Precious Burden - January 1994 by Armenian International Magazine

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Austrafian Opa[ qgu7fi er po[isfief'

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44 Bridge Street, Sydney-. Ar.rstralia 20011

Phone: (02)

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F-ax;

(02) 2i21700

FELLOW ARMENIANS: The United Armenian Fund had record revenues and supporl of $31.7 million during the fiscat yearlgg3, as indicated ih'the audit of its financial stat_ements prepared by the accounting firm of Arthur Andersen & Co.

BALANCE SHEET SEPTEMBER 30. 1993 ASSETS

The audit revealed that less than 1% of U.A.F.,s total revenues were spent on operational expenses with the remaining 99% allocated for assistance to Armenia. We are proud that t6e .l%

CURRENT ASSETS: ('trslt untl tu.yh e tltrit'ulott.s Itti l,,tirl 1 y1,1 11\( \ (/i l(/(1(7r,\//\

overhead is one of the lowest among charitible organiiationi in the united states.

littttl cuffent

During this fiscal year, The U.A.F. airlifted to Armenia 22 plane-

loads of relief supplies with a total value of $2g million. As a

result, as much humanitarian aid has been sent this year as the cumulative total of the three previous years. Since it-s inception in November 1989 through September 1993, The U.A.F.'has

assets

FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT: lt r t n 1.r

t t, tt ttl t, tl tt ilttttt,ttt \t, tunillttrtLl rltltRr'irrti|tt

lt)

t it tr

dispatched a total of 59 airlifts carrying $57 million worth of

12,1

supplies.

The U.A.F. is the collective effort of the Armenian Assembly of America, Armenian General Benevolent Union, Armenian Missionary Association of America, Armenian Relief Society, Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, prelacy of the-Armenian Apostolic Church of America, and Lincy Fdundation.

Alex Yemenidjian Chairman U.A.F.

Harut Sassounian Executive Director

)

( /,s..1.

TOTAL ASSETS

$ 598,7

LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCE CURRENT LIABILITIES: ,\c c nrctl I itr lti I it i cs

S 9.,t

Atlturtcc.y

6t,9

Total

rre nt liabi litic s

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

FUND BALANCE

To the Board of Directors of The United Armenian Fund:

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCE

71,7

527,01

$ 598,7

We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of THE UNITED ARMENIAN FUND (a Catifornia non-profit corpora-

tion) as of September 30, 1993, and the related statements of revenues and support, expenses and changes in fund balance and cash flows for the year then ended. These flnancial statements are the responsibility of The United Armenian Fund,s manag-ement. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that w6 plan'and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance aboui whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence suppoftinq

the amounts and disclosures in the financiat statemdrits ni audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by managem6nt, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement piesentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

ln our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of The United Armenian Fund as of September 30, 19g3, and the results of

its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended

conformity with generally accepted accouniing principles. ARTHUR ANDERSEN & CO. Los Angeles, California December 3, 1993

STATEMENT OF REVENUES AND SUPPORT, EXPENSES AND CHANGES IN FUND BALANCI FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,1993

REVENUES AND SUPPORT: (irtnIs trtrtl .tt,t rit t': t tnttribtied.fitr uirli.fis ('tr.tlt

ttrttrilttrtiort: llrurtl Mtnlrr.s

$2e,072.6, 2,012.-l

('tt.slt t ttrtlriltulitttt.s - Otltct'

5.11.1,

Irttc n,st

Totol revenues und sultport

-i.5r

31,663,0r

EXPENSES: Grxtd.s sltiltpcd utul

:cn,itt'.s

rt.sad itt

trirlili.t

-t0.0-t-1.0.

Airlifi.s urul ralutcd co.rt,r S

1t 1tr t

rt in g

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Total expenses

t0,5

)9\

c e.s

,738,9t

Net expenses oy-€r r€reilu€S ottd support

(7s,90

in FUND BALANCE, at beginning of year FUND BALANCE, at end of year

s27.0t

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30.1993

\SH FLOWS ,\r'l

FROI\,4 OPERATING ACTIVITIES t l ( \'(n u( \ tt t t l t tt J,1,,, 1

r' t7rr,lt.rr',i ( )i ('

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l)c1u't't itrliott

[)t't t t', t.;t' i tt 1t tt' 1tt t ir I c t Jtr' t r \(' \ t Irrt ntrst'irt trtt nttl litrltilitiL Int

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ASH FLOWS FRO[,4 INVESTING ACTIVITIES: I'urchuse o.f.fitniture u,td cquipm(nl

EOUIVALENTS

/1 7/.il

\SH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS ]8.i..\J.i qSH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, at end rql veur

t' o

nt ri lt

ed.lit r

u i rl i li s

(irtotls shipped and services uted itr uirlills

Armenian Helief Society, Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, Lincy Foundation and Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America (see note B). Each of these organizations provides financial support and contributions of goods to The U.A.F. for airlifts to Armenia. One representative from each organization serves on the Board of Directors of The U.A.F.

a. Revenue

Significant Accounting Policies Recognition

Allcontributions are recognized as revenue when earned or received. Contributions are received from individuals, corporations and both member and non-member charitable organizations. Funds designated by the donor, grantor or other outside party for padicular purposes are deemed to be earned and reported as revenues when The U.A.F. has incurred expenditures in compliancewith the specific designation. Such amounts received but not yet earned are reported as advances. b. Depreciation

,$.t82,,32,9

Furniture and equipment is depreciated by use of the straight-line method over a period of five years. 3. Cash and Cash

JPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES )F CASH FLOW INFORMATION: ( ioorl s tr nd scrt' it' c s

The U .A. F. is the collective eifort of six member organizations: Armenian General Benevolent Union, Armenian Missionary Association of America,

2. Summary of (J,562 t

:T DECREASE IN CASH \ND CASH

The United Armenian Fund (The U.A.F.) is a non-profit charitable organizatron whose primary purpose is to bring short and long-term humanitarian aid to Armenia. The U.A.F. was formed on November 7,1989. The U.A.F. dispatches airlifts of supplies, equipment and resources necessary for relief and reconstruction to Armenia. ln addition, The U.A.F. makes donations to other humanitarian causes as deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors.

Equivalents

Cash equivalents consistol highly ilquid short-term money market instruments with original maturities of seven days or less. .$

29.072.6tt.1

s .10.0.1-1.025

4. lncome Taxes

The U.A.F. has received preliminary favorable determination letters from the lnternal Revenue Service and the California Franchise Tax Board stating that The U.A.F. will be treated as a tax exempt organization for both Federal and California state income tax purposes during its advanced ruling period ending May 31 , 1994. Accordingly, no provision has been made in the accompanying financial statements for Federal or California state income taxes. 5. Goods and Services Contributed

for Airlifts

The accompanying financial statements reflect revenues of $29,072,683 re-

lating to goods and services donated by various corporate, individual and charitable donors. This value was detennined based upon the review of supporiing documentation provided by the donors or the estimated cost of services provided, as applicable. 6. Goods Shipped and Services Used in

126 SOUTH JACKSON STREET SUITE 205

GLENDALE

cA 91205 Telephone: 818.241.8900 Fax:

818.241.6900

Airlifts

The accompanying f inancial statements reflect expenses of $30,033,025 relating to goods shipped and services used in airlifts. lncluded in this value is $1,01 1,736 relating to funded projects and other purchased goods by The U.A.F. 7. Fund Balance

lncluded in the Fund Balance is $352,000 provided by memberorganizations to meet urgent requests approved by the Board of Directors. 8. Subsequent Event During the year, the Board of Directors approved the request of the Armenian Assemblyof Americato resume its membershipof The U.A.F., whichformally accepted subsequeni to year end. One member of this organization will also serve on the Board of Directors of The U.A.F.

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DOSSIEB

With the introduction of the dram in November, Yerevan is working hard to keep hyperinflation in check and boost

4D r-

public confidence in the new currency... And while the Diaspora mourns the passing of three of its most prominent visual artists, a young set of pianists have made it big in the Van Cliburn and Ivo Pogorelich piano competitions.

COVERSTORY

{A IY

PREGIOUS BURDEN

Since independence in 1991, Armenia's foreign relations have been all but synonymous with the Karabakh agenda and with

intemal political crisis arising as a direct consequence of the six-year-old armed conflict. In this issue, we take a closer look at the diplomatic headway Armenia has made in the intemational arena, and a less-than-rosy road that may lie ahead.

FIELD BEPORT

POINTS OF RETURN

Recognizing the geopolitical signifi cance ofthe country's southem frontier, the Armenian govemment unveiled the Zangezur Plan in 1993, a long-term economic and strategic project that would help redevelop the entire Zangezur belt. Since the plan was launched in March, unusually swift improvements have been made throughout the region.

PUBLISHEB'S

NOTE

f; p

LETTERS BYTES ON FILE tltTERvtEw

ANALYSIS

Garry Kasparov on his personal odyssey from the pogroms of Baku to running for office in Moscow. Those lucrative American

jobs in Baku.

cLosE.uP

c12

ART

Photographer Levon Parian

iIf

A photo essay on life in Armenia and Karabakh, 1993.

ECOilOTY

o I t

Further chapters in Yerevan's

privatization debate.

ORGANIZATION ilOTES

The Canadian Youth Mission to Armenia is putting muscle

S6nd addr6ss changes to;

artist Garin6 Torossian continue to refine their respective vocabularies, while also breaking a few barriers. COVER DESIGN BY DICRAN Y. KASSOUNY; PHOTOS BY ARMINEH JOHANNES ANO MKHITAR KHACHATRIAN

behind charity.

Po.tm..lara!

andmultimedia

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9O2CC, U.3.4.

CHANGINGGEARS Nineteen-ninety-fourmaybeoneofthemostimportantandcriticalyearsinArmenia's history.

With each passing year, the infant-republic argument loses more of its edge because fouryearsafterindependence,therehasalreadybeensuffrcienttimepassedoverthatinitial period of decline and the beginning of economic growth and systemic change. And yet, after a quick look at the expectations for this year, one is hardpressed to hnd a glimmer of

FOURIH MIIIENNIUM socrErY A NoFfrr-Prcfft, Puuic Ecnclit Corpoolio

DIRECIORS

hope and optimism.

NCNATOSI(ANI^N

rA;'I

unifred approach to the Diaspora's efforts to alleviate Armenia' s grave economic situation. Indeed, united effort is what Armenia needs most this year. We are hopeful that at the end of 1994, we will be able to feature someone who has brought the geatest bnefit to the effort of merging the work of Homeland and Diaspora. This, indeed, is what has moved AIM to join forces with Les Nouvelles d'Arm6nie (LNA), two Diaspora publications that perhaps share the most in terms of their professionalism andavision forstrengthening anindependentArmenian statehood. The six-issues-old, Paris-based LNA, similar in format and content to AIM, is already well on theroadtoestablishing itself as theFrench-speaking community's primary source of information and analysis on Armenia and Armenians. With our combined resources, we hope to serve the needs of our readers better by

ZINZAUAN

TOUNDING TRUSTEES

ilAIDO I(APRIEUIIN

Thisyear,AlMselectedasManoftheYearsomeonewhohadhadthegreatestinlluence on encouraging

NAHA]II

YATOUJAN

The likelihood of a peaceful resolution to the Karabakh conflict remains dim today: Azerbaijan'srecentmilitaryadvancesaretestimonytoitsrefusaltopursuethepeaceoption. Armenia's internal situation also is notpositive. Theprospectof astable dram, themost important factor in economic health, is victim to a continuing economic blockade and shortage ofenergy. Under these heavy conditions, bringing positive change can only become possible through the united efforts of the political forces within Armenia, the Diaspora's united and coordinated efforts, and thejoint forces ofboth.

OAI:N AY:DIIOIN

MIOO GOOJATAN1AN

varouJ^N tsxrNDlllAlil HAOOP KOUSHAXJ1AN

30f llovEt YAROUJAN

NAHA!T

NOIAltOSX N]AN

zatlH satKts3l N N F}I

providingmorecomprehensivecoverageofArmenian,regionalandinternationalevents, and abroaderperspective on the activities of individuals whose workimpacts Armenian life. We begin our collaboration by presenting in the present issue an exclusive LNA./ AIM interview with world chess champion Garry Kasparov. This is the first in what promises to be a frequent and broad offering of collaborative efforts to utilize the tools ofjoumalism to better explain and understand the problems and

ZTNZAUAN

n7 SOUIH BP,AND BLVO.

sum t07 GGI.loATE

challenges facing Homeland and Diaspora.

cA 9120a

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Once Upon

Time Series Book I

ARMENIAN FOLKTALES

TFMONE,ANDONLY

By Sona T.eitlian

Please send copy(ies) of The One and Only at US $9.95 each. (Add $5.00 shipping & Handling. $8.00 for Canadal. For large scale orders shipping and handling is less. Call AIM at (818) 546-2246. Enclosed is a check

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Eng./Span.

