantwho should have shown up with proof of having attendedcounseling sessions. This means the defendant may be anested and brought in

forcibly. "So much of what goes on here is a result of culnral differences," Lucy says. "Someone commitsacrime. Heorsheis found guilty. But thejudge says you do not have to sit injail if you follow some rules. But no one appears to

bewatchingoveryouandso,often,theydon't do what they should-until it's too late, like forttris guy, forwhom itwouldhavebeen so simple if he'djust shown up." Meanwhile, Greg is taking a breakin the interpreters' lounge at the downtown courthouse, a small room full of people from several nationalities. [,os Angeles County has over 600 interpreten for over 250 languages. Greg says that sometimes they share theirex-

"I remember oncc the judge asking the policeman on the wiupss sand whatitwas that madehim notice the defendant as he was driving by, and then stop him. The policeman answered that it was the fint time he had seen a man driving standing up. The defendant had stolen the car and had taken the seats out. But in order to drive it from one location to another. he had toopen the sunroofand drive literally stand-

As an expression of our Christian concern and solidarity, the AMAA is once again calling upon it members, friends and supporting churches to help the victims of the earthquake. All contributions will be channeled through the Church World Service and Witness (CWSW) Unit of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, to aid in this interdenominational agency's relief response. CWSW is one of the few

American interdenominational organizations which promptly and of the Armenian earthquake of 1988.

generously helped, and continues to help, the victims

Armenians are no strangers to catastrophe. As people who have repeatedly experienced disasters, we should be all the more willing to help others in similar circumstances. Please send a contribution for this urgent need by filling in the coupon below. And, please, be as generous as you can.

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AIM,FEBRUARY 1994

the other, you see that cynical, self-satisfied

III'AKE.UPCALL

smirk on the faces of certain young men in Yerevan who don'tcareonewhitaboutwhat's going on beyond their linle turfs of big-time

capitalism-this is Armcnia's new bour-

Tbvetana Paskaleva's Karabakh Dossier By lSHKHAil

JlilBASlllAN

arabakh not being Bosnia or the West Banlq it is not surprising, perhaps, tbatmostfilmreportage

coming out of the mountainous republic nowadays is produced by and for Armenians. And though this might be a good thing in-

reporting from South Ossetia, Paskaleva was doing graduateworkatMoscow's Cinemalnstinrc in 1991 when the deportations of Armenians in Getashen and elsewhere sarte4 secing off thechain of events tlntwould lead to full-fledged war. Paskaleva left school to rcportfromCretashen, andendedup spending

the next three years in Karabakh, living and working with thepeople and sol-

diers, and disparching reports and documentaries to

deed, considering the kind of sensitivity and compas-

any news agency that cared to broadcasther pieces. She

sion it takes to addrpss some

was also instrumental in

of the critical issues of the Ikrabakh war, the disadvantage is fairly obvious on any number of Armenian televisionprognms, atleast

campaigning with the Soviet Journalists' Union for

the release of

in the Diaspora, that run

film footage from Karabalfi : bad journalism.

ba4 in frct, that one feels thankful these reporrs will never go beyond the conSo

fines

assured her adeath sentâ&#x201A;Źnce

of the local ethnic

from 0p Azeris, she says. Paskaleva, 34, now freelances for Reuters, but

channel.

Abonanzaof melodramatic schlock, the material is Eoduced mostly by inexperienced reporters and film crews who sort of wobble their way through the maze of

emittingdull,crasslyeditorializedwar conespondence andinterviews thatoften lack contcxt and coherence. But perhaps the most events,

intolerableaspectofthesedocumenury gaffes is that the people of Karabakh come across

aslirlemorethancaricatures neatlyfittingttrc raditional gallery of cherished archetypes, and whose main function seems to lie in their capacity to flatter our own good samaritan

Vartan

Hovannisian, a reporter for the Soviet Press and Information Agency who was held by the Azeris for having taped the Getashen deportations. Her campaign

she says her main interest

gettrer,

in filmmaking. Taken toher documentaries form a luci4 no-

nonsense narrative of the recent history of Karabalfi, anditis goodoknowthattheywill also receive international exposure--at the American Film Institute this month and elsewhere-thanks to the efforts of filmmaker

NigolBezjian.

lps Ange-

We interviewed Paskaleva in les.

