AMERI INTERNffiIOI{AL.iffiANK ...FOR ALL YOUR BANKING NPPDS American International Bank is now recognized as the Bank with customized services for all your business and personal banking needs. Business Banking requirements may require financing for grow"th. American Inteinatibnal Bank supports an active position in making loans for expansion,modemiiation and for incrlasing production and sales. Ourbankers will show you, whether you are a business owner or a manager, how to most effectively use your liquid asSets with our cash management pfogram.-
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James A. Dorian, President and CEO LOS ANGELES MAIN OFFICE One Wilshire Building, Los Angeles, Catifornia 90017-Tetephone (213) 688 8600
Glendale Regional office (818) 545 8800 Alhambra Regional offrce (818) 570 4100 Cerritos/Artesia Regional Olfice (213) 809 7900 City of lndustry/Hacienda Heights Regional Office (818) S54 S600 Carson Regional Olfice (213) 522 5555 Tarzana Regional 0ffice (818)
74
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Bank
o
Equal Housing
-7
-
Arr *pr.cedented,
prideful moment for all Armenians approaches as construction of the new 130-bed Ararat Home Board and Care and 99.bed C-onvalescent Hospital progresses in Mission Hills, Califomia, overlooking the San Femando Valley. The complex will also include a community center, an interdenominational chapel, and a museum displaying Armenian artifacts.
Ararat Home welcomes gifts of all sizes. There are a variety of mears by which you can contribute. Donations for speciftc areas of the buildings, including wings, dining rooms, and resident rooms will be
For over four decades, Ararat Home has provided a
IIIIIIIIIII
nurturing environment for Armenian elderly from thnoughout the nation. It does so without religious, political, or cultural bias.
I , *on to suDDort the URGENT need of Ararat Home for I ,h" .o*pl.,,". , its construction project. Enclosed is my
Now, Ararat Home reaches out to the community on behalf of our mothers and fathers for a generous pledge of support-no, an OPPORTLINITY for all Armenians to care about this noble cause. ril7ith the assistance of an agency of the State of Califomia and the Bank of America, Ararat Home has arranged for a maximum of $6.5 million of financing. However, there remains an urgent need for an additional $1.5 million of charitable contributions to complete the entire project.
named for donors. Please use the attached form for your special pledge
to Ararat Home. It will be deeply appreciated.
I
do.,utio., in the amount of $
| *o"
I
ADDRESS
I I
PHONE
-. of Los Angeles I ,"u to: Ararat Home
I I
3730 West 27th St., Los Angeles,
(zt3)733-ss02 All donations
are tax-deductible
CA 90018
TENTION, RVI C E S...
hroughout a decade of a flourishing practice, the Law Offices of Rafi Ourfalian has grown steadily from a solo practice to a full-service litigation firm in the Southern California community. Now staffed with seven attorneys and 25legal professionals, the firm has recently moved to larger offices in the Toluca Lake/Burbank area, offering its clientele a broad spectrum of legal services supporled by state of the art
technology and expertise. Specializing in personal injury immigration and business law, the Law Offices of Rafi Ourfalian continues to provide its clientele with personal attention and the best and most modern legal services available. Ask our clients about us.
Law
ffices of
RafrOuffalian Law Offices of Rafi Ourfalian 3900 West Alameda Avenue, Suite 2100 Toluca Lake/Burbank, California 91505 Telephone
81
8.841.5757
Telefax 818.841.9004
1\INI COVER STORY
Decoding the Diaspora Author and critic Vahi Oshagan sees the Armenian Diaspora not as the grim continuum of exile but as a c'omplex, vibrant force that has yet to recognize its n'ue potential. Blasting a
ffirs
score of cherished myths along, the way, Oshagan vision in an exclusive
inten,iew.
his
12
MUSIC
SPECIAL REPORT
On the Road
Practical Democracy Y oung Armenian-Americans are plunging, into the political process, runningfor ffice, senting in administrations, and playing a valuable role in their communities.
t6
BUSINESS
Gredit Worthy? The Armenian Exchange affiniry credit card was launched with much fanfare and many promises. NM investigates the reality behind the sales rhetoric. 27
Composer and t'onductor Lot'is Tjeknatorion is
putting his hands andfeet into rebuilding the musicallife of Armenia
42
Armenian World
7 9
People
11
Letters
Medicine Film
20 22 32 36
Profile
lnternational Communities Postscript
Music Books
38 rO 42 46 Cover Design: Sahag Ekshian
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From the Publishers
Rrblished byAlM,lnc. EDITOR-IXCHIEF!
Vartan Oskantan
EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Charles Nazarian
tAl{AGlllG EDITOB:
OOllTRlBUTll{G EDI?ORS: Kevorft lmrzian aBosronr: Ara Kalaydjian (Boston): Haig Kerofian (1.A.) llilTl. SECTIOX EDITOF: Joseph Kechichian ARTS (Sanra Fe) EDITOR: Ne€ry Melkonian (Santa 4E9_e_OEQ!it!e€ry SIAFF WRTTEBS: Tony Halpin, ldhkhan Jiribashian, Viken Berberian
and adventurous terrain, a mission to extend bridges over the oceansgeographic or otherwise-that separate Armenians, by taking advantage of the available technology. What would happen? To our delight, your renewed subscriptions are not only pouring in but almost 50 percent of them are for three years-a remarkable vote of confidence in a new publication. In Canada, two out of every three renewals are for the maximum three-year term.
Thanks for your vote of COnfidgnG.g
A year ago there were
Raffi Shoubookian
DIRECTOB OF OPERATIOIIS! Michael Nahabet SENIOB EDITOBS: O. Keshishian. H. Sassounian ASSOCIATE EDIIOR! Minas Koiaian (Nicosia) COIISULT!]{G EDIIOB: Levon ilarashtian
We began this venture a year ago with the belief that Armenians around the world would respond to a newsmagazine that truly reflected their world and interests. Initial subscription response exceeded our best projections, and yet we wondered whether we would pass the test of reader satisfaction when it was time to sign up again with AIM. After all, this was an unproven
Armen Aroyan, Gilda Kup€lian, Lirda Kirishiian, Christ@her Atamian, YvetteHarpootian, Vicken Batikian, GenvS.Graber. Michael Mastarciyan, Lola Koundakjian, Susan Patie Pattie
ooBRESPOf,DEIITS: WaCrin$on: Zanku Armenian
Detroft:
Simon Eayaslian
gostoi:
Arfo eayasliin
Amsierdm Arrrnan: Ara
Haig Lepedjian Brrnoc Aires: Sam Sarkissian lloscow: Dikran Xzmalian YEREYAN BUFEAU: Papken Gadachik (Chief):
Voskian
some
who were skeptical whether Ar-
Sydney:
Mark Dadian, Ani Kaltchian, Gayane Hambartzoumian, Souren Keghamian, Kourken Khajagian ?tHOfOGhAPtIY: bs AngBl6S: irrchaer Agyan, Jacob Demi4ian l{ew Yo.lc Tony Savino, Harry Koundakjian llew JelBey fudem Arslanian Boston: Leira Sanens, Ari Stamatiou Eovidence: Berge Ara Zobian Pari3: Armineh Johannes, Aline Manoukian Arnman: Karekin Kefalian Yerevan: Zaven Hachikian, RouDen Mankasarian PROOlrcTlOll DIRECTOR: Vanan Karaoghtanran CIRCULATIOII DIRECTOR! Thomas Yeterian PlrBLlC BELATIOLS DIBECTOR: Sona Hamalian
menians would buy an independ-
ent, top-quality international
newsmagazine of theirown. They have been proven wrong. Thanks to our readers, AIM has prospered to become the leading Armenian publication around the globe. But this was always more than just a business venture. AIM set out to win the trust and loyalty of Armenians everywhere because we knew that this was an historic era in the life of our people, a time which demanded a new
AilltllSTRATlYE DIBECTOft ADVEnTlSlLc DIRECTOR:
Seta Kouzouian Maher Abouzekl Ani Sremnian, Vrctoria
ADVERTISIIIG DEPARTilEI{T:
Manjikian, Tsoghig Elmastian, HratchYeftnabbtian (Yerevan)
ADVERTISII{G DESlGll: Diqan Kassounv
kind of vision.
ADtlt[lSfRA?lYE ASSISf,AI{T: SiUa
t'cfretircan
OOLOF SEPARATTOI* A & A Graphics, Canada;
Together, we have had an exhilarating first year as the magazine has grown; but it is -only the beginning. AIM will continue to improve, to ensure that you receive the most important, exciting and entertaining news and features about the Armenian world. Those improvements begin right away with a combined and expanded August-september special anniversary is-
Alll
(ISSN 1050-3471), JULY 1991 , Vol.2, No.7, is pubtished monthly, $45.00 per year, by AlM, |rrc., 109 E. Hdrvard St., Suite 305, Glendale, CA 91 205; Phone: (818) 546-2246. Fax (818) 546-2283. Applicatron to mail at second-class postage
rales is pending af Glendale, CA, and additional mailiio ofiices. Canada Post lnternatonal Publications Mail Sales Aoreement #54&161. C6pyright @ 1991 by AlM, lnc. All rights reserved. AtM may not be reproduced in any manner, either in whole or in part, withoul wntten permission from the publisher. The editors are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or art unless a stamped, self-addressed envelo@ is enclosed. Ofinions expressed in signed articles do not necessarily represent the views of the publishers. Fo? adyerti.ing queries call: 1 -800-73G3246 s|accrilbnra0es:OneYear, U.S. $45;Canada: (Candian) $55: Europe, Far East, S. America, Africa:955; Ml#le East, Australia: $50; Soviet Union: $35; Armenia: $30 Poltmasteri: Send address changes to:
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P.O.Box 3296
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Whol you should know obout morble hfore ond ofter instolhtbn. It is very imporlonl lo protect your morble, during ond ofter inshllotion, from serious
sfiolfies, ekhes ond $oim. We ol
tlorble (ore
ore speciolized in the reslorolion, proleclion ond moinlenonce
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oll kinds of noturol ond mon-mode stones. We (0n oho supply you with Do lt Yourself kits
ond video hpes. Toking proper core 0f your stones will ollow you yeors ond yeors of enioyment.
tor more informolion pleose contod
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S. A.
Another Wotcester son
We were disappointed in the article about Worcester, "Trading Places" (May r99l). There was an obvious omission of the name of John S. Bilzerian (Zaven Baikar), architect of and life-long member of the Armenian Church of Our Saviour, which was the first in this country to conform to Armenian canonical tradition and architecture. He was also the architect of the Armenian Holy Trinity Church of Cambridge, Massachusetts. John Bilzerian practiced architecture until the age of 92. He died at the age of 96. He made it in Worcester and was the personal architect of many of the old Yan-
kee families, thus disputing
Mr.
Dikranian's opinion about "old Yankee money still sitting here and you can't make any inroads into it." You are doing a tremendous job assuming such a monumental task as publishing a magazine of, for and by Armenians everywhere. Bravo and thank you. Helen Abounader Esther Boornazian New Hampshire
Rump, erratum
&
media
The Queen of Vulgarity is Madonna, and her most recent manipulation is Alek Keshishian, summa cum laude. AIM magazine has chosen to present a feature article on the duo. To add insult to injury, the graphics of the article are intrusive to the content which, I believe, was intended to highlight Mr. Keshishian and not Madonna's bosom and rear end...an injustice to Mr. K and an insult to the
:,;:':,,, '*'Efl-'
&iA $S
AlM, July 199'l
intelligent segment of your readership. A superb article by Florence Avakian (Media) evidently does not merit the same consideration as Madonna. Sona Kludjian
Forest Hills, New York
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you and the whole staff for the splendid job you are doing and the professionalism evident in your publication. At the same time, I would like to bring to your attention an error made by Katherine Chiljan in her article titled "Screen Dreams" (May issue) whereby she pre-
sented
Mr. Alex
of
Manoogian as the
the AGBU, whereas it is a well-known fact that the Great Boghos Noubar Pasha found the AGBU in 1906 founder
in Egypt. Vatche Sarkisian
Falls Church, Virginia
Chideren's Art
1988 earthquake, of war, and of the con-
An exhibition of children's art from Armenia reopened the Children's Museum
Letter to letter
of Manhattan in June, after it had
In
response to Rosemary Aprizian's letter, I have this to say. I am very sorry to see that you are a very closeminded person in one of the most heavily Armenian-populated cities in the East Coast. Obviously you do not read your magazines very closely, because ifyou had you would have noticed that AIM is comprised
of many articles about many different issues besides political issues.
Also, our Armenian history is comprised of these political parties and you can't ignore the fact that they exist. It's these organizations and many others that are helping our relatives in Soviet 1A,rme-
nia and elsewhere survive. I find it very disappointing to read such brainless letters from fellow Armenians. In times when we should be coming together, it's people like this that keep us apart.
I wish the very
best to
AIM
been
closed by a fire for nearly four months. The more than 100 paintings, etchings, carpets and ceramics by children at the Center for Aesthetic Education in Yerevan include "powerful" depictions of the
and I hope
your publication is here to stay for a long time.
Ara Topouzian Birmingham, Michigan
LETTEBS arc welcome and should be addressed to:
AIT
P.O. Box 3296 fanhattan Beach, CA 90266
F x (8181 *6.22a,3 Letters should be typewritten, doublespaced and include the wrlter's tull name, address
and home telephone number, and may be edlted for purposes ol clarlty and space.
AlM, July 1991
tinuing political turmoil
in
Armenia.
Traditional portraits, landscapes and still lifes are also featured, while music evoking the mood of various artworks has been chosen for children to listen to on headphones as they view them.
Displays about everyday life in Armenia, including a room furnished in typical Yerevan style, are included in the
exhibition, which runs through September 15. Performances of Armenian music and folk dancing, as well as an opportunity to taste Armenian food, were also
being staged. Thd entire exhibit at the museum on West 83rd Street, Manhattan, will be documented by photographs and on videotape,
with questions taped by American children sent to Yerevan for response by Armenian youngsters.
Aid
to
Armenia
The House of Representatives approved
$5 million in earthquake relief aid to Armenia for 1992, with a further $5 million earmarked for the 1993 fiscal year, of the Foreign Aid Appropriations
presentation
Bill. The money will go to U.S.
Clarinet in A Major, a professor at the
as part
non-
governmental agencies.
On the Danube
legislation which would provide $10 mil-
The Komitas Quartet performed in Vienna before a spellbound audience in a concert arranged by the Austro-Armenian Cultural Society in June. The ensemble's program presented a mix of works by Armenian and non-Armenian composers. Haydn's Lark Quartet No. 5 and Shostakovich's Quartet No. 7 opened the concert, with the second part devoted to pieces by Edward Mirzoyan and Komitas. The quartet of (left to right) Edward Tatevossian (first violin), Suren Hakhnazarian (second violin), Felix Simonian (cello) and Alik Kosemyan (viola) won high praise for their performance in one of the most demanding music capitals of
The Senate is considering similar
Iion for Armenia to September 1993. Armenian lobbying groups are working to have the higher level of aid included in the final version ofthe appropriations bill, which must be drawn up by both houses. The House also unanimously approved a resolution condemning violence against
civilian Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan and Armenia, and calling for dialogue to resolve the dispute. The resolution, sponsored by Rep. Wayne Owens (D-UT) and Rep. William Broomfield (RMI) was approved as an amendment to the House Foreign Aid Authorization Bill, which also included a provision calling for U.S. aid to the Soviet Union to be channeled directly to republics with democratic govemments.
GAROONG
of
Mozart's Quintet for
Salzburg Mozarteum exclaimed: "It's an irony that musicians have to come from Armenia to teach us how to interpret our
Mozart."
levonTqossian
New Anthem After the failure of a republican competition to produce any acceptable compositions, the Armenian Parliament on July I chose the new official anthem of the Republic of Armenia in a near-unanimous vote.
"Mer Hayrenik"'s (Our Homeland) lyrics was penned by l9th-Century poet Mikael Nalbandian and its music by Lebanese-Armenian composer Parsegh
Europe.
But they're used to that. After a 1984
Ganatchian.
by Peter Khonbegion
OHE cRANE)
An explosivesogo obouf tlrreegenerotionsof Americon-Armenionsstrugglingto reconcile loyolty ond
commitmenttothe
Old World with osimilotion ond identity in the New World, "STIRRING
...
POWERT'UL
...
EMOTIONAL
" ...
Mary Eitzgeta].d, Eagle Tribune
"KHANBEGIAN'S BOOK CAPTURES ARMENIAN STRUGGLE"...
Diane aeitDalr, Tefegraph,New Hampshire
"INTENSELY INTERESTING...A MUST READ BY ALL WHO LIKE QUICK-PACED ACT]ON, COURAGEOUS MEN, AND BOLD-SPIRITED WOMEN'" . .
