Who Speaks Their Language - June/July 1994 by Armenian International Magazine

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COYEB STORY

WHO SPEAKS THEIR LANGUAGE? THE CHALLENGE FOR

IIIIIIGRAilTS

They're dealing with adolescent angst and cultural crises simultaneously. Their teachers are concerned and their parents are confused. They're the large, but somewhat in-

visible, Armenianimmigrantpopulationin California' s public schools.

IilTERYIEW

WHEN GHURCH AND ilATION ARE 20

ONE

The Archbishop of Karabakh fights the war on both fronts-military and spiritual.

PHOTOESSAY

WHEN YEGHNIG HUNTS

DEER

Photographer Roger Kupelian of California

spent the spring with the soldiers in Karabakh.

Publlrhc/r ]{otc

Lcttcrr

Fllc Forcground

Bytcr On

A quick look at recent events in Armenia, the Caucasus and the restof theCIS, as well as the Middle East.

Dolrlcr

Fighting over the Caspian Sea...Nearly Fighting in Ukraine...Still fighting in Karabakh...No longer fighting against Sakharov or Solzhenitsyn.

48 A majorexhibition of CaucasianTextiles at

Washington'

Textile Museum.

Bookr

Varoujan Arzoumanian' s Marseilles-based Editions Parentheses focuses on classic literature and contemporary politics.

Pcoplc The Chinese say, may you live in interesting times. These people do.

FOBUT Special Pull-Out Supplement examines Armenia's foreign policy options. COVER PHOTO ANO DESIGN BY DICRAN Y. KASSOUNY

Fy_r_op_e,-Fqr Easl, S. America, Atilca: $55; Middle East, Australia: $50; Commonwealth AlM, P.O. Bor 3296, M.nhrttrn Bclch, CA 90266, U.S.A.

lndependeni States: gg5; Armeiria: $gO. posimasters: Sena address chang'ds t6i

efore you shake your collective heads and groan about yet another Califomia story, we ask that you consider the facts which prompted this study: After Yerevan, Los Angeles is the city with the largest concenration of Armenians in the world. The social and educational problems facing this immigrant community have reached crisis proportions, and the response of the community's establishmentis-markedly absent. Examining this explosive non-issue for AIM are two educators : Associate Editor Garine Zeitlian, who wrote AIM for Education, a guide for using AIM in the classroom, and photographer Karine Armen, pictured on the contents page with her own bilingual third grade class in Glendale. In nearby Pasadena, AM serves another purpose. Ruth Touryan, pictured here with her Pasadena High School Armenian class, uses articles in this magazine as her text. Touryan's class begins at 7 a.m. but her students aren't complaining because the teacher is creative and committed, and the instrrrrction is relevant. We invite you to read the cover story for more on solutions, problems and relevance.

FOUR]H MIIIINNIUM SOqETY A t lafrir-ftofil, hJuic 8ocf,t Copootion DIRECIORS

VAIOUJAN NAHAIE? NOIAIT OSXANI,AN

TA'fI

ZINZAUAN

ASSOCIATE TRUSTEES

IAJZM|o HAXITI.AN

verypublicationloves hearing from its read-

JACI( ilAJXt,AN

ffi(ffi

excep tion. Calls from subers. We arc no

IOUNDING

scribers with comments and suggestions are always welcome. So are critical calls. Our most dis-

OAI:N

TRUSTEES

AYEDIKI.AN

ruuM

iUOO OODJAIIANIAN affiM

turbing calls, however, are the

YATOUJAN ISKENDERIAN

early moming ones, usually ftom readers on the east coast of the US

HATOUT XA}IYEDJI,AN

NSUU

wlwEu

and Canada, or the middle-ofthe-night faxes from devoted, patient readers on the other side of the globe, frustrated by yet another late delivery. Between the trials caused by a shrinking staff and the tribulations resulting from inondinately late international delivery of printed material, thelasttwoissuesofAlMhavebeenvery latereaching ourreaders. Althoughwearekeenly aware that each issue which sees the light of day is a miracle, we share your frustration over the mechanics and will attempt to improve the situation by undertaking thrc€ steps:

MATDO KAPTIEUAN @

H GOP KOUSHAK'I^N

ZAROUHI IIATDIKIAN

rNNVNA IDWAID TISIEIUAN MS

lolffiuitovrl YATOUJAN NAHA':T

NOI?UIOtKlNt N

Wearemonitoringthedisributionofthemagazinewhichisdeliveredassecond-classmailwithin theUS, andbycourierserviceoutsideNorttrAmerica. Please see thenote dircctlyoppositethispage and help us identify problems. We have combined the June and July issues to help ease the time crunchwhilecontinuingtoprovideyouwithagoodread-we'veaddedFORLJM,auniqueroundtable airing of public and private thoughts. Finally, we will make every effort to have our special anniver-

I,Ul,llY PAPAZIAN

amu

zaltH tatxt3tiaN @ffi ZINZAUAN Cffi

IAF'I

sary double issue, August-September, and each successive issue, reach you on time. We thank you foryourpatience as wekeep trying to tackle this andothereditorid and financial challenges as well, in an economically and politically volatile world.

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AIM, JUNE - JULY 1994

KHACHAru$.AN llAr.lO COiaCEIIO

rfioxoflrv nAr€ COI.ICEIIO r€. 3 tlAlTU tYt tlolilY

ortmDtcltwAtz

PUBLISHER Mlchael Nahabet EOITOB Vartan Oskanian

1\INI

heater program, delivered more than I 8,000

metric tons of kerosene and 100,000 kerosene heaters to more than 200,000 families in Yerevan, Gumri, Vanadsor, Stepanavan, Spitak and 39 villages in the earthquake region. The US government did not delay delivery of kerosene. By February l, the fuel was freely rolling into Armenia. Less than five percent of kerosene distributed came from Armenian reserves. In none of the

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Salpi Haroutinian Ghazarian EDITOHIAL CONSULTANT Minas Kojaian EDITOR EtIEBITUS Chados Nazarian EDITOR AT LABGE Tony Hatpin ABT DIRECTOB Dicran Y. Kassouny ASSOCIATE EDITOR Garine Zeirtian

CONTRIBUTING EOITOBS Vicken Babikian, Kovork lmirzian, Haig Keroplan, Mark Matkasian, Talino Satamian, Aris Sevag, Ronald Grigor Suny, Jivan Tabibian, Talino Voskerilchlan CONTBIBUTORS Marino Arakstians, Armen Aroyan, Michael Arshagouni, Artashes Emin, Hovhannes Harutiunian, Ani Ktchlan, Lola Koundakjian, Michaol Mastarciyan, Lillie Merigian, Moorad Mooradian, Nancv Najarian, Ara.Osh€gan, Su6an pattie, Simon payaslian', Janst Samuelian, Ratli Shoubooktan EDITOBIAL ASSISTANT Ara Piranian CORRESPONDENTS Amman: Ara Voskian Am.t.rd!m: Arsan Nazarian Etuttal3: Kevo*Oskanian Buanoa Alrar: Sam Sarkbslan London: Ani Manoukian Moecow: Gayane Hambarlzumian P!rtt: Khatchik Kechian Sydnoy: Haig !op€djlan Vl.nn!: Sebouh Baghdoyan W!3htigton-: Zanki Armenlan Yaravan: Hakob Asatrian, Amen Baghdasarian, Babken Gadachik, Tigran Xmalian PHOTOGRAPHERS Ammrn: Karokin Kefstian Bctrut: Arno Jihanlan Eoalon: Lena Sanents, Ari Stamatiou Loa Angalc!: Karin6 Armon, Sossi Madzounian, Kovork Diansezian lrlrml: Tony Savino Ncw york: Harry Koundakiian Norlh

B..g.n:

Ardem Aslanian parbi

Armineh Johannes, Aline Manoukian Provldrncc: Beros Ara Zobian Sln Frlncbco: Armsn Potrossian ycrcva-n: Mkhitar Khachatrian, Zavsn Khachlkian, Roub6n Mangasarian GRAPHIC DESIGN Yelena Tarosian PHOTO ARCHIVISTS Todd Kotchounian, Roger Kupstian, Parik Nazarian CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Thomas y6terian PROMOTIONS DIRECTOF Beth Broussatian ADMINISTRATIVE ASSTSTANT Asdghig Mazmantan AOVERTISING DIRECTOR Atine S. Kassabtan ADVEBTISING REPRESENTATTVES Ani Azar, M6tins Ounjian, Hralch Yorknabetlan INTERNS Nina Momjian, Tina Jizmejian SUMMER INTEBNS Sevan Oskaniah, Tsolsr Kojaian COLOF SEPARAION A & A Graphics, Monrreat SYSTEMS CONSULTANT Razmig Arabian, Los Anoetss Altrl POLLS conducted by ths Ce;ror to, idsear"ii 6n irre Armsnian Environmant, Yerevan, NunE Magoyan, Director INTERNATIONAL SUBSCRIPTION AND ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES CANAOA: Razmig Hakimian, 6695 Hsnri Bourassa Wast, Montr6al, PO, H4R 2E t, Tetophons 5t 4 g3g 25i T UNtTE[i ARAB EUIRATES: Sebouh Armenagian, pOBox 3OOO, Sharjah, UAE, Telophons 97t 6 331 361 UNTTED K|NGDOtl: Misak Ohanian, 105A Mi[ Hifl Road, Acton, Lodon W38JF, U.K., Tslsphons 081 992 4621 FRANCE: Jeen-Patrick Mouradian, 3 Rue Julos Guesde, 94140. Allorlville, Telephone 33 I 48 93 10 A3 HONG KONG: Jack Maxian, RM. A2, 1 1/F, Btock A, 26 Kai Chouno Rd.. -988ti

Kowloon Bay, Kowloon,Telephono 852.795

AUSTBALIA:Vlctorl.:Arlin Goc, 29 MaytairAv6., Femtro6

Gully, Vlcloria 31 56, Phono 03-752-3874;09-Z S2-944t, Fax 03-752-3638 N.w South W.l.t: Atlrsd Markarian, p.O.Box 92, Merrylands, NSW 2160, Tetephons 02 897 1846.

PUBLISHED AS A PUBLIC SERVICE BY THE FOURTH MILLENNIUTi SOCIETY, A NOT.FOB.PROFIT PUELIC BENEFIT CORPOBATION

lUNI

FOUNDED

photos used in your article does distribution look "disorganized" or inequitable. You incorrectly stated that Japanese kerosene never arrived in Armenia. To the contrary, almost 5000 tons of this fuel was distributed to the Armenian people as part of the Winter Warmrh 93-94 project. For some accurate information on the largest humanitarian aid project in Armenia to date, please contact the FDD or the Armenian Assembly.

lN 1980 BY Zarsh

Basta.iian, Vartan Karaoghlanlan, Shahe Ksheian, Krikor Krikorian, Micha8l Nahabot, Vatcho Oknalan, Vartan Oskanian, Thomas Yeterian Co-Foundar! Chados Nazarian, Minas Kojalan

ABE YOU RECEIVING

AIT ON TIIIE ?

Th€ circulalion d€partment is monitoring the Jun6/

July issue to track th€ problem of untimelv deliv. 6ry. lf you reside in the Unrred Strter and'receive lhis issue after4ggggttll2, or resid€ in Canadaand receivgthis issue atlet Audust l7,ot rcsida ouaoldc ol North Amcrlc. and r€ceive this issu6 after lugust I 2. pleasecontactAlM atthelollowing num-

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We gr€atly appreciate your comments and are doing our utmost to improveAlM's delivery service.

lUNI

Sclcctive Praisc

,,:;';iti?;::i'#

Praise for your April cover story on "Selective Remembrance." Praise also for your continued efforts to bring top-notchjournal-

ism to the Diaspora. If competitors have resorted to theft, you must be doing some-

thing right.

,f:;#,:1,.ffi';; The article relating to the Armenian Church (Cover, March) was indeed mostinteresting and enlightening. However, to be quite candid, there was one aspect which I found to be most disturbing: that the Armenian Church is portrayed as a source or base of political power which must somehow be seized and controlled. This characterization is presented in the most secular of terms. Nowhere was the Armenian Churchpresented as being a part ofthe body ofChrist to do His will in this world. My concern is that the secular vision of the Church seems to be unquestionably accepted throughout many elements of the church community itself. My fear is that if the Armenian Church allows itself to be defined in such blatantly secular terms, has itnot thereby vacated the very reason for its own existence and thus helped to insure its own demise? ,P9r!aps there is a kernel of recognition of this frightening truth in Salpi Haroutinian Ghazarian's comment:'Theinflux andsuccess of the cults within Armenia in the last several years have highlighted the religious

vacuum which is waiting to be filled-and thus farthe Armenian Church has notmade

significant inroads." Rev. Fr. Vartan Kasparian Reedley, Califurnia

Bctter Latc Than J{cvcr The "other" winter project, the

government's $15 million lerosene and AIM, JUNE. JULY 1994

and Development Yerevan, Armenia

Our information about the

government's Winter Warmth program came directly from the US Embassy in Yerevan. The distrtbution ofheaters began in December, but the kerosene arrived in

F e b ruary-late r than expec ted. I t w as Am-

bassador Harry Gilmore who explained that the Georgian situation generally "fueled" the delay, but that there was really an accumulation of causes. Gilmore also explained that the delay in the anival of the kerosene was not due to any political reasons, and concluded with "better late than

never." The Japanese

fuel did indeed anive and

we regret that error,

Fifty percent ofthe kerosene distributed before February 8 cametromthe reserves of the Armenian government. This does indeed constitute five percent of the total 18,000 tons. Further, although the photos do present a picture ofcalm organization, Yerevan residents who spoke with our reporter described other inequities in distibution-some had received no kerosene, while relatives in the outskirts of the city had, andmore thanonce. The purpose of the Winter Fuel article was,to increase people's awareness of the real political and economic problemi that must be surmounted in each major Arme-

nia-related project. Our readers deserved afair and accurate explanation. We believe they got it.

Differcnt Jlumbcrs I congratulate you on AIM's constant improvements. I wish to point out an error however. Your April Bytes on File item regarding the "Portion

of Armenians in

Lebanon's Parliament," which must have

been taken from Azg, should have read 7 128, not 8 of 108.

tralia should not exceed 20,000. Even if we

Kevork Yazej ian, Editor Spurk Monthly Beirut, Lebanon

ure still does not exceed 25,000. Now, about the "40,000" Armenians in

refertoBytes onFile (December 1993),

Armen Gakavian

in which the figure for the Australian-Armenian population was given as 35,000. Unfortunately, abitofresearch goes to show thatthis numberis wishful thinking, andthat the correct figure is probably in the vicinity of 20-25,000.

I arrived at this figure by first cross-

checking the Sydney Armenian Gold Pages with the Sydney White Pages, which gives a figure of roughly 2668 Armenian households in Sydney. Taking into account silent numbers, Armenians with non-ian ending surnames, and intermarriage of Armenian

women, this figure can be boosted to

Glendale....

Epping,

Austalia

No Way Out But One Air transportation (Field Report, February) is a critical national resource forArmenia, and it is currently mismanaged by corrupt and incompetent elements who are engaged in myopic charter strategies revolving around personal enrichment. It is high time for the government to entrust air transportation to a competent and qualified management team that is capable of instituting massive reforms and total modernization of its assets and infrastructure.

roughly 3500 households. Applying a multiplier of 3.7 per household, this brings the total number of Armenians in Sydney to

Efficient and effective air transportation will attract investment, tourism, trade and

12,950.

lines, thenationalcarrierof Armenia, needs to adapt to best business practices and follow the successful andproven path ofcommercialization, liberalization, deregulation,

Finally, there are, according to the Armenian Gold Pages, about 150 Armenians in the rest of the state of NSW. It is also estimated that there are another 7000 Armenians, concentrated primarily in Melbourne. So, the total number of Armenians in Aus-

world and to the global economy.

allow for additional error margins, and throw in an extra 5,000 for safety, the fig-

economic development. Armenian Air-

privatization and globalization. ForArmenia, aviation is the mostviable and possibly the only means to the outside

AIM, JUNE. JULY 1994

Vahe Mirkhanian Hawthonte, Califurnia

Dosc ol Reality For those repulsed by the picture on the cover of your February issue, I have this to say and I'll put it in plain and simple English. Wake up and smell the coffee! Did you think there is no price to pay for freedom? I suggest that all Armenians embrace this picture. Rather than viewing it as negative, it should be the spark of encouragement to

actively contribute to your people. Yes! Withmoney! RichardAtamian Woodland H ills Califo mia

ttTrespalsct3" Weleomc I wonder if you would allow

non-Ar-

menian to trespass into your columns for a

moment.

Armenia, having been for so long regardedasjusta little-knownpartof apotential enemy during the Cold War, is understandably comparatively unknown to the average person in Britain. Since the dissolution of theold SovietUnion, Armeniahas to be appreciated as an independent country in its own right with an ancient culture

and a history not exactly unknown to our ancestors in the Crusades. Although the first of the old Soviet republics democraticly to declare its independence, it has proved to be the most reliable and stable, unlike almost all its neighbors who are in the throes of continual civil war and unrest. To those ofus who havebeenprivileged

crazy reconstitution of defunct empires, whereby ignoring people's rights, annexing Azerbaijan to Iran, Armenia and Georgia to Turkey, while to you, he had predicted a dead future for the latter. Wouldn' t a more

suitable translation for Zhirinovsky be, a dangerous weathervane?

to visit Armenia and the Karabakh, ihe country deserves better than to be relegated along with all those distressed areas around the world, who however worthy, have troubles of their own internal making. Armenia suffers only through the rapacious actions of blockade and invasion by its neighbors, who are quick to call "foul" when repulsed with a bloody nose. In this country, we have a general sense

AntranigAgopian Marseilles, France

Wrrha{rTetlrer Aorks

offairplay and we do not like to see a once great, butnow small, country being bullied in this manner. The Armenian Embassy in the UK, apart

from its official functions including successful negotiations of British-Armenian treaties and agreements, also provides factual and accurate information to rectify our ignorance. I am glad that all sections ofthe Armenian community and their friends are rallying behind this lead to ensure rhar Armenia and the problems which are forced upon it, receive the attention and consideration which they deserve. Happily, from what I see, this appears to havqstarted to

Do you have alazy

take place. The

checking account?