Alll:

ingdeparturefromthenorm. Herthreedocu-

You'Yc becn worklng In Amcrlce for rome monthr now. llow her thc Dlarpora rtruck you? Ar en outrldcncum.lnsldcr to Ar mcntren effrhr, do you rcc r rorl of prychlc contlnuum bctwocn Ar-

rnentary-length videos, Ileiglts of Hope,Will

rncnlir, Karabekh and tho

vanities, to feed our own condescension and feelings ofguilt. The work of Tsvetana Paskaleva, a Bulguian joumalist and filmmaker, is a refresh-

the Dawn Renm rc Karabalch? and My Dears, Living aldDecd, will be released this month in a single VHS package, entitled Karabal&'sWounds, in Los Angeles. Marketing of ttrc project has been undertaken by Sounds of ttre Armenian Diaspora the Glendale, California-based radio program ofthe Armenian Revolutionary Federation, which will also sponsor public screenings of the video in ttp US and Canada. An esablished freelance journalist for Bulgarian TV, with credentials that include

rr.t

out hcro? In othc wordl whcrs docr thc rlrctorlc rtop and thoec.

tuel burlncr of forglng thctc thrrc dlmcnrlonr togcthcr bcgln? PASKALEVA: When you've done

the rounds, lilrelhaveduring thesepastfouryears, you get this incredible spectnrm offeelings and attitudes that defies any attempt at

defin-

ing what it is to be an Armenian today. ort the one hand, you witness the ongoing suffering of apeoplethathas seen Shahumian andthe bombing of ttrc dormitory in Stepanakert; on

AIM,FEBRUARY 1994

geoisie, with its drive for the fast buck, its opulent palaces and German cars; and then there's this infuriating tendency in the Diaspora o capitalize on the Karabakh issue forpersonal prestige andpoliticalpositioning. Still, Karabakh is real; Armenia's socioeconomic mess is reah and so is the willingness to honestly lend a helping hand that I've seen everywhere. In tlds sense, I think, commonalities abound. I'm constantly coming across some tuly wonderful instances of solidarity and penonal sacrifice.

You lcft thc Glnome Inrtltutc for Gctarhcn and rpart thc n.xt thnc y.a]f In Karrbekh. Eut whyr ultlmrtcly, Karebakh? You could'vo cho!.n ftom ! numbcr of hot rpotr throughout thc erumbllng Sovlct Unlon4corglq Llthuanla, Azcrtaitan-to wor|r ln. WhenlstarteddocumentingtheKarabaktt deportations and the struggle for hdependence, I realized, once and for all, that I was more interestedin thepractical aspects of fi lm

rather than

its

ttreoretical intricacies.

Karabakh was there! It was tangible. When you work and live in a place like Karabalfi, it become s y anr school; itbecomes your cat@r, your support systâ&#x201A;Źm. But to start with, there was the professional side: the Soviet news media sanitized the Karabakh issue and mumbled aboutidentity paperchecks andsoon. Nobody saidanything about the mass deportations, the massacres,

tlreindiscriminatebombings-nottomention the complicity of Russian troops with the Azeris. SolhadSobethereatevery stepofthe way and report this stuff. Not too many international journalists were doing it justice. Then, of course, Karabakh forme tumed into a humaniarian mission. It's become a major part of my life, an obsession, though I don't have a drop of Armenian blood in me.

teny pcoplc who vlrlt Kenb.kh gct thc lmproslon thet thc pcoplc

thcrc havc rornchow bypesod thc Ccce.roomA apetry nd comf trc thet b rtill vcry much cvldent In thc lgptSlbr of thcfonrrrSovlct Unloni that Krlab.|dr hr lrungcd to nnlr teir a ccrtah lP|dnnl Hcpendmc.