E.MacLeod, Courier, Canada
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MAIL)_
-
_ _ J
!PM,OPtE Hyest in the sky
-
Compiled by Katherine Chilian
Blasting into space June 5 aboard the space shuttle Columbia was Dr. James P. Bagian, the first Armenian astronaut. It was the second space ride for the 39-year-old flight surgeon, who was also on board the Orbiter Discovery Mission in March 1989. Primary work aboard the module was done by Dr. Bagian and three other medical specialists, who conducted blood tests and other experiments on one another. In addition to being one of the principal experimenters and subjects of research, Dr. Bagian is also one of two among the seven astronauts who are trained to perform repairs, including the manual closing of the two cargo bay doors, during spacewalks. The NASA mission was dedicated to life science experiments, but not exclusively... I
Spaceballs
...Joan Yaze.iian-Bogo-
sian and three
dents
in
1984 for a class
project. Only four witnessed its completion
col-
leagues have created an
achieve on Earth since gravity deforms metal, but in space? Joan traveled twice to
seven years later, meeting weekends in a private garage for the past year-and-a-half. Joan's main role was in assembly and heat transfer analysis. "lt was a whole breadth of experience-
Cape Canaveral in Flor-
conceptual, design and
ida to put the finishing touches and watch the launching of the OB-
construction." According to Joan, a senior systems engineer at Northrop, the last phrase of the project will be interpretation of the data. A perfect sphere would make a better ball bearing-the key components of machines, from automobiles to aircraft.
experimental device in the quest for the perfect
ball bearing-a task
theoretically impossible
to
BEX aboard the space shuttle Columbia. The Orbital Ball Bearing Experiment was initiated by her and I I other Califomia State University-Northridge engineering stu-
Eye on the prize "Think
about
what you'd miss when you shut off the equipment,"
Michael Kaprielian
counsels aspiring filmmakers.
Named the l99l Videomaker of the Year by Video-
The Boad to Miss California, Via lran Can a non-American
maga-
zine, he was se-
nia World? Iranian-born
lected from l0
finalists
for
commendable videomaking motivations,
ambitions and accomplishments. "The major influence that guided my interest into filmmaking was the startling reaction of an audience to a single segment of a film about rehabilitation." Kaprielian is especially noted for arranging the exchange of video messages between
Americans and Soviet Armenians after the earthquake. A Vietnam veteran, Kapri-
James Sarkis Essian, Jr. became the 42nd manager in the Chicago Cubs' history when he was named to the post at the end of May. Essian was promoted from manager of the Cubs' Class AAA team in Iowa. At 40, he is the youngest manager in the Major Leagues. Essian has
played baseball professionally
for
l5
years, mainly as a catcher. Born in Detroit, Michigan, he is one of 13 chil-
dren.
f
elian compiled a series of video messages from Armenian-Americans in the New England area, then played them back to Soviet Armenians. "The people were filled with gratitude, their frustration seemed to dissipate." His approach to videomaking: "Shoot first, ask questions later." Kaprielian will be saluted in the magazine's annual videomaker showcase in July. a
born woman capture the 1992 title of Miss Califor-
maker
ln the dugout
Tina Grigorian will try to answer that question when
she competes with 100 other women in the televised August l0 competition. "I want to prove to society that anybody can
be whatever they want. You don't have to be put in a corner just because you are not American."
The 2l-year-old naturalAlM, July 1991
ized citizen is a health education major at Glendale College, and has studied ballet for 12 years. "My friends at first laughed
at me-'you can't be Miss California, you can't speak English!' But now many appreciate me----â‚Źxcept my aunt and uncle, who"don't believe
girl should swimsuit on
an Armenian
wear
a
camera." Miss Grigorian will represent Glendale in the Palm Springs event; the winner will re-
ceive a $100,000 cash prize and will be eligible for the 1992 Miss World
Pageant.
I
AlM, July 1991
AIM: Although functioning under often uneven sociopolitical climates, the main centers of the Diaspora still share a set of collective symbols, and continue to react to similar obstacles. But can we speak of a Diasporan spirit, a zeitgeist? OSHAGAN: No. Such a spirit seems to be extraneous to the Diaspora. An ideal at best. Throughout our history, we've been caught between centripetal
and centrifugal urges-toward the roots and the land, and toward the outer dimension. the free world. To this
is added the working of
a
novel construcl-toword the Diaspora, which is an alto-
the Diaspora shape a new political self-definition, a genuinely organic model that is consistent with the needs and strengths of a cultural entity, like ours, whose significance does not rest on statehood or a territorial base. And the move from the moral toward the political must bypass the structures of Armenia and the Armenian Cause. So it is already possible to speak of a Diasporan declaration of independence, parallel to that of Armenia but irrespective of it. As far as we know, the government of Armenia has neither a Diasporan agenda nor a minister, and its links to the Diaspora are by and large constricted to matters of economic or industrial aid. As we're left to our own devices. we cannot but become self-reliant-in every respect. As for the imagination of the Diaspora, it has yet to liberate itself from the mythology of the past-the
gether different identity than
that of the traditional, halfconscious Diaspora of the last millenium. There is at present a hesitant, disjunct effort to shed the skin, to
throw off that old layer of
self-preservation
inanimate matter and to seize
budding, highly conscious segment whose modemity is in opposition to the conservatism of the masses. So we have two fronts, almost militant, that are divided by the lines of talent and age. The
Meanwhile, our collective
imagination remains in direly embryonic state.
new are a generation of young men and women,
concentrated along the Beirut-Paris-Los Angeles axis (the castles of Montreal and Boston are occupied by the old. We don't know much about Tehran and Istanbul). It seems, incidentally, that the waning of the
in
own existential space, with
broader, more universal propositions?
No, Diasporan literature has not reached that higher level of consciousness yet, since it lacks a command-
the
Diaspora has suddenly given
rise to the fine arts. whose practitioners must now assume hitherto neglected responsibilities. The old, pre-1975 Diaspora, then, still embraces the Westem-Armenian ideology that Hermann Vahramian calls "necrophilia," the corpse being the principle of cultural preservation. while the new is characterized by its opposition to the brute force of mass impulse, and by its insistence on a legitimate synthesis of Armenianness and modernism.
The precepts that string the Diaspora together are chiefly political and, perhaps with the exception of the visual arts, Diasporan culture remains intimately conditioned by the exigencies of political doctrine. What does this tell you about the imagination of the Diaspora? The Diaspora's precepts are not political yet. They are moral;
or cultural. This is why the Diaspora, abandoned as it is to memories and emotion, so easily falls prey to political influences from both Armenia and the West.
a
Do you think Diasporan literature is sufficiently vigorous to defy political dictum and to move to operate from within its
mostly fine artists, who are
Armenian language
system,
sexism, the eternity of religious and partisan structures, ghettoism, alienation, the cold earth, the victim nation, racism, language worship, and so on-in order to forge its own world view.
a new path. As far as I can see, there is in every community of the Diaspora a
Increasingly, however, it becomes essential that the Diaspora consider itself a sovereign political reality. It is time that
ing figure and style,
espe-
cially in prose. Stylistic sensibility among Diaspora's
prose
writers is either weak or conditioned by petty influences- first, that crass journalistic and political style that dominates the scene, and then the buzz of traditional poetry that rings in the ear of each and every prose writer.
Armenian identity without the Armenian language: do you find such a premise viable for a strong Diaspora? The question of identity is the question of roots and influences, a realm in which only men of art or culture engage seriously. Crises of this type are irrelevant to, for instance, the yuppie crowd-and to the business class in general. To this majority, there is no Armenian identity without the Armenian language, the Armenian church and the other traditional institutions. It's different for the artist. Being an intemational language, art has the function of blasting the narrow confines of national identity asunder and to venture outward. This, in fact, is among the Diaspora's foremost discoveries, and one of its
principal contributions to Armenian culture: that
AlM, July 1991
it is indeed
possible to maintain identity without the language. Identity is not a flat, immutable and etemal fact but a living, hence evolving concept that each generation, even each individual, has the right to redefine. The artist, however, is particularly concerned with identity as a tryst for tradition and countless influences, as a starting point for life's great adventure toward distant and often foreign shores. As for the strength of a future Diaspora, I couldn't say much: it would all depend on the inner dynamism of the future Armenians of the Diaspora. Do you think Armenian literature in the non-Armenian languages has succeeded in penetrating the essence of the Diaspora? Is there, in fact, a distinct project that literature of this type subscribes to?
Mainly, I have Armenian-American literature in mind. Writers arena do not feel the Diaspora in the sense that the Armenian-language writer does. They certainly dabble in complexes as far as name and national origin go, but theirs is quite different. They don't consider themselves part of the Diaspora, and very often their understanding of Armenian history fails to reach beyond the archetype of their grandparents. And then, the Genocide has lost much of its tragic potency by being transplanted into the English language. For this very reason, the Armenian-American writer has been .E
of this
healthier social context. It's only then that the real, difficult work of thinking our "mission" as a people, ov raison d'Atre,
will
begin.
You once wrote that there are probably no more than Sfi) people in the Diaspora who regularly keep abreast of Armenian literature. If this estimation is more or less true, if there is in fact a polarization between an intellectually indifferent majority and a small elite, what can you say about the next decade of Diasporan literature? Two scenarios. First, a pessimistic one, that is to say a rift that might persist and grow larger.
If socialist ideology
is toppled,
along with communism, and if the "people" mystique is abandoned by the civilized world, then our elite may gradually withdraw from its Armenian frame and melt away among the international intelligentsia. This would be our contribution to world culture. Then there are the masses, who've always had their loving, understanding, even talented writers. We still have such writers, by the dozens, who are sufficient for our immediate needs. These writers satisfy a psychological necessity in relation to the people, and once that necessity is satiated, they are forgotten. The true artist is independent of such necessities.
able to conquer his Armenian-American reality. Pe- $ ter Najarian, Diana Der Hovanessian, Peter Sourian,
Jack Hashian, Michael Akillian, Robert Hewsen. William Saroyan, Archie Minasian and many others
i
E
$ have transcended the Diaspora by perceiving it as ! Americans, by the benchmarks of American litera- ! ture. This, then, is the only trait that might consti- < tute a distinguishable project in their literature. The Armenian content of their work remains grossly inadequate, superficial. Nevertheless, the crucial measure of a literary work lies in its esthetic substance, and in this sense they have succeeded.
If there is a fair degree of public discourse in the Diaspora, what notable changes in cultural or political attitudes do you think have taken shape as a result of the exchange of ideas? Public discourse in the Diaspora is still in a rudimental stage and will remain so as long as the reins of the news media are in the hands of exploiters and opportunists. And Armenian pop culture, as a manifestation of public discourse, is devoid of spiritual direction, at least in North America.
The Diasporan news media continues to sell the image of a strictly one-dimensional being-the Armenian, prone to martyrdom, seems to be above bodily needs, incapable of crimi. nal inclinations, great obsessions or aspirations, and forever entangled in the woes of the ghetto. Do you suppose the Diaspora has condemned itself to this circle of lies, or do you believe in the inevitability of a genuine revolution?
Any condemnation is unacceptable. And I rqect anything that comes with the term "inevitable." Our present psychological plight is the result of the terrible shocks that we
And in fact what the people most need are true artists-those who folm the elite; and when they are no more, there is nothing left to be done. But in time, I believe that the Armenian people is apt to produce a new elite. The second scenario is a radiant image of a young Diasporan generation that repudiates the Establishment, the prevalent ethos,
and hurls itself into a revolutionary path. The most important factors for change, however, are neither talent nor courage but dedication and faith. The revolution is a matter of mind and spirit, of modemity and legitimacy. It is this scenario that bridges the gap between the elite and the masses, that presents the possibility of a normal existence in the Diaspora, and gives the Armenian people a calling, a cause in the collective of peoples
were subjected to in the last 100 years. Whatever is false, antiquated,
and history.
anachronistic and pathological
You're probably the most iconoclastic writer in the Dias-
in our public life is a direct
consequence of the self-preservation reflex. This, however,
will
spell disaster if new forces do not surge in a rebellion for life, liberty and self-renewal. The new generation must engage itself in this struggle; it must have faith and it must sacrifice itself in order to usher in a higher level of cultural expression, in a
pora. But your position on the traditional remains problem-
atic. At times you come forth as a fierce patriarch, then again you emerge as a modernist messiah who is almost driven to desparation in view of the pettiness and bigotry of Armenians. What, in general terms, do you accept or reject
AlM, July 1991
from the traditional? We must not necessarily equate the traditional with an old and obsolete order. The traditional actually might have quite a positive meaning. To Armenians, however, it carries an idolatrous hue that is unacceptable in our day. And writers who perpetrate worship of this kind are dead weight upon our literature. I denounce their stylistic shabbiness, their thematic limitation, their impotence to create as free and self-governing artists. Many Armenian writers have become nothing more than technicians in the service of official ideology-the mystique of an Armenian "soul," the writer as the unswerving vassal of the Armenian people, the irrational horror of the experimental, longstanding grudges and hatreds, genuflecting reverence for public opinion and the powers that be, sexual, linguistic and moral taboos, and so on. In short, the traditional can encourage the enslavement of the mind to the principles of a political, reli-
I refuse to give any authoritydivine-the right to speak in the name of
gious or moral leadership. whether human or
truth. In this, I am absolutely free and anarchistic. That which I accept, however, is the traditional as the crystalization of the wisdom and experience of the ages-particularly in language and religious sensibility. I go to church in order to find the Armenian people and my spiritual fatherland; in the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, I live the identity, the quintessence of the Armenian being, something that touches
me and kindles my imagination. I try to find the idea of roots, of fundament and archetype, the lessons of history, the basic aspects of the human spirit, which are all embodied in traditional art. Tradition becomes significant when it is taken as a point of departure toward the uncharted. In the search for identity, man is often pitted against tradition; he must challenge and confront it, but above all he must learn and absorb it utterly. Without this, it's almost impossible to realize any serious, lasting work of art or thought. My principal criticism of the EnglishJanguage Armenian writers is concerned with their conscious ignorance of tradition, starting with the language.
As a teacher, critic and writer, you've had a considerable impact on the attempt to catapult Diasporan thought toward radical modernism. Do you notice any intellectual currents, or individual literary works, that bear the imprint of your own work? The word "attempt" is already part of the answer. I've probably had an impact, but I'd like to think that people made strides through their own inner workings, their own processes of growth. In the pages of Ahegan, Yeridasart Hye, Ser, Menk and Gam, and in many books and newspaper articles, I come across certain sensibilities, certain styles and attitudes, that echo my own work. On the other hand, I don't think I've had any influence on publications such as Antasdan or Pakin. But I find the term "radical modemism" rather exaggerated. It would probably be more precise to speak of an "Armenian modemism," or of "intellectual liberation," or "literary uniqueness." In these, I've been only partially successful-the latest example is the case of Tagartin Shoorch, which failed to generate a positive public response because our present mind-set, even with writers, is not enlightened enough to step beyond the sensation of a shocking scene or an invective.
Indeed, the element of shock is ubiquitous in your work. Is this a planned tactic, a way of rousing intellectual participation, or is it a natural manifestation in your creative personality?
A trivializing question that reeks of bookish gossip. But no matter. The element of shock is an inseparable aspect of my
literary world view. When you write through the maze of universal futility, human ignorance and the horrible contradictions of life, you cannot cultivate literature of the pleasing, acceptable or harmless kind. What is written is the image of a constant psychic state. At any given moment, my mind and nerves operate on a Richter 8 level. My goal, partly, is to rouse in the reader an awareness of this terrible human drama. Hence the "shock." You seem to have a special fondness for the Armenian Paris of the '50s, as both environment and artistic experimentation. Do you sense the hint of a similar creative surge in the Diaspora today? Not the hint, but the hope. In Paris, Beirut and [,os Angeles, there are secret, restrained urges, imaginations on the verge of explosion, passions and patiences that are in search of a mode of expression. I'm not aware of any closet talents. The atmosphere of intolerance and parochialism among the Paris and Los Angeles intelligentsia is probably the chief obstacle to the inevitable emergence of such talents. Already, however, there have been a number
of attempts-the New Theatre, lhe
Ootsoon-
agans, Locus, Raft, Guyk, the literary supplements of Haratch, etc. I am enthusiastic with this few, because I have absolutely no interest in what is absent or negative in our public life-the impoverishment of literature and the disappearance of readers, the deterioration of the language, alienation, the lack of a homeland, and so on. Surely these are important issues, but are in no way worth the whining and whimpering. My sympathies lie with the living, the present, the existent, however insignificant or weak it might be. Herein lies the future. This is why I look at the chaos and inner powers of the Diaspora, at the headway we've made so far, our national achievements, and I conclude that we have every right to be hopeful.
If you were to design the blueprint of the new Diaspora, which existing institution, fixation or practice would you eliminate?