Earl ofShannon House of

lords

London, England

A Caption ls Worth

a Few Wordc Your articles are indeed well-written and often hdorned with interesting, even

provocative, photos. Yet, I'm often distressed by the lack ofcaptions. ArmenTarjan Gainesville, Florida

Dangcrous Wcathervanc

The interview with Vladimir April) issue

Zhirinovsky (Analysis,

pleased many Armenians. But apparently, the discourse of the Russian politician varies according to the audience he is address-

ing. Despite the regular anti-Semitic remarks he regularly makes, during a recent interview on Israeli television, he spoke with great pride about his Jewish origins (paternal side) while lashing our profane in-

Does your checking account give you

options, your checking account isn't

interest on a tiered scale?

working hard enough for

A VISA'Check

CardT

you. Stop by and ask us

Overdraft protection? No

about the American Check-

per-check charge? Direct

ing Account. We'll show

Deposit? If you don't get these

extra

you how working together works.

AMERTCAN SAVINGS

sanities about the Arabs.

^=!

enNx

Wo*ingttryether wrks.

Concerning Armenians, in spite of his remarks in your publication about Armehia regaining its historical borders, in a recent issue of lines, an Italian political publication, he does not hesitate to speak about a

SIrS NORTH BRAND BLVD., GLENDALE, CA 91203 Tetephonc (StS) Ash us abaat lhe

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MESMHLE Amount needed to shut down the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine: $8 billion Time needed: 10 years Average number of full-length feature films shot inArmenia during the later Soviet period: 6 Number of such films shot inArmenia in 1993l 5

Number of Armenians among the Soviet Union's all-time top 100 boxers: 10 Number of Armenians in top 10: 2, including Israel Hakobkokhian in first-place Increase in Russian oil exports to non-former Soviet republics since

April 1993: 2l percent

Number of months in ancientArmenian calendar: 13 Number of days in each of the first 12 months: 30 Number of days in the thirteenth month: 5 Total number of coins in the Mekhitarist Museum of Vienna: 20,000 Number of those minted by the Cilician kings of Armenia: 3,000 Number of anti-Turkish acts of political violence, in France byArmenians from 1978 to 1987:33 Year of greatest frequency: I98 1 Number of Armenian communities officially registered throughout Russia: 50 Unofficial current count of the number of Armenians living in the Russian Federation: 2 million

Amount of Azerbaijan's debt to Russia: $8 1 million Amount of Azerbaijan's debt to Turkmenistan: $76 million Number of priests present at the consecration of Karabakh's Gandsasar Monastery in 1240 AD: 700 Russia's goal for 1994 military exports: $3.5 billion Percentage earmarked for China and India: 50

Number of premeditated murder cases recorded inArmenia in 1993: 315 Number of those still unsolved: 117 Number of Assyrians who lived inArmenia, as of 1989: 10,000

Azg Erkir; Hayaslani Hanrapetutiun; Lragir; Platt's Oilgram Ngws; Armenian Almanac 1.990, 1991; Mekhilaist Contibutions to Arienian Cullure and Scholaiship; State Departnent Bulletin; AIM Research. AIM, JUNE - JULY 1994

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Gompllod by GAFINE ZEITLIAN Negotlatlons contlnue between Armenle and lran on the constructlon of e 150 km plpellne ihat will supply Armcnia with thrpc million cubic meters of lranian gas pcrday. The line will begin in Tabriz, run north for 100 km to the bordcr city of Megbri, in Armenia, and continuc north to lkjaran (50 km) where

it will link

up with an existing rail

nctwork. Armenia is looking to finance $25 millionexpenses whilelran will pay in gas forthe $62 million inpipeline constnrction expected to take threeyean

!ocomplete.

The 50 meter-hlgh wall of

Armenls's Artlk reservolr collapsed

and the rush moved 4 km toward the villages of Nor Kyank and Vardakar, killing four pcople and destroying more than 100 buildings. The reservoir was built in 1991 and can hold two million cubic metcrs of water.

In mid-May, Armenian President Levon Ter Petrosslan recelved a US State Department delegatlon which

aimed at creating a safe-zone at the Armenia-Nakhichevan border, Azeri

included James Collins, Ambassadorfor

continued.

shelling

Armenian villages

Newly Independent States, Joseph Presel, US Envoy to the CSCE Minsk

Russla's lnvolvement ln the UN

ln Bosnla

Group, Elizabeth Sherwood, Dcfense

peacekeeplng force

Departmcnt Deputy Secretary forRussia,

backfi rcd. Bosnian government forces object to the presence of the Russian civilian policc for fear that it would

Ukraine and Eurasia, and Rosemarie Forsythe, National Security Council Director for Russian, Ukrainian and Eurasian Affairs. Collins gave Ter

Pctrossian US President Clinton's official invitation to visit thc United Statcs in August 1994.

Mark Hofstetter of the Internatlonal Red Crosg Commlttce (IRC) visited the Karabakh conflict area in accord with

Geneva conventions concerning the protection of victims of war and the

treatment of prisoners of war. He declared that IRC

will

assist Karabakh

military hospitals with cquipment and

Amenlan Buslness X'orum (ABtr') convened ln Yerevan with over 350 local and Diasporan businessmen in attcndance. Armenia' s Prime Minister Hrand Bagratian and the Minister of Economy Armen Ycghiazarian attended

and rcitcrated the government's commitment !o economic reform in order to safeguard foreign ventures. ABF will use initial investment capital of $12

million-partly allocated by

the

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development-to establish a bank.

work on behalfofthe rebel Serbs. The 400 Russians were deployed in the

In May, the Shushl-Karmlr Shuks power llne, located ln

Scrb-held areas around Sarajevo at the request of Bosnian Serb leader Radovan

Karadzic as a condition for his consent to humanitarian relief flights intcndcd for Muslim refugees.

southern

Karabakh, was

restored. This

During a May rally celebrating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in

projcct, financcd Pan

by the

t944-45, former vice-presidcnt

Armenia Fund, will significantly improve thc availability of power to

Alexander V. Rutskol launched hls bld for Russla's presldency in 1996.

Rutskoi, who was oustcd last October

Babgen Ara-

Karabakh residcnts. Another line is under

and went on to lead afailed coup against

rktsian, Chair-

of Ar-

construction in the Hatnrt region, at the southern tip of Karabakh.

President Boris Yeltsin. had been released fromjail in February under the

mcnt,announced

On May 28, Azerbafan deployed

controversial terms of an amnesty. His movcment, called Great Power, brings

man

menia's Parlia-

that the next

Armenlan

lcglslature wlll

conslst of 120 members and shallbccalledthe National Council. He also said thatin the next fcw months, the Parliament will be discussing the drafts ofthe Constitution andnew lawspertaining toParliamentary elections.

medicine.

long.range artlllery close to the Armenlan-Nalhichevan border. Aft er

issuing warnings, Armenian border

together unlikely allies such

nationalists, communists, monarchists and fascists.

patnol troops desroyed the artillery posts.

Eight Azeri soldiers werc reported dead. According to the Azeri media, a unit of 5fi) Armenians advanced five km into Nakhichevan and captured a strategic

The World Bank approved a loan of $25.4 mllllon to Llthuanla to help

hill. However, this was denied

Armenia's Defense Ministry and an

rehabilitation of two thermal power plants and the upgrading of their

Azeri delegation. Despite negotiations

equipment and management practices

AIM, JUNE - JULY 1994

repair its electric generation and transmission system. It will involve the

in order to make the system safer and

intercepted by the authorities.

their immunity and charged with treason

Turkey reached an agreement with UN Peacekeeping Forces on the

Kurdish. A delegation of the Law Group had visited Turkey in early May to meet

more efficient. The

World Bank approved a $41.9

million loan to Belarus to reorganize

its ailing forestry, in view of increasing demand for timber and fuelwood in the former SovietUnion. Outdated planting and harvesting practices have limited

productivity and weakened Belarus'

timberlands and the Chernobyl

structure and duties ofthe Turkish troops

which left for Bosnia in June. The Turkish Chief of Staff Lt. General Dogu Silahcioglu said thatthe "Turkish forces will include a mechanized infantry battalion and a logistic and engineering

battalion."

explosion in 1986 has tainted about 20 percent ofits forests. Stalin's scorched earth policy during World

Wartr further

compounded the problem since

reduced the country's forest cover.

Kazakhstan and Turkey signed a

36 year agreement on mutual

cooperation in the energy sector. Turkey will begin crude production in six Kazakh cities as early as 1995. It

will

Turkish President Suleyman

declared that

Germany lifted its ban on arms supplies to Turkey. The April ban was in response to allegations that the arms were being used in the Turkish government's struggle against its Kurdish population in

US President

issues

Bill Clinton extended

estabtshedsince 1979. Thisincludes trade

re-

restrictions and the blockade against strategic exports to that country. tn 1991,

gional security. He warned Arm-

then-President George Bush had

enians against

continued

Kazakhstan signed a critical Partnership and Cooperation agreement with the European Union

live here," he said.

executive director of the UN Drug Control Program, to improve drug

the

theUSnationalemergencyagainstlran

developmentsin Karabakh raise

Azerbaijan. Conflicting with Azerbaijan is conflicting with Turkey. If you conflict with Azerbaijan and Turkey, you cannot

Uzbekistan was the first stop on a tourconducted by Giorgio Giacomelli,

with Turkish authorities and

detainees but had been prohibited to do so despite American pressures.

Southeastern Turkey.

happenedin thepastishistory, wecannot live by the past. If you wish to live here, you should improve your relations with

regarding democratic values, respect for human rights and market economy principles.

declaring themselves

Demirel

retain 49 percent of the shares against the Turkish government's $53 million investment, with an additional $85 million expected to be put into the project next year.

which projects high level political meetings and the possibility for the development of deeper relations

for publicly

hostility. "What

reevaluated the terms of the embargo on hanian crude andhadrequiredthatrevenue from the limited sales be placed into a security account at the Iran-US claims tribunal in the Hague, in the Netherlands.

Clinton quoted Iran's failure to make regular deposits and to sustain the minimum required balance of $500 million.

ten biggest emerging markets for

Iran agreed to issue credtts of$50 million to Ukraine for crude oil purchases this year. Crude imports will be paid by supplying sugar, meat, grain and mineral fertilizers, along the lines of a similar

American exports in the world. Other countries include China, Indonesia,

anangement worked out benveen Russia and Llkaine. The agreementwillbe signed

In a recent report published in Business America, the US Department of Commerce named Turkey one of the

India, South Korea, Mexico, Argentina,

during Iranian President Hashemi

Brazil, South Africa and Poland.

Rafsanjani's June visit to Kiev.

The Inter-

After five weeks of

bloody

interdiction measures in Central Asia which has become a recent venue for

national

confrontations between two Kurdish

Human Rights

armiesinnorthernkaq, atrucewassigned

drugs destined for Western Europe and North America. According to an

Law Group cri-

between Kurdish leaders Massoud

ticized Turkey for continued

Jalal Talabani (Patriotic Union of

human rights violations. The or-

concerned over the infighting which

agreement he signed with the Uzbek government, the UN will fund a two

year, $500,000 program to train

narcotics officers, establish testing laboratories and develop anti-drug legislation in that country. The UN estimates that only l0 percent of the drug traffic through Central Asia is

ganization

cited the detention of six Kurdish Parliamentarians who had been stripped of AIM, JUNE. JULY 1994

Barzani (Kurdistan Democratic Party) and

Kurdistan). Western observers were occurred at a time when Western governments are considering next year's $288 million aidprogram forlraq, most of which is earmarked for the 3.5 million Kurds living in Northern Iraq.

By GABINE ZEITLIAN

BLACKSEA

POWERSSEE RED OVERCRIMEA The Crimean drive for independence from Ukraine and unification with Russia comes at a critical timethe conflict between Ukraine and Russia, two nuclear powers, over the division and distribution ofthe Soviet Black Sea fleet is still unresolved; Russia is seeking to station its troops along the borders of the CIS;

Ukraine is still unable to pay its debts to Russia and other former Soviet republics; Turkey's new regulations on tanker traffic through the Straits go into effect in July. On May 20, despite last minute ef-

forts by Crimea's President Yuri Meshkov to putoff the vote, theParliament of the Autonomous Republic unleashed the perilous drive toward independence by adopting a constitution which declares Ukraine foreign country. The document also establishes Crimean citizenship and a separate armed forces. This secessionist move is opposed by Crimea' s 250,000 Tatars who believe that the country should remain an autonomous republic within Ukraine. Howa

Tatars-who hadbeen exiled to Siberia during World War II

ever, these

and who werc only recently allowed to return-are outnumbered in a 2.7

million Crimean population where Russians make up 68 percent and Ukrainians 28 percent.

Ukrainian President Leonid Crlmean Presldent Yurl Meshkov

Kravchuk responded to Crimea' s decision by asking the Ukrainian legislaturetoproclaimtheCrimean voteinvalid. He argued that Ukaine's territorial integrity has been internationally recognized and therefore such a vote is illegal. Ukrainian lawmakers, in turn, issued an ultimatum to Crimea to suspend its decision or to face unspecified retaliatory actions. Just as Ukrainian Defense Minister Vitaly Radetsky declared that "Crimea is

partofUkaine

and we

won'tgiveitup

to anyone,"

Russian President Boris Yeltsin warned against Ukrainian interference. While the standstill continues, Crimea has begun to develop its foreignpolicy. OnMay 17, Karabakh's Defense Minister Robert Kocharian visited Crimea and signed a number of cultural and economic agree-

AIM, JUNE - JULY 1994

ments with Meshkov. The agreements allowforthe reconstruction of morethan 15 Armenianchurches in Crimea; access for Armenia to a port in the town of Teodosia; building of a trade house in the

Crimean capital of Simferopol and the use of Crimean air space for Armenian flights in exchangefor Crimea's useof the Yerevan airport for

flights to the Middle East. Over 10,(XX) Armenians live in Crimea today where they have Sunday schools, a weekly newspaper and a one-hour TV program. In 1944, like theTatars and othernon-Russian ethnic groups of the area, Crimea's Armenians had been deported

by Stalin to Central Asia and Siberia. During Crimea's parliamentary elections in March, Anushavan Danielian, head of the Armenian community in Crimea, and Larisa Eritsian, a prominent memberof the Armeniancommunity in Yalta, won seats.

PAXRUSSKAIA REJECTED Throughout May, the Azerbaijani parliament was plagued by internecine conflict which began over President GaidarAliev's signature of the Rus-

sian-brokered Bishkek agreement to end the Karabakh conflict. A number of parliamentarians oppose the unilateral deployment of Russian troops in Azerbaij an and insist that such deployment only be multinational in composition and only serve under a UN or CSCE mandate. These parliamentarians also refuse to accept a peace agreement in Karabakh based on Russian and Armenian terms which stipulate the exchange ofland for peace. The Azeri opposition, which consists of 22 political parties, has formed a parliamentary coalition called the United National Opposition. The oppo-

sition leaders are Ehtebar Mamedov of the National Independence Party and former hesident Abulfez Elchibey who heads the Azeri Popular Front. Despite the opposition's desire to pursue the Karabakh war and change the tide, polls show that the Azeri people are exhausted. Aliev continues to holdthe support of66 percent ofparliamentarians who endorse the Bishkek Agreement. Large demonstrations in Baku recently demanded that the opposition's newspapers be closed and opposition parliamentarians be dismissed from the legislature. The violence of the demonstrations propelled the US Embassy in Baku to issue a statement expressing concern about the limitation of freedom of the press and freedom to assemble in

p ))

Azerbaijan. In the meantime, finger pointing continues to characterize the Karabakh peace process. Karen Baburian, Chairman of the Karabakh parliament, stated that Azerbaijan had rejected the Russian peace proposal because Baku wanted to present Russia as unable to keep peace south ofits border. Azeri Foreign Minister Hasan Hasanov asked the UN Security Council to send a fact-finding mission to the Karabakh conflict zone claiming that the Armenian government was intent upon settling the territories the Armenian forces of Karabakh occupy.

Vladimir

close to an agreement on mutually beneficial terms

Russian Ambas-

of contract, Russia-a shareholder in this consor-

sador to Armenia, stated that

tium-raised the issue of boundaries. Russia argues thatno deal canbeclosedbeforean agreementis hammered out dividing the Caspian Sea shoreline be-

Russia's interest

in the peaceful

tween Russia, Azerbaijan,

resolution of the

Turkmenistan and Iran. The British Petroleum (BP) joint venture with Socar, Azerbaijan's state-ownedoil company, in the Caspian Sea oil fields is in its final stages. On May 24-28, coinciding with the nationwide festivities celebrating Azerbaijan's independence, the International Oil andGas Exhibition was heldin Baku. The

Karabakh con-

flict

stems from

Russia'sconcern

over a

long-

standingconflict

near its borRusslan Forelgn Mlnlcter Andrel Kozyrev

ders. Russian ForeignMinister Andrei Kozyrev

expressedRussia's discontent with the West's allegations that Russia is pursuing a neo-colonialist policy in the Caucasus.