Address

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Address your check to AIM and send with this order form to: AIM Magazine-Armenian Tales, 109 E. Harvard St.,Suite 305, Glendale CA

AIM, JANUARY I994

205

tUtLEHl*

Mhhad tlahabsl

lDltoi:Va]bnOsksnlan

/\INI tXICUtlVt lDl?Ol: Salpl Haroullnian Ghazarian X lllOlXO :DlfOl: l$khan Jlnbashian

lDllotlll COXIULT lll: Mlnas Koialan IDlfOt IIltllU!: Charles N8zarian IDITOI lr LIIOI: Tony Halpin ltf illlc?Oi: Dlcran Y. Kassourry GOXltllU?lXO IDllOna:

Vlcken Bablkian, Kevork lmllzian, Halg Keroplan, MaIk Malkasian,Talina Salamian, Arlt Sevag, Bonald Grlgor Suny, Jivan Tablblan, Taline Voskorltcfilan Golfllllt,Toit: lvladrE Arakofiana, Ann€n Arq/an, Midud Arshagounl, Anashes Emln, Yvotte Harpootlan, Hovhannos Harutiunian Anl Klchlsn, Lola Koundakjlan, Gilda Kupelian,

Mlchael Mastarciyan, Moorad Mooradlan,Nancy

Talk lr Ghcap If l.ondon's so+alled "phenomenon" is a picture of the Armenian community of the futurre (Communities, October), then please,

please, bring back thepast.

Neither Armenia's Ambassador, whom Tony Halpin praises to the sky, nor the fumenian Community Church Council, which

OF TFIE

Naiarian,Ara Oehagan,Suean Paltie,Simon Payasllan,

its so-called pledges; cited the Azeris for

Janot Samu€lian, Barli Shoubooklan COABIS?OXDILL: Ammrn: AraVoEHan; Am.brdlm: AnenNazarlan; Brutxla: K8vork Oskanlen; Buano! Alita: Sam Sarklsslan; tondon:Anl Manouklan; llotcow:Gayane

violating the cease-fires; orenhancedtheArmenian image either in the House of Com-

Hambarlzumlan; P.rl.: Khalchlk Kechlan; Sydnay: Halg Lopodilan; Vl.nnr: Sebouh Baghdoyan; w!.hlnglm: zanku Amenian; Yrtyan: Papken Gadachik, Nune Magoyan, Tlgran

mons orin anynewsmedium as aresultofthe so-called efforts of the Ambassador.

Xmalian

Furthermore,

PllOTOOllPtlIBa:

Ammrn: Karokin Kefelien; B.lrut: ArnoJihanian: Boalon: LenaSanenls,Ari Stamatiou: Florld!:

Bergp Ara Zoblan; S.n Frrncl3co: Amon Polrossian; Yaravrn: Mkhitar Khachatrlan, Zaven Khechlkian, Roub€n Manga8arien

lttlaT PllOlO

LT TO THI lDtTOB3:

Alclllvlaf

Aylin Baharian

Varant Gourjian Thomas Yotodan

CIiCUL TIOX DIIICIOR:

lDIlxltrt^Tlvl lrlttlcToi: Seia Kouzoulan ADYIi?ltlllo Dli:GrOl: Allne S. Kassablan lDYlt?l3lXO Dl?Alillllf : Mellne Ounjlan, Hralch Yerknabellan

COLOi

SlPAtl?lOIl:

A & Acraphlcs, Canada

txrrBll^rroiral. SurscnrPnoil AXDADYlltltl]lO nlPtEtIl{rArlYESt

CllllDlr

Razmlg Haklmlan, 6685 Henry Bouras8a Wesl,

Montieal,Po, Canada, H4R 2El,Telephone 514 339 2517

ULITID lRAa

IIlllTIar

Toros Babiklan, P.O. Box 609&1, Oubal, UAE; ULl?lD flllODOnt Mbak Ohanian, l0TGunmburyLane, Acton, LondonWS, U.K,, Telephone 081 FBlLCEr Jean-Palrick Mouradian, 3, Bus Jules 992 '1521; 93 l0 Guesd6, 94140 - Afoilville, France, Tslophono si 1 't8 33; HOI{O follot Jack Maxian, RM. A2, lllF, Block A, 26 Kal Cheung Bd., Kowloon Bay, Kowloon,Telephone 852 795

AUITiALIAI

Allr6d Markarian, P.O. Box 92, Merrylands, NSW2l60, Telephone02 8971846, Mobil€ Phone 018865 188 9888;

,t lLlalltDlt l rutlro SttYtcr

tY FOUiTtl

TTLLTXXTUI aOGrl?Y,

l xot.;ot rtot!? rualtc atxttrr Goi?oi ?lox

/UNI

rOUXDID lX I att lY Z!r!h B$tajl8n, V8riatr Karaoghlanian, Shlhc K.hohn, Kdkd Krltorlu, Mldlaal Nshabat, Vltcha Oknaien, Thom8 Yrtrrian Cheda Nurrlan, Mins Ko,al8n

VaitEn Otkanlan,

Gcfqirl.Er

OlPrudes and Pawnr This letter is in regard to the story en-

titled'The lrthal Handshake" (Analysis, November). ln 1947, Arab countries unanimously rejected a UN plan which would have divided one-fourth of the then Palestineinto npo states, one Jewish and the other Arab. In 1967, Israel offered to negotiate land for peace. Again, the Arabs refused. Other than financing Palestinian terrorism, Arab countries have used their Palestinian'brethrcn"

convenientpawns

to curry international sympathy and to soften world opinion to the real Arab aim which is the destruction of Israel. When. ever it is politically convenient, the Palestinians are trotted out on the world's stage and condemnation against Israel usually follows soon after. Not wishing to jeopardize their reign and wealth, the Saudis, forexample, would never dream ofestablishing a Palestinian homeland on their own soil. It is much easier for them to cast Israel as the villain. A studyoftheOldTestament's Bookof Joshua shows thatGodhas given his chosen people a distinct area which is to be their homeland. It is not for the world commu-

nity to meddle and change boundaries Questions aboLrt

your subscription?

which have been divinely set. Steve Yakoubian

Torrance, Califomia

Questions aborrt

Pcrconal Chlckpeaa

Renew gift subscription?

Contrary to Ishkhan Jinbashian's article, "Exileontheloose" (Ideas, Novem-

1€o(11736l32fi lntemational subscribers call:

1€1&54S2205

/UNI

the

success

Aid

Armenia's fund-raising was not the result of anything he or the Church Council did. Aid Armenia's achievement, as well as the British government's funding of theLord Byron School, were the result of the efforts of one man whom Halpin chose not to intprview. Neither the Ambassador nor the Church Council can take the credit for the large loan from the European Bank for ReconsEuction and Development (EBRD), since the initial meetings between an intermediary and Souren Tashjian were set up by an Armenian working in EBRD's [,ondon office. Halpin also seems to be impressed the community's 24 commemoration[s]," none of which was covered by any ofthe London news media, probably because the purpose the demostrations was to enable Armenians to tell Armenians how the Armenians suffered atthe

"unified April

hands ofthe nasty Turks.

The one good bit in Halpin's otherwise nonsensical report is his quoting ofChristopher Walker (who has done more for the Armenians than virtually the entire Armenian community) on what is needed by the Armenian people, and I join with Christopher in saying, "I can't see all thatmuch evidenceof... one hell of an effort being made." Until the so-called representatives (I dare not call them leaders) and the Ambassador learn to communicate with the British gov-

emmentandpublicandnottrytoimpresseach other, there will be no likelihood that

London's Armenian community

will

get

anywhere nearthatunrecognizable world that

delivery?

Moving? Call

represents no one except itself, has done a damn thing to get the Armenian "message" to the British public. The ruth is that NO high ranking British official has taken a firmpru Armenian stand; demandedthatTurkeyhonor

is pictured by

ber), I found the movie Chickpeas a welltold story about the nials ofthree young Armenianimmigrants inLos Angeles. The critic is disracted by his personal opinion of what this story should be. There arecertainly many others that can be told on this subject, butthis is NigolBezjian's, andit's a good one. Vahe

Manugian

lo s Alto s H ills, C alifo mia AIM,JANUARY 1994

Tony Halpin. Andrew Kevorkian london, England

Letters to the editors should be brief and include verifiable name, signature, address and daytime phone number. Mail letters to

Atf,

P. O. Box 10793,

Qlrndelo, Gelllomle

2Oe.3793

or lax to

(818) 246 0088. Letters may be edited and/orcondensed.

ESMHH Besides Armeniq the number of former Soviet republics ttrat don't have diplomatic relations

with Ankara:0 Nurnber ofArmenians worldwide per square mile of the Republic ofArmeni a: 696 Number of Palestinians worldwide per square mile of the West Bank and the GazaStrip: 2,503 hesent population density ofArmeni a: 36I per square mile

Numberof murders in Glendale, California, in 1993: 8 Number ofArmenian victims: 4 Number ofArmenian suspects: 4 Number ofArmenians in Finland: 150

Number of new textbooks published in Armenia in

199 I : 0;

1992:

in 1993:

Percentage of women amongArmenia's over 100,000 officially unemployed: 60

Amount spent by Greece on arms purchases n 1992: $ I .9 billion Amount spent by Turkey: $ 1.5 billion Number ofArmenian children bapnzdinAlbania ul,1993 12 Percentage of household income spent on food by a family on the verge of stanration: 75 Percentage spent on food by an average family inArmenia today: 80

Age ofArmenia's Defense Minister: 39 1993 budget of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Armenia: $6

million

Amount of aid provided by Turkey to Azerbaijan from 1991 to 1993:$50 million Number of mini-hydroelecfiic plants inArmenia to be repaired by Elecricit6 de France International and paid for by the European Commission: 25 Number of people who will receive energy as a result of *rese repain: 30,000 Number ofArmenian architectural monuments in Nakhichevan: 4,500 Amount spent by Azerbaijan last year to buy arms from Israel: $ I .8 billion

AIM,JANUARY 1994

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kte'h CHAPPATTE

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Cwi

TRIBUNE DE GENEVE

Geneva

SWITZERLAND

.wn$Uqor

AIM, JANUARY 1994

DRAM BLUES

Ilrand Bagratim, Armenia's Prime Minister.

Since the inroduction of the dram in late November, its value in relation to ilre US dollar and the Russian mble has depreciated 500 percent-from 14 dran to the dollar down to 75 dram just one month later. Besides fueling inflation, this is causing other serious problems for Armenia's economy. Although ttre government has succeeded in significantly cubing tading in foreign cunency, people's lack of confi dencein tlpdram continues to feedundergrotrnd exchange, hurting the economy and destabilizing the dram. There is also the tendency among merchants to sell imported goods, especially gasoline, in foreign

whatmaybeneededinthefuture. Today, Armeniabuys is energy from Russia atprices sigrrifi cantly lowerthan

currencies, to hedge against the dram's depreciation and to enablethem torefurbish their stock.

It is the persisting hyperinflation, however, that has made people question the wisdom of inroducing the dram. Itislittleconsolationthat, ifthedramhadnotbeen inhoduced, the rate ofinflation would have been even higherdueto theexcessive amount of availablenrbles.

THETIARKET:

lnAnnenlatoday, ol beel wlll costyou lfl)dram;

a kllo

Thepeople'sconfidenceinthedraminthenextfew critical months will influence the dram's performance; continued loss of confidence will further fuel its depreciation. So the government must keep doprcciation to a minimum during thenext six months. And sincethe o0rer factors seem immutabl+the blockade goes on andimportscan'tbecut, norcanexports grow-tlEonly remaining avenue is to securenecessary reserves.

HOLLOWEDOUT INROME

amined the gamut

you'll cough up

armed conflicts including

Karabakh.

28G350dramfor 30egga,25G8fll

On the sccond day of ttre talks, when theKarabakh issue took center stage, the foreign ministers of Arme-

dram lor a kllo ol cheere,80 dram lor r kllo ol onlonr, and 3G120 dram ior

nia and Azerbaijan, Vahan Papazian and Hassan Hassanov, delivered speeches that confirmed the currcntdeadlockon theissue. During a session that lastcd some three hours longer than scheduled, the ministers,

klloolgraper.

By circulating

total of 900 million dram-substantially less than the amount of rubles---the govema

ment was able to control the money supply, thus eliminating oneof the twocauses of inflation. Now the govemment is faced with the othercause-Armenia's high balance ofpayment deficit due to a heavy reliance on imports for its energy needs, foodstuffs and other necessities.

To stop depreciation and curb inflation,

the govemment needs either to cut its balance of payment deficits by importing less or exporting more, or by securing enough foreign reserves to cover the balance

of payment deficit. "Armenia needs $15 million a month for the next year to be able to sustain the dram's current exchange rate," according to t2

market ratcs, and sometimes even through barter. According to figuras released by Armenia's Ministry of Fuel and Energy, in the event that Armenia's economy functions at 80 percent capacity, and Armenia must purchase more fuel and at market rates, its fuel needs for one year can amount to US $ 1 billion.