Weird question, this. So you'd like to create the new Diaspora while the first one is barely out of the womb, do you? What impatience, what haste, to bury a being that was begotten with so much pain, so many tribulations and young victims, a being that is still struggling to reach maturity and claim its obligations! God knows the Diaspora's inadequacies are countless, but it is ours, from Beirut to Montreal, Rio de Janeiro to Paris, and the only healthy attitude is to love it, possess it and cultivate it. So I refuse to take the concept of a new Diaspora seriously.
Literary merit aside, what would the first Armenian novel of a 2S-year-old arouse in you?
Quite naturally, a sense of promise, of exhilaration. And a secret anxiety of failure... Since poetry has been the oveniding genre of Westem-Armenian literature so far, an outpouring of successful novels would probably signal a fundamental change in direction. The Diaspora is more open to the world than its progenitor, the Westem-Armenian nation, had been-which is a very healthy sign. The rise of the new Armenian novel would point toward the eventual demise of "necrophilia" and would indicate that we are on the road to becoming normal men, that the Armenian mind has set out to approach and take part in civilized humanity. Thus the Diaspora might still flourish onto a new plateau.
But first, the import and enigma of the Genocide must be
conquered, with art and nerves. The Armenian mind must liberate itself from the Armenian people and history, in order to grow and achieve its wholeness. I
AlM, July 1991
l5
The Pursuit of Power Young Armenians Learn the Governing Game
By
WEITE
Among the youngest Ar-
HARPOOTIAN and
ilABGARET SIIOIIIAI{
hether they are walking the campaign trail for themselves or for another candidate, more and more young
Armenians are getting involved in politics. Can you imagine casting your first vote for yourself? This was an honor Haik Bedrosian, 18, enjoyed when running for Mayor of Burlington, Vermont, in March. This young Armenian stood as an inde-
pendent
in the liberal northern
New
England town, deciding to run because
initially "nobody had thrown their hat into the ring" and he was concerned about an uncontested election. As it turned out, Haik had three opponents and captured I I percent of the votes, gaining second place.
Haik focused his campaign on the youth. He wanted to involve more young people in politics since the lowest voter tumout is in the 18-24 age group. Haik's friends backed him by creating and hanging posters, selling tickets to his fundraising dance for young people, and encouraging them to register to vote. Because of his age, Haik was a candidate young people identified with and supported. His political involvement began in high
school where he participated
in
the
Mayor's Youth Office, a youth advocacy and job training center. Here he was on different advisory and leadership commit-
tees, leamed film-making and studied Russian.
Haik believes his Armenian background helped him in the election, particularly because his name stood out. During campaign media interviews, Haik proudly mentioned he was the son of an 82-year-old Armenian refugee which established his Armenian identity. His father Grischa, a farmer from Armenia before the Russian Revolution, became a prisoner in a Nazi work camp and worked
as
a
welder after immigrating
to
the
United States. Since the election, Haik has become more aware of his heritage. In the fall, he plans to attend Temple University in Pennsylvania to study his "great love-film." But in the future Haik
would like to retum to Burlington and may even run for office again. "I am certain I can do better in the future. I leamed a great deal about elections-this was a good leaming experience and I'm really
happy
l6
I did it."
menians elected to public office is John Simonian, a State Representative Rhode Island. A third-year law stu-
in
dent at Boston University,
John started his political career at age I I when the state representative candidate
in his district, Irving Levin, was recruiting volunteers. "He said he would give a pizzaparty for all the volunteers
if
we helped pass out
flyers," Simonian remembers. Levin did throw the party and John continued his involvement for the next two terms and a few more pizza parties.
As he got older John became more involved. He was a page in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, a legal intem to Rhode Island Superior Court Justice
Americo Campanella,
and
worked as a legislative aide
to
United States
Senator
Claibome Pell (D-RI) as part of the Armenian Assembly's summer intern program. After Irving Levin retired, John was asked to run for
his seat. "Few people go through
Haik Bedrosian ran at the age of Mayor ol Burlington, Vermont
the process I have, the storybook-type maturation to political office.
Although
it is a tough time with the
economy to be in politics, helping people makes it rewarding," said Simonian, now 25. In office he hopes he will have the ability to provide state jobs to Armenians as well as to others, and be able to help pass bills that affect the people in the state.
Opportunity "It is an opportunity to shape policy of what will happen in the state: taxes, education, funding. It is exciting and important to be involved in what's going
on," Simonian said. He recently intro-
duced a resolution that recognized April 24, l99l as the 76th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide. John Simonian received strong support
from the Armenian community in Rhode Island and without it he may not have done as well as a Democrat running in a predominately Republican district. ArmeAlM, July 1991
18 lor election
as
nians donated money for his campaign, put his signs on their lawns and places of business, even if they didn't live in his district. "Clearly, the strong support I received from the Armenians in my com-
munity played a major part in my winning this election," Simonian said. In fact, his district was mainly Irish and ltalian. "Many people thought I was
Italian-'Simoni'-because they couldn't pronounce my name. It helped me get
their vote," Simonian
acknowledged.
Many he spoke with associated him with a prior positive experience they had with an Armenian and thought "he must be alright." John thinks the best way to get in-
volved in politics is through someone else's campaign-knocking on doors, passing out flyers. He feels there is a need for Armenians in politics because he sees how "other ethnic groups in office take care of their people through favors and
help."
Anaforian is convinced that "Armeni-
Propelled by issues
ans are motivated to do right. It's part of our upbringing." In his case, that means being involved in politics. And he encourages ambitious young Armenians to make
"Communities benefit when Armenians are in office," asserts Fresno City Councilman Rod Anaforian. The grandson of an Armenian immigrant who, before his death in 1983, had been the only member of his family to survive the Genocide, Anaforian says his work is done partly out of recognition of "all the sacrifices made for my genera-
tion."
Anaforian was motivated
to
the same commitment
enter
Backstage politics Laurie Onanian also feels it is impor-
tant for Armenians to be involved in politics, but believes "you don't have to hold a public office to make a difference." Laurie divides her workday by working for Boston Massachusetts Mayor Ray-
He went on to become the first Arme-
in
1985. He captured 54 percent of the votes in the four-candidate race. Anaforian gives much credit for his victory to former Govemor George Deukmejian's local popularity. He says Deukmejian "blew out the competition" by capturing 95 percent of the precinct votes. That, the councilman asserts, showed that the community was willing to trust an Armenian in office. "That year was significant to the Armenian population," Anaforian remembers. "I was very excited by that kind of victory." Just four years later, the coun-
that is "what
in their communities," Anaforian asserts. "Not just to do things for Armenians, but because we bring wonderful values to our work."
politics by several local issues he thought deserved attention. "lt had a lot to do with the direction the city was taking," the councilman explains. "I saw an absence of rational thinking in local government. I was trying to bring stability to the way the city was being run." nian elected to the Fresno City Council
if
moves their hearts." "More Armenians should get involved
John Simonian enjoys the challenges ol decision-making as a Rhode lsland State Representative
cilman was reelected after he took 74 percent of the votes against a single opponent. He was the only Armenian can-
didate in both races. In 1987, Anaforian implemented a smoking ordinance in Fresno, once the largest city in Califomia without such a plan, requiring non-smoking areas in
public places like restaurants, hotels and theaters.
1\ADIA
IOSMIIIC
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mond Flynn's office of Business and Cultural Development, handling public relations, in the morning, and devoting afternoons to the Boston Redevelopment Authority's public information office. Laurie is also the mayor's Armenian liaison. She helped create this position when
the massive earthquake hit Armenia in December 1988. Since then the mayor has been highly involved in helping the Armenian people. He set up a relief office,
bought supplies and equipment and set up free housing for the children from Armenia coming to Massachusetts Gen-
CO
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months into her new job. Not yet knowing the communication channels of the Govemor's office, she wrote the gover-
nor a letter as a constituent, informing him what the Armenian community was doing about the earthquake and that the Governor's office should do more. He liked her ideas and said "good, do it." Knar made a cabinet presentation to have an agricultural exchange with Armenia. A great deal was being done to meet housing and food needs but not ag-
ricultural needs, she argued.
Knar Gelenian gets sent "anything Armenian" by Maryland Governor William D. Schaefer (left)
eral Hospital for treatment. "He helped a great deal," Laurie said, "he wanted to do something more creative than fundraising." She attends events in the Armenian community with the mayor, planned his itinerary when he went to Armenia, briefs him on Armenian events and people. "It is a special part of my job," she said. Politics always interested Laurie. While growing up, her father, who works for the
The
Schaefer became aware of Knar's Armenian heritage and now sends "anything Armenian" to her. Knar has worked on many interesting projects she wouldn't have been involved with if she wasn't Ar-
menian. "Being an Armenian involved in
politics is a way to get Armenian issues known to people. It is a way of making a difference in an individual's life and, on the policy end, making a difference on lots of people's lives," Knar said. A series of intemships led Arda Nazarian to her job in politics. She took part in the Armenian Assembly intemship in Washington and was Bob Tembeckjian's press secretary when he ran for the United States House of Representatives from the
govemor's proposal involved supplying technical experts from the state Department of Agriculture and the University of Maryland to Armenia. The project received federal funding but the outcome is uncertain at this time due to the economic situation of the state.
internship with New York Govemor Mario Cuomo's office while she was in
earthquake Governor
college, she subsequently worked full-time
After the
east side of Manhattan. After creating an
Department of Labor in Washington, emphasized the great sense of duty in
working for govemment. Now Laurie
knows this from experience. "Public service gives you satisfaction, it lets you make things happen for people." She is always encouraged to find Armenians who are involved in politics and hopes they will start contributing more. "l think it's great and important if Armenians support them with money," she said. Her involvement has helped people around
her who previously knew nothing about Armenians to get acquainted with being Armenian-the food, the Genocide and the culture.
ln through the internship door Both Knar Gelenian and Arda Nazar-
Zankou Chiekerr.
ian feel internships are the best way to get into politics. "There is absolutely no way to get a good job in politics right away," Nazarian said.
Knar Gelenian works
in the Legal
Labor Special Issues Department for the
of Maryland, William D. Schaefer. She started in politics by linking up with the director of the Center of Political Leadership at the University of Maryland where she graduated. She parGovernor
l4l5
E. Colorado Sneet, Suite D, Glendale, Califomia 91205 (818) 2A4 -
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ticipated in an internship to get women involved in politics, met someone from
the governor's office and "thought it would be the greatest thing to work for
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the governor," she said. When a position opened up, she took it.
The earthquake hit Armenia a few
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tgy
AlM, July 1991
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for Govemor Cuomo in press relations and is now director of Public Affairs for the Inspector General of the Metropolitan
Transportation Authority in New York. She was the "token Armenian" on the govemor's staff and found him very receptive to Armenian issues during her five years in his office. Arda believes it is "incredibly" important for Armenians to be involved in politics. "Even if it isn't for a lifetime, by working in the public sector first you are more valuable to the private sector because you know the system," she said. "You don't have to be old and stodgy to make a difference and you don't have to be elected. You can establish credibility as a policy person or staff member.
if an Armenian issue comes up they'll tum to you and you can make a
Then
difference."
Attomey Peter Kazarian also recognizes the power of political influence, especially when a participant is in a position to support his ethnicity. "Any time you're in a position of influence, there are so many issues to be addressed," he explains. "lf an Armenian issue comes up, an Armenian will have greater sensitivity toward it." That's one reason Kazarian became a part-time staff member for now California Govemor Pete Wilson in 1983. His three-and-a-half year involvement in constituent services and foreign affairs, in addition to his title of research assistant for national security, put him in an ideal position to support and contribute significantly to then Senator Wilson's efforts to ratify the Genocide Treaty. Kazarian attributes much of Wilson's sympathy to the cause to the presence of trusted Armenians on his staff. That accomplishment, Kazarian says,
helped him "develop a level of confidence" in the fate of Armenian issues.
But he is quick to note that there
No reasontcgo anywlrcre elseforaHomeEqu orLineof Cre
is
important work to be done for the Ameri-
can community at large. The son of American-born parents who raised him in Los Angeles, Kazaian identifies strongly with his large family and church, which he describes as simply a "cultural background."
Kazarian still does work for Wilson. He serves as one of the govemor's surrogate speakers for Los Angeles, making appearances on Wilson's behalf at such varied events as awards ceremonies and intemational conventions. Though his efforts do not make him a politician, Kazarian sees his contribution to local politics as significant and worthwhile. "My law firm supports it," he says of his efforts, "and I'm happy to do it." Yvette Harpootian in Rhode lsland and Margaret Simonian in Los Angeles are freelance contributors to AIM
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AlM, July 1991
e t9
Clowning through Communism A Lrfe in Love with Laughter "But after realizing that I was not going
By AZNIV KETENCHIAN
to give up, he changed his mind and took me back." At age 24, Ouzounian met the Holly-
Special to AIM ehind the smiles and the grease-
wood entertainer Gary Fleming
paint, a clown hides many sto-
of step-dancing, tap-dancing, and choreography in less than a year. "After Fleming, I left the Armenian circles and joined international crowds, performing shows I choreographed in cabarets and casinos." His solo casino act developed into a
ries, sometimes happy, often sad. For Hagop Ouzounian, who lays
claim to being the world's first Armenian clown, circus life has been a
bittersweet mixture
of
triumph
and
blocked opportunity. During his 25-year career with the Moscow Circus, the spritely entertainer amused over 300 million people, with every performance a sold-out event.
"I
in me," declares *it"itbeing his love and need for entertaining. His childhood always had
Ouzounian, 71,
memories are filled with mischief, and even being expelled from school a few times did not discourage "little Hagop." "I always played tricks in class and got spanked by my teachers," the Turkishbom Ouzounian recalls, with a big smile on his face. "And when I would come home, my father would spank me, but I would not stop playing around." His first performance before a paying audience occurred in 1937, at age 17, in Alexandria, Egypt, where he grew up. It was a performance of "The Village Salesman" (Kyooghatsi Vajarak), financed by Ouzounian and a few friends through
ticket
and
mastered the art
duet known as "Jack &
Jim
Ouzounovsky" with partner Hassan Abdul Fattah. They were later joined by Alice Sahagian, an Armenian dancer, and the trio entertained in Alexandria, Cairo, Polsa and the Suez Canal.
When World War II broke out, Ouzounian signed on with the Entertainment National Service Association
(ENSA), exclusively performing for the
British Army as part of the Fiddle Dee
Dee Company. A specialty performer of step and Russian dances, Ouzounian was
the Bob Hope of the British Forces; he also ranked as a lieutenant in the Army. ENSA took Ouzounian to Egypt, Iraq, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, where he received an invitation from the King to dine with him at the palace. After the war, Ouzounian's contract with ENSA expired. At the same time, the Soviet Republic of Armenia was calling its children home; the Ouzounians were one of the thousands of families who retumed to the homeland in 1948. Hagop continued his career there, but "my talents were considered too advanced for Armenia and I was taken to Moscow." In the Soviet Union, talented performers from all 15 republics are recruited to its capital to train and enrich their skills. "In Moscow, they told me they needed a clown for the Moscow Circus and would train me; I guess they saw the potential in me," Ouzounian said, who proved them
right. After only two years, he not only mastered the language but passed the professional clown test by a l0-person commission of top officials, including the culture minister. At the time, the Moscow Circus had 130 clowns and Ouzounian struggled for five years to overcome the difficulties, finally ranking in the top three.
"It
was hard being the new kid on the "I had to leam the language, understand the people and their ideology, and grasp the secret of entertaining successfully in the circus."
block," he said.
sales.
He went on to a variety of supporting roles in plays with actor Khachik "Wal-
ter" Santaljian and comedian Arpiar. But
Eventually Ouzounian authored 24 acts used in the circus, all censored and accepted by the commission, and well re-
Ouzounian's father did not share his love of acting and threw him out ofthe house. "My father had old-fashioned ideas about artists being no good and would not accept my decision to be one, so I spent 15 days on the street," Ouzounian said.
ceived by the public. He was soon assigned to train 130 Russian professional clowns, preparing them for the circus. "My goal was not only to make people
AlM, July 1991
Ouzounian
had secretly contacted
laugh, but also to
educate them," Ouzounian
them, asking to return home as
said.
"We did not have stupid acts like pie
I
soon as possible. Both the director and Ouzounian
the
were aware of the but he was summoned back.
throwing. wanted some meaning, also."
He gave
lie,
Moscow
Circus his full dedication,
he created the team of Bim, Bom, Boom. They traveled coast to coast in Canada, entertaining in schools, national shows, the lnternational Expo in Montreal, and
the International Circus Festival of
Monueal. Through these shows, he accomplished his goal of popularizing the circus in Canada. "I loved being a clown," Ouzounian said. "The feedback I got from the public made it all worthwhile." With pride in his voice, he recalled a trip to Tiflis, where his pictures were posted everywhere, with
working six days
Many of the capitalist coun-
at
Ouzounian, but
signs reading "Georgia Loves You."