WHOSECASPIAN TS

toexploreanddevelop theCaspianSeaoil fieldscame

Stupishin, the

ITANY-IIITAY?

Just as the Westem partners in

joint venture

Kazakhstan,

show was organized by the London-based Spearhead

Exhibitions Ltd. and was attendedby the British Minister of Energy Tim Eggar. Eggar met with Azeri officials to facilitate the completion of the agreement. He also met with the son of Azerbaijan's President Heidar Aliev, Socar's recently appointed vice-president for external affairs. According to Turan News Agency, in a letter addressed to the British Foreign Ministry, Russia demanded that Great Britain stop its negotiations with Azerbaijan regarding Caspian oil, claiming that, according to an agreement signed between the USSR AIM, JUNE. JULY 1994

andlran, thebig lakebelongs toRussia. Someobservers comment that Russia's last minute bravadura is

intended to put pressure on Azerbaijan to accept Russian soldiers along its borders. In view of this, Western oil companies have begun expressing their reservations about closing this deal because ofthe presence ofRussia's LUKoil which has a l0 percent share within Socar's 25 percent. BP and its partner Statoil hold 36.7 percent of the consortium' s shares. Unocal and theTurkish state oil company TPAO hold 16 and 2.5 percent respectively. BPhas already spentover$T0millionoverthe past two years and the larger signature bonus of$500 million will be paid upon the completion of the deal.

FORMERSOVIET DISSTDENTS

REHABILITATED The late Andrei Sakharov and Alexander Solzhenitsyn, two Russian Nobel Prize laureates who had been chastised under the Soviet regime for their human rights advocacy, are being rehabilitated as "great

sons of Russia."

Yelena Bonner, Sakharov's a physicist and human

widow,

rights advocate in her own

right, inaugurated

the

Sakharov library in May. The

collection brings together

thousands

of pages of

Sakharov's writings and conespondence, and 62 reports of

520-volume KGB files, mostof which were bumedin l990bythethenhead the unprecedented

of the KGB, Vladimir A. Kryuchkov. The library, which occupies

the Sakharovs' three room

Moscow apartment,

was

funded by a $5 I ,500 grant from the US Congress at the request

Elena Bonner

of the US National Endowment for Democracy. Sakharov's diaries, salvaged from KGB scrutiny by Bonner, are now held at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts and arebeingcopied forthe Moscow library. At the Sakharov Library's inauguration ceremonies , B onner announced the I 996 opening of aninternational human rights museum in Moscow to be named after Sakharov who died in 1989. A dissident of a different bend, Alexander I.

AIM, JUNE. JULY 1994

Solzhenitsyn, 75, returned home to retire on the outskirts of Moscow provided to him by the Russian government. Solzhenitsyn began his journey home from Siberia where he had spent a number of years as aprisonerofconscience. His extensive literary workexposed the conditions of the Soviet gulags and resulted in his expulsion from the Soviet Union. In the 1970s, his Gulag Archipelago and A Day in the Life of lvqn Denisovichprovided Western audiences with a rare glimpse of the atrocities of Soviet life. Even though his citizenship was restored by Mikhail Gorbachev in 1990, Solzhenitsyn continued to live with his family in Vermont and worked on The Red Wheel, a history of Russia before the 1917 Revolution. His dacha will also house a library of the author's personal collection of manuscripts and documents.

THEATERTARGET OFTERRORISM Yet another violent incident against Armenians

living in Georgia brought to the surface issues of security and cooperation between Georgia and Armenia and on the safety of transport into Armenia at a time when the conflicts in Karabakh and Abkhazia remain center stage forboth the Armenian and Georgian governments.

On May 15, a powerful explosion ripped through the Petros Adamian Armenian Theater in Tbilisi, minutes before a performance for children was to begin. One child was killed and 16 were

injured-most of them children. The Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately issued a statement declaring that it "did not discount the possibility that this crime was perpetrated by those who havecontinuously strived toderail moves toward stability in the region and the peaceful resoIution of the Karabakh conflict." The Armenian Parliament expressed its concerns over the security of Armenians in Georgia. Armenian President Levon Ter Petrossian, in offering his condolences to the families ofthe victims, calledtheincidentan attemptto sabotageArmenian-Georgian relations. Over 75 such incidents have been reported in Georgia in the past year.

MEDIAWATGH DOWN SOUTH From the tops of high-rise buildings to the pages of their local metropolitan newspapers, theArme-

cal circumstances

of the first Genocide of the 20th century. The news paper's pages regularly

reflectoneventsinhistory. In Octoberof last year, the life and fateof musical genius and national From Sydney, top, to

BuenogAlrec, below

symbol, Komitas, was the subject of a short piece. This followed one on Soghomon Tehlirian, on the anniversary of his assassination of Talaat Pasha in March. With all this regular attention, it's no wonder that the banner proclaiming the commemoration of the Genocide had to be displayed from the top of a 12story building in Buenos Aires. In no uncertain terms, it declared TheTurkish state: Genocide.

GENOCIDE EXPERT LEO KUPER DIES Internationally acclaimed sociologist and scholar, Leo Kuper, died at age 85 in Los Angeles. The academic world mourned the loss of a giant in the field of sociologyofhuman rights andgenocide. Heis also remembered as an advocate who gave the victims of human rights violations legitimacy, recognition and voice. Hemaderoomforcompassion in academia and nians ofthe southern hemisphere are no less vocal in raising critical national issues than their northern cousins, For a short weekin early June, one got a look at what the official dialogue between Armenians and Turks on the issue of the Armenian Genocidemight include. The pages ofThe Austraftan, Sydney's second largest daily, saw letters from the current and former Turkish ambassadors to Australia, the General Secretary of the Hellenic Council, a Professorof Modern Greek at the University of Sydney and the Media and Public Relations Director of the

Armenian National Committee of Australia. The reason for such energetic discourse? Responding to a syndicated story on the Karabakh conflict, Turkish Ambassador Orhan Aka denounced the Armenian Genocide as Armenian propaganda, and the rally began. On the other side of the globe, April 24 came and went with a calm item on page94 of Clarin, Buenos Aires' largest daily, describing the histori-

used it as the foundation ofnumerous publications that

range from the study of apartheid in South Africa to the political uses of genocide in the modern era. Born in Johannesburg, SouthAfrica, hepracticed law there until World War II. After military service, he began an academic career that took him from the University of Natal in South Africa, to the University of Birmingham in England and to the University of California, in Los Angeles, where he taught for over 15 years. His numerous publications have become classics-Pas sive Resistance in SouthAfrica, Genocide : Its Political U ses in the Twentienth Century and The Prevention of Genocide, Kuper was a founding member of International Alert in Los Angeles and London which works with Amnesty International to sustain media attention on human rights violations around the world, believing that the independent media can act as deterrent to violence and terrorism. He also established the International Council of the Institute on the Holocaust and Genocide based in

Jerusalem.

AIM, JUNE - JULY 1994

WHENGHURCHAND NATIONAREONE Archbishop Parkev Martirosian Provides Splritual Guidanee in Karabakh By FELIX CORLEY and TALINE SATAilIAN

llow Ir lllc torthc Ghurch hcrc?

Karabakh and Armenia decide.

It's difficult. We have to restore everything. What we build, they destroy, using bombs, planes, tanks, GRAD missiles. But we'll carry on building and restoring.

What arc thc rclatlont bctwccn thc pcoplc ol Armcnia and Kerebakh? We are in close contact. Formerresidents

What arc your phnr tor thc Dlo. ccro? We must rebuild every church in

of Karabakh live in Armenia-400,000500,000, close to half a million people.

Karabakh. The last church here was closed in the 1930s under the Communist regime. For 60 years it was very difficult, but nowthankGod-people areagain opento Christianity. This is the second wind for Christianity in the land of Karabakh. People accepted it with joy; they were waiting for this and

Thorc drt/., comparod wlth thc pert, thc army lr flghtlng woll. Why ls that? We were able to combine the different detachments of fighters into an army, both in Armenia and in Karabakh. That is very important. When you have a regular army, it's easierto command, to approach matters intelligently because there are detachment commanders. A fighter may say, "I don't wish to defend the line. I only wish to attack" but a soldier can't. The soldier must submit to one overall command. When a regular army fights, it has success. Our people, in tum, became so patriotic, so self-sacrificing. Of course, tlrat couldn't have taken place if

itweren'tforGod's help. Tolose25, 30soldiers and seize Shushi, to liberatetheentire Shushi region, in addition to Lachin-that, you'll forgive me, is only a miracle of God. All the soldiers can tell you that.

fighting for it.

Do pcoplc hcrc vlcw thlr ar glour we;?

cided all matters jointly because all of us were involved. However, sometimes unpleasant developments do occur, bringing dishonor to our nation. Sometines, they would see things as a layperson or as members of a political party. I, in turn, would look at things as a clergyman. In the end, we had to view things uniformly. After all, we are all Armenian, we are all God's creatures.

rclh

It Turkcy cntcrr thc plcturc, wlll potrlblc to eontlnuo thc ruc. cc3ac3? It bc

I cannot say this is a religious war. Of course, we areChristians andthey areMuslims. But this is not a religious war. This is aproblemof humanrights, aproblem ofthe right to live as you want, to be free, to be Armenian, to be a Christian in your own

Well, it seems to me that Turkey still hasn't shown any remorse and hasn't done penance for the Genocide. And that sin, the blood of those innocent people is still on them. An individual, a nation cannotpros-

land.

per or survive

if it remains guilty of spilling the blood of a people. That is God's law. And every one must give restitution+ither brutally or by showing compassion. There are two paths. The Turkish people will elect to do whatthey want.

l{ow wlll rcletlonr bc bctwccn Ghrlrtlrn Armcnlant end llurlim Azcrlr aftcr thc war? I believe that after a number of years, relations could become normal. There are no eternal wars or eternal enemies. History has given us many examples: there's been

war between France and Germany. And now they have normal relations. Warcomes

and goes, people remain.

believe the

Azeris who lived here before will be able to return. Whether they will, I don't know. But

they'll

be allowed to.

And how wlll luturc rclatlonr bc

bctwccn Stcprnakcrt and

Ycrcvan?

Karabakh will be an independentrepublic, that's what it is striving for-and it will achieve it. Relations with Armenia will be normal. After all, it is one and the same Ar-

menian nation, although it's possible it won't be one country. This will be a very interesting experiment for our nation. Re-

member the case of West and East Germany... Let the people in

Archbl$op ihrtlroslan standlng near the Gandlasar Monadory Natives of Karabakh are married to natives

of Armenia. Already there are practically one million Armenians in Armenia who have relatives in Karabakh. And it's natural that the link be very tight. Enterprises, businesses, factories in Armenia assist our villages and schools. Here in Shushi, there are several companies from Armeniafrom Jermuk, for example.

Whet rhould thc Ghurch do to unltc end cducatc thc pcoplc? From I 989 until last year, when we were in Stepanakert, we always got together with the authorities. There were representatives

of the Armenian National Movement, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, the National Front and neutral parties. And there was I, representingtheChurch. Wede-

AIM, JIJNE. JI,JLY 1994

ll dlltlcultlcr pcrslrt, how wlll you bc ablo to wlthiland thcm? There will be suffering but we must be victorious. We have no otherrecourse. We must strengthen our faith and be prepared to sacrifice on behalf of our present and future. On behalfofour faith and our Fatherland. Onbehalfofournation. And, itseems to me, that's always been theway throughout our history. And now we must do the same because our aim is sacred, holy, and the future is good. And for that alone, we must and shall persist. We all shall endure because this is a historic opportunity forus. We have a very bright future-whether from the standpoint of faith, economy or culture, science or the military. All this awaits us. And today we are building those foundations.

Tnn.lated byArlc G. Sevag

b, r;

,+.

* ,,{

!* if,

fi {d

Hltl

IJII]

? J

e don't !ive in ancient Rome. The free accessibleforum, which could be alternately place of assembly, public tribunal or marketplace, is gone. And today, more than anything else, it is the marketplace that we needa rea!, free marketplace-for ideas. We have a marketplace for safe ideas; it's called the Armenian press. But we don't have one for the controversial, complex, confounding kind-not unless you count the occasional professional confe rence orthe en ! ig htened coffee klatch. There was, then, no choice butto create such aforum. Consistentwith its missionto promote open discussion and the free flow of information among individuals and organizations interested in the well-being, groMh and development of Armenia and Armenians-in homeland and Diaspora-and to monitor existing communication mediaand develop newonesto promote free press and democratic principles, the Fourth Millennium Society has launched F0RUM. What AIM does for interesting individuals, events, trends and phenomena, F0RUM will do for ideas. F0RUM will be a placewherethoughts and opinions-sometimes controversial, always well-grounded-can be floated, considered, contested, amended, discarded or advocated. F0RUM willactas hostand guest: hostto experts, activists, officials who are involved in the conceptualization and implementaiton of programsand policies, orguestof thosewho have designed a dialogue ready for airing.

I f

n this first such discourse, F0RUM was a guest of the ARPA lnstitute. Founded in 1992, to provide "analysis, research and planning for Armenia," the ARPA lnstitute

is a member of the Social and Economic Council of Armenia. Over the last two years, the non-profitARPA lnstitute and its members have

unctioned as consultants to the government of Armenia on, among otherthings, !egislative proposals, the First Energy Planning Conference and general privatization policies. Currently, ARPA committees and members are working on the feasibility of a blood bank, on energy efficiency, petroleum exploration and renovation of the nuclear power plant, and on an Armen ia- Diaspo ra i nte rrelational structu re. ln late May, the Los Angeles-based ARPASATmenia-Diaspora committee organized an informalthree-day gathering of individuals with personal expertise, knowledge and intellectual interest i n Armen ia's present and f utu re situation. The paft ici pants we re Vartkes B ro u ssa! ian, Econom ics; J ivan Tabi bian, Joseph Kech ich ian, I nternational Relations; Ronald Suny, Levon f

Charkoudian, Sarkis Shmavonian, History; Khachig Tololyan, Diaspora Studies; and Vartan

Oskanian, lnternational Law and Diplomacy IHead of the North American Department of the Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Armenial. They examined the crisis situation which has arisen as a consequence of the war in Karabakh. Afree-ranging and lively discussion took place about th e facto rs that affect the natu re of the solution to the conflictand the realistic options and policy directions that are available to Armenia and the Diaspora. F0RUM was given access to the full and unedited tapes. We were convinced that excerptswould be immensely useful in helping our

readership become familiar with the multiple facets and hidden layers of consideration and deliberation that go into the examination of each foreign relations option. This mannerof discussion is novelforacommunitythat has recently begun to redefine itself in relation to a homeland that is also a state. Such a public and globa! approach to questions and ideas that are of relevance to the f uture of all Armenians will be rejected by some readers. Although nothing that has been included on the following pages is a secret or unknown to

AIM, TMS IORUM, JUI{E

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the parties involved, some may question the wisdom of putting in printwhatappearto be sensi-

tive considerations. We are convinced, however, that although some options are difficultto imagine and harder to accept for those not directly involved in the military and political struggles in Armenia and Karabakh,thosechoices need not be shrouded. 0n the contrary, they shou ld receive a pu bl ic ai ring and submitto the test of critique and debate. For healthy, democratic societies around the

world, this is standard procedure. For us, it's revolutionary. We hope that the observations, concl usions and proposals (which stand on their own merit and reflect the pafticipants' own opinions) although excerpted from a larger and fuller discussion, will engender reasoned, healthy, necessary debate. As similar opportunities arise in the future, F0RUM will attempt to provide the same kind of access to our pages.

Discussion began with an examination of recent developments regarding the parallel proposals of the Russians and the Conlerence 0n Security and Gooperation in Europe (CSCE). Since the militarization ol the Karabakh conllictthree years ago, the two mediati0n eflorts have been 0ng0ing often in competition with each other. JIVAI{ TABIBIAN We can see why the Azeris prefer the CSCE plan. But, what is the reason for Armenia's greater willingness to accede to the other proposal-the Russian plan? As we choose the Russian one, we weaken the possibility of strengthening the other one, unless we know that Azerbaijan will not sign the Russian plan anyway, and we simply look like the good guys. VARTAil 0SKAlllAt{ Let me say at the outset that I speak for myself, and not the Foreign Ministry in any way. I consider Russia's leverage on Armenia to be greater than its leverage on Azerbaijan. There are so many links that it's really difficult for the Armenian leadership to object and conf ront the Russians openly.

TABIBIAI{ lt would appear that the Russians are not really interested in seeing

this conflict resolved. They are interested in a ceasefire and peace, but not in seeing final resolution, because then, they will lose their leverage on both Armenia and

Azerbaijan. SARKIS SHMAUOl{lAlt Remember, Karabakh is not Russia's only initiative. There are others, too, including the one in

Abkhazia. Are there any similarities between the kind of plan the Russians are proposing and what the Russian-proposed peacekeeping force might consist of between Karabakh and Azerbaijan?

0SKANIAN The premise is the same in both cases: to get Russian forces into those countries. The objections of Georgia and Azerbaijan are the same, too: Both are reluctant to have Russian forces on their

territory. TABIBIAN lf the Russian influence on us makes it quite ditficult to refuse to sign their proposals, for whatever apparent reason, is that influence also such that the Russians can prevent us from signing a CSCE document even if one is satisfactory to both Azerbaijan and Armenia? As Russia continuously produces counterproposals that look better, automatically then, we refuse the one at hand.