Afterits annual meeting-the fourttr since theend of ttrcColdWar-during November30andDecember I in Rome, the Council of Ministers of theConference on SecurityandCooperationinEurope (CSCE) agreed that it has rcached an impasse in its search forapeaceful resolution o ttre Karabakh war. The meeting ex-

ADRAGAT

Thismaysoundlikealotofmoney,butit'slessthan

AIM, JANUARY 1994

articulating thepolicies oftheirrespective govemmenB, presented seemingly irreconcilable positions on the fi ve-year-old confl ict. Since CSCE resolutions must be based on a consensus of all 53 member states, disagrEement between the Armenian and Azcrbaijani foreign ministers yielded nothing more than a simple statement by the chair, announcing the change of

chainmnshipoftheMinskConference on Mountainors Karabakh. The CSCE Minsk Conference, a pâ&#x201A;Źace effort involving nine neutral countries which came to beknown as the Mnsk Group, was launched in March, l992,tD focus solely on the Karabaktr conflict. Thelatestblow to that effort in Rome now leaves the continuation of tlre process in serious doubt Founded in 1973 to strengthen political and eco-

nomic ties betwe.en East and West and foster peacefrrl resolution to regional conflicts, ttre CSCE has become an important forum for geopolitical discourse, particularly for the countries of the former Soviet bloc. The conference promotes democratic institutions and humanrights, andis stillexploring viablemechanisms to deal with intemational conflicts.

DEAR BILL Thinking of addressing a letter of concern to

Bill Clinton about the economic blockade of Armeniaby Azerbaijan? Aside frombeing a good idea, your letter may be overdue. According to Richard Blow, a joumalist forNew Republic magazine who volunteered at the White House correspondence office last summer, the PresiPresident

dentreceives up to 6,000 letters each week dealing with some 140 topics. Published in the December 1993 issue of Harper's magazine, Blow's list includes personal hardships, environmental concems, the AIDS

crisis, world hunger, same-day birthdays with the President and, surprise surprise, "Pro Blockade of Armenia by Azerbaij an."

Aylin Baharian

THEMONTH OFTHE PIANO

Clockwise from above: award-winners Armen Babakhanian, Avo Kuyumjlan, Sergei Babayan, Evgcny

The sheerbulkof collective talent was enough to get you drooling. Fouryoung Armenian musicians, representing three different countries, made it to the finals at *re Ninth Van Clibum International Piano Competition and ttre inaugural Ivo Pogorelich Intemational Solo Piano Competition, bottr held in December in Fort Worth, Texas, and Pasadena, Califomia, respectively.

At the Ivo Pogorelich

Zaraliants.

competition, Evgeny

Zarafi ants of Russia shared a secondprize of $5,000 with kinaPlotrikova, also of Russi4 and eventhough no third prizes were awarded, Ivo Pogorelich, the Founderof the competition, and David Hulme, the Executive Director, granted $2,000 to each of the remaining finaliss. These included Avo Kuyumjian of Austria and Sergei

Babayanof Armenia. Grueling preparations and the nerve-wrecking finalist selection process also paid off for Armen Babakhanian of Armenia, who was awarded fifth prize at the Van Clibum competition. Babakhanian was featured in The NinthVan Clibum International Piano Competirton: A Ufe in Music , atwo-hour documentary that was aired on American public television during December. A VHS version of the documentary will be

released by Philips Classics Productions and will be available for purchase in the US. The award-winning pianists fr om both competitions will enjoy international concert engagements as part of

theirawards. AIM,JANUARY 1994

FAREWELL TO THREE DIASPORA

ARTISTS In recent months, the Diaspora mourned the passing of three of its most prominent painters. Kero Antoyan, who was bom inDersim, Turkey, and movedto France

andthensettledin the US, diedinLyon on his wayback to Los Angeles from Armenia, in August. He was 81. Jerusalem-born Paul Guiragossian, who spent most of his life in lrbanon, died in Beirut in November at the age of 67; and Puzant Gojamanian, who was born in Trabizond, Turkey, died the same month, also in Los Angeles, atage84. Though the products ofdisparate cultural environments and a range ofart-historical influences, all three painters shared a fundamental concern with the psychological ravages of the Genocide and the challenge of coming to grips with-and transcending-the conBelow, from left: Puzant Godjamanian; a

caricature of Paul

Guiragossian by Tiran Ajemian (1974, Chinese ink and watercolor, from Ajemian's private collection); Self-Portrait by Kero Antoyan (1955,20" x 15").

dition ofdiaspora. Kero Antoyan, considered by many as the dean of Armenian-American painters, moved from his early cubist and impressionistic roots to an understated expressionism that dealtwith issues ofnational identity and the mythological significance ofhomeland. Many ofhis works are housed in permanent galleries and museums, including the Howard Ahmanson and Norton Simon Collections and the Yerevan State Museum. Paul Guiragossian launchedhis careerwith a socially conscious realism that produced his "Bourj Hamoud;'

AIM, JANUARY I994

series, but laterabandoned the directness of his subjects

for the loftier grounds of humanist expressionism. Often criticized for what has been seen as an elitist and narcissistic idealism pervading the later periods ofhis career, Guiragossian is nonetheless celebrated for his technical mastery andpurity of form. Deeply influenced by the French impressionists, Puzant Gojamanian eventually developed ahighly expressionistic style that drew its subjects from Armenian history, the daily vicissitudes of working people and the consequences of war. Later in his career, Gojamanian embraced a lyricism that lent a sublime, often mystical quality to his subjects. His paintings are in permanent collections such as Cairo's Museum of Art, the National Gallery ofArmenia and the museums of the Mekhitarian Fathers in both Venice, Italy, and Vienna, Austria. lshkhan Jinbashian

TRAINING FOR

GOtD

Throughout the past year, officials of Armenia's National Olympic Committee (NOC) have worked hard to assure the republic's participation in the upcoming WinterOlympic Games, which will kick off in March in Lillehammer, Norway. According to the NOC, requirements forparticipation in the XVII Winter Olympiad were tough to meet. The NOC itself was granted full membership in the International Olympic Committee only recently, thanks, in large part, to Setrak

Agonian of Woodside, New York, an influential NOC official. Membership in the International Olympic Committee has allowed Armenia to assemble anational team forthe first time in modem

Olympicshistory. Membership requirements included entering a

number of international organizations governing Olympic winter sports. The two-year-old Armenian Bobsled, Skeleton and Luge Federation (ABSLD gained membership in the International Bobsled and

Skeleton Federation and the International Luge Federation n 1992, paving the way for individual Armenian athletes and teams in these fields to competeintemationally. Despitettrelackoffundingand otherresources in Armenia Paul Varadian" president

achievement, the inhabitants of the region have carved out atradition that values cultural freedom above all else, as evidenced by the present independence struggle by the people of the mountainous republic. But a horse called KarabaWr? It seems thatone of theprincipal ancestors of the famous Don Cossack breed was the Karabakh horse, a specimen that has originated in the fourth century AD. Incidentally, the Russian-French battles of I 8 12-1814 are considered to be the Don's crowning feat, when some 60,000 Cossacks, mounted on theirDons, helped oust Napoleon's armies from Russia. The Karabakh horse is atough, yetgraceful animal that has a calm nature and "good action," in racetrackspeak. Indeed, the horse has proven itselfon the track, and is used in ganesllke chavgan-a form of Caucasian polo-and surpanakh-a type of mounted bas-

BRED IN THE

HIGHLANDS: The horse called after Karabakh has been

around since the

fourth century.

ketball. According to The Ultimate Horse Bookby Elwyn Hartley Edwards (Dorling Kindersley, New

York, 1991),

ttre best of ttre Karabakh horses are bred

at the Aghdam Stud, where they are crossed with Arabian stallions.

of the ABSLF, has managed to keep Olympic taining programs going for the past year. Both Agonian and Varadian have urged Diaspora athletes to par-

ticipate in international competitions in order to qualify forentry in the Winter Games as members of the Armenian team, once the Armenian government accepts dual citizenship of Armenians living

outsideof Armenia. With time running short, the NOC's grcatest worry is to get urgently needed equipmentand uniforms, and also cover transportation and lodging expenses for the athletes already accepted for participation. Tax-exempt donations are still being accepted by the NOC through the Armenian International Sports FoundationinWoodside, New York

KARABAKHTROT Muchhasbeen saidabouttherugged, unfettered temperament of Armenians living in Karabakh. From heroic battles for national liberation to the

sublime, almost mystical instances

artistic

ERRATA

The English language was metarnorphosed into the "British language" in the Books section ofour December issue ('"The Academic iVar Ovei Kirabakh," page 36.1 In the last paragraph ofthe same piece, an incorrcrt preposition had crept in; the sentence in question should have

rlad: "Ihe new editions, printed in

the tens ofthousands, have deleted most references to the

Armenians or Armenia." Also in our December issue, AIM photographer Kevork Djansezian was not properly crcdited: all pictures ofKirk Kerkorian, including the photo appearing on the cover, were taken by Djansezian.

AIM, JANUARY 1994

EGI US

I{OW INTERNAL CRlSlS AND THE KARABAKH CONFLICT DETERMINE ARIIENIA'S FOREIGN RELATIONS Armenia's stand

By TONY HALPIil

the goal

of Armenia's-and

any

nation's-foreign policy is to ensure the physical survival of the homeland, which includes protecting the lives of its citizens and the territorial integrity of the state, the promotion of the economic well-being of its people and the preservation of independent statehood, one can easily conclude that thus far, Armenia's foreign policy has failed. The first thing that must be said for the republic's foreignrelations is thatthecountry is at peace internally-a significant achievement in aregion which has fallen apart since

on the Mountainous

Karabakh conflict, Armenia's precarious relations with Turkey, with Russia and with ttre West. As expected, Ter Petrossian's position on each of these issues has been criticized by opposition parties that blameTer Petnossian's foreign policy for the darkened streets and freezing homes of Yerevan.

Armenia's policy on ttre Karabakh conflicthas been to push forthe establishment of an intemationally monitored ceasefire, and then proceed with negotiations to determine the political status of Karabakh. All this because Armenia does not foresee a quick political solution to the Karabakh conflict, since Azerbaijan will not willingly submit to Karabakh' s demands for indepen-

thedemiseofthe SovietUnion. Itcould fairly for all the instability associated with Karabakh, Armenia's coherence has been pretty well the only anchor in a rcgion which constantly threatens to slide into catastrophe. Everywhere you look beyond the be argued ttrat

borders

of the republic, ethnic

conflict

threatens to destabilize each ofher neighbors with potentially devasating consequences for

Armeniaitself. Therealization that today, Armeniacould easily have been embroiled in a full-fledged war; thatZangezurcouldhave been lost; that thepeople's living conditions couldindeedbe even harsher than they are today; that Russia could have fostered internal instability and changed governments every few months as it has in neighboring Azerbaijan and Georgia, makes one take a second look at the various forces in play in the determination and implementation of Armenia's foreignpolicy. hesident lcvon TerPetrossian's foreign policy has been driven by two broad principles---+stablishing friendly relations with all countries, and pushing Armenia's quick integration into the international community.

Within these broad goals, Ter Petrossian was quickly forced to adopt positions on four controversial key foreign policy issuespositions which could result in dramatically varied outcomes for Armenia. These include 16

Themostpressingissue,ofcourse, andthe

one that has most significantly shaped Armenia's foreign policy, has been the Karabakh conflict. One might even say that Armenia's foreign policy during its first trro yean ofindependence can be summed up in

two words: Mountainous Karabakh. The continuing conflict over the enclave has defined the republic's relations with is neighbors, shaped its dealings in international forums and drained its domestic economy. Now entering its sixth year, the struggle has proved insoluble to everydiplomatic initiativetodate.

AIM,JANUARY 1994

dencp nor will Karabakh accept the possibility of remaining a part of Azerbaijan.

A military solution, too, will not lead to stability and peace in the region, insists the administration. On the contrary, a military solution can only be to Azerbaijan's benefit. That is why, according to Ter Pefrossian, the opposition's insistence that Armenia rec-

ognize Karabakh's independence would not be effective, and would certainly hurt the peace prccess, since Azerbaijan will not under any circumstances agree to give up tenitory butmay instead use such recognition by

choose among Russia, Turkey or han for political and economic partrers. The altematives notwithstanding, both of them eventually succumbed to Russian pressure andjoined the CIS. In Azerbaijan, Russia used Karabakh as its

of victories of the Karabakh self-defense forces went

main lever. Months

unhindered as Russia warched Russian military supplies being used to bring Azerbaijan' s disproportionately larger army to its knees. The Turkic orientation of President Abulfez Elcibey seemed to be the excuse for Russia's turning a blind eye to-or perhaps even encouraging-Armenian advances. The coming to power of Haidar Aliev augured the start of a more pro-Russian stance-Azerbaijan joinedttreClS andRussia receivednecessary and coveted oil concessions from Aze6aijan. All this had to come at a price. Observers expect thatin thecoming months, Russiawill

change its policy and tip the balance in Azerbaijan's favorandKarabakhmay indeed begin to lose some of its recent gains. But Russia will only go so far. A final ineversible solution would mean a reduction of Russia's influence and role in the region, something thatis notdesirable atthis time.It would be to Russia's advantage to maintain an Armenian enclave within Azeftaijan-a

slight comfort to Armenia and Karabakh, which count on a modicum of Russian sup port to prevent total annihilation and displacementeven in the face of radical rpversals.