In the
summer holidays, the
he was never al-
People mobbed him everywhere he went and invited him to their homes. His fond-
circus performed
Moscow feared
est memory is
he would defect. Finland was the
him as "my son."
tries
a week, with five
shows ends.
week-
lowed
three times a day. During a performance in [.en-
ingrad,
he
requested
because
only
was
congratulated by
the renowned mime Marcel
Marceau, who was amazed by his tal-
ited during his Moscow years,
busily producing videos of his work for the Armenian public. "I have made these tapes for my people, because I have only entertained my fellow Soviet Armenians
because it had an
and haven't done anything to entertain
agreement with
menians abroad. It is very unfortunate that
ing performers.
took with Marceau and the director of
He finally real-
in
the
ized how mistrusted he was when, de-
At the height ofhis career, Ouzounian was approached by Armenian director
KGB agent, disguised as a civilian, was
the circus was put on disPlaY Clown Exhibition in Leningrad.
Amo Ivanovich to pursue a career in film. The "second Caravan" was about Armenians abroad retuming to Armenia, and
Ouzounian played
a young capitalist
encouraging people to go to the U.S. instead. Though the film was 90 percent complete, Stalin would not allow it to be shown and Ouzounian's acting career disappeared.
Communism and comedy, an unlikelY
association but something with which Ouzounian had to come to terms. The Moscow Circus traveled to a new citY every six weeks and Ouzounian was in demand from abroad. Although he was highly respected by the cfucus, his travel was limited to 13 countries because he was an Armenian and a non-communist. "They approached me so many times, encouraging me to change my name and become a communist, guaranteeing that many new doors would open to me," said the clown. He always refused, despite assurances that he could leave if he was unhappy in the party, and the doors stayed shut. When Bulgaria requested Ouzounian
back for a second time, Moscow felt
obliged to send him-a rare occurrence for the circus to send the same performer twice to a country in so short a time. The Bulgarians loved Ouzounian so much that the director of the Bulgarian Circus wished to keep him three months longer. Moscow sent the director a letter saying
spite the agreement, he discovered that a assigned to
Now in retirement, Ouzounian has been
country Ouzounian vis-
the u.s.s.R. to return all defect-
ent. A picture he
of the elders addressing
follow him throughout the trip.
"They continued pressuring me into be-
coming a communist, and I continued re-
fusing," he said. "But after a while, the difficulties and dishonesty became too much to handle." Then one day Ouzounian's sister, a Canadian resident, succeeded in obtain-
Ar-
Armenians are not familiar with the circus. Only those who are from Soviet Armenia have a knowledge and appreciation for the art. Those from the Middle East have never been exposed to the circus and don't know," he bemoaned. Throughout his life, Ouzounian's family has been very supportive and proud of his accomplishments, but one of the greatest compliments occurred in a Finnish newspaper which read: "Of all the circuses to visit Finland, the only entertainer to amuse the cold people of FinI land was an Armenian clown."
ing a tourist's visa for him. Upon his
arrival, the circus ordered him to retum as soon as possible to prepare for the circus' tour of the United States; it also proved to be a hoax. At this Point, he decided to immigrate to Canada under his sister's sponsorship. "I was in a very bad position because everyone knew was leaving and now I couldn't leave because
I
they wouldn't let me." After complications with his immigrant application, Ouzounian appealed to then
hime Minister
Pierre Trudeau; one month
later, Moscow gave him permission to leave, accompanied with threats and blackmail. But his determination and the popularity he had gained with his talent and fame were stronger. In April 1977, Ouzounian, his Russian wife Maria and their son Jan moved to Canada. The Canadian government was very supportive of its new residents. Because there was no circus in Canada, it helped Ouzounian financially, encouraging him to start a new source of entertainment for the people. Along with Maria, his partner in the Moscow Circus for 15 years, and their son, a circus veteran of 10 years,
AlM, July 1991
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How Not to Gurb Mideast Arms Sales
ated to curtail their appetites for more of the same. A realization that negotiated settlements to age-old disputes are preferrable to an anns race must be imparted. There are indications that such proposals would be most welcome in several capi-
Five Basic Steps to Regional Peace
tals.
By JOSEPII A. KECHICHIAN peaking at the
Air Force Acad-
emy graduation ceremony in
late May, President
George
Bush unveiled a plan to limit
and Egyptians saw limited action and Israel none. This was amply demonstrated a few months ago, and ii riray be entirely accurate to state that the defense of the
smaller Gulf Cooperation Council states depended, consequently, not on more
the spread of nuclear, chemical
weapons but on a comprehensive security policy. Nevertheless, even if that
the the
be fewer worries about security in the Per-
and biological arms to Middle East and, in time, to ban
missiles
that deliver them.
The
Administration's ambivalence toward its policy may, and probably will, torpedo this effort. For Washington to regain its lost credibility in the Middle East, words must also be accompanied by deeds. On the contrary, efforts to increase arms sales to several states in the region continue unabated.
Mr. Bush's proposal called for afreeze on buying, building and testing of new surface-to-surface missiles in the region, a ban on the production and purchase of weapons-grade uranium,
production
of
a halt in
the
nuclear, biological and chemical weapons [as well as an invitation for regional states to commit themselves to the early completion of a global treaty banning chemical weaponsl, and a
new effort by states that supply conventional weapons, essentially the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council-Britain, China, France, the U.S. and the U.S.S.R.-to limit sales. "lt won't be easy," the President told his Colorado Springs audience, "but the path to peace never is."
No sooner had the President ended his commencement address than Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney announced a new wave of sales to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain (Apache attack helicopters) and Israel (F-l5s). Such sales were justified, it was argued, because they served self-defense needs. Washington remained true to its obligations, especially to its allies, and was not proposing a wholesale ban. Still, coming immediately after the war for Kuwait, these arms sales seemed to be inconsistent with the announced
proved impossible to achieve, there should
sian Gulf today than in the past. At least in military terms, Washington demonstrated that it was willing to rush to its allies'
levels of government. Much like the Camp
David Accords, there is the urgent need to involve the President in the dirty negotiations on the Arab-Israeli conflict and other festering disputes. Fourth, arms control must also incorporate confidence-building measures such
as institutional notifications for military maneuvers, the dispatching of military observers, the creation of hot lines between several capitals and the imperative of doing most of these things in the open to
eliminate suspicions.
assistance whenever the
need arose. Clearly, if the security of the region or of America's al-
lies, were threatened, the U.S. commitment,
so clearly demonstrated
through operations Desert Shield and Storm, could well be repeated. The real danger of advanced weapons sales is that they will undermine the first attempt in several decades to create international constraints
on the flow of arms to this volatile region. Un-
der a
comprehensive
ban, scarce
resources
would be utilized for regional development needs, to increase education levels, eliminate disease, and
build social
institutions.
In the aftermath of the war for Kuwait, a
consensus
emerged
among all of the major arms suppliers that this tion of the missile in Amman was the time to regulate arms sales in the Middle East. For the Fifth, the economic consequences of President's proposals to be meaningful, reduced arms sales must
however, a number of open agreements must be reached among the suppliers'
policy of restraint. Less charitable critics argued that it was pure hypocrisy. In fact, arms sales to the Middle East, in part, helped fuel the eight-years-long Iran-Iraq war and armed several states to levels far beyond their legitimate defense
among others.
needs. Save for the destroyed Iraqi arsenals, little of the allies' were. The Saudis
arms importing states must also be initi-
22
Third, arms control discussions need to be linked to diplomacy at the highest
cartel.
First, all second-tier suppliers should be invited to join a new arms cartel, including Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Italy, South Africa, North Korea and Spain, Second, high-level discussions with
AlM, July
1991
also be ad-
dressed, especially since that would affect hundreds of thousands of workers in developed countries. The gradual conversion of nonproductive arms into productive consumer goods should be encouraged and institutionalized. Save for such steps, no arms control initiative can be successful in the Middle East. The alternative is simply preparations for the next war.
I
violent conflict and economic backslid-
ing that made Yugoslavia a
Disappointment amid Yugodlavia's Rubble
problem.
Westem leaders were disturbed by the sight of a disintegrating Yugoslavia because it undercut the intemational principle that Americans and Europeans hold most dear----order. Washington's concept
of a new world order and the European Community's process of economic and political integration are both based on the idea that order in the intemational system is the best way to guarantee stability.
Is Ethnicin A Sound Basis fo, N atioial Self-D etermination?
Yugoslavia may be the first
of
many
will force the international community to rethink the comdisappointments that
By REBEGCA GRANT, Ph.D.
Special to AIM
ugoslavia has survived fas-
it
cism, civil strife, and decades of enmity from the Soviet Union. Since 1988, however, ethnic tensions have threatened to end the union. Earlier this spring, the federation made through a tough period when Prime
over, the political reawakening throughout Eastem Europe and the Baltic repub-
lics in the Soviet Union reopened the question of whether ethnic heritage is a sound basis for national self-determination.
No one seems to know whether to embrace the principles of national self-
determination and accept the right of Slovenia and Croatia to secede or to insist that propping up the federation is the
promises between order and other cherished principles. The conflict between order and independence would be easier for Western nations to resolve if the outlook was not so bleak. What might replace the federal structure is anyone's guess. Central institutions such as the army remain dominated by Serbian officers, while depending on conscripts from a number of dif-
ferent ethnic
Minister Ante Markovic threatened to use armed force to hold the republics together. And as the events of late June l99l indicate, the federation
with each other but they are also divided intemally. One are quaneling
of the most explosive issues in the feud between Serbia and
may not survive until the
end of the summer.
Yugoslavia
If
Croatia is the group of ethnic Serbs living in Croatia. Serbs fear that an independent Croatia
disinte-
of the most intriguing post-
grates, then one
World War II international experiments in nation-building
will
will discriminate against them. An even more diverse case is BosniaHerzogovina, which has a population that is 32Vo Serbian, l87o Croatian
have
failed.
With Croatia and Slovenia moving toward formal secession, the United States and the
and 407o
trouble for efforts to form coalitions among
are wrestling with near-
term problems of ethnic strife and economic confusion of their own. For
Washington and Stras-
tween
besupporting na-
Muslim. Such
intemal divisions spell
European Community
bourg, the choice
groups.
Yugoslavia's republics
the republics if the federal government were to militiamen army tank in Sentili near the Yugoslav-Austrian border
tional self-determination for the republics, or maintaining the "order" that seems to come from a federated state, creates a whole slew of problems as well. The worsening situation on the ground has raised fears about the future stability of ethnically and culturally incompatible European republics that fall outside the umbrella of the Common Market. Yugo-
slavia was created after World War I, during a period of infatuation with the principles of national self-determination. But modem Yugoslavia was Tito's empire. His death in May 1980 removed the repressive but charismatic force that has kept the artificial nation together. More-
only way to guarantee the rights of all ethnic groups in Yugoslavia. As a compromise, Western leaders placed their political capital behind encouraging unity.
In early June, France's Frangois Mitterand and Germany's Helmut Kohl petitioned for a sound and acceptable compromise among the republics. Later in the
month, U.S. Secretary of State James Baker echoed Kohl's call for democratic
renewal and respect for minorities. Westem leaders were also taking every step possible to avoid a breakup that would create another economic sinkhole in Europe.
But
it
was not just the potential for
AlM, July
1991
dissolve.
Prosperous Slovenia is the only republic that is not split by ethnic tensions and may, if allowed to secede peacefully, be able to make it economically. Other republics will suffer greater economic hardship after they secede, which will decrease their chances of functioning as independent states.
Meanwhile, the principle of national self-determination that gave birth to the Yugoslav state seems headed for a turbulent ending, the American and European preferences for "order" notwithstanding.
Dr. Rebecca Grant is a Los Angelesbased writer on national security lbsues 23
We've been making ourselves ri KnockonthefrontdoorofvirtualIyanyhomeandyou,rebour1dtqE!dsomethingmadeby,@,m: ComeintothekitchenandcheckoutthpcqurtertopforourLWm.oskar+6oofoodiricessor,maybe an Automatic Shut-off Iron or the ,@m'Mixmaster. Once upstairs, keep your eyes peeled for our Combinatipn_.1Clock, Bathroom Scale or Hair Care products.
Andifthere,sachiII,you,li-6."thanlikelyfindthe,@n.WarmingBIanket. Aftercheckingthetemperatureonthe,@m.outdoorThermometer,stepoutontothepatioto
fr
-J=it* i t.
I
I{ x 'i
q$*{=:;';..
,;}+
6
I ry
t at home for almost L00 years. ,dmire the
q-\firnlfut Barbeque^G;[]l-And if you want to rest your
-
feet, feel free to
-fi;Hilffi:T;:iffi;:'.ffi:; froniour LJ rround the house. No doubt this popularity springs eputation as one of the world's most trusted ntlmes for IOme.
your
Because, there's no place like home.
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mation" he wished to share. He died
New Life and Death in the Orthodox Ghurch appointed church hierarchy
By Dr. NICOLA! PETBO
sp.ca.l to Alm
he past year has been one of tempered joy for Russian Christians, as the state's oppressive
before the meeting. There have been attacks on a number
in Moscow,
a larger role for the Orthodox Church in
loosened. Last fall saw the passage ofnew
But by far the most troubling aspect of Church politics of the past year is the
personal freedom of worship. The passage of this legislation has sparked a sharp growth in activity by the faithful. Parishes are restoring churches and monasteries throughout the Soviet Union, with funding privately raised in a massive grass-roots campaign. In Moscow alone the number of regular churchgoers has tripled in the last three years. But this wave of spiritual enthusiasm has met with suspicion from, of all groups,
the official hierarchy of the
year of a new Patriarch, Aleksii, the church hierarchy remains largely the same as it was in Brezhnev's day. In recent years, however, it has faced new challenges to its authority. The most difficult
Soviet society.
Moscow Patriarchate and wish to oppose what they view as 'Judeao-masonic influences" in the Church. The Jewish heritage of Fathers Men and Edelstein may have provoked anti-semitic factions within Pamyat, and the appointment of Father Seraphim to his parish is known to have been especially fiercely opposed by one of the factions of Pamyat. Thus, despite notable achievements in guaranteeing juridical independence for the Russian Orthodox Church, it still has a long way to go before it can truly speak with a strong and independent voice.
murder of several young liberally-minded priests. Perhaps the most famous, Father Alexander Men, was murdered on September 9, 1990. Since then, Reverend Lazarus Solnyshko and Father Seraphim Shlykov have been murdered under simi-
larly mysterious circumstances.
These
popular priests, all in their thirties or early forties, were known as active opponents
of the hierarchy. They were not shy of appearing in the press and on television to make the case for change. Indeed, the night before his murder, Father Seraphim had telephoned joumalist Aleksandr Polikovskii, of the aggressive TV news program Yzglyad,, with "important infor-
Dr. Nicolai N. Petro is an assistant prolessor ol political science at the University ot Rhode lsland
Armeniqn Diteglory YELLOW P GES
is the religious war in the Westem Ukraine. The Uniate or Eastem Rite
is.moking,q hig
of the Westem Ukraine were dispossessed of their property when their
Catholics
in 1946.
Today,
tmpreq
with the legal recognition of this church,
Uniate Catholics are challenging
the Russian Orthodox Church to restore their property. In some instances, churches are being seized and occupied by Ukrainians
unwilling to wait for the resolution of legal issues. Since most officially regis-
tered parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church are in the Ukraine, this poses a particular challenge to the membership, and the tax base, of the Orthodox Church. In their frustration with the anti-democratic even chauvinist attitudes of the official church hierarchy, a number of parishes have sought the extreme remedy Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, based in New York. Known in Russia today as "the Free
of recognition by the expatriate
Russian Orthodox Church," this small group, which has consciously distanced itself from any ties with the Communist26
Borisov have also been threatened. There is no reliable evidence so far on the reasons for the killings. One theory, expounded by the Moscow-based human rights activist Sergei Filatov, is that they may be connected to recent activities of Pamyat-type chauvinist groups who have professed loyalty to the
Russian
Orthodox Church. Despite the election last
church was outlawed
Grigorii Edelstein and Father Alexander
has had over a dozen parishes transfer to its authority, primarily in Siberia and the Far East, but even in important Russian cities such as Suzdal and Leningrad (St. Petersburg). These parishes are all headed by young, energetic priests who advocate
stranglehold over the Orthodox Church in the Soviet Union has
legislation that guaranteed, for the first time, true separation of Church and State. Although caveats remain for the retention of advisory "state committees" for the U.S.S.R., the Russian republic's legislation specifically prohibits the establishment of any govemment or administrative agency affecting the realization of
of other priests. Rev. Mark Smirnov was assaulted on the street in January 1991, and sustained a knife wound in the throat. Prominent young priests such as Father
Hove you reod it lotelf The l99l issue is filled with oll kinds of informotion obout lhe Armenion community, including business & residenliol listings! Soon to cover lhe entire stote of Colifornio for 1992. cALt us! (8r8) 244-il67 cALt r-800437-1167 FOR ADVERIISING INOUIRIES IN CA, NV
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AlM, July
1991
IJ. CA 9I2O4
Plastic Patriots? Charges and Countercharges: The Facts on', an Armenian Credit Card's Worthiness
ffi
By VIKEN BEBBERIAN his is a story about a credit card
company that charged ahead hoping to tum plastic into gold. The firm, AEC Financial Corporation, promotes credit cards designed to attract Armenians. Together
with Marine Midland Bank, which sues the cards,
is-
-;
AEC handles the market-
ing reins to woo consumers and share in
the bank's profits. With each
creases its revenue aSeS lts
DaSe. base.
itration/Sarkis Post4ian
new
member brought to the bank, AEC
in-
,i;r'
rfirm ,,;:Iffm that pledges to donate 25 percent of
profits to Armenian E*- ..rnet ExU*Armeni groups without a l net protits 'net change cards have been issued in the ,;setup aicounting of ,;setup that ensures a pubic I United States, according to company i, United ,i, its finances. Read along, and your eyes president Jacob Kalpakian. "This credit come across a mountain of unpaid billscard business, it's not a business for us," more than $20,000 worth-to 15 Armehe said. "It's a vehicle to promote nian newspapers, radio stations and tele-
Today, loday, about 5,U00 5,000 Armenian Armenlan
I
Armenian identity." @ vision programs. The bills are two and a But that is only half the story, or the half years overdue. preface, if you will. Tum over the pages, Kalpakian maintains that the firm still and you will see moot passages about a operates at a loss. But he declined to estimate those losses or say how much revenue
AEC receives
from
Marine Midland Bank, the issuer of Armenian Exchange MasteCard.