Wlrdryotrto.dhrgP

Karabakh has been something

anomaly in Soviet history: though it had to come to gips with Orcusual conditions of a totalitarian regime, its geographical position meantthatit was removed fromthe oppressive cobwebs of cosmopolitan communism. But the fundamental uniqueness of the IGrabaldr Armenians lies in the factthat they have suffered so many degradations, such

ceaseless and blatant discrimination on the part of the Azeri ruling class, that their only form of rebellion was to plunge deep ino their own traditions, their own language, to main-

tain

certain purity ofcollective aspiration.

How were you treated

nate rocket attacks against Armenian cities and villages? But occupying these territories may also translate itself into an excellent diplomatic

windfall. Whatyou're geningnow, asaresult, is

Karabakh? | mcan, the]â&#x201A;Ź you wcrc, rtporter who stuck hcr

a Bulgorian

camcra In thc mort fcroclous llfcand.dcath sltuations thlr sidc of Alghanistan, and therc Armenlan llghters acccptcd t/ou a3 onc ol them. Thcy muct havc trusted you a lot.

Azeftaijan tacitlyrecognizingKarabakhas

party in the conflict-ttrus an equal "partnef in future dialogues. I think Karabakh has leamed the diplomatic game the hard way. a

The people there have had enough of waiting fortheinlemational community to acton their

behalf. Lnfty pronouncements of sympathy and the odd rickle of humanitarian aid don't cut it any more. And certain diplomatic efforts, like the CSCE' s Minsk process, are

I entered Karabakh at possibly one of the worstmoments in its history, during the Shahumian deportations. There was no time, on either side, to accept or

reject each other. I was there, and I plunged into the whole thing with everybody else. Of course, they all knew about the work I had done for Vartan

Hovannisian, and

think this

enough to break any barriers. As forthefighten themselves,

was

Ifirst

had to go through one or two rites of passagetilltheycametoviewmeas one

of their company.

When Erkej,

Manashit and Buzluk were evacualed, only 23 Armenian fighten, all volunteers from Yerevan, stayed on in Erkej

to defend the place to the death. I pleaded with Jivan, the commander, to stay with them, but he refused, knowing the level of danger we would face the next day. I literally had to beg him, promising to follow orders and not to be

intheirway,beforehe grantedmywish. AfterErkej, I hadeamedareputation as a woman who didn't shy away from the line of fire. Yes, I've been shown only tremendous trust and respect, and this means the world to me.

One sees the horrific suffering, the scnsclers killingr documnted in yourworlg and, at one

poilrttpcpestbrrrheftertherc could'Ye bccn a sane? way of dealing withthc Ka;abaHr ques-

tion arises. Did wc miss out on

pre?

If it weren't for the armed struggle, Karabakh wouldhavebeen lostforever. Period.

saw how the people of

Karabakh actually learned to fight during thesepastyears; I saw howthey put togetheran army. They hadto. Andnow that Karabakh actually occupies importantchunks of Azerbaijani territory, I can't sit here and honestly condone, from a humanitarian pointof view, these reverse deportations andsufferings, butl've seen howevents since Shahumian led to the current situation: the Armenians had no choice but to get to Fizuli, Jebrail, Kelbajar and some of these other places; how else do you stop the indiscrimi-

Paskaleva: "When you work and llve In a place llke Karabakh, lt becomeeyout school; It becomes your career, your suppod syetem."

AIM. FEBRUARY

1994

widely regarded as ajoke in Karabakh. In this sense, my films are a slap in the face of the international community: a reminderto politicos and human rights organizations that they have ignored Karabakh or acted ttre fool long enough. But my work goes beyond a personal expression of astoni shment dirâ&#x201A;Źcted at the world for its indifference; it is also a

desperatecallforaction.

TORGHSONGS OFTHE ALTERNATIVE By ISHKHAN JINBASHIAN erhaps it was the trauma of

coming

to grips with the

vastness and alienation of the Diaspora; or the grind of simply getting by under a Sovietregime; oran ancienttendencytoward fatalism. Whateveryour sociological stance, the fact remains that Armenian popular music of the 20th century has all but sidestepped daily life.