0SKAillAl{ Russia has tremendous leverage on Armenia. Eighty percent of Armenia's trade is with Russia, most of the fuelthat enters Armenia comes from Russia. Recently, another agreement was signed between Russia and Armenia, whereby the Russians will rebuild the AIM. IMS FORUM, JUI{E - JUIY I gg{

nuclear power plant in Armenia, thus creating somewhat of an additional dependency.

LEV0ll CHARK0UDIAN How do the Russians' parallel deals with the West , such as in NATO and other places, affect Russia's dealings in the Caucasus? For example, is the Partnership for Peace proposal a new Yalta? RO]{ALD SUI{Y I don't share the view of a tough-guy Russia, although I understand where it comes from. We're working from the point ofview ofthe non-Russian republics, their experience with Russia over the past 75 years, and Russia's continuing economic and strategic role. But we have to be carefulabout imputing motives. Things look very different to Russia. There's probably far less difference and less conflict between the CSCE and Russia. They're actually working in a similar direction, I think. I would argue that Russia's internal problems are so great that it doesn't need the Caucasus, and there's a lot of public opinion that says forget those guys, we have to think about the Crimea, Kazakhstan, Russians in the Baltics. Two things are important about the Caucasus for Russia: one is the frontiers with Turkey and

lran. Armenia concedes that there are still Russian troops at the border, as well as at the airport. A year or so ago, Russia worried enormously whether Turkey or lran will infiltrate the southern tier of the ClS. This is of much less concern now. Turkey has internal problems. lran has to deal with refugees and wants to get the war settled. The second important thing is that the most unstable frontier in the entire Russian Federation is the North Caucasus. There is the war in Abkhazia, the independent Chechen Republic, fighting between the lngush and various peoples there, the South 0ssetian problem. lt's a disaster. There is also the conflict between Azerbaijan and the Lezghis. My view is that Russia, if it's rational, needs to settle these things. lt doesn't need conlfict as a source of influence. There is also the question: what is Russia-is it [Defense Minister Pavell Grachev, is it IPresident Boris] Yeltsin-[Foreign Minister Andrei] Kozyrev, is it some general on the scene, is it ISpecial Envoy Vladimir] Kazimirov? UARTKES BROUSSAtlAll lf lwere Russia and powerfulenough, I would go allthe way to Armenia and Azerbaijan, and show people close bythat I have solved distant problems involving independent states, and that there will eventually be plenty 0f time to resolve the nearer situations.

SUilY There's a big debate going on in

settle the Karabakh conflict and not keep muddying the water, because they gain by having it settled. Russia looks good as the peace-keeper and still keeps troops in Azerbaijan, which is clearly desirable.

to Russian hegemonic interest in the

0SKAI{lAil We can't ignore Azerbaijan's

KHACHIG T0t0LYAl{ The US ruling elite, while it has been fairly coherent, has been divided traditionally between people who put economic interests first, and others who put the state department and human rights interests first. Are the economic interests willing to write otf the potential of the southern tier?

oil. lf the US went all the way to Kuwait to protect its interests, why should we not expect that Russia will not defend its own sohere of influence? Also, in its current role in the Caucasus, Russia is not putting in much etfort. lts whole presence in Armenia is centered around one person: Kazimirov; ambassador-at-large, Yeltsin's special envoy for this specific Nagorno Karabakh problem. J0SEPH KECHIGHIAiI He may be the only person involved in Russia, but we have to accept that in the US State Department, for example, there isn't even one person. Talbo tatel Strob'e Strobe Talbott lDeputy Secretary of Statel prob. probhas a very specific viewrl of how this orobAnvwav. let'sconlet's conlem should be settled. Anyway, inlluence cede that the Russian sptrere sphere of inlluence is a valid point. But what does Russia want to do with the rest of the former Soviet Union? The answer is Finland. Overthe next 1 0-1 5 years, the Russians want relationships with every one of the republics, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, on the same level that they've had with Finland-a good, non-threatening, stable relationship. The US has the same interests, making sure that the relationship between the repubics and Russia is stable. Everyone is interested in settling this conflict, and no one seems to know how to resolve it.

SUI{Y The politicalelite is very unstable in Russia, but Yeltsin is fairly settled now. He got rid of parliament, regional leaders and the Constitutional Court. He pushed through his own constitution. But, the September gamble didn't work and the new parliament is more recalcitrant than the old one. What Yeltsin has done is given up his policy of the last two years. The reform is going to be much more moderate and we're basically back to Gorbachev. The old nomenklatura is going to stick around lor a while. Yeltsin and Kozyrev have

Russia and people like Andranik Migranian are involved, advocating a much more

forward Russian policy. lt's notthatArmenia and Azerbaijan are not important. 0bviously, there is Azerbaijan's oil, which American companies wantto develop and in which Russia wants a share. But, if I were looking at Russian motives, I would say there is a lot more incentive for them to

accomodated to this new mood. A recent poll shows that 74 percent of Russians believe that the old Soviet Union should be recreated, that Ukraine is not a nation. They're not too happy with Caucasians in general. There is what I call a Yeltsin doctrine now:that Russia will be the hegemonic state in the region. 0f course, the West will be most resistant AIM. FMS T(IRUM, JU]IE - JUI.Y

Igg|

Baltics and the Ukraine. So where Yeltsin has to win is in the Caucasus and Central Asia. The US has basically said that the southern tier will be written off.

SUiIY The US policy is Russia first. Russia must be preserved as a democratic, market-oriented economy, because if. it goes sour, or more imperialist, then the whole thing breaks down. So, you may care about Armenia, but you have to first care about Russia. KECHICHIAII But you can't assume that the ruling elite is of one opinion. US President Bill Clinton himself isn't and never will be interested in foreign policy. Strobe Talbott is personally interested in Russia, but there is still lhe State Department and Congress, where we know that the CSCE and economic issues are taken quite seriously. Even if the US is willing to write otf the southern tier to Russia's sphere of influence, a large, active Armenian community in the US can make a difference in the policy. We can force the policy of the country to be different regarding that one republic. Just that one. After all, there might be six Kazakhs in this whole country.

TABlBlAil The Finlandization model does not preclude satisfying the West's economic interests or allowing western economic activity. I would take the debate one step further:the former satellites will become like Finland, and the former soviet republics will become what used to be satellites. KEGHICHIAN Finland's role was not to be a Russian conduit to the West, but

provide stability on one of Russia's key borders. Moscow today looks at its near

territories, with that same objective: a stable environment. lt is inherently illogical for any major power to actually crave instability-not even short term. BROUSSALIAil Finland was not giving Russia problems, politically or economically. Historically, the US has wanted to have a sort of cordon sanitaire around

Russia. Turkey and lran are part of this cordon. KECHIGHIAl{ That is precisely where Armenia can play a role in strengthening the hegemonic Russian power. That is a common interest that the governments of Armenia, Azerbailan and deorgia share.

SUI{Y They're being forced to learn that Iesson.There is a great power to the north on which you are dependent and from which you can benefit. You make arrangements for your independence, but you have to have a Finland-like foreign policy: We don't enter into any alliances or do anything that antagonizes Russia.

OSKAillAll lf the road to Finlandization has to be negotiated, Russia may tolerate some instability at its immediate frontiers, in order to get there.

SUNY The US can agree to Finlandization, but what we don't want is a maximal imperialization process-satellization.

they have concluded the following: Why replace one imperial power (Russia)with another (Turkey) when they can be their own masters?

OSKAillAl{ There are two other considerations here. 0ne is that extensive economic cooperation with lran or Turkey doesn't necessarily mean imperial domi-

had to remove him. His own people would.

T0tOtYAil

One state department observer has said that what Azerbaijan has going for it is the international state system. lt's the same for Bosnia/Hezegovina. lt shouldn't exist as a state, but it will, because the other states want it t0. ll Armenians hatl another 1 5 years, and there

nation by them. The second is that the Azeris don't want to even think about extensive political or economic ties with the Russians, simply because of the experience of the past 75 years, and before that, under lmperial Russia. That mindset is reflected in the Karabakh conflict because Azerbaijan consistently refuses to accept any settlement which involves the deploym6nt of Russian troops on their territ'ory. This is an opportunity for them, too, to break completely free of Russia. They may, in the future, come back to some sort of cooperation of their own free will.

SUilY Armenia gained its independence under very strange circumstances-both times. lt gained independence because

TABIBIAI{ lf there were a coherent oerceo'suffi-' tion in Russia that Finlandization is cient, then the West would go along. However, there are many enduring interests in Russia-institutional, traditional, ideological-which would not settle for Finlandization. That is why the transition is much more bumpy. At this point, there are those who would rather have a Bulgaria, or East Germany-indeed, some think of Azerbaijan as an East Germany. The Americans, while they won't write off Azerbaijan, also recognize that an Azerbaijan, undei Russian tutelage, may be a better buffer against lran, than a fully independent Azerbaijan. A stable Azerbaijan as a Finland is a much better buffer than some kind of Azerbaijan that is flexing its muscles and flirting with every Moslem country.

0SKAlllAll This conllict is a bargaining chip for Russia. They don't knowwhich way Azerbaijan or Georgia will go. Azerbaijan can go towards Turkey, towards lran, or it can make alliances with Central Asian republics. KECHIGHIAII The Azerbaijanis don't have much of an option in that respect. Ultimately, their interest lies more with Russia than you might assume. The Azeris are not necessarily going the lranian way, because there you'll have the Azeri-Persian war and that's going to take care of itself. Moreover, the honevmoon between Turkevand Azerbaijan, andihe Central Asian republics has essentially cooled otf, because

Russia collapsed. The center eroded and allowed these things to happen. There was an artificial period when Mikhail Gorbachev and Edvard Shevardnadze decided to give up the empire in Eastern Europe. lf there's any unanimity in the opinion of the Russian elite today, it's that this was a disaster. Russia's now far weaker, it's been humiliated, this can never happen again.

TOLOIYAN Someone recently said that the feeling in Russia is that atho time in history has anyempire bargained as badly. The giving up of Eastern Europe was sup: posed to be followed by massive financial aid. There is this feeling that never again willwe make a dealwith the West.

were more countries like Eritrea which actually break away, then Karabakh would have a chance. I wonder whether Armenia isn't bypassing an option by trying to offer notions of sovereign states that are radically ditferent, where sovereignty no longer means what it has. Karabakh is most likely to be settled by our advocacy not of border changes, but saying that sovereign states-whether "Finlandized" or "satellitized"-can no longer maintain some sort of French notion of the dominant national group. At some level we have to play to nations, peoples, cultures, in a way that might find some backing in parts ol the US Congress. 0SKANIAI{ The debate todav is between

SUI{Y They talk now about having lost the Second Wgrld War. Twenty million were killed and Germany had been dismembered. But, now it's united and not a shot was fired. This statement reflects a peculiar, psychological state that may mean actions which, in the short run, are not particularly rational strategically. ln

two major principles which lsually clash: territorial integrity and national self-determination. As it stands today, the principle of territorial integrity usually wins in any internationalforum. We're the bad guys because we try to battle every territorlal integrity phrase in each document.

any case, Russia is not benign vis a vis the Russian republics in the southern tier. lt will be the dominant power. The question for Armenia and Azerbaijan is, how do we live with that? What can we get out of it? Not how can we defeat it or roll it back, because we can't do that. Today, there isn't a single good word said about Russia in Azerbaijan. lf Aliev were to have signed the

TABIBIAI{ ln the state system, this issue is the AIDS virus. Therefoie, we'have to look for the solution outside. Autonomy, independence, sovereignty: those are the operational manifestations that will follow any rethinking of the relationship between territorial integrity and national self-determination. Depending on the understanding and legal foundations, then fears about the others can be modulated. We are stuck because, operationally, those three

Russiari initiative in May, he would-have lost power. The Russians wouldn't have AlM,

FiIS t0[Ulrl,

JUI{E

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notions are frozen. Sovereignty is seldom used any more. lndependence is a very relative concept. Autonomy seems to be somewhat lacking-but in what-in status, in security, in recognition, in guarantees by others of its inviolability? As long as that mess is not resolved, territorial integrity and national self-determination will remain mutually exclusive. So, we have to fundamentally rethink the whole thing. Why is autonomy not good enough for Karabakh? We're willing not to change the territory, depending on what the operational, substantive content of Karabakh's autonomy is.

SUiIY Armenia can't be utopian. We have to recognize both these principles. Russia has recognized Georgia's territorial integrity against people like Vladimir Zhirinovsky who say Abkhazia should be free. That hurts us, because that means Karabakh stays in Azerbaijan. But our second principle of self-determination means that the majority-Armenians-have to rule Karabakh. So, de iureKarabakh is in Azerbaifan, but de factoil's Armenian. Autonomy is extraordinarily important. Why not a federal relationship? These are not permanent solutions for alltime. They are provisional, transitional maybe, negotiated compromises. Why not dual citizenship? Armenians of Karabakh should also be citizens of Armenia.

r TABIBIAN While we know that Russia may have an agenda, there are degrees of difference in reading their motivations or intentions as they apply to Russia's ability, eagerness, desire and effectiveness vis a vis the question ol brokered peace in the Caucasus. To what extent is Karabakh part of a larger pictu re?_ What about Azerbaijani interests and perceptions? What is their

relationship to Armenia, or is that defined by Azerbaiian's relation to Russia? We've assumed that Russia is the framing umbrella within which Armenia's relationship with Azerbaijan will be defined. Clearly, it's a triangular relationship, but are there some things about Azerbaijan's perceptions, fears, desires towards Armenia that introduce an independentvariable in its dealing with us. Are there some intractable issues that are independent of Azerbaiian's geopolitical fears of Russia? Nobody here has argued for any extremely assertive Western policies, that would promote peace or in an aggressive form, attempt to genuinely limit or push back Russian interest. We have assumed an accomodating, if not an acquiescing posture, on the part of the West. The CSCE

instrument of an accomodationist peace making process but not one that is

is an

aggressively challenging anything the Russians are doing. Do we see any hardening or softening in diplomatic relations in other areas in the world that might in the short term substantially change the US-Russian relationship and cause them to pick a place to make a good-will gesture, or show that they are not going to be pushed around?

T0tOtYAll

lf there is something that Armenia or Nagorno Karabakh can do that will inflict sufficient pain on Azerbaiian to make it think things over, it's probably betterto do itthan notto do it because of some likely loss of international support, unless you can predict what the international system will do to us.

0SKANIAN Occupying additional land has clearly lost its utility. There are close to one million refugees in Azerbailan, and Karabakh occupies over 25 percent of PresiAzerbaiiani land. Yet [Azerbaiiani [Azerbaijani Presi dent Gaidarl Aliev is still standing. There's Aliev not much internalopposition to him. Aliev has said, on more than one occasion that, "even if we lose Gania, Azerbailan's second largest city, we're not going to yield to Russian demands." They have become very resilient in that sense. TABIBIAN They didn't say Armenian demands. That's interesting.

TOL0LYAI{ Can Armenia sayto the Americans that we are being driven into Russia's arms? ls this useful?

0SKAl{lAil There's only a certain distance that the US or the West will go. They have made it clear that they consider our fate tied to Russia's.

Atil,

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t0RUt , JUilE - JUIY l9g4

TABlBlAtl Paradoxically, that's why they haven't yet painted Armenia as the aggressor, because they are aware that we are not the aggressors so much as the instrument of certain other powers. lt's almost not to embarrass our sponsors that thev haven't done it. One reason whv the Azelbaijani leadership has not collapsed under these defeats, is because they are presenting this as defeat to Russia, not iust Armenia. This is a defeat that can be translated into a public relations victory because it's a fight against Russia.

SHMAV0tllAll Bringing the matter this

far-a

Russian proposal signed by one side, and a CSCE proposal signed bythe other side is, in fact, the work of military arms. lt is because the war has gone on this far, that those documents are even there. lt is only due to the possibility of an Armenian attack on Gania that the Azerbaijanis are willing to sign anything. GHARK0UDIAN We alltend to agree that the Russian motive is some form of hegemony. Russian proposals are just for a ceasefire. ls that a Russian way of inflicting pain on Azerbaijan, as opposed to trying to solve the whole problem? After all, it would continue to sutfer with a million refugees, Armenia would remain on its own territory, Nagorno Karabakh would return to some normalcy.

0slGillAl{

The Russians are interested in peace, buttheir kind of peace. The best thev mav allow is the 1988 status: autonoriry within Azerbailan. Nagorno Karabakh says, why suffer all this pain if we are to go back to what we had five years ago? TABIBIAN Cessation of hostilities is an intermediate term between ceasefire and oeace. The Russian plan ooes from ceaseiire to cessation of hbstiliiies. The CSCE plan goes from cessation of hostilities to peace. But the Russian plan, with the kind of pain it can inflict on our neighbor, is not necessarily a plus for Armenia. Armenia gains notlring, while Russian troops 0n Azerbaijani soil restricts Armenia's margin of autonomous behavior. SUI{Y lt sounds like this is the optimum moment before the deluge, to settle this thing. The armies are as extended as they can be, there are no more options for inflicting pain, and the Russians are there.

TABIBIAI{ As the military successes of Karabakh became apparent, Vartkes Broussalian and I thought the fuse was getting shorter for us. The perimeter to

defend is so much larger than the available manpower. This is not lsrael receiving F-14's and F-1 5s from the US. This is I a very ditferent kind of warfare. And in Russia's case, it is to inflict pain for political purposes. lt is not warfare to ddfeat an enemy. And Armenians are there to go as far as necessary to bring Azerbaijan to the table. Do we agree that our room'to maneuver at this moment is tributary to short term Russian plans to bring th-e Azerbaijanis to some kind of accomodation for Russian presence there? 0r do we still believe that somehow this is a wrong operation? Vladimir Kazimirov may be just one man, but when the armamentd come in, he's not carrying them on his back. There is a whole infrastructure of support.

new mechanisms are being developed.