A concept is born
'ir 7*,,::;
The year was 1984 when, during an afterdinner walk in Van-
couver, Canada, Se-
trak
Kalpakian-
Jacob's father who died of heart failure
last
December-unleashed his grand vision of an Armenian credit card. In 1985,
Armenian
Express
USA was incorporated
in Delaware. Following a trademark suit brought by American Express, the company shed that name to become AEC Financial Corporation. What
AlM, July 1991
was once the Armenian Express card is
now called Armenian Exchange. The founders of AEC looked beyond easy marketing miracles. They hired experienced financial analysts to test their plastic product. Then in 1988 Zohrab Shamassian came on board. An accountant by trade, Shamassian was the marketing
catalyst the Kalpakians sought, with a nose for concepts. "I can't sell merchandise, but I can sell ideas," he said. "I could sell the concept of Armenian Express.
That's what pushed me." As the firm jostled to move ahead, Shamassian bought ads left and right. Sitting
in his Orange County, California, office he negotiated nimbly and reached into his vast network community sources. Mailing lists of Armenian residents were obtained from various groups. "Full-page ads were placed in all the papers," he said. Radio spots were secured in Philadelphia, Boston, New Jersey, New
of
York and Los Angeles. The Armenian Express ad campaign lasted nearly six months at a cost of $50,000, Shamassian estimated. Nearly half of that amount has yet to be paid, he said.
Armenian Express USA-now AEC Financial Corporation----owes $2,275 to the Armenian Reporter, $1,900 to the California Courier, $1,800 to Nor Or, $l,500 to Massis weekly and $960 to the Armenian Mirror-Spectaror, according to a list prepared by Shamassian in September 1989. All five papers confirmed these figures. It also owes $3,500 in arrears to Nor Gyank, $3,000 to Hai Life, $1,900 to Pa-
ros and $450 to Katch Nazar, according
from obtaining funds to settle its outstand-
to Shamassian's list. But this second group of papers said they were due higher sums
ing account with the paper. As AEC revved up to go public, the Kalpakians
with the exception of Paros. Nor Gyank
foresaw dollars trickling in from the sale of company stocks. The plan, however, trudged, then crawled to a stop along with the firm's intention to repay ad debts with
placed the figure at $5,500, Hai Life at $4,340, Katch Nazar at $1,600 and Paros at $1,500. Armenian Teletime has yet to collect $3,200 and Arab American Television, $650. Radio stations across America are due smaller sums. "Yes, there are some newspaper bills owed, but some are inaccurate, and it should be noted that we have paid thousands of dollars already to these papers," Kalpakian wrote in a detailed letter to AIM. "The amounts that are still unpaid represent a small portion of the total volume of business given to these papers. We have always told them about the situation."
Public pledges, privy parts AEC promises to funnel 25 percent of net profits to Armenian groups. In an
"The bank makes the money, we don't," he said. "As far as a business venture, up to now it's been somewhat of a disappointment. We've put in a lot
appeals to the senses. But while the aim of an ad is to tweak the senses, that says
little about whether AEC is a profitable firm, and if so, whether it has delivered on its pledge in print. The information available is limited. As a private firm, AEC is exempt from
Shamassian was last paid three months before his contract expired, according to records he has kept. "My loss cannot be measured in dollars," he said. "I've lost
regulatory requirements to disclose data to the public. Nevertheless, the question
Kalpakian maintains, however, that Sha-
net profit is that
arises: how long can a private firm conceal its privy parts when it is willing to walk a public line?
office of Harut Sassounian, editor of the
"One of the problems that you get with it can be anything or nothing, and it could be totally left to the company coming up with the terms," said Ken McEldowney of Consumer Action, a buyer's advocacy group in San Fran-
California Courier. No matter which way
cisco.
his work. Meanwhile, passions are boiling at the
Kalpakians' Oxnard attomey who said he was now suing them because they failed
"there is almost an endless list of what cost could be," according to McEl-
according to
Kalpakian, AEC has dealt in good faith with former employees. Oxnard Attomey
downey.
For Kalpakian, the list is long. It includes incorporation taxes, filing fees, personnel salaries and marketing expenses many of which have not been paid.
Kenneth Eade declined to comment. Sassounian last heard from AEC in September 1989. This was the fifth letter in which the firm said it was inches away
E
S
T
of money, time and effort. We haven't even come close to getting any type of return." Banks eam huge profits from plastic.
At the l0 largest, which hold 48 percent of all outstanding card debt, credit cards account for 25 percent of profits. Citibank, the largest issuer, cleared $610 mil-
ROGER K. DERDERIATI FINANCIAL CONSIJLTANT
SHEARSON X)
MHMN
BROTHERS
If AEC pledged to donate a percentage of gross profit instead, contributions would be made before the firm covered its losses. Under the current scheme,
you slice it, the editor's comments are raw and piquant. "The ads in the paper are a footnote," he said. "I called the
to pay legal fees." But
created
interest.
age when image rules over ideology, the
massian was adequately compensated for
lous and illogical ideas have
unfair, unreasonable and unjust impressions on the company, the product and my family.
firm's pledge is a powerful message that
the trust and public confidence of the community because of what they did."
endure many unwilranted and unnecessary aggravations in addition to the heavy losses incurred as a result of the Armenian card," he said. "Vindictiveness, false rumors, outright lies, jealousies, ridicu-
"To be frank, my family has had
ER
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AlM, July 1991
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lion in profits, according to David Robertson, president of the Nilson Report, an industry newsletter. Marine Midland Bank-which has a revenuesharing agreement with
thought
For Levon Kechedjian, the card--{esigned to evoke emo-
has built a considerable portfolio out of the affinity credit
tions from a lost land-is an often used item ready in hand.
card market ranging from Dryer's Ice Cream to Continental Airlines. The New
Kechedjian, a Beverly Hills hair
stylist, was unaware
ary of the Hong Kong
"What moved me was the concept ol the Ararat Mountain," said Zohrab Shamassian. "l was convinved every Armenian should have it."
AEC members tend to charge more than other cardholders. "The average balance per [AEC] account is $1,800 compared
to the average
the
was, however, drawn to the card's Armenian identity. "It was either that or American
and Shanghai Banking Corporation
ing for Marine Midland, said
of
pledge when he applied to what was then Armenian Express. He
York-based bank is a subsidi-
Jeff Slawsky, vice-president for national credit card market-
certain portion of
early July, Matossian terminated his membership with AEC.
AEC-
with consolidated assets worth $148 billion.
a
profits would be given out." In
industry balance of
$1,100," he said. If AEC members follow payment pattems similar to other cardholders, then nestled in the bank's accounts is indeed a niche for big-spend-
ing consumers.
Into the closet
Royalty terms with Marine Midland
show that AEC would collect 20 percent of the $20 annual membership fee plus 15 cents for every $100 charged on a
MasterCards would gamer $282,000 a year, 10,000 cards would glean $72,400, and 5,fiX) cards-the current number that the company has-$36,200.
Profit-sharing terms with the bank were renegotiated last fall and Kalpakian declined to say what they were. "The royalty payments that you quoted from the company's prospectus...are no longer applicable and should no longer be referred to," he said. "In fact, a lot of the material facts in the prospectus are now not only out-dated but are moreover no
card. Once the accounts reached
the 30,000 watershed, AEC would receive 25
An appeal from Ararat
cents for every $100 charged, according to documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in February 1989. Hope Stamati, spokeswoman for Mas-
lers. The Kalpakians wanted to change
teCard Intemational in New York, said American consumers charged an average
of $2,160 on each MasteCard in
1990.
That means 30,000 Armenian Exchange
Credit Cards are as American as Chrys-
a photo of Mount
Ararat
splashed across their card, they tried to climb to the top. Along the way many joined the trek. One such cardholder was Garo Matossian of Bethesda, Maryland. "I thought it
was
a worthwhile
"I
While heralding national pride, the Kalpakians made voluntary donations to Armenian groups between February and October 1988. AEC prepared two donation lists for AIM in April and June. The first had eight recipi-
ents, the second, which Kalpakian described as "complete," had 15. At least two receipts for donations cited in the April roll could not be found, Kalpakian said. One was the Tekeyan Cultural Association in Montreal for a sum of $6,000 Canadian. The other was a
$10,000 U.S. amount earmarked for
Armenian schoolchildren in Lebanon.
Tekeyan confirmed receiving two con-
longer in effect."
that. With
Express," Kechedjian said. applied for it and got it."
cause," he said.
AlM, July 1991
"I
tributions, but was unable to account for a third sum noted in the April roll. The Armenian Prelacy in New York confirmed transfering $10,000 Canadian-and not
U.S. as cited in the list-to l,ebanon under Setrak Kalpakian's-and not the firm'sname. AEC or the Kalpakians contributed about $68,000 in 1988, according to the
April list, and about $38,000 according to the June list. Dollar amounts shifted again during a phone interview in May.
Kalpakian estimated then that the firm
good in its pledged donations whether directly or indirectly; in fact, it has overdonated," said Kalpakian, adding that the money was paid in advance and in good faith. Since the company published no financial statement, it is difficult to ver-
Profit-sharing terms with Maryland
whether those contributions, which were last made almost three years ago,
Going public, going nowhere By mid-summer 1988, the first Armenian Express cards were mailed to consame time, another
affinity card sponsored by the Armenian
Cultural Foundation-a Los Angeles-
of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-made its way into the
MASSCS.
The competing cards protected their flanks with jazzy incentives. While Armenian Express offered a slightly lower interest rate pegged at 17.4 percent, ACF
profits
to channel 100 percent of
to
designed to catapult them into the public domain, they wagered on soliciting stocks
and remained a private company. With a new name and home in Canada, AEC is
now recovering from what Kalpakian described as "heavy losses." While blam-
ing a sluggish market for the firm's financial ills, Kalapkian is still set on building card membership. Last winter, AEC launched a marketing drive with a mailing of 100,000 applications. "The ailing savings and loans crisis has made venture-financial oriented companies very unpopular in the market-
across the United States. "The general response was positive, but when it came time to write a check there was a lot of hesitancy," he said. "I give [Setrak Kal-
its
Armenian causes. Revenue
raked in by ACF's 1,000 cards, which averages $4,000 per quarter, is accrued in a trust fund. So far, the non-profit group has raised about $60,000 from the cards. Money in
with the SEC, the
Unlike ACF, the Kalpakians were quick to boost the volume of business. With an aggressive marketing policy through J. Alexander Securities, a Los Angeles-based brokerage house. Their efforts to become a public company, however, went nowhere. Edward Tavetian, once a broker with Alexander Securities, said he contacted more than a hundred potential investors
based affiliate
prospecrus
company's registration was revoked in Connecticut, according to Ralph Lambiase, a state banking official. "The company submitted a check to us. The check was retumed with non-sufficient funds" Lambiase said. "We gave them a right to a hearing. They did not respond." Nettled by financial woes, Armenian Express USA pulled back, headed north
the group's marketing efforts. ACF receives an additional $1.00 for membership renewals, according to royalty terms negotiated with the bank.
every quarter.
pledged
filing a
Bank NA show that ACF collects 50 cents for every $100 charged on a card, plus $15 for each gold account generated by
fulfilled AEC's declared intention of donating 25 percent of company profits
At about the
Florida, Michigan, Illinois, New Mexico and Connecticut, according to documents at the Securities Division of the state of Connecticut. But what was then Armenian Express USA was banned from offering stock in at least one state for failing to pay a $300 filing fee. In February 1990, nearly a year after
members.
ify
sumers.
New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts,
the trust fund is planned to be distributed to charitable causes following December l99l according to ACF bylaws and executive board member Raffi Ourfalian. In addition to the cards the trust fund has other sources of income, including startup donations made by its 40 founding
had raised close to $100,000 in donations. "The company has made more than
place," he said. "Should conditions
pakianl credit for trying." While taking strides to go public, the firm planned to sell stock in California,
improve and the opportunity present itself, the company will examine its options once again." I
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disaster. Three thousand died of hunger and illness. War and the exodus reduced their number to 9,(M) by the late '50s. Since then, the number has not changed significantly. Although there are no records or statistics available on the
current Armenian population in Greece,
the prelacy claims that the Armenian
population does not exceed 10,000. It is worth noting that after the start of the Lebanese civil war and the Islamic revolution in Iran, a new wave of Armenian immigrants flowed into Greece, increasing the number to I I,000. These newcomers did not, however, settle down in Greece, because of the economic uncertainties prevailing in the country and because of the reluctance of the Greek gov-
I
emment to issue them residency and work permits; the language barrier was another
factor. After experiencing the hardships of immigra-
tion which often required months of waiting, they opted to settle in Canada and the United States.
Today Armeni-
ans are
The Greek Gonnection One of the Oldest Diaspora Communities Is Ambiguous about lts Future By ALINE K. BEZDIKIAN
Special to AIM
TT
States
or
Canada?
Here in Greece they to their homeland," said a Greek shopkeeper in broken English in a section of Athens popular among tourists. "We like each other, we look like each other, we eat the same kind of food and we have a common enemy." Greece has always been a refuge for Armenians who fled persecutions through the centuries. It is believed that the first wave of Armenian immigrants that settled
are close
32
thousand in
the
Aegean seaport in
the north. Only a handful of families live in cities like Kavala, Komotini,
or in the
islands.
Armenian is sel-
dom heard on the Archbishop Sahag Ayvazian, prelate of the See of Cilicia, leaving the church ol St. Gregory the llluminator in Athens (top)
in Greece dates back to the middle of the
l6th Century on the island of
Corfu.
According to some documents, families called "Armenis," that now live in Corfu, hy do the Armenians go to the United
concen-
trated in the cities of Athens and Salonika. The majority live in the capital, and nearly two
are the descendants of these immigrants. It took four more centuries before the Armenian community of Greece evolved. In the early 1920s more than 80,000 Armenians fled the Turkish persecution of Smyma, Cilicia and Constantinople. They
sought shelter in different regions and cities of Greece. However, between 1920s and 1940s large numbers immigrated to Soviet Armenia, France and the Ameri-
streets of some Athens neighbor-
hoods with a heavy Armenian presence. Neither are there any conglomerations of Armenian shopkeepers or restaurants in any one quarter.
An average middle-aged Armenian-
Greek is someone who keeps a low pro-
file,
speaks Armenian
with a Greek
ac-
cent, and is concemed about the younger generation. Until 1968, Armenians in Greece were
called allodapons, meaning foreigners.