Armenia's urbanization, beginning with the 1920s, and the Diaspora's de facto cosmopolitanism in the period following the Genocide, have made Armenian pop the natural descendant of Armenian folk music-an awesome, pro-

parody, utterly divorcing itself from ttredirect responsibility of the real. There is a vast corpus of gorgeous Armenian pop music (whether it be in the form of the esdratayin, the neo minstrel or soft rock) that was composed throughout the decades in

both Armenia and the Diaspora; the lyric content of the repertoire, however, the word itself, have never quite risen to the occasion. It is easy to see how avoidance ofreality could, in turn, yield to exasperating bouts of intellectual wanking, reaching its nadir with the emergence of the rabizschool, as if this was Armenian pop's own sulky way of exacting revenge for Genocide, exile and political marginalization. The net effect is that Armenian pop

music today-a

foundlv

sanitized miasma

of two thematic

@EN r,rr

banalromance and lit-

staples:

eralnationalism

of the most joylesskindhasneitherthe inventiveness

toinspirenor the depth to

enlighten. Devoidofthe sexuality, wit, sense of irony and textual relevance to modem life that make pop music pop, it dodders away in gratingdrones onunrequitedlove, damsels in

distress with their bloody dark eyes, and frenzies of patriotism ttrat c6mforabiy border on the fascistic. Is it any wonder that, increasingly, intelligent Armenian young men and women everywhere refuse to touch the stuff except for caustic amusement? he fundamental challenge facing

every serious Armenian artist

working in the modem situation is

toacceptandlegitimizeherorhis

as that ofthe quintessential cyberpunk nomad: multicultural by birth, multilingual by necessity, willing to incessantly metamor-

lot

phose and uneasy in any one civic space, even

given the theoretically blissful warmth of homeland. It is due to Armenian art's inability to dump its ethno-pathetic luggage and venfure into a larger expanse ofcreative expression that we're stuck with the glorified mediocrity so ubiquitous in Armenian pop music. Few Armenian artists in recent times have shown enough guts to accept thepastbut

not dwell in it; to celebrate tradition but refusetotakeitas gospel; andto annihilatethe guilt, ideological client relationships and received notions of esthetic propriety that can be so detrimental to taking the leap

toward the spheres of the extraordinary in art. ut, by God, those very few whohavetakenthe

leap have done it in a way.

big, darling

What's more, judging by some of the material thathas come out of Yerevan and Paris in the last years, the trend

,#,#l

may well replicate itself along the paths of learned risk-taking and com-

petitive experimentation. You see and hear it in the latestrock

music videos somehow reaching Ar-

menian TV programs in L. A.-neither power shortages nor bread queues seem to have phased Yerevan's burgeoning rock crowd, which keeps on doing its bit with snipped-down production equipment

variegated tradition that reached its apotheosis with Komitas. But Armenian pop ultimately opted for the dreamy stretches of innocuous absffaction and retrogressive selfAIM, FEBRUARY 1994

andtechniques. Themusic is exubrant, provocatively clever and fresh, though perhaps a bit too glamorous for its own good. This is Armenia' s ambitious MTV generation doing its damnedestto hustle its way inlo the great leagues of world music, delivering on the promise ofboundless expressive energy after the dehumanizin g intellecnral paralysis of the Soviet era. But while these infusions are slowly subverting the feel and vocabulary of Armenian pop/rock, which is, especially in the Diaspora, still very much the

turf of the abominable rabiz persuasion, the new faces have yet to stamp the scene with the sort

musical punch and

sheer

imaginative audacity that pervade the work of two of their greatest

living godfathers, Rouben Hakhverdian and Arthur Meschian.