ANDTHE REIIA!]{ING SUPERPIOWER For the same reasons ttrat Russia would not like to sep a final solution, in order to constrain

Russian influence

in the region before

Russia'spositionisentrenched, theUS would

prefer a peaceful solution of any kind, reOUTWARDBOUND:

Armenia as an ex-

Clochrlselrom

cuse to boycott ne-

above: Forelgn

MlnlrterVrhan Paprzlan and US

SocrctaryotStats Warren Chrlrtopher; Karabakh soldlers;

gotiations.

TIIE RUS3IAN BEAB In contrast with and Azerbaijan, Armeon

Pregldent Levon Ter Petrosslan wllh

Georgia

Rurslan counterpart

nia early

Borls Yeltsln.

adopted a concilia-

tory position toward Russia. Armenia joined the CIS, accepted a Russian army division's continued presence in Armenia and was, untiltheend, afaithful memberoftherublezone. Itcan legitimately be asked, however, whether this position was taken by default in the absenceof otherchoices, orwhetherthis was far, sighted, planned policy? If it was indeed the ! result of a well-thought strategy, was it the I right one? For Azerbaijan and Georgia, there were fialternatives. Georgia has the potential of I economic independence given its favorable Egeographic location, and Azerbaijan can

AIM, JANUARY 1994

gardless of who comes out on top. The US also stands to benefit from peace and cooperation among Armenia, Azerbaijan and Thrkey, thus allowing for an expansion of Westem political and economic influence in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Despite the US desire to see reduced Russian influence in the near abroad, the imperative ofRussian stability is greater andfteUS does not want to alienate Russia. For this reason, Americans have not taken decisive steps to strengthen Azeri, Armenian and Georgian

political and economic independence and ability to escape Russian hegemony. TheUS policyowardtheCaucasusisonly areflection of a largerpolicy which includes a US reluctance to confront Russia's unwillingness to join NATO nor see its former colonies and satellites do so. The US, and particularly its newly appointed Depury Secretary of State, Srobe Talbott, have, for the time being, tabled the urgency of welcoming former Soviet and Eastern European repub' lics intoNATO, thus precipitating theirfears of a retuming Russian threat, especially in the light of a strong showing forRussian nation-

alists in the recent Russian parliamentary elections.

THE INCREDIBLE NEIGHBOB The most debated and criticized aspect of Armenia's foreign policy is its stance toward Turkey, revolving as it does on three historically and emotionally volatile issues.

Thefust, again andofcourse, is Karabakh. The others are the issues of Genocide recognition and the return of western Armenian

tenitories.

Indeed, in the absence of the Karabakh conflicl more wouldbepossible by cajoling

Azerbaijan and Central Asia.

than confronting.

reasons forArmenia'scautious

THE BELUETAilT ]{EIOHBOR As Turkey figures less and less prominently in Armenia's options, Iranis augmented role as neighbor and tading partner is a notion that is bandied about frequently.

Thepresenceofalargeandinfluential Armenian community in kan also bolsters the ex-

these complicated and controversial issues,

pectation that han-Armenia relations could be solid and significant. However, over time, these possibilities

the administration argues that they should

havedemonstrablydampend despitehan's

While acknowledging the existence of not

be the determining factors in Armenia's policy toward Turkey and sEesses the need for normal relations with its neighbor, explaining ttrat the reason forno diplomatic re-

lations and no substantial economic cooperation thus far is the Karabakh conflict. The opposition insists that regardless of Karabakh, Armenia and Turkey will never have normal diplomatic relations sinceTurkey does not want to see an economically viable and politically stable Armenia.

neutral position regarding the Karabakh con-

flict. The presence of a large Iranian-Azeri population with significant influence within the Iranian parliament, and Iran's and Azerbaijan's religious affi nity, together with han's concerns about Armenia's ties to the West, have consistently causedkan to refrain from concrete advancements in relations wittr Armenia-advancements which wouldallow

Thecausesofkan'sreluctancearealsothe attemptstonot alienate Iran. It was for this reason, for example, that despite Armenia's strong adherence to the principles ofhuman rights, Armenia felt obliged to vote with hanin the laresr

US-proposed UN resolution condemning han's human rights record.

TIIE UNRELIABLE I{EIGIIBOR Although internal strife in Georgia has hampered Armenian-Georgian relations, and althoughTerPemossian insists thatthere is no specific obstacle to smooth relations, there certainly are problems. Armenian interests in the lands and people s1 Akhalkalak and Akhaltsktra (historically anddemographicallyArmenian) arevery real and immediate. Georgia's inability to ensure the security and delivery ofgas through its territory is a constant source of concern for Armenia. The srong parallels in the national liberation stnrggles being waged in Abkhazia by Abkhazians opposed to Georgi4 and in

Thus, Armenia has nothing to lose by demanding Genocide recognition and placing territorial demands as preconditions for normal diplomatic relations, and even helping the insurgent Kurds within Turkey. In the opposition's view, such pressure on Turkey will bear political

tuir. The administration concedes thatTurkey needs to bepushedbut insists on its ownbrand of positive pressure which demonstratâ&#x201A;Źs !o the

international community Armenia's willingness to play by the rules and deal with a neighbor with questionable motives. The negative pressure advanced by the opposition is guaranteed to produce no results,

according to the administration, founded as it is onapremiseof ahopeless situation andinstead provides Turkey with excuses to sidestep diplomatic relations, and even justify encroachments on Armenia, not to mention deny Armenia passage to the outside world. Indeed, up until the takeoverofKelbajar in March, 1993, shortofdiplomatic relations, Armenian-Turkish relations had made some headway. The borderbetween the neighbors was open, and Armenia was allowed to use Turkish territory and air space for trade with Syria and other Arab countries. ArmenianTurkish rail lines functioned, 50,000 tons of wheat were received viaTurkey. That all this was possible despite the existenceofthe Karabakh conflictandin the face of domestic Turkish unwillingness to deal with its eastern neighbor serves to buttress the

administration's claim that its policy has avoided serious potential losses, inclirding signing the Treaty of Kars which defined borders betrveen Turkey and Russia, leaving vast territories of eastern Armenia to Turkey. Armenia could even have been forced to renege on all Genocide-related issues.

Forelgn Mlnletry bulldlng on yerevan's Bagramlan stroot. Armenia to benefit from Iran's access to the Persian Gulfand oil resources. Itis the absence of an infrastucture thathas been the greatest obstacle to cooperation between the two. There are insuffrcient roads, rail lines and gas pipelines connecting Ar-

menia to Iran, and efforts to implement agreements tobuildtheseessential linkshave been consistently delayed by the Iranians, influenced by unfavorable domestic public opinion after each successful advance by Karabakh forces. Nevertheless, it is important to Iran that there be a friendly and stable Armenia to the north, to facilitate Iran's own ties to Russia,

and to balance the Turkic influence in AIM,IANUARY

1994

Karabakh by Armenians opposed to Azerbaijan, pit the policies of ttre Georgian and Armenian govemments against eaih other. And, finally, Georgia's growingdependence on Azerbaijan as a result ofits occasionally faltering relationship with Russia has caused Georgia to succumb to Azerbaijani pressure andimpedethe deliveryof goods andservices

toArmenia. Thereis noquestionthatin theirrelations,

Armenia's need for Georgia is disproportionately greater, thus limiting the liverage that Armenia might have on Georgil. Georgia's access to the Black Sea is impor-

tant to Armenia, as is the unintemrpted

flow of gas through pipelines

under

Georgia's conEol.

In Azerbaijan's absence, Georgia is Armenia's link to Russia, and Armenia's window to the West. In exchange, the access which Armenia can provide Georgia toward han and the Gulf is of questionable strategic importance for Georgia today. There is no doubtthatduring thesedifftcult years, a complete closure of Georgian routes wouldhave been disastrous. However, despite all the diftrculties and even during Georgia' s

most turbulent days, most

of Armenia's

minimum essentials came through Georgia. Still, the opposition faults the adminisration for its inability to secure greater usage of Georgia' s ports, railroads and gas pipelines to import more energy for Armenia.

SHARED I}ITERESTS Armenian-Azerbaijani relations are not even an item of discussion today, for obvious reasons. Ironically, however, and despite the

visible differences and internal problems, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia have shared interests- a final break from Russian

DANGEBOUS LIAISO]IS

thepivotal rolecard. Coalitions, temporary or

Membership in intemational andregional organizations came hand-in-hand with independence. And together with the benefits of Lelonging to the international community came the burdens of intemational rules set up to pursue specific global interests not always in tandem with the unique needs of a small, newly-independent country at odds with its neighbors. By joining some two dozen major and minorintemational organizations, Armenia is well on its way to imPlementing the government' s objective of integrating into the worldcommunity. Armenia'sparticipationin the various regional organizations is necessary for its security interests and is a factor in the maintenance of a balance of power in the region. Today, there is no question that the political andeconomic ambitions of theregional powers are played out in such major organizations as the CIS-Russia's means of main-

permanent, which might otherwise have been possible, would now come with unacceptable

tainingahegemonicroleamongtherepublics of the former Soviet Union, the Black Sea

itrings, limiting Armenia's options

TIIE PLAYERS The Foreign Ministry of the Republic

Armenia, responsible

for

implementing

the administration's policies, faces daunting problems. An operation which two years ago fitintotheeoffices has grown into afive.story building, across a broad boulevard from tlp Parliament, and down the sEeet from the US and Chinese embassies.

The absence of prepared professionals able to negotiate in the international arena is a

continuing source of frustration. Interna-

tional efforts to recruitArmenians from within the large diplomatic coqps of the former Soviet Union have failed. Of the more than 200 Armenian career diplomats who were invited

to come to Armenia, only three accepted. Diaspora Armenians are present in equally smallnumbers. Most of the remainder of the 200-person

staff were recruited from the

FOBEIG}I IIINISTBY'S STRUCTUBE

and

hampering its maneuverability.

State

University's and the Academy's Oriental Studies departments. In the absence of diplo-

matic training centers andadiplomatic tradi-

tion, this critically important time in Armenia's history is also serving ofapprenticeship.

as a

period

Although Armenia's presence in more than a dozen international capitals places it third among the countries of the former Soviet Union in the number of representations

of manpower-and funds-severely limit its growth. abroad, still the lack

LOOKINGAHEAD

influence in their region and on their governments, economic viability and political stability- which can only be realized through collective efforts, even through European Union-fashion cooperation. In fact, in the early 90s, Eduard Shevardnadzecalled forthe formation ofjust such a Common Caucasian Home, which would preclude Russia's abiliry to manipulate local regional conflicts. Individually, each of the Caucasian republicsis economically dependenton Russia, vulnerable to outside influence.

With Georgia's access to the

sea,

Azerbaijan's oil reserves and Armenia's scientific and industrial capabilities, as well as its access to Iran and the Gulf, the Caucasus would become an economic force that can guarantee its own political and economic independence. Perhaps these broader interests can givereasontotranscendnarrow

conflicts.

tenitorial

Economic Cooperation, createdbyTurkey to strengthen is own role with its neighbors, and the easpian Sea Economic Cooperation, Iran's means ofdefending its interests. Armenia is in the non-too enviable position of being in the lap of competing interestsbetrveen Iran, Turkey and Russia. Butthat precarious location, too, has its advantages. Armenia's geography enables it to enter into emerging coalitions and alliances in the region. Armenia, therefore, is precisely in a position to become a pivotal power in the triangular competition for dominance of the region-a role which would have been other-

wise hard to come by for such a small country with limitedmilitary and economic potential. Itis also adangerous role thatcan lose Armenia all potential alliances.

The continuing Karabakh conflict, however, denies Armenia the opportunity to play

AIM.IANUARY

1994

Fundingandexperienceaside, Armenia's foreign policy options are not of its making but arl forced upon itby interacting global and regional power struggles. The choice is not what is in the nation's best interest, butwhat will cause the least harm to it. Armenia's policy options are further limited because of the Karabakhconflictas therelationsbetween

Armenia, Azerbaijan and the rest of Armenia's neighbors continue to revolve around the Karabakh question. The stunning military offensive calried

off

so successfully by the Armenians of

Karabakh, whichhasputafifttrofAzerbaijan proper under Armenian control, contributes io the tricky challenge of the coming year for Armenia's foreign policy-{o persuade the Karabakh leaders not to pursue the Israel op tion of expanded security zones, and to adopt a more

conciliatory position to find

ful solution to the conflict. The

a peacesuccess or

failure of Armenia's foreign policy will also deoend on how well it continues to balance itsilf between conflicting interests of the regional powers-Russia, Turkey and hananO wittrin the wider, evolving relationship

benueenRussiaandttreUS. I

Warhlngton, D.G. O Los

Angeler

q$m olts8sffiH _: ,, AtO C[XTFBA]1flr{'{ [t ETHFE (6eB &inodAg{,

19S2

lrofrm AruilTB@oPEfiAnoil oouNol(r{trcc) Joined lvlard, 1992

|i{IERilATTONAL LABOn

oncAilEAnoN

(lLO)

INIERilAnONAL ilONETARY FUI{D

Joined l,lovember, 1992 Dues: 448,930 Swiss Fr (US$ 305,810)

Joined May,1992

INIERNANONAL CIVIL AVIANON

woRLDEANK(WB)

oRGANEAnON 0CAO)

Joined Novamber, 1992

Joined August, 1992 Dues: US$ 30,000 FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL

OBGAilEANON(FAO) Jc,ined thvembor, l99ii DuEs: US$ 156,292

0ilR

No dues

INIERNANONAL ATOIIIC EiIERGY ASSoOAnON (|AEA)

(

Joined Septemb€r, 1993

UNIIED NANONS DEVELOPITENT PROGRAil (UiIDP) Joined 1993

INIERNATIONAL FUND FOR AGRrcULTURAL DEVELOP! E],tT (|FAD) Jcined January, 1993 Dues: US$ 2,000

P d

2 3

= 5 a

T{IERNANONAL CRIIIINAL AND POLTCE ORGANEAnON flNTERPOL) Joined November, 1992 Membenhip Fee: 69,200 Swiss Fr Dues: 34,600 Swiss Fr (US$ 23,569)

BLACK SEA ECOt'lOlrlC COOPERANON ORGANEANON Joined June, 1992 oues: 2,000,000 SDR

From lelt: FgrFn Shugarian, Amba$ador to the US, Alexander Arzoumanlan, Ambassador to the UN, Armen sarkissian, Ambassador to the uK, vahan Baibourdlan, Amlassaaoiio lran.

