Forbidden Territory - May 2000 by Armenian International Magazine

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John Hughes and his back-of-themagazine essays are the hands-down favorite of AIM's readers. For good reason. It's not simply that John's style is simultaneously light and sharp. But

think John's writing

liked

Founding Editor Vailan oskanlan Founding Publisher ]tticharl l{ahaboi Armarlan lnlcmltlon!l

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Hralci Tchilingirirn Photo Manager

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is available, we

opportunity to inaugurate a

depend on you. FIRST PERSON

the stories,

l{aarien

Art Director

Palricl Azadian

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E-mail aimagazine@aol,com

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Hrair Srrtls

impressions,

Associate Editors

A. H. Allnldilan, Yrloyan Tony Hrlph, Lolldor

thoughts of those who have undertaken - or become involved in - specific

Conlribuliog Editors

in Armenia. The inaugural piece is written by Armen

Huet'3, Uolkorllchhn J.otn

projects

lrrlthrr

lGrenlan, Ronald Grl0or Suny, Tallnc

Contributing Wrile6

Kouyoumdjian of chile, who supports various arts projects. Most recently, he made it possible for a film critic from Armenia to go to the cannes Film Festival a wonderful window to the arts world for anyone, let alone a journalist. Kouyoumdjian's main project is the sponsorship of a 38-strong classical choir, with all that that entails. FIRST PERSON will not be the page that runs your project's press releases remember, we don't run anyone's press releases. This will be the place where one person's insights, interactions and impressions will show other readers (not tell them,but show them) how and why they are engaged in their own specific project. This page is not a community bulletin board. It's more like an excerpt from a 19th century travel diary, or a 20th century documentary film. It's a way of demonstrating the links between the personal and the general. It's a way to share the very real feelings and experiences of those who have found specific, individual ways to make a difference at a distance. [And, yes, the missionary in us is thinking this may serve as a catalyst for others to do the same.l Speaking of missionaries: A couple of years ago, when the Fourth Millennium Society publicly offered AIM's pages free of charge to non-profit, charitable organizations to publish their annual financial statements, we were worried we wouldn,t have enough pages to meet the need. After all, you know there are dozens (and sometimes hundreds) of organizations in each of our communities. And most of them survive by fundraising' Their members (and the public) would love to know how much is collected and how it is spent, we thought. The organizations themselves would want potential donors and current supporters to see how responsible, accountable and transparent they are, we thought.

well, those of you who are regular readers of these pages know that the Armenia Fund (see page 6) is about the only organization ttrat has consistently taken us up on this offer.

we'll let our readers

ask the various organization chiefs why they, too, haven,t jumped at the chance to publicly account to their constituencies. We can't figure it out.

e,rWn--

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Contributors

Arhdr$ Emln, Yollnn; Surrn prtth, Loilon; Edtt lrlahn, Lor tuerhr; Jaml E.mu0ll.n, Prlm Spdnlr; ih* ihlli!|.n, Bhoda hland; G!-or0a' loumoulhr, Loh f,oundrlllrn, l{m yoil; tlyrlrm Gilma, prda; to;rad [[oondh[, Waillll!ilon, DC; Yailrn ttteflor3l0n, Burnos lkrt. Pholographers

tltlbr lirch.ld.r, Z!u.n ftrchlkl.n, Boub.n iirngurdil, ltrryan; lnloln. AeodllrD, Amlmh Johrnmr, Allne tanoukhn, prdr; Edmond Tlnloplrn, London; f,{dnr Aman, (rro* Dlsl|rzlrn, Rrfi EtmiUl, Ede Ir,'rhn, An Oah.gil, Los An[al$; Ctm Lachlnlrn, lhschu$lir; Hrn, Iorndrlilrn, Iil Yoil; Bc4! An Zothn, Biodr lrtrnd. Edilor Emerilus