here are so many bootlegged copies of recordings by Hakhverdian and Meschian that it is often hard to distinguish the legitimate albums fromthose packaged by your local ethnic music peddler. Since the work of both artists was banned in Armenia, their songs were taped in the 1970s and 80s during clandestine concerts and recording sessions; the music was spread around in true underground fashion, with everybody copying off of everybodyelse's cassette tapecopy. Intime, Diasporatapepushorsalsowentinfor the kill, and, since the concept ofcopyrights is generally laughed offin the Armenian music industry, it's sadly understandable why Meschian had it known on one tape jacket that the recording was actually approved by

him. Of the albums that have been produced legally, Hakhverdian's On Life and Midnight, and Meschian's Catharsis represent some of the most glittering avant garde work

modern Armenian music. while

Meschian's 7h e Monologue of a CrazedVio/rnut, though somewhatbland compared tohis

previous efforts, continues to break new ground.

f you don't follow the lyrics carefully, you might get the impression that he is waxing, well... lyrical, The acoustic guitar lines exude an airy, supple serenity, and his voice is coolly elegant and self-

composed. But Rouben Hakhverdian has gushed forth social satire enough to piss off andcausepermanentpsychic damageto several govemment departments of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, and worldly wisdom enough to rouse generations of Armenians searching for the voice of sanity. Indeed, it's extremely rare for an artist to be able to lambast everything from the firmament to the corrupt bureaucrat down in city hall while

diacy

and refined musical sensibilities, butit goes beyond the steet, wellbeyondthesociopoliticallocus;andwith

sounding so charmingly un-

its measured evocations of Armenian hymns, the workof Komitas inparticular, itis abird's eye view of modern Armenian history as played out in the microcosms of the Genocide,

ruffled.

the Soviet era, and the as-yet dubious prom-

Hakhverdian's marix of the imagination is the Yerevan night, a fragrant metaphysical crossroads wherepoets anddogs gettogether to have a good laugh, compare notes, weave anew song. Inhis compilation albums On Life,

ise of an independent republic. ln The Monolo gue of a Crazed

a cassette tape produced by France's Equilibre, md Midnight, a Polygram CD, Hakhverdian stops the Yerevan night in its tacks to snatch sumptuous monels outof its each and every nook and cranny. While he sniffs about for a paradise postponed after childhood, he lashes out at the Soviet powers that be who have made adult life in Armenia a regimented nightrnare of paranoia, humiliation and repressed yearning. But no ideological behemoth could even marginally break the will of a society as vibrant as the people of Armenia, and Hakhverdian is only too glad to sing thejoys of making insouciant love smack in the middle ofdoom city. It is this capacity for the cheer-

ful absurd, ultimately, which

responsible

for

Hakhverdian's singularly transcendent poetics of the sEeet, a consbuctwherethe longing forlosttime and lostlovecan flourishonly through the prism of an intense, violent passion for life.

Hakhverdian's protest emanates

from the sfreet and comes to restore it to a mature. ebullient vision of humanism. ArthurMeschian's music isthesu-

preme expression of Armenian pop mysticism. His projectis striking in its textual imme-

AIM,FEBRUARY 1994

Violinist,

his latest CD produced by AMArtist, Meschian quietly reflects on his decision !o leave Armenia in the late 1980s, and on a Yerevan so hastily fansmogrified since the democratic movement that the former city of blood brothen and gut-wrenching love affain

cannowberecognizedonly the map,

amootspoton

mere station between stations. This

is Meschian's cry for empathy from a sea flummoxing emotions, a time of loss and

of of

tentative, dawdling rejuvenation. ButThe Monologue of a Crazed Violinist does not even come close to the lushness, musical confidence and raw poetic vigor of Catharsis, an AMArtist-produced compilation tape that includes Meschian's best work from the days when he fronted Arakialnere (The Apostles) in Armenia, and a number of recent compositions. Meschian's elegiac voice, combined with melodies that make rock music sound as if it was inventedinGlatsor, Armenia, circa 1200,

is a force field so exhilarating that it commands renewed respect for modern Armenian

music and the Armenian language itself. In "Where Were You God?" arguably the most powerful Armenian protest music evercomposed in our century, Meschian hurls a harrowing catalogue of discontent atthe face of an impassive God, as though to remind us that the life-affrming ecstasy informing the rest of the album is perhaps the most useful way

of dealing with collective

grief.