TABIBIAI{ We had counted on Georoia to be an agreeable neighbor, if not an o-utrignt ally, through which we could conduct business. To say that this turned out to be a disappointment is an understatement. lt has turned out to be a maior headache. The fate of Georgia is very sighificantfor us. Whether this instability or subservience to Russia is going to last long, it may play some role in our ability to anticipate ttre future. Ron, what are the prospects?

SUIIY That's a hard one. You knowthe recent history. Atthe moment what passes

Armenia, share an arena of interesti?

for a political elite is deeply divided. The parliament, in which [Georgian leader Edvardl Shevardnadz:e hadi fairly good representation, is moving more into opposition. Even his supporters are upset by his move toward Russia. Shevardnadze

T0t0tYAll

has taken a very real Realoolitik view. There's no alteinative butRussia. ln

SUIIY Russia's clearly the player here. For term, we have shared interests with Russia. How do we create a Deace settlement in which Russia, Azerbaiian and a very short

_Russian power in its own

sphere of influence now is more implicated in helping Armenia and Karabakh survive, than perhaps even they realize. lfthey cut and run, for the next 1 0 years, they will have lost influence in a lot of other places. SUtrlY They need to settle the Karabakh problem in order to prove they have the right to become a hegemon in the area.

TOL0LYAi| I agree that if they can't start

war or stop awar, they can't be a great power. But why do they need to settle it?

SUIIY Because the war will still go on and fester. The instability in Azerbaiian is affecting the instability in Georgia and in the northern Caucasus. BR0USSAIIAN Armenia cannot survive a mere cessation of hostilities. Armenia has to have an open border. You've got to have a peace treaty which in some fashion allows Armenia to go on.

February, Yeltsin flew to Tbilisi, and signed treaty. Some people in Russia, including the parliament, were very upset, bscause they favor Abkhazia ovef Tbilisi. By this a

treaty, Russia will have a rightto have bases in Georgia and will help to form a Georgian army. The problem in Georgia is that vou have indeoendent oaramilitarv forc6s, and Shevaidnadze doesn't hav'e a

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The rules of the new world order have not been established yet, and this is a transition period. The empire collapsed and Russia's military, and especially nuclear, capability were left intact. ln this case, there wa-s no Council of Vienna, no Versailles treaty; Potsdam and Yalta didn't happen here. The victors did not carve up the loser's territories and assets. No safeguards were developed to p.revent repeating the past. Nagorno Karabakh is one of the arenas where this new relationship is being tested and

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reliable army. The Russians are going to help him develop one and this is going to cost him politically. So, there is no realstate in Georgia. There is one guy, Shevardnadze, who for the West, and for Georgia, probably represents the best alternative, because he's a mediator, a conciliator who's trying to create a new rhetoric, a new language of politics. But the Russians hate Shev:ardnadze for having lost the Soviet Union. Almost 70 percent of the country is Georgian, buttliey've launched warsbn various fronts against the non-Georgians who are strategically located around the periphery. Abkhazia does have a constituency: antiShevardnadze, anti-Georgia. Recently, Armenians have been represented as traitors to Georgia because they are seen as supporting Abkhazia. The most optimistic scenario is that Shevardnadze survives, builds a political base, a military base able to controlthe opposition and Abkhazia is settled as autonomous, but in Georgia de jure.Bulil Shevardnadze falls, all bets are otf.

T0t0LYAll

One way of simplifying the Caucasus problem is to saythdt thie two countries that refused to join the CISGeorgia and fuerbaijan-each had a minority that existed in an autonomous repub[[c. Russia armed each minority and disciplined the majorities to go along with what it wanted. What can we learn from the Russian behavior in Abkhazia and especially from their behavior now that Georgia and Abkhazia have some kind of agreement, dragged into or forced into

1978, the Abkhaz organized to join Russia, under Soviet conditions, Shevardnadze was party boss. And of course, the Georgians refused. This was not started by Russians. The Russians kept Abkhazia in Georgia.

OSKAlllAlt How did the Russians change their behavior towards Abkhazia, once they got permission to place military bases in Georgia?

SUI{Y They're not putting pressure on Abkhazia. They got the negotiations started and they're pressuring the Abkhaz to come to terms. Meanwhile, Shevardnadze is being undermined by his opposition who are upset with surrendering the ball to the Russians. 0SKA1{lAtl They're pressuring the Abkhaz, not the Georgians. So, there is much to be learned. The pattern is repeating itself in Karabakh. I always wonderwhether under some other circumstances, Azerbaijan would agree to Russian bases in Azerbaijan. and whether the Russians would change their attitude toward Karabakh and let the CSCE do the job, establish the ceasefire and have monitors in the region.

SHMAVOillAtl But whatever measures are taken, just by engaging in a negotiating posture with Tbilisi, Tbilisi is being undermined. This could well happen in Baku. TAB|BlAll What accelerated Georgia's giving in to Russian pressure in the Abkhaz situation, is that their internal disunion on otherfronts had tenderized them, had made them more malleable, more pliable. That hastened their willingness to go along. Georgia was a state in disarray and disintegration. While Azerbaijan is not yet,

through international intervention, in a state of equally advanced rot due to the conflict of various groups and nationalities, one of the effects of Karabakh's military successes, has been to essentially weaken the body politic of the Azerbaiiani state. And one of Russia's objectives i's not simply to weaken Azerbailan but to make it s0 that no leader can, in etfect, represent the full range of opinion. Therefore, from the Russian point of view, it would help if Azerbaijan, of its own free will, were to callthem in and say

though they were by Russia. How are they acting atter the treaty they signed?

let's negotiate.

SUI{Y Again, as in Azerbaijan, and

an enclave and Karabakh is.

T0L0LYAN However, Abkhazia is not apparently in Armenia as well, everyone ' thinks the problem was artificial and created by Russia. This is nottrue. ln 30

Abkhzia

was only 47 percent Abkhaz, and Karabakh was about 70 percent Armenian. AIM, IMS FORUM, JUI{E

JUI.Y Igg4

TABlBlAll Also, there is no Republic

of '

Greater Abkhazia just 10 miles away, as is the case for Karabakh with the Republic of

Armenia. That greatly complicates the

situation. TABIBIAN The word negotiation came up. Negotiation basically means that the two participants are, at some point, prepared to exchange some items: benefits, costs, give up something, get something. They've reached a point where they've recognized their affairs are with each other, and they both have to make some accomodation. But, this conflict is not at the negotiation stage yet. lt is at a point of being brokered for a short term resolution. That is not a negotiaton. Can we look at the possibilities of an Azerbaijan-Armenia negotiation, and within the Armenian side, of the Republic of Armenia alone, of Karabakh alone, or a combination of both? We're talking now about direct negotiations. lf we take the Arab-lsraeli parallel, the Norwegians were instrumental in facilitating the encounter, not the exchange.

OSKAillAil The keyforthe solution is right there: Armenia and Azerbaijan get

together and talk directly, without intermediaries. The reason that the Palestinian and lsraeli negotiations yielded results was that they were conducted secretly and were mediated by a party with no real interest rn rnreresl in Ine the regron. region. During uunng me the negotiations they transcended their territorial issues and talked about the laroer econo. econoparties. The fourth mic interests of both lth oarties, element leading to success was that they dissected the complex issue of autonomy and started to deal with each part sepaseoarately. We are farfrom a similar situation. ln o[r case, the mediator is Russia which has tremendous interests in the region. Even with the CSCE as negotiator, there are still problems:Turkey is in the CSCE's Group of Nine, so is the US, which is at odds with Russia, and Russia is there, too. We've always brought this up and said the CSCE group is not etficient or productive, because there are ditferences in that group. There have been consistent etforts by Russia not to let Armenia and Azerbaijan talk to each other. The parties are afraid to call on each other and say let's negotiate secretly. The distrust is so great, even

taking the first step is a big risk. When Jan Eliasson took on the chairmanship of the Minsk group, he introduced both substantive and procedural changes. At the Prague meeting, he first met separately with each party. The general meeting applauded this

ings secret, because eventually everyone be the minimal demands of Armenia and Karabakh?

willfind out. What would

OSKAilIAN The people of Karabakh will say independence, or unity with Armenia. The leadership says what it is advocating is today's negotiating position. 0nce Karabakh is recognized as a party to the

conllict, once the fighting stops, once there are international guarantees, at the negotiating table, other things are

possible-something between today's Azeri and Armenian positions. The notion of remaining within Azerbaijan does not play very wellwith anyone from Karabakh.

new approach and recommended that he continue. Next time, it may be easier for him to say to the parties involved, sit down and talk together.

TABIBIAI,I Except that each time Eliasson's plan looks like it might work, the Russians put forth another proposal, a parallel reality, and obstruct the process. lt appears that Armenia may be less willing to accede to such an overture, because it has more to fear from Russia. BROUSSALIAN Can Eliasson meet with each party and say, look, I beieve there are elements of agreement between you?

OSKAillAlil Because Russia's leverage on Armenia is greater than on Azerbailan, Armenia has more to lose. And although everyone knows that the best thing is to deal directly with the opponent, Azerbaijan is simply not trusted.

KECHICHIAiI Let's assume that there are Azerbailani and Armenian leaders who would participate in these negotiations. Would the Russians tolerate the kind of secret negotiations that would presumably end the conflict not to their own liking? What would separate Armenia-Azerbailan negotiations accomplish if that settlement is not acceptable to Russia? SUNY Russia has not intervened anywhere in the CIS where there has not been instability and a local inabilty to solve the conflict. lt doesn't mean it doesn't throw its weight around. But the reason Russia has been involved in the Karabakh conflict, is because Armenia and Azerbailan have not been able to get together. BROUSSALIAN The substance of the meetings between Armenia and Azerbailan can be kept secret, but why keep the meet-

TOLOLYAN lf I were in Karabakh, I would say if that is the eventual outcome, why give up now when we have strength. Demographics is key. Any agreement that allows Azerbailanis to return is already problematic because it will mean that what happened in Nakhichevan (the depopulation ol a traditionally Armenian area of its Armenian inhabitants) will happen here.

TABIBIAN lf I were in Karabakh, would I think that in the end, giving the Azeris back their own land would get Azerbaiian to give Karabakh more than the old status quo? KECHIGHIAI{ lf I were in Karabakh, I know I would not want to be occupied. So, if my wounded cousin, Armenia, will not come to my aid, then I will make allsorts of agreements with others who will help me in that way. I would poke Armenia's conscience and make life miserable by calling attention to my noble past, and the fact that we don't want to be occupied. TABIBIAI{ That is Karabakh's leverage on Armenia. 0n Azerbaijan, there is no leverage, because the Azerbaiianis are playing on time and Nagorno Karabakh understands that very well. That is why, while at this moment, it may not be Armenia's war, sooner or later, it will become that. Then, Karabakh will be Armenia's major security buffer zone. lf the compromise solution will be the division of Karabakh, why not do it now and prevent years

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AIM, FMS FORUM. JU]IE

JUI.Y

lgg{

of destruction? The nature of the conflict of attrition-is such that Armenia is

-one becoming

militarily, economically weaker. What good is it to Karabakh to have a weak Armenia join in the war?

SHmAV0lllAll I think if Armenia

came to a point of total collapse, then Armenia will really become involved in this war in a much biggerway.

BR0USSALIAil Today, Armenia is facing lile or death. There is not much more that the population can suffer. So, the two basic issues facing Armenia are its own survival and its inability to abandon Karabakh.

T0L0tYAll Would open war between Armenia and Azerbaijan worry other nations so much that they would have to interpose a ceasefire and then negotiate? At the initial stages, Armenia would not be going in with a loss, since the Armenians of Karabakh already have gains.

and let the regional power intervene. Will

that intervention be worse than the imminent collapse? KEGHICHIAII Not worse, but risky. Russia will settle the dispute to its own liking, And it may be in a position to dictate policy. So Armenia and Azerbaijan risk losing their own putative independence.

0SKAlllAil Russia would not wait for the international community's acquiescence. lf Armenia gets involved and things get out of hand, Russia will intervene. An Armenian war with Azerbaijan is exactly what Azerbaijan has been agitating for. Armenia willthen have to defend its whole ArmeniaAzerbaijan border. Troops will be needed in Zangezur (in southern Armenia), because that's a disputed region, too. TABIBIAN And Turkey will come in and use Nakhichevan as proxy.

TOt0LYAil Knowing allthis, TABIBIAil 0ur experience internationally is not that at all. There are cases where instead of freezing a situation and stopping the war, there is proxy war in which the war of attrition continues. We act as the proxies for other powers. lf Armenia is supplied by Russia, indirectly, and Azerbaijan is supplied by Turkey...

SUIIY Such a war may bring in other powers too. What I wonder is, how do we get off the dime? We are already overextended, Azerbaijan is aware of this, and time is on their side. lt seems to me, now is the time to come up with something inventive, explosive, not on the battlefield, but in negotiations. A clear statement about what we will accept.

TOt0LYAll

So let Armenia get into a war,

and

acknowledging that none of it is desirable, I still maintain that those who enter negotiations saying'we're small, we have no power and we'll be reasonable' have lost before negotiations start. l'm saying that where I disagree with the rest of you is that I don't think intervention by Russia is the worst possible fate for Armenia.

BROUSSAtlAll My argument is that Azerbaijan does not like this objective and this procedure. How can you force Azerbaijan to accept what you've just said?

reluctant t0 have the Russians broker anything. No Armenian anywhere is

OSKAt{lAl{ There was a point, in the summer of 1993, when Azerbaijan and Armenia signed the CSCE Minsk group document. Nagorno Karabakh thought that the security element was weak and since they were asked to withdraw from the occupied territories, they wanted further international guarantees.

resisting that. At most, Armenians say there is a cost associated with it. The resistance is lrom Azerbaijan.

TABlBlAll ln that version, there were no Russiansas monitors. So, Karabakh

TABlBlAil No one is saying that they are

KECHICHIAN Allthree republics in the Caucasus have to reach a point of comfort with the hegemonic power near them, maintaining relative independence while acknowledging some sort of relationship.

BROUSSAIIAil Armenia would have been willing to go further. Armenians would have liked to have Russia subsidize the Armenian government, a customs union with Russia, one currency. lt's Russiathat has said go your own way, don't be dependent on us.

I 0SKAtllAil

Here is the Republic of

AIM, TMS FORUM, JU]IE. JUI.Y

obiected because the Russians were manipulating them.

OsfAilnil

The Karabakh concern was genuine, butthey didn't need to rejectthe whole document outright. There were other pressures on Karabakh, too. The ARF [Armenian Revolutionary Federation] was opposed to signing.

TABlBlAll There is a convergence of

interests between two forcespresumably enemies-ARF intransigence and Russian manipulation.

T0LOtYAtl The ARF may be intransigent

Armenia's Nagorno Karabakh policy and the premises of that policy. 0ne: Armenia believes that Azerbailan will not, of its own will, give Nagorno Karabakh independence. Two: Neither Karabakh nor Armenia can achieve independence by

force. Three: There is no military solution. lf there is one, in the long run, it will be to Azerbaijan's advantage. Theref ore, Armenia's policy should be (and for the last two years has been) to advocate the establishment of a ceasefire, as a first step; peacekeepers coming in to consolidate that ceasefire, to have a durable cessation of military activities and a lifting ofthe blockade; and, in return, Nagorno Karabakh forces withdrawing from occupied territories. As long as Karabakh forces are in total control, as long as their very existence is not in jeopardy in any way because of the peacekeepers, as long as the Lachin corridor (linking Karabakh to Armenia) is under Armenian control and functionino. then we can take the issue to the Minsk Cbnference. This has been Armenia's approach and we have advocated it consistently. The CSCE and Russian proposals encompass these concepts.

I9g{

because it is wrongly convinced that they're doing the right thing for Armenia. The Russians are intransigent because they're doing it for Russia.

TABIBIAil lt amounts to the same thing:

missed opportunity. Feeding Karabakh with the illusions, or delusions, of greater

leverage than they have. Since then, the

territory has increased, butthe situation has deteriorated. That's made the

inevitabiity of peacekeepers, including Russians, much greater.

SUl{Y Have there been statements about what we hope will be the final solution? 0SKAillAN Whatever will be negotiated between Karabakh and Azerbailan will be acceptable to Armenia. SUNY That may be part of the problem. Maybe there have to be some back channel discussions indicating that we're ready to accept Karabakh as technically a part of Azerbaijan.

OSKAlllAl{ Not mentioning Karabakh's future status is a problem for both sides. Although it's convenient and it's to Armenia's benefit to have peace in the region, and a protracted settlement, the parties actually in the conflict-Karabakh Azerbaijan-want to know what the eventual status will be. Karabakh says why withdraw from territories if I don't have the slightest clue about my future status. Azerbaijan argues why agree to freezing the situation, and allowing outside forces on our territory, if we don't know whatthis status will turn out to be. and

TABIBIAiI lf the status question is the stumbling block, is there any alternative that can be brought to the table as a sweetenerthat might minimize the uncertain nature of the status in the short run. Could we trade something to put that issue in abeyance for maybe five years? What could be those compensatory sweetenersto give them pause? Let's figure out what they could be. Karabakh wants guarantees of inviolability by the military defense of its borders, through peacekeeping forces if necessary. Azerbailan wants guarantees that the question of independence will never be translated into territorial sovereignty.

protracted conflict, not negotiation.