Ch.drt Xrndrn lntrmllioml Sutr$lDtionr

lrlr[im

and Aducdlrlng

Boprcsantrilnt

Vi{ey det prno 35il1'426) Buens Airs phore 54jt 4552 Varoot lskenderian, ,48 Koota Ave Ea$ KiilaE NSW 2071 phone OZSZSI Tff]Z, A[ed irarkarian, P0. Box 370. Ha(,s park NSW 2150, plme OZgASi t8ae, VatE (ateiiO Bo; 250. Pon Melbourne, Victo'ia 3207, phone 03 9794 m09 Crnrdt Ramio ttatlmian. Sanelon St@t. St.t aurenl ouebec H4BtE3, phor 514 339 251 / flo[g Jacx Mtian, RM A2, 11/1, Block A.26 Ka' Cheung Rd.. (owtooq &y, (owtoon. pnme gS7 lgS-9SS8 ty Fdn; Balman Via Mo,hH 61 A4l5, Bome. Phore 99S 1235 Llianon Zartouhi kbakian, p:0. C-o'egio Mekhita/ista.

3590lurbrlh

iofl

55669, Beirut Lebanm Phone 4,{561, ,rbu Dhabi.

UAt

(i)

510212

Ulnld A6b Emint6

Phone 97 1 2 775 tZ1 , Fa\ 97j 2 775 9i Untbd ohanian, 105A Mill Hill Bd. Act0n, Lordon W38JF. pnone 0181 992 4621

2OOO

Guriar.tonian, pb.

Xtmd;h

Boi

goi-

M,sak

wrilc to limt We welcome all communication. Althouqh we read alt leflers and submissions. we are unable to acknowledge everything vie receive due Io limiled statfino and

resources. Letlers to lhe Edilor may be ediled tor publicalion.

AIM MAY

iiso-

General Andranik, we still would have been in the same dilemma as whom to follow and whom to trust. Our nation was almost annihilated and the

perpetrators never punished. From that, to come back to a normal, creative, functional, trusting state of mind will take a miracle and Armenians stopped believing in miracles over 85 years ago. We only have each other, and perhaps a leader or two whom we may

follow someday. Thank you again for your dedicated service and outstanding work. Rouben Sulahian Encino, Califurnia Useless

Soul Searching

"Looking for

a Savior" (Cover Story

February 2000) was one of the most thoughtprovoking and intelligent assessments of the current political confusion in Armenia. Your unbiased presentation was one of the best I've read in a very long time. Do you think this chaotic and seemingly unending search for the "real" leadership in

Armenia comes from the uncured and still bleeding wounds of the l9l5 Genocide? Maybe our nation feels so powerless and impotent because many people still suffer from the mighty syndrome of being victims - all of this despite unquestionable and triumphant victories in Artsakh? We tend to concentrate so much on our past (on tragedies mostly, but also on heroes who no longer are with us); we forget the present and lose the ability to plan for the future. I would like to connect this to what the Foreign Minister, Vartan Oskanian, has said. Oskanian has expressed the opinion

that we forget the objective realities that have caused our present political and economic predicament. He says, even if the Armenian leadership since the Republic's inception some l0 years ago was descended from heaven, and made only the most intelligent, most ethical, most sensible decisions at each tuming point, still, the current social, economic and political situation in Armenia would be no more than l0 percent better than it is now. I also think if we had a time machine and were able to have any of our super leaders among us now - from Tigran the Great to

marks a boundary between the good and the

bad. At best, it serves to notify the nonArmenians that the complainers are good. After all, not all Armenians assassinate, hustle, cheat, bribe and emigrate. Let's face it. We are a small nation with

limited material resources. And we've had a rough ride in the last century. This does not mean we cannot strive to improve the material and intellectual conditions of Amrenians andArmenia But nagging about one's ethnicity is just that. It's a way of saying "I wish I was born something else" or "these damn Armenians embarrass me in front of my nonArmenian friends." It's not glamorous to be Armenian. But there can be no Prmanent escape. Getting