BYPASSINGTHE GRIDLOCK

BAFA's Hands-On Approach By

LltLlE D.llERlGlAN everal years ago a group of 10 professionals in the San FranciscoOakland area decided to bypass all

the "bureaucratic gridlock and political baggage" and form an organization to undertake specific humanitarian proj ects in Armenia with a hands-on approach from start to finish-no shings attached, no underlying agendas and zero percent administrative

stated purpose."

"I see BAFA as a bridge between the Bay AreaandArmeni4 each side approachingthe other with objectivity in order to avoid false expectations," says restawateur.

lrvon

Der Bedrossian,

Conceived in November 1992, BAFA filed documents last March for non-profit, non-political and non-sectarian incorporation. Withfunds conributedby eachof the l0board directors, the organization purchased two computers, hired

secretary and set up offrce tlo of is directors. Day-

space in the homes of

sionary Association of America's (AMAA) plea for support of its Children' s Milk Fund. But the "friends" went one step further and

requested that their contribution go to the children living in the orphanages adopted throughout Armenia by First Lady Lucy Ter Petrossian, and the families of Karabakh veterans. TerPetrossian haddescribed thedetails of her project to the Bay Area community during her visit in October, 1992. Within one month of collecting the funds, the "friends" received a fax from the director of the orphanages, thanking them for the

much-needed powdered milk. It was this "mission accomplished" clincher that has-

tenedthebirthof BAFA. Since the group seeks to collaborate with other organizations or individuals, the soup kitchen program in Yerevan, established by Nora Nercessian, a Harvard medical administrator, seemed made-for-BAFA. Cunently, six soup kitchens, known as barekordzalwn jasharans, operate in and around Yerevan, feeding elderly, disabled and orphaned individuals. Using a coupon system developed in cooperation with the Mayor's office, each kitchen serves 100 people, six days a week. Representatives from the organization make frequenton-site visits to ensurethequality and effectiveness of theprogram. Anotherbenefi t of the soup kitchen project is fte creation of jobs and new business for local merchants and

farmers. When BAFA adopted thekitchen in central Yerevan lastyear, theprojectcost$ 12,000 a year. However, with runaway inflation and the issuance of thenew dram. costs nowhave doubled. BAFA's Soup Kitchen Committee, chaired by scientist Hriar Cabayan, also a board director, has recently launched a nationwide fund-raising campaign across the US to bolster its budget. Plans forfutureprojects such as aneduca-

a s I t

tional program for teens about sexually-

AYerevan soup kllchen overhead. Impossible?

The Bay Area Friends

of Armenia

(BAFA) was born "out of the frustration of people who want to see things done expeditiously and effectively," says BAFA board member Ara Tahmassian, a health physicist. Other board directors are just as adamant about the organization's raison d' etre: industrial pharmacist John Halibian, one of the group's founding members, explains that "considering the urgencies involved, as a small group we can expedite all support activities withoutexpecting anything in retum." John Poochigian, an internist, says BAFA offers "an opportunity to have direct impact on projects andreceive immediate feedback... with all administrative expenses covered by the board of directors." Nerses Teshoian, CPA, joined BAFA becauseitcould "fill the void in thosewhohave a desire to contribute to Armenia and wantto be sure their dollars are being spent for their 44

to-day operations are handled by executive

director Frangois Antounian, an orthopedic surgeon, who also serves on theboard and was

instrumental in founding BAFA.

"Our only agenda," he stresses, "is to assist Armenia with whateverneeds are identified in the republic." Because ofhis personal involvementin a

surgical training program

Yerevan,

Antounian travels frequently to Armenia and performs orthopedic surgery on those injured in the Karabakh war. Hehas witnessed firsthand the pitifu I conditions and survival tactics Armenians must resort to every day. He is outraged that some groups and individuals in

the Diaspora are decrying the Armenian government and its policies while showing little or no concern about the wretched living conditions there. Theincentivetoorganizewaspropelledby the ability of the "friends" toraise $10,500in two days in response to the Armenian Mis-

AIM, FEBRUARY 1994

transmitted diseases and a drive to inoculate Armenia's children areonthebackbumerfor now . ''During this emergency situation we' re focusing upon survival. No long-term projects yet," Antounian says. He admits that starting an organization is a headache, and he knows that BAFA is not capable of saving the world. "But so much is going nowhere. All you have to do is ask 'whereistheneed?' andthen, aftersomesmart

planning and evaluation, go into action." Much of BAFA's "action" is covered in the pages of its slick bi-monthly newslener,ARlT. It encourages its readers to comment and debateways and means ofhelping thehomeland.