0SKAlllAl,l Armenia has said that we see a compromise solution. Those are magic words. Further, we've said we think we have to create the atmosphere first. Let the emotions cool down. Let's do the first phase, have a ceasefire, give the territories back, go to Minsk and start talking. That will give us time. Meanwhile, maybe economic ties will develop, maybe the pipeline

willgo across Armenia and Azerbaijan and provide incentives for peace. Down the road, there will be a better atmosphere for compromise, and politically, that will be more acceptable for both parties. SUl,lY But, it's not possible to talk about a pipeline with a war going on.

TABIBIAil Armenia has done more than just use the word compromise. Armenia has shown its willingness by not recognizing Karabakh. That's louder than any words. lt has not taken an irreversible decision on that score. Had Armenia made that recognition, we'd have a much

BROUSSALIAI,I Karabakh is gaining in this situation and Azerbaijan is not. lt's in control of its own territory. Azerbaiian is saying the more time passes, the more Karabakh will increase control.

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SUI{Y lf you actually lust say, we're interested in a settlement and it will have to be negotiated, but it will have to be done on the basis of national self-determination for the peoples involved, the inviolability of borders except with mutual agreement, security guarantees for the territorial integrity of the parties involved, that would already indicate that although the important questions (like ref ugees) haven't been settled yet, there are some general principles for both sides. lnstead, Armenia is even resisting using the term territorial integrity. That's asking lor a

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andlocked, Armenia is surrounded to the east and west by hostile Azerbaijan and Turkey, to the north by unstable Georgia, and to the south by at best a neutral, if not equivocating, lran. Since independence, Armenia has effectively been blockaded. Without sufficient domestic energy resources, its economy, as well as the welfare of its citizens, have been severely affected. This blockade, exacerbated by instability nstability in Georgia Georoia and lack of practical access to and through lran, is an Azerbaijani and Turkish measure to pressure Armenia to abandon the Karabakh Armenians in their struggle for self-

determination. 0ther powers have not been totally disinterested although their individual commitments to a lust resolution of the conflict are not identical. Russia's interests, in particular, seem to favor the creation of a zone of influence for itself in the Southern Caucasus. Georgia and Armenia seem to have already acquiesced to some Russian military presence on their soil. Russia's long term interests would call for a stable, prosperous, neutral, non-hostile Southern Caucasus. At a minimum, Russia would want these former republics to be in the fashion of Finland, as it was in its status vis-a-vis the former Soviet Union. Maximally, of course, a politically more dependent relationship in the manner of Bulgaria vis-a-vis the old Soviet Union would be preferable. ln the short term, the policies pursued by Moscow seem more ambivalent: an assertiveness in trying to convince everyone that Russia's

role in the region as policeman, peacekeeper or power broker among warring groups and as economic partner is indispensable, even at the cost of promoting regional instability. ln this regard, Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrei Kozyrev's own words: "Russia announcing as its goalthe gradual reintegration .... of the post-Soviet space," needs to be taken seriously. The sequence of events in Georgia is of great relevance, in order to understand the situation in Azerbaijan, as well as the dimensions of the political and military developments surrounding the Karabakh conflict. Armenia must ensure that the resolution of this conflict does not jeopardize either the safety or the interests of Karabakh Armenians, or the interests of the Republic of Armenia. Continuation of the protracted war in Nagorno Karabakh can benefit no one in the long run. Any viable resolution of the conflict must recognize and take into account the interests of the three parties concerned. Conscious of its numerical superiority, the international leverage that its oil affords and the direct and indirect sponsorship of its cause by Turkey, the US, and Great Britain, Azerbaijan is reluctant to accept a Russian-brokered peace. lt prefers instead to wage a war of attrition resulting ultimately in the exhaustion of Armenia. The immediate strategy of Azerbailan favors dilatory tactics, hoping for a reversal of the military balance, and perhaps the neutralization of Russian assertiveness by the West. Yet such a strategy cannot succeed. lt will lead to internationalization of the conflict and cause domestic turmoil. Moreover, western oil companies are hardly likely to make significant investments under such unstable conditions. Meanwhile, in their determined struggle to insure their security, the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh have fought with remarkable courage and skill. They have scored significant military victories

and carried the war into enemy territory. They have secured a buffer zone around their own lands, as wellas assured direct links with the

borders of Armenia. They will make it prohibitively costly for Azerbailan in terms of manpower, national dignity, political stability and economics to continue the war. As for Armenia, it will not abandon the Armenians of Karabakh. With the reactivation of its nuclear power plant, and with the assistance of its Diaspora, it will endure whatever hardship or sacrifice that is necessary for its survival. Under these circumstances, it seems to us that there is now a window ol opportunity for peace in the area. All sides must realize, if they assess their individual situation realistically, that there is more to lose than to gain from a continuation of the war. No side has such a clear advantage in prosecuting the war that it can afford to wait any longer for a fair settlement. What lends urgency to a settlement now is that this window of opportunity is very brief. This is because any number of unforeseen events may occur that would destabilize the

circumstances of any one party. International political conflicts elsewhere in the world may also diminish the chances of an international brokered solution. There are at the moment two maior plans, the Russian and the CSCE, designed to lead to a durable cease-fire and the cessation of hostilities as steps toward peace. The Russian plan, while seemingly acceptable to Azerbaijan, with a few modifications, can be made satisfactory to the Republic of Armenia, and particularly to Nagorno Karabakh. The Azerbailani refusal of the latest Russian initiative demonstrates that Russia cannot handle this alone. 0n the other hand, given the legitimate security interests of Russia at its immediate borders, it is unavoidable that Russia must play a major role in the peace process. At this moment, it appears that the best chance for peace would proceed from a formula that would conflate these two plans: Russia's and CSCE's, in a way that would satisfy Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan. The difficulties separating the two plans concern the nature, extent, designation and command structure of Russian troops and their participation in a multinationalforce interposing between the warring sides. What lends urgency to a settlement now, is that this window of opportunity is likely to be brief. Exhaustion, humiliation and impatience in the region, and international conflicts elsewhere in the world may diminish the chances of a CSCE-Russian convergence of interests, as well as contribute to the further hardening of the positions of the combatants. There is no doubt that beyond the cessation of hostilities, a lasting peace will depend on political formulas that accommodate the principles of self-determination and territorial integrity. These prin-

ciples are consecrated as the foundations of the international community's code for sorting out conflicts, allowing lor peaceful change and maintaining stability. To achieve a workable interpretation and accommodation of these two principles of self-determination and territorial integrity, it is necessary and desirable for the participants in this conf lict, as well as the various mediators and interested outside parties, to help develop novel and internationally sanctioned, fair and equitable new mechanisms. ln this regard, a more active, yet neutral, role for the United States would be helpful. The time to accomplish this task is now, or the opportunity for peace will be lost

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WHOSPEAKS THETRIANGUAGE? The Ghallenge for Immigrants

A parent looklng ln tro.mthe outrlde at Horace Mann Elgmqltlry S.chool ln Glendale, above. et documsnts are lvallable ln Armenlan, Spanlrh and Engllrh, below.

By GARtilE ZElTLlAll

PHOTOS BY KARINE ARIIEN

Cantonese,

California's progressive Bilingual Education Act and the state's Education Code require instruction and services for immigrant students and their families in their home language. While geared toward language

135,000, has 30 schools for students from

Korean-and Armenian-

kindergarten through l2th grade, while thecity of Los Angeles, with a population

have in common? They are the top eight

of 3.6 million has 659

Cambodian, Pilipino, languages spoken

students in

California's public schools. Armenian? Yes. In the most populous state in the country, the Department of Education identifiedover I 5,000 Armenian students withlimitedEnglish skills, in 1993. Add to this the thousands more who have begun to master English, and you have the

largest Armenian immigrant student population anywhere in the world.

well

These students are spread over schools

of Pasadena, with total population of

Hmong,

in various cities, each ofwhich administers its own school system. Thus, the small town

hat do Spanish, Vietnamese,

Ar ln many publlc lchoole, rlgns

schools.The cultural and

linguistic diversity the

immigrant

English

acquisition, the code also requires schools to fund special programs-such as parent education, staff

training and

coun-

seling-designed

students contribute to the schools

promote intercultural

and society comes hand in

understanding.

hand with the challenge they present to a system which must teach them to survive in the mainstream. To ease the transition, AIM, JUNE - JUL

Theunderlyingtheory of bilingual education is

that

if limited

English (LEP)

proficiency

students develop a strong

base in their

they

fint

language,

otoutHo,xrrlxou ol Motlltlt tx ctl.ttotxl

will learn English

rurucacflool.l

more rapidly because they

will transfer their

of how language works to English. Researchers

understanding argue that

Social Services in Glendale. "Memories

those

experiences together with the psychological trauma of

dislocation

leaves

Armenian immigrant

simply immersed in

they are

students confused. They are caught between the

regular classrooms, LEP students will not absorb academic content fully.

isolationism of their

families, on the one

compete in an English-

exposed through school;

hand, andthenewworld

Expecting them to

to which they

are

language cnvironment from the beginning can only develop a negative

between

anxiety and ultimately to dropping out ofschool. The program for LEP

culture waiting to absorb

their

understanding of the

culture in which they have grown and the

self-concept, lead to

them

in this

new

society."

students is three-pronged:

Anahid Terjimanian

language

and Vergine Jarakian are

simultaneous academic

both advisers in the Los Angeles Unihed School

English

development,

District. Like their

instruction through the primary language and

specially designed English

counterparts in Glendale, Pasadena and, to some extent the

classes to help students

of Burbank and

keep up with grade level. Math, science and hisory are all taught in Armenian, until the

neighboring cities

student learns sufficient English tokecp up

schools in thc assessment and

with the class. These goals are more ambitious than those of Armenian schools even, where beyond Armenian language and history classes, there is no academic instruction in Armenian. Over the past 10 years, the Armenian population in thc Los Angeles suburb of Glendale has grown to a full one-fourth of the city. During the same period, the city's

Montebello, they have been working with

identification

of Armenian LEP students for years. The

have also rained countless teachers and teachers' aides to address the needs oftheir Armenian students. They have translated

tests and helped augment the school libraries' Armenian holdings. Their greatest achievement, however,

was taking six school principals to Armenia-to "immerse" them in Armenian

Armenian LEP student population has grown eightfold and continues to be the

culture. Funded by the Armenian General Benevolent Union, the

fastest growing segment. Alice Petrossian,

September 1993 trip "proved to be very

Director

Special Projects and

lntercultural Education at the Glendale Unified School District, and a member of the

California Community College Board of

Trustees, has been in the forefront

advocate

for these students and in

developing programs and services for them.

"Although bilingual education

progmms are state-mandated, they still need tobe modified atthe districtor school level to meet local needs," she says. And they've been doing this for years. Special programs are designed to enhance

the students' self-esteem and to generate cross-cultural understanding, because the

problems facing these students, their parents, the schools and the Armenian

community are not merely those of

language. "The tremendous immigrant flow of the last deeade was due to political and social

self-evident: they do notknow English very well. This, in turn, createsproblems because their minimal proficiency initially results

in low grades and great fears of parental disapproval," observes Shakeh Yegavian, Director of Armenian Programs at Glen Roberts Child Study Center and the Verdugo Mental Health Center, both in Glendale, is a Marriage, Family and Child Counselorwho receives numerous referrals from public schools in her area. Then, there are the studentsi emotional

problems, which have to do with the complexities of adaptation. counselor with Glendale a few of those students-the ones who have been refened by the courts or the school. Diana Vartan,

Family Services, works with

"Almost all their problems come from being caught between two cultures," she explains. "This leads to confusion and frustration, especially since parents and students each feel isolated, and at odds

with

the other."

"At school, students hear that having boyfriends or girlfriends is normal at their age. At home, that is not acceptable. The same is true of the way they dress, and on and on," Vartan continues. "We encounter gender problems as well. Too often, Armenian young women do not look beyond high school in terms of achievement," worries Petrossian. The gender segregation that exists at home and

the clear differentiation in socialization rules are reflected in young girls' behavior andperformance at school. One sixth grade teachernotedthatArmenian boys rarely get

effective in changing the

principals' attitudes

toward Armenian students. They

developed compassion toward their difficulties and no longer consider them problems," notes

Terjimanian.

This

changc in attitude also resuls in actual, concrete

steps

address the

students' needs, such as hiring more Armenianspeaking faculty,

Armen Panosslan, student member ol the Board ol Educa. tlon ol Glendale schools, above; a blllngual claet, top rlght.

Difficulties in funding have created problems in the implementation of bilingual programs, however. Student apathy, lack of parent responsiveness, and absence of

support from the Armenian community

turmoil in lran, Lebanon and especially

further colhpound these problems,

Annenia," explains Parik Nazarian, a social worker with the Armenian Rclief Society

threatening this ambitious program with failure.

"Sn,;s#i{',{#fu:

AIM,JTJNE.JULY

1994

up to get their own books or paper. Instead, they send the girls. "And the girls do it!" she

noted in amazement.

Parents and students face the clash between cultures-Armenian at home, multicultural, yet English language-based at school. According to Nazarian, most of the parents' difficulties with their children

-Bfff-qTr\.w

fr==71--1

voluntarily. Slowly, they begin

understand the value ofthese classes."I get an average of l0 referrals per month," says

Yegavian. "Of these, only five actually make an appointment and only threereturn for a second session."

Administrators believe that the core reason for the slow achievement of Armenian immigrant students and their episodic erratic behavior is the lack of family support. They all complain that Armenian parents do not become involved in school events. "When Armenian parents

do not show up to parent education programs, the message administrators receive is that Armenian parents do not care," says Petrosian. "This jeopardizes

future funding and sanctions hostile

attitudes against Armenians. How can you educate someone who does not show up?" Parents, on the otherhand, are aware that

their own limited English skills are

handicap. "Parents don'tknowtherules and systems, so how can they get involved?

Anything new frightens and threatens parents, and they tend to withdraw. It would be helpful if some agency were to put new immigrants through a short, but mandatory

acculturation class," comments Vartan. "Although Armenian parents arepassive official school activities, most ofthem

about

are very interested in their children's attendance, their lessons, their behavior," observes Geghanush Bairamian, a teacher

at Glendale's Horace Mann Elementary School, where Armenian students and teachers form a majority. Based on his visit to Armenia last fall, Dr. Donald Watson, principal of Kittridge Elementary School in Los Angeles's San

Fernando Valley where the Armenian

Teacher Dlane Tateoslan's flrat grade class at Horace Elementary School ln Glendale, has 30 students, all Armenian and the schools is triggered by fear. "They come from Armenia or Iran where there is one dominant language and culture, to a

multicultural society, living with people they know nothing about. And anything different and alien seems wrong to them,"

America has allocated $15,000 to Los Angeles schools to provide tutors for their Armenian students. "The tutors come, the students don't," laments Terjimanian. Vartan andYegavian counsel groups of

parents who are there on referral, not

she says.

As parents try to impose

old country rules on their

ike today's LEP students, Sarkis

William Malkasian grew up speaking Armenian at home, in

Watertown, Massachusetts.

had to learn English at school," he remembers. Today, Malkasian is the highest-placed Armenian in California

children who are exposed daily to new and different norms, it creates "confusion in values, anxiety, and depression among the kids," Yegavian explains,

public education. He was appointed to the nine-member California State Board of Education in January 1990 by then-

and hence oppositional

Governor George Deukmejian and reappointed by Governor Pete Wilson. Based on his own experience, Malkasian

behavior.

Student apathy

population has been growing dramatically, explains the parents' non-involvement this way. "A heterogenous society like ours perhaps makes their participation more essential than it is in a homogenous society like Armenia, where there is a long tradition of education and built-in expectations of parents and schools."

also

manifests itself in absenteeism

believes that no Ianguage acquisition program can be successful in creating proficiency unless "the kids learn and

and high drop out rates. For

example, the Armenian Missionary Association of

appreciate their own native language and souacE:cAtrFoRNrA oEPARTUENT

OF EDUCATTON.

AIM, JUNE - JULY 1994

goa

culture first." This statement reflects current

radioprograms advising parents on whatis

research on language acquisition and

expected of them, of the written and

cognitive development and forms the basis

unwritten rules of the new system, of the

program

goals ofeducation in a society that appears !oputlittlevalueondisciplineand stmcture. There is also a need, according to the schools to advise students on what to wear, how to

of the bilingual education

nationwide. "Students will adjust better to the circumstances of life in a new country only if they feel comfortable in their own identrty,before taking on a new one."

Vartan agrees. "The Armenian

community should reinforce the need to

behave, how not to

fall into traps of

addiction, gangs, tobacco and alcohol and drug use.

students and address these problems," says Petrosian. Malkasian believes that the community shuldbe more alertregarding theeducation of Armenian students in

California' s public

schools.