AIM, JANUARY 1994

ffi-nnuavi,r

Tehran Damatcus

.r^{ d )

{ /

GOUilTRIES WITH DIPLOIIATIC

rrssroNs

IN ARTEIIIIA

Uil]IED STATES

OF ATERICA

FRANCE

GERIA}IY RUSS| IRAN EGYPT GREECE

cHlltA UNIIED IANONS

AIM, JANUARY 1994

Alt:

You wcrs bom ln Baku. your grandparcntr wcrc odglnally from Karabakh. You hed to llcc your country, Azertafian, as a tcrult ot thc cvcntr of lg88 and 1989. Whcrc doyou stand rugadlng the confllct bctwccn Armcnla and Azcrta[an? Garry Ktrparov: At the beginning, I found the thought of this war intolerable. I knewthat a lotof blood wouldbe spilled. At thattime, Icriticized my coun[y's Armenians who took this road because I immediately thought of the thousands of Armenians in Baku who wouldbebrutally confronted with adangerous sinration. ButafterJanuary, 1990,

this question became academic.

The Karabakh Armenians were on the verge of annihilation and we knew then that the fate and the freatment reserved for them would not be betterthan whatwas happening in Baku. After that point, I began to actively work to defend the right of man to live in his country.

What is your vlcw on thc unifica. tion of Karabakh wlth Amcnla? We cannot do it by diplomatic means. Actually, itis outof thequestion tothinkthat Karabakh can remain in Azerbaijan. Perhaps

it is necessary to make it

protectorate of

Russia. But it is evident that this war, waged by the people of Karabakh for many years, must lead to something. They have demonsftated their determination to live on the land and theircapacity to defend it. But one cannot but deplore the attitude of

the international community. This is quite reminiscent of the Arab-Israeli conflicL Those in the West who are indignant about the "aggressions" of the Karabakh Armenians are the same people who were

silentduring the events

of Sumgait. Western society has lost everything. It missed the boat. The war, which is actuallyfoughtbytheArmenianpeople, isttre

direct consequence ofthe Genocide that the Armenian people were subjected to and survived in 1915. The West has forgotten this.

lnterviewed by Simone Damotte and Richard Takvofan. Exclurive to Les Nouvelles d'Arm6nielAl[

Garry Kasparov On His Odyssey From Bakuto Moscow AIM, JANUARY 1994

lr thc rolc olthc DlasPora In hclplngAmcnla?

What

You hevc alwayt hclpcd Karabakh

Armcnlenr' notablY thlough Im. poilant lnd ncwcworthY dona. tionr (thc mlc of thc Korloftttophy' prlzc mmcy, ctc.!

know various diasporas. The

During a war, you mustdefend your own people. I helped a lot and I still help a lot. Obviously I don't make a show of this. Most notably, I did a lot in Moscow to steer the govenrment away from treating this problem in a one-sided way. I don't see any other way than to be unconditionally on my people's side. Of course, it is necessary to search for a peacefrrl solution. But we have the experience of Israel. We can only achieve peace after a long battle. As long as the adversary is not convinced of the uselessness of this war, we do not have a choice but to fight.

o a E

opofit, itisdivided, suMivided. Itisnotable to take a single position vis-a-vis Armenia. When Israel is in danger, all the Jews of the worldunite. When Armeniais in danger,time is wasted finding out who, what, how, why. We come logether temporarily, ttten resume

ourfights.

Do you thlnk

Notexactly. The Armenians of Bakuwere in a unique situation. They were directly urgeted. The majority of these people were born in Baku, lived inBaku, workedinBaku. They

were real Baku residents. Where could they go? They were home. When they were there,

Ifeltinmyelement,inmyplace,andlcouldn't leave. It's a moral debt, yes. Now, theIe's no one left there. Only our tombs remain'

Do you conrlder yoursclf

Dlarpon Armcnlan?

Actually, Baku Armenians werc notpart ofthe Diaspora. Baku is aRussifiedcity. They welâ&#x201A;Źn't"Armenians," "Russians," "Azeris," but a Russian community. The city is completely transformed now. I had wonderful Azeri friends. They too have fled ttre city. In Moscow, they asked me, "Why didn't you stay?'IdidnotleaveBaku: thecity where Iwasbornno longerexists. Itcannotbefound

that Armcnla's Indc.

pendcncc chengod attitudcr ln thc

Diaspora? The warhas begun to change ourmental-

You

would not lcavc Baku ar long ara rlnglc Armcnlan rcmalncd in thc country. DId you lccl a moral or protcctlvc rcspondbilltY towards Armcnlanr?

remainedunited. Unfortunately, tlre Diaspora is not as large as ttre Jewish diaspora, and on

ity. We have

ln 1988, you declarcd that

best

diaspora for Armenia is fugentina because

"l did not leave Baku= the city

wherelwas born no longer exists. It cannot be found on the map."

unique historic opportunity

now. Buttheroadto full independenceis still very long. Timeis needed to rreat andresolve the totality of all problems. As to me, I feel re-

sponsible towards this tiny embryo of independencethatArmeniawas able to win and consolidate.

You havc alwayt lcd a Polltlcal battlc ar cngagcd a! yout c.llct ln thc woild ol chcs. What errYou

flghtinglornow?

I am no longer on election lists, but my political role and action are quite important. Actually I played an important role for the upcoming elections. I am also active in an organization called "Russia's Choice." Russia is taking giant steps towards democracy. She started on very little, and one can only be optimistic about Ote future.

Do you

cnvlrton teklng on polltlca! ln Armcnla?

rcrponriblllticr

No, my lifeis linkedtoRussia. Mymother tongueis Russian; I attended a Russian school; I received a Russian education. I am not indifferentto whathappens in Armenia. As for the future, I couldn't say. We'll see how all this will evolve. I extend my hand as soon as there is the need for my help, but my political life is completely Russian. It is of little value for me to be a deputy in parliamenfl my involvement is a matter of long-term responsi

onthemap.

bility. Acnrally, I devote most of my time !o chess and do not want to spread

myself thin.

All thcrc padonr, thcrc lnYolvo. mcntl don't thcy tekc thclrtoll on you? A man must live according to his temperament. I cannot sit still. If my involvement can help in the transformation of society, then

Imustbeinvolved. ButI amachessplayerand this obviously requircs a lot of my time and energy.

Tmnsbalfrom

AIM,JANUARY 1994

the Frcnch by Taltttc

fubrrtbrr.

rcINreOF

RETURN

THE GEOPOLITICS OF ARMENIflS SOUTHERN FRONTIER

By IIOORAD IIOORADIAN t is hard to conceive ofany area in Armenia that is more geopoiitically significant ttran Zangezur. It is a continuum from Georgia south through Armenia to

han and from Anatolia west into Azerbaijan and Central Asia.T\eZangezlr land bridge can help forge regional economic interdependence and help herald an era ofcooperation andprosperity. The term "geopolitics" became popular amongintemational theorists intheearly20th century to signify the impact that geographi-

cal factors have upon international relations. The importance of Tangentr in this century dates to at least the l9l7 Bolshevik Revolution, when the formerRussian Empirefell and thetime appearedripe forTurkey's expansion onto lands within Anatolia's easternmost reaches.

Tirkish President Mustafa Kemal worked hard to reach political accommodation with the Bolshevik leaders. Two reasons, among others, why Kemal flirted with the Communists in 1919 were to insure that Armenia would not survive as a separate nation and to

persuade Moscow that Nakhichevan, Karabakh and Zangeztr belonged to Azerbaijan. Kemal understood the geopolitical implications ofZangezur: it was to have

been Turkey's

link via Nakhichevan to

Karabakh and Azerbaijan proper. He wished to accomplish through diplomacy what the Turkshadnotbeen abletoaccomplish through centuries of warfare-a linkage with the Turkic nations along the Caspian Sea and Central Asia. This goal is similar to what the US govemment currently has in mind for a surrogateTurkey as acounteragainsthanian influence in Central Asia. This goal cannot materialize unless Tirkey gains the right of passage across 7-angezrx. oseph Stalin could also read a map and he, too, understood Turkey's ambitions. He, like Kemal, adhered to the realist theory of intemational relations-humanity is naturally rapacious and must be confolled by the manipulation ofpower. Possession ofsEategic terrain also defrned the realist geopolitical definition of national power. If Nakhichevan, Karabakh

and Zangezur were incorporated into Azerbaijan, a predominantly Turkic nation, Turkey, as Russia's ancient enemy, would achieve the pan-Turkic dream. Kemal would gain a friendly land bridge to the Azeri oil

fields and stretch Turkey's influence into Central Asia among some4O million Turkic

Muslims on Russia's eastern flank. The paranoid Stalin dared not allow Turkey to consolidate such power so close to home. Neithercounuycould afford awarwiththe other. OnMarch 16, 1921, whentheKemalist

govenrment and the Soviet Union signed theTreaty of Moscow, Stalin and Kemal drew a line across the map, establishing borders between them which have

lasted to this day. Azerbaijan proper and Karabakh remained separate from Nakhichevan and Turkey. The barrier was 7,1

1 square

kilometers of

Armenian territory encom-

passing

the districts of

Sisian, Goris, Gapan, and

Meghri-Zangezur Uezd. Zangezur still remains a geopolitical cornerstone of Armenia, and it is no mere whim that Turkey supports Azerbaijan's claim to Zangezur as its historic province.

Turkey and Azerbaijan

maintain that Armenian radicals yearn for a Greater Armenia. Hence, the current

fighting over Karabakh, they argue. It is equally rational to assume that Turkey and Azerbaijan covet Zan-

gezln. This is all the more reason why Paul Goble's 1992 proposal was fraught with dangerous consequences. On the surface, it seemed

simple: take Armenia's Meghri district and give it to Azerbaijan in exchange for Karabaktr and a land bridge between Armenia and

Karabakh.

But

Meghri,

which lies between Nakhichevan and Azerbaijan along Armenia's border with Iran, would have become a Turkish land bridge over which Turkish trains would ravel into Azerbaij an and block Armenia's overland route into areas south and west through Iran. Further, Turkish aspira-

Armenla's Zangezur reglon, top. Molybdenum mlnlng, above. Rlght: ln 1992, Paul Goble, a lormer US State De' partmenttxpert on Sovbt natloialltl$, propo.ed a land swep botween.Armenla and.Azerba-llan-the Souitrern Urignil reglon would be exchdnged lor Karabakh and a land brldge betwen lt and Armenla.

tions for a direct pipeline from the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean would have been realized through the Meghri corridor into Nakhichevan, obfuscating economic reasons for Turkey or Azerbaijan to maintain an amicable peace with Armenia. In addition, it is

conceivable thatTurkey would lose impetus the Black Sea. A large measure of Armenia's bargaining power would have been slulen-

for allowing Armenia an outlet to dered.

AIM,JANUARY 1994

Armenia, of course, neverconsidered the Goble plan workable. Indeed, Gobte himself, a fonner State Departrent expert on Soviet nationaliryproblems, hasceaseddefininghis plan as viable.

THE ZANGEizUR PLAN ByVOSKAN

1919,

Tangeanr

llAlllKONlAil was not Karabakh, but

wlich brought

the republics

Armenia and Azerbaijan to the verge of open warfare.