They were given residency and work
permits, and, to be able to travel, they canied a laissez-passer, but were consid-
cas. The biggest exodus from Greece took place in the mid-'40s. During the same
ered Turkish citizens. It was Colonel Yorgo Papadopoulos, the leader of the Military Junta, who gave Armenians
period, when German troops occupied
Greek citizenship after he overthrew King
Greece, the country was struck by famine and Armenians were not spared from the
AlM, July 1991
Constantine in a coup d'etat. Ironically, relations between Armenians and their fel-
low countrymen improved drastically after in 1974, the year when Turkey invaded Cyprus. "It was us (Armenians) who opened the eyes of the Greek people to protest against the Turkish govemment," said Garo Minassian, who is active in community affairs.
activities. The Blue Cross has 6(X) members in the southern part of Greece and another 300 in the northem regions. Recently, the charitable non-profit organization donated more than $50,000 for the
Being allodapons for so many years had negative repercussions for Armenians. They were denied access to universities, which resulted in a majority of lowpaid skilled or unskilled workers, small businessmen, and inevitably second-class citizens. The community lacked a pool of lawyers, engineers, physicians and professors for many years. "Everything is changed now," said Minassian. Today 70 percent of the community is financially secure, sends its youth to universities, and is no longer considered as second-class. Yet, there are no Armenians serving in higher levels of the
Khatch, has owned a Saturday school in Salonika since 1956. The establishment, called Kasparian-Malakian Zaghgotz, had 50 students ages 5-12 enrolled in this past year. Three members of the association are volunteer teachers of Armenian language and history. The Karaguezian Foundation plays a major role in assisting Armenian refugees from Iran and Lebanon. An important asset to the community is the Old People's Home. Established in 1957 by the Swiss Friends of Armenians, it is currently owned by the prelacy. The home is funded by the Swiss
Greek government. There are only a few scholars, accomplished writers or artists
residents, cared for by nurses and social
the fall of the Junta
who bring pride to the community: the of Sophia Hagopian school,
principal
Mihran Kurdoghlian, who often takes the
podium during public gatherings; Mgrditch Krikorian, director of Hamazkayin's Hagop Papazian Choir; Sarkis Aghabadian, who recently published a book entitled "Armenia Through Postage Stamps" (he is also the author
of
"Armenia And The Armenian Question"); Zaven Krikorian, editor of Nor Ashkhar and principal of Kalpakian school; Arda
tl
Iffi
reconstruction of theZavaian school. The
northem branch, called Hay Ktoutyan
Interchurch
Aid. There are 32 elderly
assistants.
Younger genetations
at
?isk
These organizations and the churches play an important role in preserving the community. One of their main objectives
is to bring back the younger generation from the brink of assimilation. A hurdle facing this effort is that the community is so small. "Only a handful of Armenians
are involved in community affairs, participate in demonstrations, or take part in public celebrations," said Kalpakian school's Zaven Krikorian. "A large number of Armenians are not involved or we hardly hear from them."
The younger generation is a subject of concem. It is largely Greek-
Eiitil
speaking, with a high per-
4ENqlfr
of mixed marriages among them. During the last three years, 49 out of l0l marriages were centage
mixed, according to fig-
Greek-Armenians demonstrating in Athens on Apri! this year to commemorate the Genocide
Mandikian, a retired opera singer, who for six years was the co-director of the Athens National Opera. She is currently a member of the Maria Callas scholarship committee. Armenian organizations and associations like the Hamazkayin Cultural Asso-
24
ures provided by the prelacy and the diocese. Armenians in Greece have an abundance of churches. There are l0
Apostolic, two Catholic
and two Protestant churches in different
cities. The Catholic community counts
Union, Homenetmen, Howard Kara-
300 members, while the protestants number about 200. St. John the Baptist is the oldest Armenian Apostolic church, built in 1669 on the island of Crete. St. Gregory the Illuminator was built in Athens in 1935. Archbishop Sahag Ayvazian is the
guezian Foundation and the Armenian Blue Cross each have a wide range of
prelate, representing the Holy See of Cilicia. He was elected prelate in 1957 at
ciation, Armenian General Benevolent
AlM, July 1991
,h
Ar Yotn IJGIffi PAKB 1Ws Anils.{A g }E SovEI li{oi{o
Both newspapers are the only sources that keep the Armenians informed about the latest events relating to their community. No other sources such as radio or television offer Armenian programs as part of their coverage.
TO
V DeH
lnler'TroCe is
th
sole compony
wln
Ambivalent future
hos on
Opinions are divided over the importance of the role the Armenian-Greek
ogreenrentwifi the minislry of communimlion o[
th
Rqc'rblic o[Annenio ond breign
*B
ossociolion of
Soviel Union to
&liver
tro&
community can play in the Diaspora. Pes-
porcels to
recipienh oll orer the SwiA Union.
ha b door ddtery m FF r# obhilht bI tn'd&6sca Y
Toke
o$ronhg of this oppatunity ond send yor rchtives ond friEds:
Clollres,
md,ao,
supphes,
computers,
For
M,
eledrolsuplo,
luaaores,
furtln inhrmolion,
mH
etu.
contoct
NIR'IMff 0*tP. Sn
631 Ruhrlo Ave. Glendole, CA 91202
V phone:8 I 8-247-9334
fox:8 I 8-247-9453
'Wlteelcbairsfor tbe Dlsablcd," It bas been estimated tbat
orcr
5O,OOO
Annenians
baue been disabled ajler
tbe tragic eartbquake in 1988. Some are confined to bed, otbers unable to moue witbout ctssistance. Tbe Minister of Social A,ffai
rc,
M r. As b o t Etsayan,
bas appealed to Armenians internationally to
for wbeelcbairs wbicb can be sbipped in quantity by donate funds
truckfrom Europe. Tlte cost of eacb wbeelcbair is $250 and uill be engraued witb tbe name of tbe donor. Pleose send
ched to:
Tlheelchoir Funil
r/o
Armenion Generol Benevolent Union
585 Soddle
Rlrrer Rood
Soddle Brook, NJ
34
07662
Children playing at the Sophaa Hagopian elementary school in Athens the age of 27. Except for Easter, Christor weddings, the church is not crowded. "A very sad picture," described one Athens resident.
mas
ilo high schools The community has only three Armenian day schools-all elementary schools located in Athens. There is no Armenian high school in the entire country, although plans are underway to increase a grade level at one of the schools.
"lf we don't face major difficulties, we will have a 7th grade by fall 1991,"
said Kurdoghlian, the principal of the
Sophia Hagopian school. The two other schools, Kalpakian Varjaran (established in 196l) and Azkayin ZavNian Varjaran (established in 1953) both offer classes up to sixth grade and have no plans to increase a grade level in the near future. There is also a kindergarten located in Athens, funded mainly by the Armenian
simists underline the small size of the community and supporters of this view question the survival of Armenians in Greece as an ethnic entity. A more optimistic view sees the proximity of Greece to the homeland as a significant factor. They believe assimilation is more unlikely than it is for Armenians living in remote
countries such as the United States,
Canada or Australia. In fact, after the start of the Lebanese civil war, the Armenian community in Greece gained importance.
Droshak, the organ of Dashnaksoutiun, was transferred to Greece in 1986. Being at the crossroads of east and west, Athens recently hosted worldwide conventions for
associations like Homenetmen and Hamazakayin. What the Greek shopkeeper said held some truth; the question he raised remains open for discussion and remains uncer-
tain.
I
protestants. It was established in 1926 as an elementary school, and was converted to a kindergarten in 1982 due to a de-
creasing number of students and financial difficulties; during the 1990-91 school year, it enrolled 12 students. The Armenian schools and the kindergarten registered a total of 353 students for the 19909l academic year. Sophia Hagopian is numerically the largest Armenian school in Greece with 145 students, followed by the Kalpakian school with I l0 students, and the Zavarian with 86 students. Serving the Armenian community with political, social and cultural news are two Armenian-language papers, Azat Or and Nor Ashkhar. Both papers are published
in
Athens. Azat
Or
ALL YOUR VEL NEEDS, RE TILES AHEAD
(published since
1945) is the only Armenian daily newspaper in Greece, and is an organ of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Dashnaksoutioun. Edited by Hovsep Barazian since 1976, it has a circulation of 1,000 copies. Nor Ashkhar, an organ of the Ramgavar Party, has been published weekly since 1948. Zaven Krikorian has
been editor since 1977, and circulation of 600 copies. AlM, July 1991
it
has a
Wlson Ave. Suite 202
Back to Life
AMERICAN BISTBO
\VOPLD IIflATTII CUI6INI
Doctor Revives Albania's Armenian Community By JAIIES PETTIFER
Special to AIM
ll
go, no. We must try to make a pluralist
health menus from lresh fsh,
democracy work. This need not be a poor
pa6ta to veSetarian dishes.
country." Albania inaugurated its first TIRANA
o the Albanian the Sword, to the Armenian the Pen." So goes the old Ottoman
proverb.
Dr.
Emil
Asdurian could use either, as an ethnic Armenian in Tirana, but his
speciality is his scalpel. He is the only Albanian neurosurgeon. Surprisingly, in a country with hardly any cars, accident victims are his commonest patients, and the hospital has a helicopter
with emergency surgery equipment on board. People fall off the backs of the crowded, ancient, fume-belching Chinese lorries that take them to work. He is about 35, dark, passionate, with
black curly hair. Becoming a surgeon under Enver Hoxha's dictatorship was exhausting. After six days' work as a
junior hospital doctor, he was supposed to join a Sunday work gang to hoe the
fields. His study time was stolen behind agricultural buildings. But although he is clearly a dedicated man, one of the able professionals without which Albania would have collapsed long ago, he now has other things on his mind.
On March 13 this year, the 'Armens of Albania' society was formed here, and he became its secretary. For the first time in 50 years the Albanian Armenians have their own organization to teach the next generation their language and history.
The history of the Armenians here offers particular insights into the obnoxious ingratitude of Hoxha's regime, and into the problems the countries of Eastern Europe are going to have in hanging on to their professional experts. There are a few hundred Armenians in Albania, as far as anybody knows, one of the main tasks of Dr. Asdurian's association at the moment being to
trace
people who hid their identity for many years. A few were descended from Ottoman administrators, but most came as refugees from Turkey after the Genocide
in l9l5-16. Unlike the Jewish community, of
similar size, which exited en masse to Israel earlier this year, most Armenians want to stay, according to Dr. Asdurian. "We fought for a new Albania and we were betrayed. But I don't think we should
A wide variely of international
non-Communist govemment on June 12. He describes, over the one dish the Hotel Daiti has to offer this evening, how his grandfather died building the notorious 'wall' in the Mauthausen concentration camp. He was a member of an Armenian partisan group fighting the Nazi occupiers, a dentist in the pretty seaside town of Valona. He died like an ancient slave. carrying blocks of granite up a steep
German hillside. But heroism brought little reward. Although Armenians were allowed to keep their own names during Hoxha's obses-
sive Albanization campaigns, that was about all. Any Armenian book in their houses was confiscated by the secret police, and any religious practice was
Ior the health - con6ciou6 generation of today
Chel6arky Der6houdian
oflero: Drivate
6
group claoees in
HealtlCookin6
213.93t.8t67 6OO9 WEST 3RD STREET LOS ANGELES.CA 90036
banned.
So it is hard going for Dr. Asdurian and his society. They have no Armenian
typewriter, not
a
single dictionary or
language tape, not a single history book.
But a start is being made; on April 2l a Mass was celebrated for the Armenian martyrs, and a second branch of the organization set up at Durres, on the Adriatic coast. But it may be difficult to hold the community together. They nearly all have professional qualifications, quite a few being doctors. Many have relatives in the Middle East, parts of families who split
up when leaving Turkey 75 years ago. Half an hour before, I was shown a recruitment advertisement with an address in Cyprus, enticing professionals to leave Albania and get jobs in the Middle East. Health workers were particularly men-
THE ARMENIAN CONNECTION, lnc.
Asdurian could eam his
No longer does single mean
month's salary in half an hour in a Saudi clinic. He has clearly made his choice-to rebuild his community in Albania. But how many of his fellow Armenians will stay the course with him? Or other Al-
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tioned.
Dr.
banian professionals? On this warm spring evening, the city looks beguiling, old men with white fezzes shuffling into Ethem Beys' newly-opened mosque. But with only one dish available at the Daiti, and even less to eat any-
where else, how long doctor ?
will they have a
tames Petliler b a lorcign conecpondent lor the BBC AlM, July 1991
JOIX NOU l]aD S^UE
CALL TOLL FREE 24 HOURS A DAY 7 DAYS A WEEK 1(800) 626-2328 35
The Proceedings of the First World Congress of Armenian Engineers, Scientists and lndustrialists
mild interest for Saroyan's tart sentimentalism. But when Chapman met him in 1955, the author was still riding high. "He was zestful and full of life," the director said. "He was alwais curious
Not Dead
about other people. He asked a lot of questions, always doing it in bits and
Saroyan's Short Stories Come Alive in Play
pieces."
"I realized that he was drawing me out, almost without my knowing it, until
By VIKEN BERBERIAN This nearly 400 page hard cover volume contains over fi fty articles authored by leading Armenian experts from around the world. The articles are related to the most pressing technological and economic issues facing Armenia today, including: computers and information technology, earthquake safety, energy resources, applied sciences, industrial automation and joint ventures.
onny Chapman had just completed typing a letter to William Saroyan
when his wife walked in sealed his day with sorrow.
and
he knew everything about me-from my childhood to that very moment. sitting in the Purple Onion on 55th Street and 6th
Avenue in New York."
It
was at the Purple Onion that
She that the author was dead.
Chapman told Saroyan about his plans to stage "Razzle Dazzle." The two friends
Palpably moved, the director of more than 80 Off-Broadway plays mailed the letter anyway. For 20 years, Chapman, who has also appeared in numerous Broadway productions, periodically worked on adapting Saroyan's 1942 collection of short stories
met regularly at the restaurant following Chapman's 1956 appearance inThe Time of Your Life, the first Broadway revival of Saroyan's play since the original pro-
told him
and plays called "Razzle Dazzle" into a play. He hoped l98l would see the culmination of his efforts. "I was going to tell him about it; I was going to invite him," Chapman said. "But following his death, I couldn't get it together."
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For nearly a decade, the script collected dust in a forgotten drawer. Then, in January 1990, Chapman's fingers accidentally stumbled upon it, and he vowed to resurrect Saroyan's 500-page anthology. Alive and brisk, "Razzle Dazzle" ran last month through mid-July at the Group Repertory Theatre in Burbank, California. The play was a celebration of the American spirit, its earthy romanticism, despair, anger and hope. Like the book, Chapman's adaptation covered eclectic themes presented in short, often satirical, acts. In one, a young couple playing pingpong peeled away at the hypocrisy surrounding their marriage. Along with the invisible ball, they readily tossed injury and pain. In the beginning it was sporting fun; by the middle of the match things got ugly, and in the end the couple reaf-
firmed their love.
All
along,
it
a
were true? One never really knows. In other scenes, Chapman-representing Saroyan-played the philosopher who felt more at ease asking questions than providing answers. Pressed to clarify his approach, the thinker-white-haired and hale----explained that while the young raise questions, the old are happy with answers. Interestingly, what Chapman and Saroyan
left us with at the end of most Telephone and Fax: (818) 547 -3372
was
therapeutic, cathartic game they were playing. But how much of those insults
scenes
were not coherent resolutions, but a plethora of feelings and questions-afeu1 lsvs, lust, even life after death. Postwar literary critics expressed only
AlM, July 1991
Chapman with some Razzle Dazzle cast members in the background
in 1939. "We were sitting," he remembers, "when I told Bill that I wanted to stage the entire contents of "Razzle Dazzle."
duction
He said that might be difficult
because
the book was 500 pages long. Well, he was right.
It was difficult."
When Saroyan moved to Paris in 1960, dividing his years between his
American and European homes, Chapman
wrote to him on several occasions. But
"our paths never crossed." For the director, "Razzle Dazzle" with
its 16-member cast was the realization of a 30-year dream. Nearly a decade after Saroyan's death from prostate cancer, the
adaptation and staging of the book was Chapman's way of sealing the author's memory with a settled conscience. "One reason that I wanted to do the play was because he was neglected in theater," Chapman said. "I love the man, that's
why I'm doing
it."
I
OBJECTIVES To unify the scientific qnd technolooico! knowledoe of Armenitn scientists ond engineers froir oround the viorld, o nd ro f unher the economiio nd sociq I progress of Armenid ond the Armenion people. 7 h e pcts i t i ue expe rie n c e oJ' t b e Fi rc t Wo rkl Congres s h e I cl A ttgu st 3 - 5, 1 98 9 in l.rr Angeles, C'alifomict, prctuides r,r goocl incentiue to bold tbe Second
Wrrlel Congress.
PROGRA'VI
SrcoNDWonp
Moior Progrom Topics lnclude:
I
I I I I I
CONGRESS OT
AnMTNIAN
Fundomentol Sciences & Educotion lnformotion & Computer Technology Seismology & Eorthquoke Engineering Enierprise & Monufqcturing Technology Ecology EnerEy Resources
i m portont contributions of the Armenion scientists ond enoineers (both oF the Reoublic of Armenio ond the Diosporo) will be?isploydd.
An exhibition will be held where
ENGINEERS &
SC NISTS
The Congress is open to ollengineers, scientists ond industriolists. Those
who wish to pres6nt o poper ot the Conoress must submit on obstroct, 2OO words or more, by August 15, l gfl to: SECOND WORTD CONGRESS IN AR'YIENIA
c/o AESA,
YEREVAN ARIvIENIA
lnc.