"[t seems to me that Armenians are reluctant to claim their rights. tile have to act and not react," he says. Malkasian insists that the community must take ownership of the complex situation-a large Armenian refugee student population in an ethnically and racially diverse educational system. He explains that the state and federal

of '93

governments invest huge amounts of tax dollars ineducating ArmenianLEPstudents

in California public schools. The funds involved certainly exceed the

several million community dollars

expended each year on the education ofthe

less than 5,000 Armenian students in 13 Armenian schools. Yet,

California's

beyond concerned teachers

and

administrators, there are no watchdogs concerned with the welfare of the 30,000 plus immigrant and native-born Armenian students in public schools. Most community-based efforts have

been short-lived. The Prelacy of the

Armenian Apostolic Church had

established a special committee for

2000 students attend Le Conte

Junlot Hlgh School, ln Hollywood. A quarter are

Armenlan.

hold on to your culture, and selectively adapt during the transition." But this is easier said than done. "Gangs areablatantexampleof students out there to protect themselves and what they stand for. They feel threatened by

everybody, including white mainstream people who want them to assimilate," observes new graduate Armen Panossian who came from Iran when he was two. Petrossian is tired of the Armenian youth' s macho bravadura over their loyalry to their roots, often reflected in their gang slogans. "My answer to that is 'if you feel

Addressing the issue ofrecent violence and prejudice against the Armenians in Glendale which raised an uproar in the Armenian community, Petrossian says "It's easy forthecommunity to say we shouldnot be attacked. Bad behavior should not be tolerated on both sides," She believes Armenians have to take responsibility for

Armenian students. Thatcommitteehasjust

expectations on others. "If the Armenian Church, the political parties and thecultural organizations took this as their charge, we could make a difference," she concludes.

happen.

their behavior first before laying

She cites the example of the Korean

nationalistic don'tfightin the streets over turf, go fight in Karabakh'."

community wherethe church holds special

n the absence of involved parents,

Armenian community activism in

There are many examples in other minority communities which remain

educational and social issues affecting

without parallel in the Diaspora's largest

immigrants can be crucial.

Armenian concentration. The 25-year-old Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund actively defends the rights

All schools see an immense role for the community. "What the community can do about this is critical and long overdue,"

says Petrossian. They suggest the

community have public service

announcements on Armenian television or

Armenian students in public schools. But that committee's work was not consistent and it was disbanded four years ago. Recently, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARD, under the sponsorship of the same Prelacy Council, has established a committee for the specific purpose of dealing with the concerns of public school

classes in Korean, botho keepLEP students close to the community and to ensure their acceptance to colleges.

of Hispanic children in the face of discrimination and inadequate schooling. "Ichallenge ourreligious leaders toopen the church once a week for parents and AIM, JUNE - JT'LY 1994

begun to meet.

Terjimanian mentions the Armenian Relief Society's $100 scholarship forhigh achieving Armenian students in the public schools. While the gesture is appreciated, it does not involve the organization directly in the betterment of these students; it just recognizes their achievements when they One notable excepion is the after-school program initiated and run by the Davtian Mariamian Educational Foundation which offers classes in Armenian culture and language to 1050 students at ll public school sites. This six-year-oldprogram, say pleased parents, keeps the children away from television and productively occupied while learning about their heritage.

Petrossian's frustrations about community passivity extend to the unavailability of trained Armenian

bilingual, bicultural teachers. First, young people are not encouraged to choose

education as a career. Then, there is the rate of attrition, especially among new recruits

without formal education training. "They come with the best intentions but the

problem is so big that the few who come leave frustrated never to return," she says. The community can also contribute by pressuring publishers to publish Armenian-

English bilingual supplemental reading materials for Armenian students and parâ&#x201A;Źnts. Pemossian explains that textbook publishers who publish for Hispanics and Koreans have

been reluctant to do so for Armenians 'tecause wewon'tbuy." She's convincedthat putting pressure on such publishers with the argument that Armenian-English bilingual markets are available to them outside the United SAtes-in Canada and Australia and

on society, thatthere are many who actually return something to society. This confused somepeople." Karen Khanoyan, is a senior who came to the US ttuee yeas ago, after spending three yean in Swieerland, as arefugeefromhan. Hehas observed the social tensions in this, his

thirdcunryin l7 years.'Theoneswhohave becnherea long time, thosewho speakEnglistr havelessproblems. Theclashesareamongthe

new@men, whatevertheirbackground. The Armenians, too, who've been here a while

remain apart from the new ones. Those who've been here and those who have

just arrived even fight

among

themselves."

"The issues we are alking about arc past LEP, however. LEPprograms and students will fail if our society and our involvement does notchangg" warns Petnossian.

to some extent England, can bring change.

Urrl,nlTaToflrrUo*s he dominant perception that all LEP students don't do well is a defi nite misconception. In homes where parents support and follow thcchild'sprogress, students moveftromLEP status to fluent English proficiency very fast. Dr. Ornik Keshishian, formerly principal at two different Armenian high schools in SouthernCalifomia, iscurre.ntly acoordinator at Hollywood High School. L,ocated as it is dorvn the block from the famous Hollywood Bowlandacrossthesueetfromthecoffee shop

l:na

Turner was discovered, it may soemodd thatoverT0percentof this school's 2500surdents todayarebilingual. Overathird of those are Armenian-more than in all Armenian high schools combined. Whereas theremaybe'tftyo160among ourArmenian students who are repeat problems, there are an inordinate number of scholars and where

orle Regular Savings

E*An

American Checkine ,tccount fiee oftttonth"ly

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leaders among them, and most ofthose came

to the school with a limited English background," notes Keshishian. "Fifteenof 23 gold, seal graduates this year are Armenian," continues Keshishian, referring to those with high academic scores. "Two out of three in our leadership class are

Armenian, all six life members of the California Scholarship Federation are Armenian. We sometimes forget about these success stories. Most are invisible."

American Patriots Prqgrailr r checkineaccount checkineaccountworth worth over

ffminbenefits

Ifs worth checking into.

Panossian, ofGlendale, is not. Planning

to attend Stanford University this fall, Panossian leaveshis postas the firststudent

IAt\ to help our customers is by workirg together with thern.

selected by his peenl to serve on Glendale's Board ofEducation. "Ineverthoughtlcouldlearnsomuch. It's

That's why, when you put your money into an American Checkirg account, we put something in it for ),ou. With The American Patriots program, )lou get a lot of menrbership benefits that realf add up. So, if you meet the minimum dai$ horsehold deposit requirementof g10,OOO or morg check into all the special privileges we offr you Stop bypur nearest branch. We'll shou pu hou wodring together wo*s

adifficultposition to be in when you can see both sides of an issue. For example, there are variousperceptionsofimmigrantkids. People already seethemasbasicallyahindrarce. Kids talk about special English classes as if ttrat

American Sarings Banlq we beliwe that the best way

deprived them of funding for their own dvancedplaernentclasses, wittroutrealizing that these are different funding sources." Panossian served on the Board at a time when anti-Armenian sentiments werc freely expressed in the local Glendale press. "Being on the board, with a name thatends in ran, made it possible for people to see that all Armenians, or all immigrants are not a drain

AMERTCAN SAVTNGS

aBANK

WmkWtogetherww*s

505 NORIH BRAND BLVD., GLENDALE, CA 9t203 Tctephonc (8iS) 549 1150 slbJSr ro changr wlrhout rcttcc tErcludint ron-pcrsnat and dlrccr (hporir accounrs .vlsA'ch4kc.rdsbr6abcrcdirappr@|.sillng,aAEk --lrygqns nt iDeitlubnfl6rE;cdlbmhn6rDfrd of ttB COfl Adrus.tr& R& MfiEaSB (^il!). d.tudtrE to, d rc ftc AnffS and sbrdt b crldlr appMl

AIM, JUNE. JULY 1994

MR M

EN[flN BU

flRl'lE ilt 1. Approved the Board's activity in general and gave clearance forthe accounts. Special appreciations were recorded forthe work done by the Board's president and

e have the pleasure to announce that on 30th and 31 st of

May 1994 the 4th General Assembly of the international organisation "Armenian Business Forum" was held in Yerevanwith the participation of 125 Diasporan Armenian and non-Armenian businessmen who had come from different countries of the world, as well as some 200 businessmen and executives of firms from Armenia.

the generalsecretary, especially slnce January 1, 1994. 2. Accepted the resignation of the Board's three

mem-

bers and elected replacements, namely,Messrs. Zareh

The Assembly, which was held underthe auspices of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, was opened with the welcoming address of the Prime Minister, Mr. Hrand Bagratian in the presence of the president of the Parliament, Mr. Babken Ararktsian, the vice-president Mr. Gagik Harutunian, the deputy prime minister, Mr. Viken Chitechian, several government ministers as well as some diplomatic representatives of different countries in Armenia. During the opening ceremony, the Ambassador of France, Mrs. France de Hartingh and that of the lslamic Republicof lran, Mr. Ahmad Sohbani addressedthe meeting, congratulating the Forum and expressing appreciation of

their respective governments for any activity which helps to develop the economy of Armenia. The minister of economy, Mr. Armen Yeghiazarian, presented the prevailing economic situation in Armenia and the recent de-

Chelikchian (Canada), Massis Alexandrian (Lebanon) and Hamlet Assrian (Armenia). Approved, in principlethe proposed charterof the'Armenian Business Corperation" open joint stock company, deciding to support its creation.

With great pleasure and satisfaction we witnessed the enthusiasm of the participants of the Assembly who endorsed this proiect and subscribed lor shares in excess of the anticipated capital

amount

ol US$200,000, reaching an amount of just over

us$400,000. After closing the Assembly, a shareholder's meeting of the "Armenian Business Corporation" took place, concerning which a different communique will be published shortly.

velopments. ln the course of this Assembly the Board Members met with the

The president ol the Forum, Mr. Vahe Jazmadarian reported on ihe activities of the Forum during the past year. The administrative and financial reports were given by the general secretary of the Forum, Mr. Rouben A. Gregorian and the representative of the French auditing firm "AMYOT'Mr. Vahram Hagopian.

vice-president Mr. G. Harutunian and prime minister

Thevice-presidentsof the Forum Mr.Levon Aharonian (lran) and Mr.Armen Darbinian (Armenia), reported on the activities in their

the Republic Mr. Levon Ter Petrossian, the Prime Minister

Mr. H. Bagratian. The evening following the opening of the Assemblythe Government of the Republic of Armenia gave a reception, in honour of the participants to the Forum in the presence of the President of Mr. Hrand Bagratian, several ministers and ambassadors.

respecitve areas. During the meeting of the Assembly, the project of the "Armenian Business Corperation" open joint stock company was presented and explained in detail.

After deliberating on all the subjects presented, the Assembly ruled as follows:

.J f ^f

June 6, 1994

Armenlan Buslness Forum Board of Directors

qnFUUnUlbnnf.

NE$$ FOHU M fl HtrtEil ffi !l

Ifl ]t BU$IilESS [0RP0RRII01|

uring the GeneralAssembly of the Armenian Business Fo-

r.um held in Yerevan on theSoth and the 31st ot May 1994 ll the-creation of the Armenian

l! l! l9 and its program

Business Corporation, its aim were approved.

lmmediately after the closure of the Assemblv on the Bl st Mav at2:00 PM thefirst generalmeeting of the shar6holdersof A.B.C. was held with the participation of 116 businessmen from the Diaspora and Armenia in the presence of the representatives of

the ministries of economy and industry of the R6public of Armenia. This meeting was chaired by A:8.F. president Mr. Vahe Jazmadarian and its generalsecretary Mr. Rouben A. Gregorian

jointly.

Afterexchange of opinions and deliberations, the charterof the A.B.C. was approved with an initial capitat of US$500,000 to be increased to US$1,000,000. The price of each share was lixed at US$l00. The corporation will inVest in the Repubtic of Armenia in viable small and medium sized private enterprises through:

a) b)

c) d)

Supplying capital investment and taking a share in a going

enterprise. Supplying Western technical know-how. Creating new joint-ventures for nsw projects. Finding bank financing lrom any recdnsiruction and development bank abroad.

Thereatter lhe president invited the participants of the meeting to subscribe forthe shares of ths A.B.C. Wiih great pleasure ant satisfaction we witnessed the enthusiasm with whiih the participants of the-m-e-eting subscribed in excess of the antiiipated g-rytgun! of US$200,000 reaching actually an amount oi over

US$400,000. A portion of this suir was collected on the spot in cash and by cheques. As forthe rest, it was decided to ailow a 60 days grace for the payment of the subscribed amounts, that is, latest by the 31st of July 1994.

f.-

On the lst of June 1994 a provisional account of the A.B.C. was opened in ARDCHIN bank inYerevan under num-

ber3070883(A.B.C.underconstitution),wherethe

"::ii'*""0'""I:xti"r1':1 paro were oepostleo rn a 1,?1"?rff:tv^:1] irxeo DtocKeo account. The'sumstobecollectedfromsubscribed shareholders willalso be subse-

-. -. -

quently deposited in this account.

The Diasporan shareholders, who have alreadysubscribed, as well as those who would wish to subscribe, are rebuested to transfer the respective funds by cheque or in cash toi Mr. Armen Darblnlan c/o Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia

Goverment House 1 Yerevan, Republic of Armenia or Mr. Vahe Jazmadarlan C/O Armenian Business Forum 3, rue Washington 75008 Paris

Allcheques must be made payable lo %RMENIAN BUSIN ESS CORPORATION". Businessmen wishing to subscribe for the shares of this corporation can apply to: inleruran:

Armenian Business Forum Digran Metsi4

4th Floor, Room 31 Yerevan - ARMENIA Tel: 52 05

89. Fax: 15 17 85 in Pails:

Armenian Business Forum 3, rue Washington 75008 Paris - FRANCE Tel: 53 75 2071 . Fax: 53 ZS 20 Sg Armenian Business Corporation President of the Board of Directors

Armenian Business Forum President

Berdl Mleslrllan

Vahe Jazmadarlan

Yerevan, 6th of June 1994

The figlrters tttat man this outpost, part

The areabetween andGeog Tapa is a no man's land riddled with mortar craters and mines-both anti-tank andanti-personnel. Minefields have been

of the Yeghnig [deer, in ArmenianJ ,,lrigade of Shahumian, are painfully hware of its strategic importance, .-1' especially after having spent a painful

planted and replanted, depending on the occupying force.

Azeri offensive wiEyer driving back an Azed *5.*fufar0riving w[fch almgst reached Ardatap-a 'fiefieopter"$nding

Because of the distances

entrees of either soggy rice or overcooked wheat macaroons are complemented by 'stale coarse bread and highlighted by the

' towad$Kelbajar. .Ioined by Spitak Arch '" [wlrtf !,ear, in Armenian], another ;

volunteer uni t, the defon-ders

addition of Dushunka. canned pork fat, wit! some meat. The Azeris, for religious reaSons, consume canned mutton. Thus,

ryto{Olog

ir cede :r*p*frqsitr fall, all Martakerq wouldltrie ppeE to Tapa%no Veghesei:

aq4lliiy attmsffiether

the rAzeris have dubbed their foes "pork" and'are themselves called "sheep"- over

n$.ssryvesthhr.}

two-way radio used by both for

1Wtul*r.

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and

relief.

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week-long fast , the YegfrnigS,."fucfo their nickname, subsisted on"aib.o?,ped edible plants and weeds, boiled oreaten a

'!8cW..t "It is not uncbmmon to s'ee sq*ads of

has to

ravel, fsod is a problem. The daily

fiefieopter"lpn$ing poi nt and makeshift mo$ical facillty a half-day's journey

heavily arnled men take to the forests to pig. occasional body

ohlg

's .y'+i.{{*

filld$e

isdone*ith lp taken notlo

The

are pe anywhere on the Spitak Arches are slightly than their Yeghnig comp*triots, horrevef,

to deal with inadequate prgtectioa dgainst the weatlpr. Pants are worn tkough, socks each soldier has had

have nq:placements when soaking wet, and mmhes to light fires are in very short supplg *ven tii&erate rainfall leaves tho cafnp*iteshing aiound fu 6sdrt[e next.1

ls the fo$ a gray th@lfig'swodd.

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RE.EX/[MINING THEFABRIC OFTHE CAUGASUS Jlt

SWEENEY

IIE

One of the most stunning pieces in the a simple textile which uses only two colors: white andblue-black. Itis awool and cotton saddle bag from the Noyemberian area (in northern Armenia) dating to the show is

w;;;-,ri;.ri

il rJih;

f#r,r,?"r'fJT:lTfi:

early-20thcentury. Atadistance,thecolors appear to be black and white. However, once you get closer you see the blue-black

Museum in Washington, DC,

dye which was used to simulate black. As Wright explains, black dye often damaged wool, and therefore was seldom used. The pouches ofthe saddle bag feature an abstract floral pattern bordered by a tile-like geometric pattern. The bridge between the two sides of thebag is simpler, with zigzag

designs. It is inscribed "Nashkhun UP," presumably the name of the weaver and/or owner. At the tum of this century, Caucasian pile rugs wereproduced forexporting and were well-known in the West. The flat-woven

textiles like those displayed here, however,

were not exported in large quantities. Generally made with traditional equipment

and techniques

reflecting traditional

patterns and motifs, most of these objects were created by home weavers, usually women. While many of these textiles were made for personal use, the export

market-

at least on the Russian frontier-was

essential because the Tsar prefened that his taxes be paid in hard cash, not wool. Indeed, as Wright points out, the two biggest exports

from this region in 1910 were oil and textiles.

bags, curtains, covers and

In the 1930s, the Soviets tried to industrialize textile production, establishing

animal trappings of the I 9th and

government-run workshops.

brings together 50 woven saddle

early-20th centuries.

Unfortunately, this effort

Organized by

the

caused a decline in the quality oftextiles from the region, so

Washington Textile Group, curators Richard E. Wright and

John T. Wertime

that today traditional textile products and methods are

have

assembled a display that is

"pretty much gone," says

alluring and eyecatching. Stunning designs, often

Wright. At the same time, the Soviet government banned the export of textile objects made before

composed of geometric abstract

forms and brilliant colors, showcase the beauty and craftsmanship of Caucasian

World War II. However, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, "a lot of these thirrgs are coming on the market

textile work.