Beginning in 1918, the Azeris destroyed the Armenian settlements linking Zatgezur

and Karabakh, while Armenian military leaders including Garegin Njdeh and General Andranikexpelled the Azeri inhabitants of key villages in the center ofZangezur. For a landlocked counEry like Armenia, the thin southern srip of Zangezur (historically knownas Siunik)isArmenia's fourthwindow to the outside

world-important

for

country

whose other three windows (to Georgia, to Aze6aijan andtoTurkey) are sometimes shut. After all, the Baku-Yerevan railroad used to runthroughZangezur, asdidotherlines tokan

andNakhichevan. It is no wonder then that the Armenian government has decided to devote a good portionofitslimitedfundstothedevelopment ofthis critical region. The Zangezur Plan, as it is known, was unveiled in March, 1993, by former Defense Minister Vazgen Sargsian, whose appointment as State Minister for

Zangenr had just been made public days

earlier by President Levon Ter Petrossian. Theplan, which acknowledges the strategic importance of the region, calls forits gen-

eraldevelopmentwithinthenextfewdecades. The local provincial heads of Sisian, Goris, Meghri and Gapan stayed on, but Sargsian

enjoys special powers as head ofthe whole reglon. The plan, which is to be completed in the nextseveral decades, has alreadybeguntobe implemented, and some results are already visible. Key among these is the construction of roads, which is critical. Funding comes fromtheHayastan Fund, which hascollected donations from Armenians worldwide just for this and other specific government projects. The most pressing problem: the de facto isolation of the regions of Gapan and Meghri from Goris, largely a result of unsafe roads which occasionallypass through Azeri tenitory, and which in recent years have been under constant, usually light, sometimes rocket,

shelling. So much so, that the rcsidents have come to refer to the area as a sort of Bermuda Triangl+where hostages are taken, where people disappear. It is o compensate for this

often closed road that alternate roads were considered a priority of theZangezur Plan. Begun immediately in March, 1992, that part of theplan was completedby November:64 milesofioadwasbuiltineightmonths. Aroad whose elevation fluctuates from 1,815 to 7,2fif*tabove sea level was builtby local employees, using huge Japanese bulldozers which can still be seen along the roadside, where the last mile is still being completed. Workers standing along the road, waiting

forthevisitor!opass, areeagertotalk. "After so many people and cars were lost along the old road, we thought for sure the government had forgotten about us. Thank they re-

membered," saysBorikAsanian, 43, fromthe nearby village of Tatev, home of a medieval university and monastery. Asatrian understands the significance of this road, of any road: he has been in construction all his life. Andthis road he understands especially well. He has three children, and a younger brother who has been fighting to defend Armenia's borders forthelasttwoyears. "Oncethis new road is functional, it will utterly change tlre Iife ofthe region," he notes, adding that "the old road is important, too. We should have been defendingthaf " Othersmusthave agreedwith him, becauseby theend of November, theold road too had been liberated and securcd, and

that, too, even with a small stretch going through Azerbaijani territory, is now in use. The roads will open other avenues---especially avenues of production. Unlike the rest

of Armenia, Zangezur is able to meet its

own electricity needs and even import 26

AIM. JANUARY 1994

some-fromKarabakh. Addto this theexisting and planned hydroelectric stations, and the region is well on its way to attempting to halt a population exodus. Always thinly populated, with an average density of 3 L5 people per sq mile (about onetenth of that of the republic as a whole), the

Time is running out for the children of Armenia... but you can make a differencet

exodusfromGapanandGoris was quitehigh. During the last few months, however, ac-

cording to local estimates, some 70 percent of

thosewholeft Gapan, andalmost l00percent of those who left Goris, have rehrrned. It is the border region of Meghri which is

of particular importance. Traditionally underdeveloped, exceptfortherareunderground

molybdenum reserves, fruits have constituted

the extent of development here. It is also

sparsely populated, more so than the rest of Z,angezw. However, as of 1991, when Armenia and Iran established diplomatic relations, the growth of activity inthis region has been no-

ticeable. First connected by a temporary bridgeovertheArax river, apermanentbridge was to have been built. The construction of ttrat bridge began quite rapidly, but slowed down as curency was quickly devalued. But after its inclusion in the Zangezur Plan, two huge support structures were situated on the Armenian bank of the Arax river in

Already faced with hardships resulting from the devastating earttrquake of December 1988 and the economic collapse of the former Soviet Union, Armenia has been cut off from much needed fuel, food and medical supplies by a blockade brought on by warring neighbors. The most helpless victims are the children... but help is getting through. The Armenian Children's Milk Fund (ACMF) sponsored by the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA), has been airlifting vitally needed milk and baby formula to the children of Armenia. You can help make sure

that this lifeline continues to operate. Reach out in love and help us help the children in Armenia.. Fill out the form below and mail it to: The Armenian Children's Milk Fund c/o the Armenian Missionary Association of America 140 Forest Avenue Paramus, NJ 07652 Yes, I'd like to help the children in Arnrenia. I've enclosed my contribution of $---

Address----

City-------Telephone

(

)----

Make your tax deductible checks payable to AMAA"/Armenian Children's Milk Fund

AIM. JANUARY 1994

just a few monttrs. Still, there is no construction takingplace on the lranian side, allegedly owing to a lack of qualified experts. A proposal was made by Henrik Kochinian, Armenia's Minister of Transportation, on a

I I

recent visit to Tehran, thatthe Iranian section

ofthebridge alsobeconstmctedby Armenia. If there is to be border traffic, there must be

t !

customs checkpoint. The Armenian cus-

toms ofEce-three trailer huts, temporarily placed on the day the temporary bridge opened----operates at all hours, in all types weather. Even on Sunday, there is no lull

There is also

large numberof

tourists who are engaged in commerce. They bring hanian heaters

and take out consumer electric equipment--but not contraband. '"Ihere has yet to be an incident involving drug traffic at this border poing" Nersisian explains. Themolybdenum mines and a

knitted-goods factory are the region's main employers. And sizable they would be too, if they were to obtain sufficient semi-

of in

bridge crossings. "Everything changed here following the appointrnentof Sargsian. Immediately, govemmentalpresence was felt " observes Alfird Nersisian, customschief.'"This borderis very

glon.

ttroughttrisborder, wealsohaveaccesstothe

nonetheless. At one point on ttre

fi nished materials and elecuicity. The knined goods factory alone would employ some 2,0(X) worters-a huge number for such a re-

important not just for Armenia and Iran:

There

Arab Emirates, Iraq, India and even China. "At the present time, we are exporting refined molyMenum and copper, some prccisionmachineryandelecric lighB. Thisisless a reflection of our desires than Armenia's current economic situation. Our imports are

some movement,

road from Meghri north to Kajaran, there were some 50 katucks-mostof tltem loaded with refined material, heading south. Along the way, the only local vehicle was the tuckbelongnian

foodstuffs and fuel, and the fuel is rather problematic sincethehanian Azeris are givingus trouble, using theKarabakh conflictas a justification. For example, it took five months to receive 4,000 tons of Russian oil."

ing to the military regiment of Meghri. [t had run out of gas and none of the hanians passing by agreedto giveits driverany gasoMegallths lotmlng plâ&#x201A;Źhlstorlc calendar. AIM,JANUARY 1994

line.

DIRTYMONEY, WILLINGGUNS Wlry Ato American Ex.Servicemen

Flocking to Azettaiian?

By TOOBAD r|OORADIAN

I I

merican sovernment officials have conllrneo ma. ro.,ner uD

Affiiffi.jj*T,#ii1ffiTil; American flag, mercenaries do not wave an

nordotheywearidenti$ing shoulderparches. However, their supposed employer, an American oil company whose agents are vir-

tually all former members of the US armed forces, could not be more transparent. The accused company, Megaoil, is based in Marietta, Georgia, notfarfrom Dobbins

Air

ForceBase and the AtlantaNaval AirStation. Close proximity to a military installation makes itconvenientforMegaoil o hfue retired militarypersonnel who liketocongregatenear US bases otake advantageof retfuemententitlements such as post exchange, commissaries, medical facilities and recreational services. However, it is premature to conclude ttrat ttre hired guns arc necessarily former career people drawing US government pensions. Military skills have a durable life span:

pertise (Vietnam, Grenada, Panama Canal and the Persian Gulf War) are possible "Hessians" who could pass theirknowledge to the Azeris. Megaoil initially appeared in Azerbaijan in 1991 at the invitation of former hesident Ayaz Mutalibov. The American veterans were ostensibly in Baku to help Azerbaijan maximize oil production. Foreign diplomats in Azerbaijan acknowledged thatthe Ameri-

cans were training

Etchriiadzin, a remarkable mass at the monastery at Sevan, the Ararat valley, native much more. music. historv Videographed

lill

and

of 1993. Nanated in

English,app.30min.VHS.

ll-In

a private army for

Secord, anotorious international arms dealer

who was seen

Azerbaijan prior to

Mutalibov's ouster.

Abulfez Elcibey, who ascended to the presidency in June, I 992, continued the relationship wittr Megaoil. Isa Gamber, ttre former chairman of Azerbaijan's Parliament and a current leaderofthe Azeri opposition, stated thathe metwith thepresidentof Megaoil. The American supposedly offered the services of his entourage to pro-

withcombatex-

EH UUMTM

A beautiful documentarvforthose who wish to exoerience Armenia. lncludes Yerevan,

Mutalibov. One report claims that Megaoil has direct association with General Richard

former draftees and volunteers

Vol.1 "A Weekend Armenia"

U-

/t\

Check, M.O., or AMEX (516)667-9339

Applnbl"rro-

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oil. This conversation allegedly occuned concomi-

tantly

with

Megaoil's op-

il^"t""*t*NErwoRK(AT'N) 13645

f-!l E r-

UBBY VORre8[N

AIM, JANUARY 1994

CHANNEL

iF) KSCt-f

Vcurowen Steet, Vcur Nuys, Ca 9l'm5 PHONE:

(8r8r7824944 FAX: (818) 782 5360 29

S[rrufruurffi UUbnh\uth Unhuluthtutr Ohrlh

Uqqutht Unugtnp4ruput erationof amilitarytrainingcampnearBaku. When the US govemment learned of the facts,

Vestern Prelacy Of The Armentan Apostoltc Church Of Amedca

Washington lodged a strong protest with Elcibey. Not wishing to anger the US government, Elcibey acceded to Washington's demands by closing the training base and ousting the American mercenaries from the

county.

FOSITIONAVNIABLE rincipal: Krou zian Zakarian Vasbouragan Armenia School in San Francisco. P

ltrfl

The education council of the estem Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, invites applications for the full-time position

of Principal of Krouzian-Zakarian-

Vasbouragan Armenian School, Pre, Kâ&#x201A;Ź, 170 A.D.A., 825 Brotherhood\fay, San Francisco.

But Megaoil reappeared when the forf,rnes of wartumed againstAzerbaijan. Itis alleged thatResul Guliyev, a Mutalibov confidant and

the new speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, invited Megaoil back into operation. The communist connection between Haidar Aliev, Mutalibov and Guliyev are not happenstance. It is probable that the reintroduction of the American soldiers of fortune was a coordinated effort among the three.

It is reported by well-placed political All prospective candidates must be fluent in Armenian and English languages and should send their written resume with a cover letter totheEducationCouncilbyFebruary LO, 1994 at the Following address:

Wcstem Prelacy Educadon C.ouncll 4401 RussellAvenue LosAngeles, CA!0027

(2t3)66,3E273

Salary is negotiable. Of

fice of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. Asad Issazade, chief of Azerbaijan's press

office, reported that he is ignorant of Megaoil's military activities. The

employment." ThequestionremainswhetherUS lawhas been violated. Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr., ofNew Jersey's 6thDistrict, haslaunched aninvestigationby sending letters of inquiry to Secretary of State Warren Christopher, Attorney General Janet Reno and copies of the letterto key senators and congresspersons in the Judiciary and Foreign Affairs committees of both the House of Representatives and Senate. Further, Pallone expressed concem about the alleged implication of General Secord. TheCongressmanrequested thatthe allegations be assessed and that a determination be made if Megaoil's operations "contravene US interests." Pallone asked ttrat ap propriate steps be taken in ttre event that the reports are substantiated. Reliable sources on Capitol Hill confirmed that a full-scale govemment investigation is also in progress, possibly involving the CIA, the FBI and the US Embassy in Baku. Officials in the State Department have acknowl-

Azerbaijani government dismissed the allegations as fiction, claiming that there are no foreign soldiers in the country.

EducatlonComcll Amentan Alrostollc Chur,ch

sources and seniorofficials of oil companies that the American "Hessians" were, as of December I, 1993, training Azeri soldiers at two camps, one of them the former press of-

Service may accept employment from a foreign govemment'bnly if ttre Secretary concerned and the Secretary of State approve the

Amerlca

In reference to American citizens, Baku'

ln AIM's . Bassam Abu Sharif , top aide toYasserArafat,

Chairman olthe PLO, on Palestinians, Armenians and Karabakh in an exclusive interview.

. The debate over citizenship. Who can become an Armenian citizen? What terms, requirements and conditions? What is fair and whodecides?