126 South Jockson Skeet, Suite 202 A Glendole, Colifornio 91205 , USA Phone & Fox
818.547.3372
25 -31
ARRANGEMENTS
OCTOBER
lThe
1991
I
Congress is opproved by the Government of the Republic"of Armeriib. Porticiponts from obrood will poy for their trovel round
trip to Yerevon.
ILocol expenses durino
the week of Conoress includin g lodging,'meols ond iite tours, will be ho"ndled by the host
CoXgrEss Committee in Armenio.
IAll who wish to ottend.
includino those who do not olon to present o oooer. must fill outihe Reoistrotion Forrh below, ond iend or fox to AESA os eJrly ot possible.
trarel ,istr
to
Annenid. Alxt. reutnttnetultttiortsJbr lntt'el arrangenrcrtts utill be made at tbat tinrc.
of occurrence throughout the world has increased substantially during the 20th Century. A virus, genetic factors and external factors contribute to its develop-
the Life Gift of Giving Bone Marrow Transplant among Armenians By LOLA KOUNDAKJIAN Soecial to AIM
person's genetic makeup is important in bone marrow trans-
plants. It is easier to find donors among siblings, or
people of the same race or ethnic origin, because tissue types are often unique to a particular race and are inherited.
ment.
healthy marrow from a matching unrelated donor. Chances of an unrelated match are between one in 100 and one in a million. Marrow transplants are given to patients with severe immunodeficiency and, most often, cancer of the blood such as leukemia. This transplant is also considered a potential cure for other blood-reIated diseases. The first successful maffow transplant
Leukemia is recognized by examination of the blood and bone marrow. It primarily involves the marrow, lymph nodes and spleen. Treatment differs ac-
cording
to the type of leukemia, and
proper classification is therefore the first step. Drugs-used less frequently than before the advent of chemotherapy-and various forms of inadiation are employed. Certain types of leukemia are more ef-
fectively treated by transplantation of healthy bone marrow. Chemotherapy and
Few Armenians worldwide-especially in countries that have registries and are in reciprocal exchange-are in programs to donate bone m.urow. With international cooperation growing in this field, the chances of an Armenian being matched to another residing anywhere in the world will be a reality sooner than
I}ITERIIATIOIIAL IARROW DO}IOB PBOORAT
65 Donor Centers and 35 Transplant Ccnteri are tocated in thc Partlclpatlng Countrlog
one can imagine.
Marrow, a tissue found in the cavities bones, produces blood components such as white blood cells-
of the body's
the main agents of the body's immune system. Doctors now know that like whole blood, compatible types of marrow exist within the general population. The discovery involves HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) or "tissue typing," which classifies people according to
markers on the surface of their white blood cells. Before this discovery, those in need of marrow transplant received it only if there was a matched donor within the
family. This represented a 30 percent chance if siblings were from the same parents. Now, those without a matched related donor can receive a transplant of
I
!t,-r. I I
Member Countries Reciprocal Searches
I I
lnlormal
I
I
lnqutnes
Formal Discussions Undenray
Source: NMDP AIM MAP
was in 1968. Of more than 8,000 patients transplanted with healthy marrow since then in the United States, 45 to 80 per-
marow transplant were not enough in the
cent are long-term survivors, compared to 0 to 15 percent without a transplant.
disease less than a year after being diag-
Leukemia
is an equal-opportunity
cancer, affecting all races. Its frequency
of Karin Hacobiary a 22-year-old artist who recently succumbed to the
case
nosed with acute leukemia. The Karin Hacobian Research Fund was established in her memory at the Princess Margaret
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Hospital Foundation in Toronto, Canada. Since therapeutic agents are all myelotoxic-they attack all the cells of the bone marrow, normal as well as leukemic ones-transfusions are given of platelets to stop bleeding, white blood cells to fight infection, or plasma to treat blood clotting problems. Of the 20 million units ofblood and blood components transfused each year in the U.S., 6.4 million units are platelets, according to the American
with leukemia or other fatal blood diseases. However, more are surviving thanks to a new databank and a growing number of volunteer marrow donors. National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) is a non-profit network established in 1987 as a collaborative effort of
the American Association of
Blood
Volunteers regularly donate key blood components through apheresis, a method
Banks, the American Red Cross and the Council of Community Blood Centers. It has a registry at the University of Minnesota, enabling an efficient search to take place of information to join possible donors with patients in need of marrow
developed 25 years ago. The blood is
transplants.
channelled through a cell separator, which returns the balance of blood to the donor.
The full potential of such a program can only be reached when more people join, and when intemational cooperation
Association of Blood Banks.
During treatment, many donors
are
needed to ensure that an individual patient will receive a high concentration of compatible blood. By receiving platelets
from six to eight different donors,
the
patient's body begins to develop antibodies-the body's defense mechanism against disease. Unfortunately, only five percent of Americans donate blood on a regular basis, according to Janet DiNapoli, coordinator of Special Donor Services at the New York Blood Center, and the number is even lower in large cities. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common herpes virus that plays a role in many diseases, and it is the primary risk factor in some transplant patients. An estimated 80 percent of Americans are infected by
CMV.
A
new drug, Ganciclovir,
has
successfully prevented CMV pneumonia, the leading cause of death among marrow transplant recipients. In the best of
grows. The Netherlands and Australia are for international
developing standards operations.
The NMDP is now facilitating
25
transplants a month; its goal, according
to chairman Admiral Zumwalt, is 25 a day. NMDP is funded in part by the U.S. Congress through the National Heart,
said extensive research had been done since the 1960s on blood diseases in the Armenian population, and the country's medical teams were theoretically ready to perform transplants. Unfortunately, they
Lung, and Blood Institutes. There
lack fundamental equipment, and it is difficult to perform transplants without the proper protocol. Nazaretyan said that
place intemationally.
has done marrow transplants; Armenia performed its first kidney transplant last
are currently 65 donor centers and 35 transplant centers worldwide. More than 18,000 manow transplants have taken
Armenia has high incidence The incidence of leukemia is very high in Armenia, especially among children and adults over 50. The annual occurrences are 12 cases per 100,000 population, attributed to several factors, including the high levels of air and chemical
circumstances about 65 percent of people
pollution.
who have bone marrow transplants are cured of leukemia. No CMV figures are available for Armenia.
the former director of the republic's
Each year an estimated 16,0fi) children and adults in the U.S. are stricken
Hematology and Transfusions Institute. During a recent visit to New York, he
Dr. Mihran Nazaretyan, Minister of Health of Armenia, is a hematologist and
throughout the Soviet Union only Moscow
year.
Leukemia is higher in Armenia than neighboring Georgia and Azerbaijan, and the second highest in the U.S.S.R. after
the Baltic region. Although there is a national registry in Armenia, it is not yet computerized. HLA typing, and in the past
15 to 20 years epidemiological surveillance, have been performed in Armenia. Dr. Nazaretyan encouraged all Armenians to enter national registries in their country of residence to increase the possibility of helping ailing Armenians worldwide.
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Reel Life On the Movie Set, Anahid Nazarian Is the Direct Line to Francis Ford Coppola ter Homes
By DANA SACHS
&
Gardens which
provided authentic examples of 1960s home decor. Armed with
Special to AIM
such materials, the cast and
arly in Francis Ford Coppola's l9T4filmThe Godfather Part II, the young Vito Corleone arrives
at Ellis Island on a ship from
crew were able to give the film a more authentic feeling of the period than a few poodle skirts or Rock and Roll songs could
Italy. Shuffling through a cavernous building among throngs of fellow immigrants, the young boy looks about with bewilderment, not understanding the English spoken to him nor even the process by which
possibly do.
one is admitted into the United States. The
sters. Coppola is now considering making a Dracula film set
film
audience, witnessing
the
scene
through the eyes of the young boy, comes close to experiencing firsthand the drama of arriving in the New World in the early years of the century. Anahid Nazarian, a third-generation Armenian-American and Coppola's creative assistant since 1981, did not work on that film, but she showed it to her grandmother, who emigrated from Turkey in 1922. T\e older woman instantly recognized the authenticity of the Ellis Island scene. She had gone through the place herself. "She told me it was just like that,"
Nazarian remembers.
It is Nazarian's job to ensure that
For Coppola's fllm The Cotton Club, Nazarian collected material on Harlem, jazz, the black experience, and gang-
in Victorian
England,
so
Nazarian's efforts have taken her in search of "everything connected with that setting. from the street lamps to the car-
riages
to the costume of
a
London zookeeper to docks on
the waterfront." Nazarian, who is in her mid30s, grew up in the film indus-
AIM Photo/Hatli Ekmekii
try capital of Los Angeles, but wasn't particularly interested in film. Rather, she spent many years as a classical musician, even playing flute on the Armenian ban-
a
quet circuit before returning to school to
similar authenticity perrneates all of the
earn a graduate degree in library science. As part of an intemship, Nazarian began working in a small library located on the set of Coppola's Los Angeles studio. The
films made by Coppola's Zoetrope Studios, which more recently completed The Godfather Part III. ln Peggy Sue Got
director came in regularly to browse, and Nazarian began cataloguing his personal collection. When Coppola decided to
start his own research library the next year, he invited Nazarian to put it together. These days Nazarian does most of her research in Zoetrope's remarkably wellequipped private library in Califomia's Napa Valley. The continually growing collection now boasts 8,000 books, 5,000
magazines, and
700
vide-
otapes, as well as thousands of newspaper files. The researcher Nazarian confers with director Coppola
also turns often
to a
large
number of old Sears catalogues
Maruied, for example, much of the action takes place in the early 1960s. Nazarian supplied actors with old high school yearbooks to help give them an idea of the atmosphere of the time, and she gave the film's art department back issues of Bet-
which, for Dracula, are providing examples of luggage, typewriters, guns and
binoculars from the years between 1897
and 1905. Nazarian's pects
job takes her into all
as-
of the filmmaking process, from preAlM, July 1991
liminary research to filling in additional information as the script changes during shooting. During preproduction, Nazarian supplies art directors, writers, actors and other production staff with background information on the subject of the film, which they then may integrate into their
own work. On the set, she becomes something of a buffer for Coppola, jug-
gling the creative suggestions that constantly emerge from the staff, and later relaying them to the busy director. Coppola, Nazarian said, may be considering one hundred film possibilities at
any given time, and might ask his researcher for information on any of them. "A lot of times you get really difficult questions you can't find anything on," said Nazarian. "You can't just say 'I'm sorry,
we don't have anything like that.' You have to keep digging and digging and digging." Since she began working for Coppola, Nazarian has focused on strengthening the sources she has at her fingertips, by pur-
chasing books, videos and complete collections of Time, Newsweek, Lift and National Geographic. She and Coppola also go through five newspapers a day, clipping and filing items that interest them. The result is an extraordinary collection of files, true stories from which cinematic fiction is often bom.
As one might expect from
someone
working for the director of The Godfather frilogy, Nazarian's crime files cover everything from "types of crimes" to "true crime executions." "Say we need to do a scene on how someone escapes from jail," Nazarian explained. "I have a file called 'Jails, Escapes' which has many articles about interesting escapes that really happened. So we would give that to the writer and say 'Here are some things that really happened. Look through and see what you can think of, and maybe it will give you
an idea for something.' Anything that strikes our eye in the newspaper is a possible source." Nazarian's years in the
film industry in many
have given her broad training
aspects of the business. She hopes to use that experience to begin writing screen-
plays herself someday. "I have the experience of working on things that are successful and things that are not successful, which is equally important," she said. Just as Francis Ford Coppola found the source for his great epic in his own Italian heritage, Nazarian hopes to explore her Armenian roots to find stories of her own. Still, she is hesitant about such a project. "It would have to be something that would be interesting to everybody," she said. "I think Armenians make that mistake a lot, of presenting things in such a way that it's only of interest to them. [The Armenian content of the filml would have to be in a more universal kind of [story]."
She sees plenty
of material for
pos-
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sible stories. The world at large has turned its attention on Armenians in recent years, Nazarian noted, but most of that recognition has focused on "the terrible things that have happened, like earthquakes and the politics in Soviet Armenia. But that's maybe l0 percent of what Armenians are." Nazarian recognizes the special position she is in to make a film that deals with elements of Armenian history, its people or its cultural heritage. "I have all these advantages now which few Armenians in the film business really have: I work for a famous director, I work for a company that's very interested in unusual projects, and I know a lot of people in the business," she said. It may be a few years before the re-
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Maestro Restores the Orchestra and the Spirits of Armenia By GOURGEN KHAZHAKIAN AIM Yerevan Bureau
r: lcct \\ crc s()rc but Loris I jckrrar oriun had achier t'd ltttrrlltr't tttilr'.l,rt't.'
rr11 llis 11' rnurkahlc .journcv ol' eLrltLrral rc -['horrsanrls n(r\\ lrl in Arnrcnia.
ol pcoplc lillecl thc strects to scc hint conrplctc a l(X)-kilornctcr wulk Ironi Ye rcr an to Kunrairi in a hitl to raise l0 million rublcs lirr thc arts in the carlltcpurkc-rlcr aslatccl citr'. Thc checrinr:. cror.rrls
In e ight rlays thc cortductor lrntl l0
le
l
lou u'tlkcrs cunrplctctl l()8 kilornctcrs. passing lhrough Aslttitntk. Sitldurlbutl. Hoktcrnbcriln anrl othcr tolvns arttl vtl-
ol ..\rrttcrtiu. ,\ll thc ulr thcy u'crc clrcerctl b1'thousuntls ol citizclrs. I)inrrcr tablcs wcrc sct on hoth sirlcs ol thc loud. singing and lagcs
dancing \,, cnt on c\ cr\'\\ hclc. A rcal spirit ol clution grippcrl thc pcoplc ls thousands ol donutions ucrc ruaclc. \lusical instru-
rnrrrts. plrintings
lntl other picccs ol
ucrc ul:o broLrght to
he
lp the
art
causc.
thc
'l'hc uclconrc rclrchc-cl rts clinrar *,hcrt Luris and his 1l'icnds cniered Kutnairi. passing urtdcr an arch of tlor'rers arranqed
conductor's achcs. His uoll is rtothing lcss than thc cLrltLrral lcr ivul trl Kuruuiri. u ith tlrc crcalion ol l cultrrlirl ccr)tcr. opcnl
lirr thc occrsion. In Kunrairi and its outskirts llonc. pcoplc -eathcred nrorc thart lirur nr illiort
uhich grceted thc
lranian-borrt Anrcrrcllt (onrposer ott .ltutc
8
u
cre- arnplc conrpcnsutiorr
l.touse
.
sr
nrphonr
()re
lirr
ltcstril lrrtrl a
ltrass ctlucatiort artd psv
orche:tla. ..\ chiltlren's chologicul rellrhilrtlttiolr ccntcr. antl cvr'tt-
lulllr
ll
rrn
lrl
acutlcrrr urc ltlso planncd.
ruhles. including 1(X).(X)0 rublc: tloruttcrl by Russian br-rilclcrs r.r orkinll irr thc city
.
Altogethcr thc rirtlk gaincd li.li nrillion rubles. to add to thc.l.l ruilliorr rirbles AlM, July 1991
and Sfi().(XX) donaled during :ur cight-hour bv T.jcknvorian on thc c\c o1' his nrarathon ri alk. The 5-j-y cur-olcl cornpo:cr has pcrl'ornred ccluallr inrprcssive nrusicul lcats
charitr conccrt and telethon hostccl
sincc bccorning lnusic tlircctor ol tltc Ar nicnian Philltarrttonic Orchcstru in 1989. It rilrs u sorclr-rtcctlcd in.jcction ol ncw' bloocl lirr thc tlrcn-Statc Srnrphonic Orche
stra ol Arnre nia. u hich hld languishe d
lirr
1,cars
throuqh g()\'cnlne nt ncglcct and
thc abscncc
ol lirst cla:s
IIis arril'al the tnl(litroll
lcadership. rrrarkccl a happv rctum to
ol eiltcd conductors uhich
lurs trltr't'tl lltc trr. ltertll rittue il ri u. liruntlcd in 191,1 b1" Prol'cssor Arshak
Adanrilrn. Plrst concluctors \\'cre Aleran-
tlcr
N'lelik-l)ushacv. Ohan Douriutt ntttl
[)ai irl Kharr.jiarr. T.icknavorian's appointrlr('il1 \\ir\ itl\() :r lrrrtg lintc in rornirtl.