Notwithstanding the efforts

other

groups and individuals who supportArmenia, BAFA's uniqueness lies in its personal approach to personal needs. Pediatrician Julie Kulhanjian, one of twowomenon theboard, has the last word: "To be an Armenian today and in the 2lst century means serving Arme-

nia with one's time, and money."

experience

ARII|EI{IAI.I TEX.EI/ISION

PRODUCNONS,

NC.

APHOENIGIAN LEGAGY

Vazgen I of All Armenians and Karekin

PHOTOS AND TEXT

By HARRY L. KOUNDAK.TIAN

ince 1956, his signature has become all but synonymous with an idyllic kbanon that seems to have emerged unscathed from civil war

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the ancient port cities of Byblos, Sidon andTyre that adom the off,rces of Lebanese diplomatic missions,

tourism bureaus and business establishments throughout the world. Manoug Alemian died onFebruary I 7 in Montr6al, Canada, ofcancer. He was 76. Born in Hama, Syria, Manoug, as he eventually came to be known, studied

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Theprizes, too,beganpouringin: firstand secondcompetition prizes from Kodak, 1 964, and Nikon, 1969; first prize for International Tourism Congress photography in 1970 and 1974, for his cave studies; and the Knight of the Order of the Cedars, one of Lebanon's highest civilian medals.

and foreign invasions. The

to spend some time in the French

Paris ?

IIof

Cilicia.

rowing film money and

non, where the living of several civilizations, coupled with the traces

lush Meditenanean landscape, would provide ample

material

for the photo-

graphic eye. For Manoug, Lebanon would become a

lifetime obsession-and a launching pad for both commercial and critical success.

Fame would also bring

Manoug Alemlan in his Montr6al studlo.

a glamorous brush with

the movers and shakers

of the Middle East. Soon, leaders ranging from Kings

Recently, in Canada, where Manoug had settled with his family, he was decorated by

Hussein of Jordan, Faisal and Khaled of Saudi Arabia to Presidents Hafez el-Assad of Syria and Camille Chamoun of Lebanon were enlisting Manoug for a shot at immortality. But perhaps his most awe-inspiring portrait studies remain those of Catholicoi

both leaders of the Armenian Apostolic

AIM. FEBRUARY 1994

Church: an EncyclicalandtheMesrobMashtots Greater Cilicia medal from Catholicos Karekin II, and the Movses Khorenatsi medal from Catholicos Vazgen I. He was alsodecorated for a second time with Lebanon's Medal of Cedars, Officer's Rank. T 45

MUSTC FOR THE BARDS Sirvart Karamanuk has been described as uncannily capturing fte essence of modern Armenian literatruetbroughhermusic. The8l-year-oldcomposerfromlstanbulwasinNewYorkandlosAngeles recently to attend the last in a string of concerts devoted to her worts and sponsored by the Alumni Association Committee of the Essayan-Ketronakan School of Istanbul. Trainedas aconcertpianistat thelsanbul ConservatoryunderFerdi Statzer,IGramanukhas composed music to the poetry of Avetik Isahakian, Misak Metsarâ&#x201A;Źnts, Vahan Tekeyan and Hovhannes

Tbmanian.Herworksforpiano,chorusandorchestraalsoincludeArmenianchildren'sversesandnrnes, aswellasarangementsforArmenianliturgicalchants. Karamanuk'sachievementsarcdocumentedin IntenationalWlw'sWhoofMusic andMusicians andhercompositionscanbeheardonMusicalHeritage Society andPositively Armenianrecordings, aswellacompilationdevotedtohersongs, duetobe rpleased this month. and