. Yerevan & Zvartnots airport and its airline traffic. AIM investigates the commute to and from Yerevan from various cities of the Diaspora, examines problems, possibilites and prospects and takes a probing ride on a

couple of the charter airlines servicing Yerevan. Read about these issues and more in AIM's February issue. Call 1-800-736.3246 to subscribe.

claims are technically conecu ttre

Americanveterans areno longeractiveduty soldiers. If the American mercenaries are other than retired former US employees, they legallyhavenotbroken

American law. However, if these guns-

for-hire receive pensions as a consequence of government employment, General Rlchard Secord they are in violation of the US Constitution and law. edged that the govemment started investiThe Comptroller General of the United gating nrmors aboutMegaoil overa yearago. States confirms that the Constitution of the The query ceased with Elcibey's expulsion United States "prohibits any person 'holding of the "Hessians." The Department of Justice any Office of Profit or Trust' under the United is aware that Megaoil has reappeared inBaku States from accepting any present, emoluand has allegedly conducted current illegal ment, office or title, 'of any kind whatever,' activities in Baku. According to well-infrom a foreign government without the conformed sources, the US Embassy in Baku has sent of Congress." Retired members of the asked the Azerbaijani government to stop uniformed services retain their status as employing US citizen mercenaries and members of their service. The constitutional wamed that such employment violates US prohibition "consistently has been interpeted law. Thesamesourcesaidthatthenewregime to apply to them." Retired persons violating in Baku "lies andpretâ&#x201A;Źnds they don'tknow." this law are subject, at minimum, to the withIt is understandable why the Azerbaijani holding oftheirpensions in an amountequal government attempted to mask the alleged to the compensation received from the foreign employment of American citizens. An adgovemment or an insftumentality of the formission ofthis activity, coupled with thehireign govemmentunlesstheyhavetheconsent ing of other mercenaries, is tantamount to a of theUS Congress. confession ofdesperation. Aliev has not deUS Code, updated inApril l99 l, mandates livered on his promise to extricate Mountainthe governing provisions for military perous Karabakh Defense Forces from Azerbaisonnel. Paragraph908 specificallyaddresses jani tenitory and to bring the Karabakh contheemploymentof US reserve forces andreflict to a satisfactory conclusion. Is he heartired members of the US uniformed services ing voices about a possible sixth change in by foreign governments. The paragraph regovernment? affirms the prohibitions of the Constitution and adds that retired members of the ComA retbed US Army Colone\ Moorad Moomissioned Reserve Corps of the Public Health rodian is a wriler and lecturer on hisAry, AIM, JANUARY 1994

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AffiAI'}AI{I': Despitethedirth of resources,

lifegoes on inthe arts, education andpublishing. 34

AIM, JANUARY 1994

a Z

= !

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a =

UNIFORM NATION: TheKarabaktt conflicthascome as arallying cry foreventhemost divergentofvoices bothin government andamong thepublic. 36

TFIEWILL TOLIFE: Underwartime conditions and economic blockade,

gettingbyhas assumedafartoo familiar

meaning.

AFAIRSHAKE

Further Ghapters in Yerevanb Privatization Debate By HAKOB ASATBIAN

rflqro!

rffiai xucMnN

he chicken and the egg question pops up often in the debate over economies in transition in Eastern

Europe and the former Soviet

ANM's coming to power, most of the directors of the more important and potentially profi able enterprises werc replaced by

supporters, who stand privatizing now.

ANM

to gain most by

Although these arguments were shared by most of the opposition parties, the ARF was

Armenian National Movement (ANM), Armenian Democratic Liberal Party of Armenia

(ADLA), the National Democratic Union, Free Parliamentarians, and Independent Democrats argued in favorof themeasure,

the most vocal. The l00-year-old socialist party which has for decades espoused the principles of collective ownership, now is faced with real policy choices regarding the development of an economic program for a new state, thus giving it additional ideological

while the bloc comprising Armenia's Communist Party and ttre Armenian Revolution-

grounding to oppose la,rge-scaleprivatization.

ary Federation (ARF) argued against the

whose economic pladorm has always

bill,

Thesamethingcan'tbesaidfor ttreADLA

advo

cated private ownership and free market

improved economic conditions?

although the Communist Party joined the former when it came to ttre final vote.

Privatization, argue the reformists, for things must get worse first or nothing will get

While the ANM was pushing for passage of the law, the ARF was fiercely debating

Itis the position of the Communists which is most puzzling. Despite their deeprooted hisoric agenda favoring state ownership, they

Union: which comes first-privatization or

economy.

eventually voted in favor of privatization, raising questions about the agreements which may havebeen madebetween theANM and the Communists to make such a coalition possible. In response to the opposition's charges,

Eduard Yegorian, chairman of the parliamentary Committee on Independent State-

better, because it is only through privatization that the economy will improve, eventually employing greater numbers of people and becoming more productive. But accorrding to most opposition parties in each country in transition, privatization is prâ&#x201A;Źmature if economic conditions have not improved and there is not an appropriate so' cial safety net in place to protect the masses during the uansition. So, it is no surprise that a long andheated debate tookplace in the Armenian Parliament on the latestprivatization bill which proposes that 20 percent of the value of centers of production be turned over to workers who have been there for atleastone year. PassedinNovember, thelaw allowsfor 20 percent ofthe value ofeach factory to be divided amongs its workers, withoutrequiring any investment on their part. The other 80 percentwould be sold in shares to thepublic, including foreign investors. The bloc of delegates belonging to the

its merits.

According

Gagik Hovhannisian,

president of the ARF parliamentary delegation, the ARF is convinced that the law will not effect a fundamental change within the republic, will not help efforts to overcome the prevailing economic crisis, but instead will exacerbate the problems. In Hovhannisian's opinion, at this stage, those enterprises that are somewhat productive and are conEibuting to the overall economic ouput should not be jeopardized by removing govemment control and depending on the abilities of unproven private management, thus risking failure which can wreak worse social and economic havoc. According those who oppose privatizing now, socialjustice would also be violated because the exceptionally high rate

of unemployment excludes a great many people who would ottrerwise havebenefited

from privatization. Furthermore, the ARFargued thatwith the

AIM,JANUARY 1994

hood and a member of the ANM bloc, while dismissing the charges that the ANM and its followers stand to gain by privatizing now, argues that the measure will make the worh ers the actual shareholden of factories, ttrus connibuting to their more efficient and productive operation. Yegorian insists that even if there is inequity in the distribution ofthe first 20 percent-which, according to preliminary calculations, areavailabletoasmany as 350,000 workers-the remaining 80 percent available for purchase through vouchen can faciliate a certain equality. This 80 percent consists of 500 enterprise units whose total value was estimated at 400 billion rubles. Subnacting from that sum the 20 percent which will not be sold, butwillbe given directly to workers, leaves 320 million rubles which, when divided by the total population of 3.7 million, brings the price of the individual share to approximately 25,000 rubles. Of course, now

that the dram has been introduced, these numbers stand to be revised to reflect the new monetary realities. The passage ofthis bill "concerning making changes and additions in the law pertain-

ing to the privatization and denationalization of govemment enterprises and incomplete construction projects" completes a cycle of privatization efforts begun in December, 1990, when the Armenian Parliament, first among the former Soviet repubtcs, passed the law on privatization of land, which became a reality during 1 99 I , giving 80 percent of the land to those who worked it--+he villagers. Thereafter, the Parliament began contemplating the creation of a legal framework

for futurc privatization which, in August,

Of course, the government has

1992, resulted in the passage ofthe law "pertaining to the privatization

taken into consideration thata portion ofthe 80 percent must be purchased

and denationalization of government enterprises and incomplete construction projects". One year later, in June, 1993, a

by foreign investors whose ready

capital, technological

access and management know-how make their participation essential. However, the lack of energy, the

law privatizing residences was passed, according to which individuals living in theirhomes would own them outright with no payment required.By passing this most recent

stato

privatization law, a myriad of new questions arise which the government must address, although some issues appear resolved. The most pressing is the need to

continuing

capital unlikely. Nevertheless, if reforms are delayed, things will just get worse with no prospect of getting btter. But togetherwithreforms, the government must create the social safetY net necessary in this ransition period so

define Armenia's future industrial orientation. The republic' s industy today is based on decisions made by ttre Soviet state, and does not at all reflect Armenia' s present and fu ture needs. lndeed, only after an assessment

that the people are protectedsomething which

of available labor skills, natural resources and apparent comparative advantage, Armenia must clearly determine its general industrial outlook in order to facilitate decisions about which individual factory and enterprise will close, remain open or be converted.

The process by which each factory'

of war and the

blockade with ttre resultant problems of ransportation, and the fundamental absence of a legal framework to guarantee foreign investment, make the immediate availability of forei gn

mar-

ket value will be determined is also quite

/\ll\

painfully difficult

to construct given the limited reproblematic.

Still, even after these decisions are made,

it remains to be seen where the money will come from. The economic crisis has severely curtailed purchasing powerandpublic funds may notb available to buy the 80 percent to be sold by vouchers.

EDITORIAL POSITIOXS AVAILABLE AIM is looking for individuals who are willing to break new ground in oditing and writing. Requirements include establishing and maintaining contact with reporters and correspondents,lollowing up onleatures assignments, and managing files and databases. Familiadtywith the Armenian communitya plus. Send resume to AIM PERSONNEL, EDITORIAL P.O. Box 10064 Glendale, Calilornia 91 209-3004

SALES POSITIO]IS AVAILABLE Are you an organized, goal-oriented, dynamic person who enjoys dealing with the public? Doyou have unlimited energy and knowthetrue meaning ol "closing a sale?" lf so, we have room foryou. Proficiency in English required. Knowledge of Armenian a plus. To join us in selling advertising space, send us your resume: AIM PERSONNEL, ADVERTISING P.O. Box 10064 Glendale, Calilornia 91 209-3004

AIM, JANUARY 1994

sources and the huge budget deficit. This historical experiment is a first: the worldhas not seeneconomiesransitionfrom socialism to capitalism, although there are some hopeful examples in Eastern Europe which can be a source of inspiration.

Translated by Arle Sevag

UPFROM

$mrcH The Ganadian Youth Mission to Armenia ls Putting Muscle Behind Gharity

founded by a small group of young voluntâ&#x201A;Źers

By DANIEL BROCK paint-spattered shorts and a T-shirt, his brow sweating in the sweltering August n

heat, 23-year-old

Jean-Philippe

Tachdjian of Montr6al, Canada, scrapes

mon formany of Canada's 60,000Armenians,

half of whom live in Montr6al. As part of a continuing struggle to preserve a cultural heritage, CYMA is an avenue for groups of youth to experience firsthand the hardships and difficulties suffercd by a developing nation, through projects which provide assistance to the children of Armenia. "Now it's ttris small counly. But being here, you can feel the history. A thousand yean offighting to survive against the Persians and the Turks, it all comes back to you at once," Tachdjian comments.

Behind the kindergarten in Ararat, the

fertile fields of grapevines and sunflowers sway in the light summer breeze. The rural sceneis peaceful, butconditions forthe young Canadians living here during the past month

in cooperation with Archbishop Hovnan

havebeenafarcryfromthecomfortsofhome.

Derderian, Primate of the Diocese of theArmenian Church of Canada, in Augusl 192. Aside from being a rip to help rebuild a school, the voyage was also one of discovery for the Canadian youttrs. "We've been taught

A cardboard box over a plank of wood with a diamond-shaped hole in the floorboardshas been their only bathroom. As the youths worked under the scorching Caucasian sun, water was brought on to the site in buckets. The relief projectcenters around g the building of this school near the

fi Turkishborder.Withthecollapseof f;. the Soviet Union, the building was

nevercompleted. Andaseconomic conditions became desperate, people removed window frames to burn to stave off the wintercold. The

building was eventually left in shambles and the teachers simply never came to teach,

One hundred twenty children went to school, many for the first timein theirlives, when the kindergarten was finished by local craftsmen last month. The kindergarten will function as a day-care center, providing three square meals a day to local children, whileparents spend l6-hourworkdays in the surrounding fields. "In the big scheme of things, as far as the whole country is concerned, this project is a drop in the bucket. But at least it's something

useful," 23-year-old

Ronald

Alepian, the group's chairman, says. There were other aspects to the

project, too. While in Armenia,

CYMA was accompanied by several Canadian journalists. "When a

window sill in the kindergarten he's help-

ing to rebuild in the Ararat region of southern

Armenia.

"My family hasn't been in Armenia for 900 years," Tachdjian says. "It's my first trip to this land, but I don't think of it in terms of time. It's a sense of identity, it's a sense of being Armenian no matter where you live." Tachdjian, a law student atthe University of Montr6al, is one of 24 young Canadians of Armenian heritage who traveled to Armenia as volunteers of the Canadian YouthMission to Armenia (CYMA). The organization was

about this land since we were kids in Armenian schools," Tachdjian explains. "We' ve all

been taught Armenian poems and stories about the land, the mouniains, the kings. "My dad's family kept a record of every generation in the back of an old Armenian Bible for centuries. When my grandmother tried to leave Cairo in the 1960s they told her the book stays or she stays. The book was confi scated, along withourfamilyhistory. We ried several years later to get our Bibleback, buttheEgyptianauthorities toldus itwas lost." Stories like Tachdjian's are not uncom-

AIM, JANUARY 1994

they retumed to Canada, they published several articles in the Canadian press about ArmeniaandthewaroverKarabakh. Finally, the

news about Armenia was coming out of

Yerevan,

not Baku," explains Harr1,

Dikanian, CYMA co-founderand director of mediarelations. Thisneworganizationis similarinmission and activities to the intemational Land and Culture Organization, which was founded nro decades ago in France for the purpose of preserving and restoring Armenian monuments throughout the world, and has since expanded

to construction projects in Armenia's villages and towns. CYMA too is looking to expand. Already, it has chapters in Montr6al, Toronto, Mississauga, Ottawa and Vancouver, andislookingtotherestofNorth

America.