"l'wcntv vcars ago I started to
lirr
scarch
cuntacts with Armenian ol'l'icials.
because I wished to help the Armenian Symphony Orchestra," he said. "l wanted to come to Armenia and be its conductor but I did not receive any answers." Like so many things rising in the new Armenia, ties between the conductor and the orchestra were established in the wake of the 1988 earthquake. Following the disaster Tjeknavorian appealed to leading conductors around the world to organize benefit concerts for Armenia. Many did. He held his own concert for Armenia in New York's Camegie Hall, at which opera singer Placido Domingo and cellist Mstislav Rostropovich performed. As well as conducting, Tjeknavorian presented a work he had written in the weeks after the earthquake, Armenian E/egy, dedi-
to
the
United States. His parents were
exiled during the Genocide and his father Haikaz died in Vienna in 1984 without ever retuming to his homeland. Tjeknavorian is heavily influenced by Armenian subjects and themes in his scores, and wrote his Fourth Symphony as a tribute
to his father. The musical revival began. Within a month he succeeded in collecting enough money from sponsors to buy new musical instruments. Of those sponsors, AGBU president Louise Simone was made honorary president and Edward Martinian, of Detroit, honorary chairman of the orches-
tra. The Zakneftegazstroy trust and Vahagn Hovnanian were among other donors.
in earthquake relief. In December 1990, the Armenian Philharmonic made its second intemational tour, to Austria, where it performed in the country's traditionally televised Chrisr
mas and New Year's celebrations. The orchestra was such a success that it has been invited to return this December to Vienna, and has been asked to make a
tour of Germany. The Austrian govemment sent a special recording team to Armenia to record the orchestra performing works by Mozart
and Aram Khachatourian for two compact discs, which were later publicly released. The orchestra and Austrian RadioTelevision have also teamed up to sponsor the Armenia International Mozart Fes-
tival from June 24 to July 6. Tj ekn av ori an
cated to those who " died and as a mes- f,
of hooe for E< He gave the
thJse who survived.
views Austria's reconstruction of its
copyright of Arme-
wake of
sase
nian Elegy to
cultural life in the
Shirak Foundation, a
Armenia's
charity he set up to
restore
the
World
II as a role model for War
the
new
govemment. "First
music
conservatory
of all
to help young musi-
began to hold mu-
in the devastated Shirak province, as well as
Austrians
rebuilt their opera houses, then they
lost
sic festivals. This helped to promote
the importance of housing, clothing
their economy because lots of for-
cians there to replace
instruments. While recognizing
the restoration of
eign tourists and business people
and medical needs, the conductor set his
started to visit Aus-
sights on long-term
help
tria.
through
strengthening
cultural interests of survivors.
The first suggestion of collaboration
It is culture
which will become the "Armenian
the
All smiles: Tjeknavorian announces to a concert audience his plan to walk to Kumairi (left), waves to well-wishers as he sets off from Yerevan, and dances on the way with one young donor.
with the
Armenian Symphony Orchestra came when Tjeknavorian visited the disaster area, and in May 1989 they performed two concerts. The partnership was a success and suddenly he was offered the chance to become the resident conductor. "lt was not easy for a man who had spent all his life abroad and had a wife, home, job in America, to make a decision to stay here," he recalled. "Besides, our orchestra was in a very bad condition. There was a lack of high-quality instruments, a low professional level among
the musicians, poor salaries and
bad
morale.
"But despite all that, I said to my wife that if I wanted to help my country I must do it now. Now or never." The conductor was born and raised in Iran, and lived in England before movrng
His first act was to reduce the I
orchestra's staff by a third, giving them a year's pay as severance. Those who
remained saw their salaries increased four-fold, helping to improve the mood of the orchestra considerably. Attendance at concerts had fallen so low that audiences were regularly outnumbered by musicians. So Tjeknavorian set about building support, appealing on television to the public to come to performances. Gradually numbers increased as word spread, inspiring the musicians to pertbrm at their best. Now, getting a ticket is increasingly difficult. The orchestra gave the first foreign concert in its history on the first anniversary of the earthquake, performing in Boston, New York and Washington in 1989 to revive American public interest
Ambassador" in the West.
"There is no orchestra in the
world which can survive without Maecenases," he added. refening to the need for a generous patron to support the arts as the Roman statesman did. "A musician who spends six to eight hours a day rehearsing must not think about the everyday necessities of life. That's why I appealed to the government to help us to raise salaries." His own salary is just 100 rubles, a symbolic sum for the man who has been a guest conductor for orchestras around the globe. The Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra changes its program completely every week, an almost unprecedented level of activity. Its repertoire is composed mainly
of the classics, with a selection of works by modern Armenian composers such as Khachatourian, Arno Babajanian, and
1 AlM, July 1991
43
Alcxirncle
r IlaroutrLrniun.
Ilr'li,rr' . {rll-\'ll\ I i, krr.r
contcs 1() \'our conccrts. thcr lolrl Tjeknavorian. 'lixllv. cven in rain or snow. lort! lines ol'pcoplc lirrnr lo huv ttckets t() thc
2
-
()riun likc\ 1o tali, to hir f ,rurlitrtrr'. [.rtrr11.rr ltlr' I. hurrl ri ith rnunr pr()blenl\. \
..\lrrl u hrn tiretl and disalr poirtlcrl proplc corlc to otrr conccrt. I trr, 10 chccr thcnr
\r'rrrr'nnrn Pltilltllrttorti. Orchcstll s pcrlirnnanccs
up." hc c\plrins. Ile treats
nru:ieal rnilcslros. Evcrl
thcrn
to plrilrr:ophr.
ol uork: hv thc grcat rrltt'tt llrr'
cr-
tLlrcs
tracts lrorn thc []ihlc. and \()r'nctillra\ .jLr:t .j0kes. Postcrr urlr crtisirtu eon
cr'rt\ \i!nili(unllv ilre rllLlctl JJ8-l acconlirlrl to tllc 1\r-
rnusic bt' c()lnl)oscrs \uch
loyalty in his audience.
hr nrn."
"It tr s0:irnplc. \o cJ\\ to kcep rn ()nr' \ Incllor\ . I lll\ tur)c n as bortt in thc l)r()cc\s ol lt pcoplc': rcr'0lutitlt't. \()rl ri c
llso ltn c a rcvoluliorr. thc I ricolor lrntl N'ltr llaircnik arc our rtrrlionll :r nrirol:. ' 'l'lrc 'l'ricolor rr as tlirplirr ctl lrt conccrt\ r,'ell bclirrc it: ol'l icill utloPtion in \lt* 1
990
itcil (o :pcuk uhout thc lirtLrrc nati()nal irnll)cnr lrl lhr: Arntc \\ hcn hc
,,r
a:
lur \lulrle r' ,,r' Illlrr'krter. thc Philhlrrnonit Hall is alriars soltl oLrl *ceks in
The maestro's devotion to his orchestra has inspired a passionate
nrcnian cale nrlar'. ['.r crr cr cnt l]crilr\ \\ itll IIa_vr Nlcr anil cnrl: u itlr \1cr ilirr lcrrrk. dcscrihed br lhc contluclor r.r\ tr "r'clrtlr -
nlulc
plol111;11 1'",,-
"hurrl-to-listen"
inr
nian I'ullirrnrcnt. politicilrns ltppllrrrrlcrl Irinr. "l \\l\ \erv crcitcrl." hc rcclllctl.
llc
ltrll:nrr:r'.
rcrnt'nrl.r'r'ctl rvhcn Pcrlirrrrlrnccs
ulashcrl tr
e
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itlt
Bcrch Zcr touncizran. thc N{inistcr ol' Cultr-rrc. lrccurirlclv describctl this trans-
lttrr:.c orrlrloor'
nrcctir)r\ ol llrc Kulabirgh \1or cnrcnl neir lhe r'oncerl hlrll. l hcre \\L'rc lcur\ tlrll tlrr nunrbcr ol eonerrl !oer'r rr0rrlrl llrll. prc-
lcrrinc 1o
-g()
lirrnltlion in llte orchcslra's
lirrluncs:
"Tjckrurvoriun tlitln't onlv nrakc a rcirl rcvolution in oul nrLrsical lr1c. hLrt hc also
t() 1lr. l)rcctinq\. Irtslclrrl.
luttractcd \pcctlt()r\."
tnanr ttllr -Socr: u t'r'r' lcln ing to hclrr tlrc rlLr.ic. \\'itlrirt lr totrplc ol nronths. lclrcl al\ ()l thc lrllic' lreglrrr to l'irrish rrrcctings bclorc thc conecrts bc!irrr. \\ ltcrt itske tl u hr tlrrv rliLl this. u hcn orrlr pelhll-rs 1.000 orrt ol lcns ot thorrsunrl: *ho irtt!'r)(ir'(i tlrc ltrllir: uerc lcirr
F-,,1 11,.
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1111 1-q.|),r11.1'
llu\l in lltt'ir',rrrn;rlrrlrtr...
I
pteserve our iue ond dture" Holy ftoss Armenion Doy Sdroololloronlo, Canodo
-l
YtS!
| supporl
lhe purrhose of lhe
Armenion Doy School to en:ure the survivol of my people
I enrlose my
gifl for.
r s20 r
S30
r s40 r s50 r
sl00
Nome
Addros
(ity
lip
Slole
Pleose moke
your rherk poyoble lo.
HOLY
(R055 ARMINIAN DAY SIHOOL
7.198
Plrr
ilr'rrr
All donotions orc
m Lrii
l
irri
[1,. 5rl:5."rr.lrl' Llir
i,i I
rri
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lox deduclob e ond will be receipted
L____r.ro,lr_____l AlM. July
l99l
;1
lnLrsic :e c thcir or.i rr lirturc. hecar-rsc tlrcr rce horv in .just onc untl a-half )'cars this orchcslrl has rcallr rclehcrl an intcrnu liorrll lcvc-1." he suitl. " l'lrcn ther colrc [()
in! 1() !i) 1() tllc r'on!cll.. tht rlrurIItizcr: rcIlirti tllLt thc hclrrt \\lr\ \nlirll conrparcrl lo llre lrLurlrn hoiir. "OLrr nlrlion's hcar'1
r
1r
sralil\ins.justilicrrtron lirr all thc hllcl uork put in br thc olchcstra. "l)t'oplc lookinu und listcning to our
Music Notes 1937 Born in lran. 1954-61 Studied at Vienna Music Academy, composin
g Ballet Fantasl,rque. Gradu-
ated cum laude. 1961-62 Director ol Tehran City Music Archives, lran. 1963-64 Studied under Carl Orlf at the Salzburg Mozarteum. Composed Armenian Sketches and completed his opera Rostam and Sohrab. 1965-66 Teaching Fellow at the University of Michigan. 1966-67 Composer in residence, Concordia College, Minnesota. 1967-70 Associate Professor of Music, Moorhead State College, Minnesota. 1970-75 Composer in residence, lranian Ministry oI Culture and Fine Arts, Tehran.
Scenes from Tjeknovorion's Pilgrimoge Photos by AIM's Yerevan bureau photocorrespondent Zaven Khachikian
Simorgh ballet premiered (1975). 1972 Lake Van Suite, England. 1971-79 Principal Conductor, Tehran Opera. Wrote fairy tale opera Pardis and Parisa (1973\. '1973 Persepolis 2500 wrillen lor the 25th century celebrations ol the lranian monarchy. Awarded the Homayoun Order. 1975 Requiem lor the Massacred premieres in London. 1976-80 Chairman, lnstitute ol Armenian Music, London. 1978 Decorated with First Cultural Order ol St. Mesrop Mashtotz. 1978 Appointed Honorary Professor of Komitas Conservatory in Yerevan. 1979-82 Composer in residence, Armenian American lnternational College, La Verne, CA 1980 Credo Symphonyprenieres in Johan-
nesburg, South Africa. 1980-81 Founder member and program ad-
visor, Armenian Musical Studies, University of Southern California. June 1982 Awarded Austrian citizenship in recognition of his achievements as a composer and conductor. (He is also a naturalized American citizen.) 1985 Premiere of Mass ln Memoriam, Lisbon, Portugal. Royal Gala premiere ol fulllength ballet Othello in London. September 1989 Music Director of Armenian Symphony Orchestra. Tjeknavorian's compositions include three operas, five symphonies, two ballets and 35 film scores. He has been guesl conductor lor leading orchestras in the United States, Britain, Europe, the Soviet Union, Japan and lsrael. Readers
*tr*i
lie*navanidild; checks
to:
AUSTillI{
AYE
itY., t{.
"'-,'','
The Spy Who Knew Too Much tials). Harding is an omniscient, quasiimmortal, and extremely resourceful on-
Shanidar by packl Hashian
call spy/commando. He is a navy pilot, an arrns and explosives expert, a polyglot (you name it, he speaks it), an authority on various cultures, and on top of all that, an Armenian. In his pursuit of the bad guys who are holding the Americans, Harding receives so many bullet and shrap-
Wynwood Press, New York, NY 287 pp.
Reviewed
lor
AIM
By PIEBBE PAPAZIAN
his espionage-action story is the second novel by Jack Hashian published under his own name. His first was Mamigon, a story of vengeance arising from the events of the Armenian massacres of 1915. (For some reason, while the author's full name appears in Mamigon, only his surname is
given in Shanidar.) According to publicity releases, Mr. Hashian, a former Boston newspaperman and a retired federal official, is a prolific writer, indeed "the
most widely read Armenian-American popular fiction writer today," a statement based on the fact that he also writes
nel wounds that it is a wonder that he does not wind up looking like a human sieve. It is a miracle that he has any blood left in him at all. The novel has all the makings of a good action thriller, but its potential is not fully realized. The action is often interrupted by pedantic asides by the hero, who seems anxious to impress whoever is in earshot with his knowledge of facts about the Middle East in general or his situation in particular, whether relevant or not. The outpouring of gratuitous in-
formation tends to inundate the reader without necessarily enlightening him; it also dilutes the suspense and slows down
the movement of the story. Also, if you set out to create a know-it-all hero, you
novels under a couple of pseudonyms which he says are well-known but which he will not reveal.
While the disappearance of 13 Ameri-
worrisome enough, Hashian adds a shocker: one of the graduate students is
the daughter of the President of
the
United States. The story now takes on serious political and intemational implications with the kidnapping of a member of the First Family. To find and rescue the Americans, the U.S. government calls in one of its top agents, Jackson Harding (note the ini46
(National Security Council) when he undoubtedly means the NSA (National Security Agency)-two different organizations.
There are other errors and inconsisIn speaking of revolutionary movements in the history of Iran and naming several Iranian cities, he mistakenly includes Basra, an Iraqi city. He also implies that Circassians are not circumcised, although as Muslims they would be. The enemy tums out to be members of the Tudeh party, a Marxist group, who have "renounced their allegiance to Islam" and have "abjured any ceremonies or rituals dictated by the Koran," including circumcision, a fact used to identify a group of the enemy who were slain. But this statement is anachronistic because cir-
tencies.
cumcision takes place at an early age, usually three years among Muslims, but certainly long before the individual has decided to join a political party. the
of
scenes between the field operations and the govemment command group are all very effective. However, the gratuitous and excessive factual details that do not add to the story, indeed, detract from it, cannot be excused. In addition, the characters do not quite achieve
intrigue. Add to that the currently newsworthy locale of the story, Iraq, and you have all the elements necessary to keep the reader engrossed in the novel. An archaeological expedition of 10 graduate students from various Ameri-
cans in the wilds of the Middle East is
readers the initials may be familiar, but to others they may not be. While dispensing an alphabet soup of agencies in one sentence, he refers to the NSC
The story line, the action, and
sex (straight and kinky), violence and
guards.
Hashian refers to various govemment agencies by their initials without spelling out the names at least the first time, to let the reader know what they mean. To some
alternation
ln Shanidar the author has devised an excellent plot for an adventure novel. It has all the essential ingredients: action,
can universities and three professors has gone to the huge cave of Shanidar to investigate the skeletal remains of early man. The cave is located in the northem corner of Iraq, near the borders of Turkey and Iran. The expedition disappears without a trace, leaving behind two dead
Another is the misspelling of the name of a famous Harvard anthropologist, Eamest Albert Hooten. Hooten's unusually spelled first name contains an "a" which is missing from the reference to him in the book.
any life-like verisimilitude. For the most part, they seem to be two-dimensional. Hashian's attempt to
make the hero erudite makes him pedantic instead.
In
contrast, Ian
Fleming was able to de-
pict his hero, James Bond, as a world-wise
and knowledgeable person without being ostentatious and without hin-
The author, Jack Hashian
dering the flow
have to make sure that his statements are neither erro-
nidar does hold
neous nor even questionable. For all his pedantry, the hero, i.e., the author, is not
infallible. One of the most
egregious lapses is the spelling of the place known by all Armenians as Deir ez Zor, usually assimilated to Deir Zor. lts name appears three times as Dei ez Zor (without the final "r" in Deir) indicating that it is not a mere typographical error. AlM, July 1991
of
the
story. Nevertheless, Sftathe
reader's attention, although it does not evoke the enthralling anticipation of a novel by Robert Ludlum or John
Le Can6. Pierre Papazian is a lreelance writer on Armenia and the Middle East, and a specialist in international atlairs
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