From Kuba (in present-day Azerbaijan) to Kars (in present-

now," observes Wright.

day Turkey), this ethnically diverse as well as historically

Wright cautions that precise identification and dating of objects from this region are very difficult tasks.

politically complex region, known around the world for its

and is

variety of artistic traditions.

Some textiles, produced at the

including textile weaving.

Commenting on

turn of the century, feature the

designs that derite from even

exhibition, curator Wright says, "This is a unique gathering, it's

older patterns. Some pieces

collector's show." According to Wright, the approach used to

different fabric structures, or

choose objects for the show was

vice versa. Identifying the regional and ethnic origins of the show's pieces is based on

have similar designs but

to pick good examples which could be traced to known

structural analysis of the

weavers. Wright and Wertime

wanted to capture

representative slice of people, objects and styles-and they' ve succeeded, simply by drawing from the Textile Museum and

private collections Washington area. 48

the

Caucaslan carpet lrom Baku, late 1gth-early 2oth century,

wool plle.

AIM, JUNE - JULY 1994

materials plus research in preSoviet archival materials. To prove the difficulty of identification, Wright notes that a cover with a flower-pot motif, probably from the Tiflis District, is the only piece in the show that can definitely be

attributedtoGeorgianweavers.intendedpurpoSewas,wedo Asaddlebag'whichmaybe!|knowwhooivnedthem.This Armenian,canonlybenarrowed[info.mutionisioundinan

d-owntothreepossibleareas:thefrinscriptiononabandwhich Kazakdistrict(northwesternflreads:...Fortheenjoymentof

Lo'affi

Azeroarran'' rne Azerbaijan),theLoriareaLvilHeriknazKhanuini (northern Armenia) or Kar

Thisuncertaintyiscausedpartlyfl"r'oa"pi;6;";;es,plants,

fl I'*lttff#;.r+:mj

becausethe'saw-toothedgedirg.e|!geo-efricformsandwhat pattern,alsocalled..cock's|l]ippea.stobeacoffeepot.

comb,''isfoundinsomanyli]ffiuteu"rtheirfunctio,,ih,y

locations.

For some objects, only geographic origin can. be

l--11

l--ij determined. However, in.a l--H regionwith such arichethnic l--ii mosaic,thiscriterionis.19t-EElthroughSeptember4.A sufficientinformationto.fu|lyrEflpublic-ationeititledWovenin id.e1t.ifyap-iece'Thelabels,r-Eu.Caucasia:TheTextilesand

whichusuallyprovidesome wnrc n u s u ar'' o'o'' o"''i oo?i

r,ur"u.rnir"ruaealntr,"rr,o* because"they'reprettyelegant

from a tecLnidal

foinlof rire'exhib-ition runs

view,',sayswright.

y:;"';5,'o'u:,:{,!::,' A f reH textile,offeronly""1#H:rEEflxillili:.",oWrightisalso W,

information on the origi

here. For example, amo exhibition's pieces, the ethnic

I---H id^entityofanobject'sweaveris--Gflboundariesarebeingre. '-unKnown,'

As cultural and narional

at Curtaln, lrom Karabakh, late 1gth, examined in the Caucasus, a 19th, early 20th century, made made --E as otwoot, cotton and metilllc threa'd new look at old textiles can 'l'abasar." "Lezgt, or possibly posslbly Tabasar." "Lezgi, contribute to a herter be tter Nearlyhalftheshow'spieces.areattributed strips, identified as being of Armenian I understandingof thecomplexfabricofthe I to Armenians from the Karaba.kh region. origin from Western Transcaucasia. The region. I I Even the purpose of the objects can be I strips may have been used either as sashes unclear. Wright points to two long silk I or belts. While it is not clear what their I JlmsweeneylsawrtterttvlnglnVlrglna.

often olten listed ltsteo as "unknown," or best is vaguely defined, such

-g

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MAHDESIAN AIDS HOT SPOTS

Complled By Beth Broussallan

office which takes disasterrelief to the next phase. According to Mahdesian, this office is concerned with "building democratic and

As the second in command for humani-

tarian affairs

in the US government,

Michael Mahdesian is taking the troubled nations of the world head on. Appointed in December 1993 by President Bill Clinton, his official, and rather lengthy, title reads Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Bureau of Humanitarian Response at the US

Agency for International Development (USAID). Because USAID provides assistance

to the lesser developed and develop-

ing countries of the world (excluding the republics of the Commonwealth of Independent States), Mahdesian's new job has required extensive travel to some of the most turbulent and stricken places on the globe.

His most recent trip was in late May when he travelled to Vienna to representthe United States as a senior minister at a United Nations conference on the rebuilding and re-

vitalization of Sarajevo. Reacting to this

most recent round of discussions, Mahdesian said, "Full reconstruction for Sarajevo will have to await a Bosnia peace accord. In the meantime, the ceasefire is still

holding in Sarajevo and there is much we ofthis

can do to help restore the social fabric

factions, and restoring

basic

shattered city." In February, hisjob took him to Turkey and Northern Iraq where he oversaw Operation Provide Com-

fort, a humanitarian aid program administered by USAID, which has helped over 750,000 Kurdish refugees in Northern Iraq. Mahdesian directly oversees

USAID's Office of Foreign

Disaster Assistance (OFDA), the Office of Transition, the US Food for Peace program and American

Schools and Hospitals Abroad

program, which includes the American University of Armenia.

rlght, wlth Kurdlsh leader Massoud The OFDA, for example, Mahdeslan, Barzanl, center and AID's Doug Stafford,left. responds to natural disasters and provides assistance to complex manmade infrastructures." disasters like the situations in Somalia, For Mahdesian, this appointment comes Bosnia and Northern Iraq-"all the hot spots in the world." In 1988, it provided

after years of work for the Democratic

assistance to quake-ravaged Armenia. The

Campaign Manager/California Director of

Office of Transition is a newly-formed

Ethnic Outreach for the Clinton/Gore

The lollowing historical sources, translated into English f rom the critical editions ol classicalArmenian texts by Dr. Robert Bedrosian, are now available in soft-cover xerographic reproductions atthe lollowing prices (postage and handling included):

P'awstos Buzandaci's HISTORY 0F THE ARMENIANS (Sth Century)

303 $51.s1 Ghazar P'arbeci's HISTORY OF THE ARMENIANS (Sth Century) 363 $61.71

SaDeos;

HISTORY (7th Century) 186 $31.62 John Mamikonean's HISTORY 0F TARON (1 Oth Century) 8o $13.60 A ri st a ke s La st iv e rlc i's HISTORY (11th Century) 190 $32.30 THE GEORGIAN CHRONICLE (12th Century) S26.s0 Krakos Gandzaketzi's HISTORY 0F THE ARMENIANS (13th Century)

pp 120pp

340pp

$57.80 Tovma Metsobetsi's HISTORY OF TAMEFLANE AND HIS SUCCESSORS (1Sth Century) $18.70

110pp

New Jersey Residâ&#x201A;Źnts add 60/0 sales tax Foreign orders add 20% total in US Cunency Payment must accompany ordor.

civil institutions, demobilizing warring

AIM, JUNE. JULY 1994

party. His positions have included Deputy

campaign; consultant for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in Washington, DC; and member of the Executive Finance Board of the Dianne Feinstein for Governor campaign.

A NICHE FOR TUCKER

A STAR IS BORN Late in 1993, Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan and his wife, actress Arsinee Khanjian, became the proud parents of a baby boy, Archille Egoyan. Archille's first public debut took place during the New

York screening of Egoyan's film,

As California's political hopefuls vie for party nominations and votes in this election year, one candidate has found his niche in

the Armenian community. Peace and Freedom Party candidate for California

,Eo

State Treasurer, Jan Tucker, has been one

ofthe most vocal candidates on this year's ballot when it comes to Armenian issues. Even out-campaigning his opponent, Greek-American Phil Angelides, on Armenian issues, Tucker has unabashedly challenged UNOCAL's agreemenr with

Azerbaijan

develop

to the

Arslnee Khanllan, holdlng Archllle, lett, wlth Atom Egoyan

Caspian Sea oil fields, which, in

C ale

turn, could provide

millions of dollars

to the military

ndar. Surrounded by the paparazzi and

the elite of New York's Armenian community, young Archille reportedly

Azeri

handled the scene with instinctive charm. Good luck for the Egoyans seems to come in twos. At the Cannes Film Festival

and

government.

Onaflyerwhich

states in bold

letters, "SAVE ARMENIAN LIVES," Tucker, aprivate investigator by profession, has appealed to both the UnitedTeachers of Los Angeles and the California Teachers

Retirement System to pass resolutions denouncing UNOCAL's position and threatening the divestiture offunds invested

in UNOCAL by the California Teachers Retirement System, the tenth largest investor in UNOCAL.

last month, Atom won the International Critics Prize for his "disturbing" film,

Exotica. Exploring the subjects of voyeurism and sexual fantasies, Exoticais set in a North American strip club. Critics describe the film as a "bizarre tale of twisted minds that tracks a tax auditorobsessed with a woman who starts her act at the club dressed like a demure schoolgirl." The prize-givers recognized the film for

its

"audacious and fully-realized

technique,"

AMBASSADOR JOINS THINK TANK The election of Sarkissian, Armenia'

Armen

Ambassador

to the United Kingdom, to the prestigious International Institute

for Strategic Studies

(IISS)

represents Armenia's entry into the

circle of distinguished diplomats and specialists in strategic, defense

and security issues.

The IISS is the European think

tank charged with the task of analyzing such issues as the

changing nature of strategy, European security, conflict

prevention, peacekeeping, arms control and regional security. The opinions and recommendations this body shape the developmenr international relations.

wlt[t Presldent Le.vgn T9q of Petrosslan !ltl!::ltl,llsltt, durlng February state vlslt to UK

jo.ins theorganization's 3000 members from g0countries and brings to ithis .Sarkissian unique perspective on defense and security matters concerning Armenia and the Caucasus.

AIM, JUNE . JULY 1994

READING BETWEEN THE LINES The Story of a Diasporan Publishing House He also helped launch

By IlYRlAm GAUME

the

CDCA, the Centre de

Documentation sur la Cause Arm6nienne

aroujan Arzoumanian was

born in Algiers in 1952. In 1962, at the height of the

Algerian war, the family

shared the common fate of all Pieds noirs Isettlers of European origin in Algeria] and had to take ship once again. They moved to France, to Marseilles. In 1975, Varoujan Arzoumanian, then still a student of architecture, set up the

(Center for Docu-

mentationontheArmenian Cause), which he later left. In 1978, with Patrick

Bardou, another architect, he founded Editions Parenthbses, a publi-

Comit6Paradjanov inMarseilles, atthetime

when the film-maker was imprisoned. Arzoumanian continued to campaign for him until Paradjanov was released in 1978.

shing house specializing in fine arts. Immediately,

the "Arm6nies" series was born. With the opening in 1984 ofthe bookshop in cours Arzoumanlan, ln lront of his Marselllee bookshop.

XYRIAMilWE

oN ltETAlloRPllosls

IAI*.OMtrER

OF THE.'II.EUT

"We af,e all Turkish Armenians." Soch I '.tWthrce malri.political parties in the Diaspora condemned those was the title of tho opinion piee rhd ' lmtions,F.orffiYears,theDiasPara Varoujan Arzoumanian published i* larc hd not eoncerned itself with Armenia. 1992 in the Lyons-basedmonthly Ftwq Armdnie. This article was tobe &e fi neti*iai '' St@,cnly, it set itself up as the dispenser of hr**t*+r bllxd economic sapport and sâ&#x201A;Źries of statoments of opinion but, in the aid, while here, no one was huwtinrian groraiL' got off the end, the debate never assumiag

apolitical role any more.

I arrived inYerevanfor thefirst time ia October 1991. I went there atxious about the shock that I was expecting tateel, I travelled round. the country, I saw the villages, and, like everyone'lese, I came back with the wish to ga back there. The second time, in 1992, I went to

Karabakh through the lachin corridor. I did not libe what I saw: they had not advanced, I found the dissident Paruir Hairikian, head of the Goris nilitary region, happy with the shePherds, expans iv e--tnore so than in the

OlI TIIE FUTUBE OF TIIE sltall return to rhe cottnry'il{y cillrlrry ... ealtcd Stlabin K*ruhisar. It is not watere*.-,

ua!fqm^

bytheVolga

FREE ADVICE OTIfBEEADYIGE

Curm*ly, our action in the Diaspora is

adcd end. On tlw one hand, people lwve illusions here of having influence on

r'.'.lal'

In 1g88, when enviroilmcntal

'bn

though the action theY are engagtngf;a is derisory a.nd the obJertives

mobtttzationwcs tte order of thc fuy, atd. ;;Boorly dpSned,, I thi*k rhat people focus wrongly on 'the country,' Thc Diaspora is then, mobilization for independence, bandwegwt;l&111': oa tlu ;' intlw proccss of scuttlingitself. acrybody J umped AIM, JUNE. JULY 1994

porliarwfi

where he had become a deputy. After bei*g in prison, this man felt the need to live: things, to share, while I had expected him to have evolved.

ON DIALOGUE I am for a dialogue: the re sto

issue of the ration of land and acknowledgme&t d1

the genocide are two topics that are hushed:

up in Armenia today, and it is up to the

Julien, in the Marseilles district, his list focused on contemporary works on the Armenian condition within Soviet Armenia

"It was then that

ofthe

great Armenian writers," observed Arzoumanian. ParenthEses published

Paruir Sevak, a poet who suffered Soviet repression, in French. This was Que la lumiCre soit [Let there be light].It also published Yeghishe Charent s, La maison de

criminal."

When Max Kilndjian,

young

Marseillais, was arrested and tried in 1981 for the attempt to assassinate the Turkish ambassador in Berne, Switzerland, a

support group prepared his ParenthBses published

case.

book recording the proceedings ofhis trial-/z s Armdniens en a

cour d'assises. Terroristes ou risistants? [The Armenians in a court of law : Terrorists

or freedom fighters??) The years of terrorism were also those of action over political prisoners in the USSR, like Azat Arshakian, likethethrepArmenians shot in

Moscow

and-

two dissidents, future

members of the Parliament of Armenia, Paruir Hairikian and Ashot Navasartian. "When Yerevan erupted in 1987," says Arzoumanian, "we felta certain weariness. It was theexpulsion of Paruir [Hairikian] in July 1988 thatgalvanizedus inroacrion. The beginning of the year had been a period of

uncertainty for us, faced with wholly

the

PRODUSUONS,INC.

Hairikian collective

was founded. We timed our action around Armenia: every Friday, just like in Opera Square in Yerevan, we stood in front of the Soviet consulate to call for his release. We kept it up: 180 demonstrations, and a tract a week, without a break. Whatever was happening-Sumgait, the earthquake, rain or shine, there might be four of us or there might be 200.

"Translations of contemporary writers

rCiducation, Erevan I 926- I 927, [The rehabilitation center, Yerevan I 926- I 927 l "aliterary testimony as much as the story of an error, the error of a communist who drugged himself and became a common law

TEI.EUISION

comprehension.

and in the Diaspora. are few and far between,as are those

ARI\,IENLAI.I

unexpected occurrences beyond our

"Finally, when Hairikian's name was put

on the second list of Gorbachev's

rehabilitations, and he was able to return to Armenia, in November 1990, we called a halt: the aim had been achieved. "After that we did humanitarian work,

like everyone else: adopting orphans,

sending parcels, sending money. So much

for the militant side of things. The book work was going on at the same time. When we do something-including humanitarian work, it is political. "Today the "Arm6nies" series is the portion of the business that is running at a loss: print runs are down from an average of 3,000 in the 1980s to 1,500. It is a community problem: people have become less involved; they feel they are going around in circles. The generation in its 20s is taking no part in political action-or in French civic life in general, Here, the book situation reflects the people's mental state and

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motivation."

THE ABiIENIES SERIES Of the 90 titles published by Editions Parentheses, l5 are in the "Arm6nies" series.

They include documents, such

Enqu6te sur la n6gation d'un g6nocide

alkabout thcmand carry the WE4, fu r reanorc of s tste #, rt tbal with thosc topics for tt e Whercas if Armenia is not V. vlqbh, it is because it is not * Ytat; alrha slob&l: P w,ble nt

ffiffacrlryiilrasgq #iifa#frarra. Thegdp l,s*w,ass*txbly-tfne

back ts,t* *i;. eeoultr? r:lfu

llnvestigation into the Denial of

Genocidel, by historian Yves Ternon; sources of tradition, such as Les an ciennes roy anc e s anninienne s lAnc ient Armenian Beliefsl, by Avetis Aharonian,l* Livre des c

prinoms arminiens [The Book ofArmenian Surnamesl; and literature, such as Le bois de_Vincenne s [The Fo re s t of Vincenne s ], by Nicolas Sarafian. Projects include Diaspora poetry, a book

on Paradjanov's art, and a book on Armenian dissidents-theknown as well as the unknown. "A treasury of imagination. Paruir Hairikian was in the KGB prison in Moscow for nine months: he was interrogated every day, and every word he uttered was noted down. Today, these archives are accessible," says Arzoumanian. Thinking ahead, he adds. "If it is not written soon, the history of the democratic movement will disappear."

llvlng ln Parls. Translated lrom the French by Ullta,p

Clgume ls a lreelance wrlter

Tony Berrett

AIM, JUNE - JULY 1994

AIM for Educotion Bring AIM iro your clossroom where issues of interest to the Armenion community ond the world con be srudied, discussed, questioned ond finolly, serve to fucilitote mutuol understonding. Let us

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