All these plans aside, it is the experience of living with the villagers and building their school that comes first for the young Canadians.

"We were working with very basic materials," says Anoush Gundjian, 21, a McGill University engineering student. "We had to haul the water up here in buckets from a nearby river anddrag sandby rickshaws, just to

mix cement. We even had to mix our own

paint from powder. It's been a miracle just to get the supplies needed to do the work. We

traittremoney, butit'sjustimpossibleto get

here."

; fi

7 materials e When the Soviet Union crumbled, and assistance from therest ofthe union driedup, Armeniaturned to the Armenian Diaspora for help. "That's been the most important part about the project. I think the fact that we've comeherein person says a lot aboutcommit-

ment," says Talline Artinian, a 25-year-old teacher from Ontario. "We've been welcomed intohomes and been treated likeVIPs.

hope from their visits and comfort from sharing their grief.

"It's important

that we see the hardships that these people are having to endure," she explains. "I had no idea before I left what I

Even the strangers we meet in the street, when they find out we've come from the Diaspora to help, they immediately invite us for something to eat and drink." "Hearing the Armenian language spoken

would see when I came here. I only wish I could do more for them, but I can't." Members of the group leave behind some money to help the woman and her family through the difficult winter to come. They've also delivered a pile of cement, which is hard

constantly has also been overwhelming," Artinian continues. "It's amazing to hear all thedifferentdialects, the nuanced use oflanguage. Sometimes they speakEastern Armenian and I can't understand what they are saying. Butafterawhile, youpickuponitand it's beautiful." Not far from the kindergarten, on the outskirts of Ararat, stands amakeshifthomebuilt of leftover cinder blocks. Three members of

to get, so the family can make repairs to their house. In the haze ofthe afternoon heat, the towering snow-capped peak of Mount Ararat is barely visible in the distance, three miles from the kindergarten, across the Turkish border.

the youth mission and their Montr6al parish priesthave come here to perform one of their

more heart-wrenching tasks. In the damp, dark house, Fa ther 7,ar ehZwgari an prepares

for a traditional Armenian ceremony in which the home of a fallen soldier is to be blessed. Garin6 Advalian, the 25-year-old widow, weeps as she holds her six-month-old daughter. The baby was bom after the news ofthe death ofher father reached home. All that was found of the dead soldier on the battlefield was one leg. The rest of his body was blown away in a rocket attack. Advalian identified theleg as herhusband's bythelonesocksherememberedhehad worn when he left for the front in the fall. The leg was buried last winter in a nearby military cemetery. Armenian prayers are sung. Advalian's two-year-old son, uncomprehending, smiles at the picture of his father taken out for the blessing and says

"Daddy."

'Thewidowisyoungerthanme,"says2Tyear-oldTalline Yanik, an accountantfrom

Vancouver, struggling to hold back her tears. "She has two children, she's living here with herin-laws, herhusband is gone. Whatis she going to do? How will she live?" Yanik says thatthese visits have been difficultbutrewarding. Shesaysthewidows get

! fi

Azad Chichmanian, a 20-year-old architec-

turestudentatMcGillUniversity, pointstothe far-off mountain as he surveys the progress madeon the school. "It's typicalofArmenian fate," Chichmanian says. His family fled the Turks intheregionforEgyptgenerationsago. "That mountain is the symbol of this counEy,"hecontinues. "Weevenputitonour CYMA T-shirts. And it' s over in Turkey. It's the story of ourhistory---of loss and struggle. Whenever I look at the mountain, I feel a longing for this place. I know I'll feel it again when I return to Canada.

"Atthesametime, I feel goodknowingthat outof these windows, thechildren will always be able to see the mountain, even if they will neverbe ableto go there inperson. Formeit's enough knowing they can see

it."

Danlel Brock, who was ln Armenla thls gummer, ls a lournallst wlth the Canadlan B roadcastl ng Corpo ratl on.

INTOTHE

Garin6 Torossian's Answer to Multimedia swers. In Visions, photographer Michael Semak's stills are both plot and objects of

By ISHKHAN JINBASHIAN arin6 Torossian can pack

much

narrative charge and raw emotional power in her short films as she can leave you dazed or hankering for more once the end credits roll by (orflash by, in hercase). Vlsrbzs, afilm shehas written, directedand produced in 1992, runs four minutes. Girl From Moush,released this year, is only two minutes longer. Given her ongoing experimentation with different ardorms-including photography, dance, theater and poster design-and a slew of fictions and real-life refer-

desire. Images of erotic fantasy, alienation and trauma arejuxtaposed, overlapped and roused

against each other in spitfire succession, evoking a psychic pandemonium that also offers, paradoxically, abundant clues for redemption. Torossian infuses the workwith a

grainy quality and cleverly-placed visual static in the form of hand-drawn inscriptions and ornamental patterns, as thoughto undermine the validity of any absolutes thatmight

have crept in, while R. Murray Schaffer's musical score, playfully haunting, lends a reflective swell.

Torossian's stylized asymmetries are further

explored in Girl From Moush, a tribute to Armenia as both mythological destination and esthetic reality. Here

ences, the 23-year-old

auteur already defies categorization.

Born in Lebanon, Torossian now lives in

Torossian takes her cues

Toronto, Canada, where

from childhood memo-

ries, postcard pictures of homeland, her reverence

she has earned degrees

English and Philosophy

from York University.

for Paradjanov and Armenian female portrait painting, and throws the lot into apell-mell of visual pathways. Again, no plot per se, no discemible

Aside fr,om a number of design, photography and

early film projects, she has also

written and di-

recteAaplay, Head Full o3fRoses, a work inspired by Dali's painting of the same title, which fused theaterwith dance, voice andmusic.

linearity. But whereas Visions suggests a spiritual ambivalence emblematic of the Western metropolis,

Visions and Girl

F rom M oushhave received considerable exposure at intemational film festivals. In these works, as well as her upcoming film and multimedia projects, Torossian negotiates her way through abarrage of sheermovementof peoples, ideas, the camera lens and the human body itself. And despite the expected grounding in Canada's multicultural experience, she has managed to steer clear of the relativist route: Armenia as spiritual dimension, for instance, looms large in her work, while she allots much vigorto investigate an alternative mode of feminism. Still, Torossian's work is a veryconscious effort to raise more questions than hawk an-

GirlFromMouslrplaces

the Armenian landscape at a notch transcending uncertainty, though Torossian is careful not to resort to nostalgia-borne ethnocentrism. The filmdraws much of its power froman internal monologue (Torossian's own voice) that deals with issues of collective identiw. and selections

from traditional ArmeSilLll,?:S""".,:X nran muslc that, com- olnnlno much ol bined with the same ihe artlst'e photoerainv feel of Visions. graphlc and multl-

medla work ls ir"uti -'-::.-. * --::".'::"'E concern wlth thea :' astonishins equrlDnum ot rntellec-

problematlcs_

tual engagement and indposslbllltleedramatic restraint.

of movement.

AIM, JANUARY 1994

BARRIER NUDES A

llixed Message in Levon Parian's

Parian apprenticed with Helmut Newton af-

terstudyingatthePasadenaArtCenter,which during the 1970s and 80s produced some of

the world's most renowned commercial

f !

nlevonParian'sphotographic oeuvre of nearly a decade o'ne cai tind three sepa-

*".1,*:",1*T"'.X,?ft' HH:'

$:,Tli

with the "Armenian experience." The ambiguous and problematic relations that exist among these different groupings raise interesting questions related to the challenges

photographers and designers. In fact, the slick compositional elements and the exquisite craftsmanship of most of Parian's photographs to this day echo that

rigorous formal training which stylistically linls his different bodies of work. However, one can argue that this sort of entrenchment in a commer-

cial style has meant

confronting many third-

mixed blessing for the art-

generation Diaspora artists who are attempting to ar-

ist because when applied

ticulate their own unique

his other works, it can pose some contextual problems.

esthetic vocabulary . But the

Take any of his nude

collective

images for example, to be

unresolved

memory of the Genocide, the exile predicament and the experience of displace-

ment pose such a heavy burden on some

these

it severs the mediation of their Armenian identities with those made available to them by the artists that

broader world.

Conse-

quently, these artists often produce works of art that

lack a certain critical dimension which is necessary in any creative endeavor.

On the

international known for his prize-winning comscene, Parian is best

mercial photographs, some of which have appeared in magazines like N ew sw e e k,

Rolling Stone, Intert,iew, People, and the daily Los Angele s Times. His images can also be found on album covers such as singerSade's Stronger Than P ride and on the movie poster for the film A Dry White Season. Such

achievements cannot be taken for granted and are not

surprising considering that

exhibited at Paris' Gallery l-es Cent in early February. One can find them beautifuI, sensuous, even erotic. Yet also inherent in these headless female torsos is a

quality

the

estheticized soft pornography?

ManyofParian'snudes arereminiscentof

!conography

By ilEERY HELKONIAI{

Sherman photographed herself dressed

VirginMarywithaplasticbreastexposed,she was commenting on the confined role of women imposedby Christianity. AndRobert Mapplethorpe's homoerotic imagery, unlike Parian's passive nude figures in bondage, challenge the conventional boundaries of what's accepted within museum walls. Are Parian's images, by some divine intervention, exemptfrom theresponsibility of engaging us in such critical dialogue? Orare we to accept them as just another variation of

ambivalence

which makes it difficult to disassociate them from a P lay b oy centerfold, even though Parian tries to intervene in such

banal and

voyeuristic reading of his

imagery by occasionally incorporating props such as thecross thathangs from theneckof "Lise I and2" or the rope that mysteriously surrounds "Ropeman." Such simplistic and clich6 juxtapositions may accentuate the provocative poses of his nudes but are

not enough to provoke critical thought. When Andr6 Senano did his controversial photo "Piss

Christ," the artist was cri-

tiquing the impact of Catholic Spain's colonization ofhis native Puerto

Rico. When AIM,IANUARY

1994

Cindy

French neo-classical and English Victorian traditions which, once distanced from original time and place, were doomed to lose their meaning. Such cultural residues were abundantthroughoutthe Middle East, particularly among the middle classes. And as seen in Parian's "Two in the Woods," they have shaped the artistic taste of generations to

come, regardless of how inconsequential these adaptations had become within the larger world culture.

In 1986, Parian produced a series ofsix black and white photographs forthe Los An-

Mother Armenia, King Tignnes

the Great, General Vardan Mamikonian or Mesrob

geles-based ARF Shant Snrdent Association

wall calendar. The project embarked Parian

Mashtots, which had lost their relevance for many. The calendar, like a well campaigned ad-

on what has become the artist's most engaging work, dealing with the subject of the Ar-

menian experience. As if an outline for an as

vertisement, was targeted to attract a generation of Armenian

yet to be written epic movie script, those photographs, aided by their captions, metaphori-

youth to join the ARF. Ultimately, what Parian's project provided was an arena for the

cally represented a version of the history of Armenians in the last 200 years or so. This politically charged reductivist narration, which excluded gender and generational considerations, began with

people'

construction of unresolved contemporary Armenian identities within an institutional, thus

struggle

for independence, leading to the Genocide, followed by the silencing of the pursuit for justice, to a call for the youth to rise and mobilize in order to free Armenia. Needless to say, the subliminal messages contained within this well crafted propaganda

ideological, framework. Such romantic or mythical cultural identities speak of imposed and self-infl icted burdens

carried by many third-genera-

popular artform within our communities. These were not defunct iconic images of

tion Armenians in the Diaspora. Several months ago received a call from an Armenian mother who was distressed by the fact that her teenage son had the image of an Armenian cross tattooed on his back. The teenager's symbolic gesture re-

tool (designed by artists Harry Vorperian and VanigTorigian) were, at leastvisually, more effective than the existing conventions ofthis From the ARF Shant Student Assoclatlon calendar serles, 1986. "Two in the Woods," 1991.

calls Parian's "Resurrection," which depicts the image of a contemporary Armenian artist, Vartan Adjemian, crucified as Christ. Could such portrayals of the Armenian as the helpless

"Ropeman," '1993. victim who carries theburden of Christ be the result of the lackof

critical dialogue within community institutional spaces? Isn't the questioning ofprevailing social, political and religious mindsets a necessary step towards the renewal of a culture? How else can we meet the challenges confronting the Diaspora Experience and heal the creative

paralysis experienced by many of our contemporary artists? Maybe this is the sort of liberation for which Parian, through his figures in bondage, is reaching out.

Nery

Mel kon la n, Dl rector

Vlsual Arts at the Center lor Contemporary Arts, Santa Fe, New Merlco, ls a wrlter and l*turer. AIM, JANUARY 1994

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