Karamanukshows no signsof slowingdown. "I wanttobeworthyofthehonorsbestoweduponme I shall continue to compose and encourage young musicians as long as God allows," she says. Luclne Kasbarlan

DID HE OR DTDN'T HE? Nearly a week after his purported suicide, aides to Zviad Gamsakhurdia released the text of what theyreferred to as a suicide note. According to his wife, Manana, and several other sources, the 54-yearold former dissident-turned-president of Georgia took his life during the early hours of December 3 I after being sunounded by forces loyal to the current leader of the republic, Edward Shevardnadze. As publishedbyRussia's Itar-Tass news agency, Gamsakhurdia'snotâ&#x201A;Źreads, "Icommitthis actinprotest against the ruling regime in Georgia and because I am deprived of the possibility, acting as fte nesidenl to normalize the situation, to restore law and order." However, there areconflictingexplanationsofGamsakhurdia's death. OnereportfromTbilisi suggests that the former president was wounded in a December 3 I skirmish in neighboring Chechenia and died later on January 5 . Anottrer rcport holds that he may have died after being shot by his own aides. A philologist and the son of a famous novelis! Gamsaktrurdia led Georgia's s0uggle for independence and became president in May I 99 I with a landslide vote. Despite his populuity and after only six months in office, the enigmatic leader was ousted from office, vilified as a tyrant and an isolationist who arrested political opponents, violated human rights and threatened the nation's ethnic minorities. But even after his ouster, he was able to retain his popularity in western Georgia from where he led 10,000 soldiers or "Zviadists." His supporters clashed several times with government troops and nearly succeeded last fall in reclaiming the capital. Aylln Baharlan

PLAUDITS FOR PLATT'S Recogrized for outstanding contributions to his field, Onnic Marashian, editor-in -clttef of. Platt' s OilgratnNews since 1973, received an award forexcellenceinenergyreporting fromthelntemational Association for Energy Economics (IAEE) in Bali, Indonesia. Establishedin 1923bycrusadingjournalistWarrenPlaninoppositiontooilmonopolies, andwidely regarded as "thebible" of the fuel industry, P/ar's OilgratnNews is adaily sourceof information and analysis upon which economists, industry executives and laymen rely. Last fall, Marashian was among those invited to participate in an I 8-day raining program in Washington, D.C., for four offrcials from Armenia's Ministry of Fuel and Energy, which has treen inundated with a flood of proposals from oil prospectors drawn to Armenia as a result of the California Energy Commission's rep\,rts indicating likely locations of oil reserves in the republic.

L.K.

SHAKING THE TREE New Jersey State Assemblyman Garabed "ChuclC'Haytaian @epublican) is poised to run for the US Senate this year. If the $600,000 raised in the past two months is any indication, Haytaian might formally announce his candidacy in early March. "Therp have been a lot of financial commiftnents made bymembers of the Armenian community, but we can always use more," says Mike Snyder, Haytaian's chief of staff, estimating the cost of an effective campaign to unseat Dernocratic incumbent nrant Lautenberg at some $8 million. Haytaian was the chief sponsor of the controversial Holocaust Curriculum bill in the New Jersey StateAssembly, whichcalls forpublic schoolchildrento study theJewishHolocaust, AnnenianGenocide and Cambodian Massacres. The press and some ethnic minorities have protested the bill's specific nanrre, believing that individual communities should dictate coursework at their own discretion or in-

cludeallpersecutedpeoplesratherthansingleoutafew, whileTurkishorganizationsarecontestingany reference to the Genocide. An amended bill will be reinroduced in the State senate. Should Haytaian win a seat in ttre US Senate, he is optimistic that friendly relations will grow with the nation of his ancestors. "He keeps in mind that the first democracy of the former Soviei Union is Armenia, andheexpects Armenia to beoneof America's staunchestallies," Snydersays of Haytairarl.

AIM, FEBRUARY 1994

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