Therapy

Nagging about one's own national identity is not an art, unless you're Woody Allen. Otherwise, it is not difficult. It is not even intellectual. But most of all, it's not constructive. I am getting extremely bored by the numerous letten and remarks in AIM on how some individuals are unhappy with what it means to be Armenian these days. Comrption, intolerance, prostitution, bribery incompetence, gossip, greed, and murder are all attributed to 'being Armenian.'Some are sick of all this and would

off

the high horse, letting go of the snobby attitude, seeing ttre good as well as the bad, and transcending the whining could be a start

toward constructive change. Name Wthheld upon Request

Bridging East and West

I receive great enjoyment from reading your monthly issues. I wish to congratulate the entire AIM Magazine team for its efforts and excellent issues, and in particu-

wish to express my satisfaction with

like an ethnicity change.

lar

Granted, it is neither cool, nor convenient to be Armenian. But let's think for a moment, what it would be like if others constantly dwelled on the worst of their history. trt's pick on the big boys first. Just a few terms on the Germans: World War I, World War

the following:

II,

Armenian words and place names in English,

Holocaust. And how about America? Political assassinations at home and abroad,

slavery Oklahoma City, karFConr4 white-collar crime.

KKK

and

AIM has chosen a fine balance between the needs and expectations of Diaspora Armenians and indigenous Armenians with regard to their linguistic differences. I refer

especially

to AIM's correct spelling of

such as Ejmiatsin

General Andranik

(instead of the Western or Diasporan spelling Etchmiadzin or Antranig.) I have studied the

The less fortunate can also be equally disappointed with their failures. Mexico? Domestic political assassinations, governmental conuption, massive income gaps, abuse of natural resources. And what about the ever-oppressed African-Americans? If I was a nagging, self-hating member of the community, I would only see drug abuse, gang violence, poverty, single parent families, academic under-achievement, and crime in the inner city.

tinguistic and grammatical differences that

What is the source of this self-hate among some Armenians? Do they feel they are doing their community a service by perpetually complaining about everything Armenian?

English language are always of a high quality and the magazine's integdty and accuracy are rarely compromised. All too often publications have so many grammatical errors that

exist between Westem and EasternArmenian,

I'm a Diasporan Armenian I have come to appreciate that the

and though myself,

Eastern way of pronouncing and spelling Armenian words in English is the corrcrt one,

if the way they spell Armenian words (in Armenia, since the beginning of the Soviet era) are incorrect in so far as they do not follow the maditional spelling. Also, AIM's design and its use of the even

they cannot be taken seriouslY.

Perhaps.

think nagging about the bad makes

Tigran Kalaydjian

the complainers feel better and superior. It

Cyprus

But I

AIM MAY

2OOO

I.rrrth Nlillua,iurn S.cictr i: an indL-pend.nll\ iuntlcd rnd aLlrrrin stercrl puhlic eharitl. rorrfrrittcrl t() lllc di\scnrnrrioil ol iniornr.rriLrn lijr th. purl{)\. or dc\eloIin! lrn inlirrnrctl l)uhl1c. Ll[(lcrpinnint rll our rork i. lhe lirnr conrrili0n thrr thr \itrlil\ ol rn indcpcn

I hc

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You Can't Win if You Don't Play Creating Bargaining Chips for Armenia From city councils to state houses to heads of state, in the Diaspora have approached foreign officials, usually with a very short agenda: Genocide. The Diaspora has been a single-issue entity for so long, it's hard to imagine what Armenia's diplomats do all day. It is easy to assume that they have a short agenda, too. Economic assistance, support for Armenians

Karabakh, then economic assistance again. That's probably it, one would think.

Think again.

Armenia's ambassadors, especially those representing Armenia in international organizations such as the United Nations (UN) and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have successfully combined the national and the international to get more bang for their buck. In the UN, Armenia has just been elected - against great odds to - the executive board of the UNICER the UN Children's Fund (See page 23) which gives it superb access to a decision-making process that extends miles beyond Armenia's borders. Armenia,s opinion and vote on international programs affecting the wellbeing of the world's children will be taken into account. A great accomplishment. Perhaps the best example of Armenia's successful incorporation in global issues is its very detailed involvement in the elaboration and final draft of the Charter for European Security, the so-called Charter for the 21st Century within the OSCE. This is

the organization within whose framework Armenians hope the Karabakh conflict will be resolved. This is also the organization whose mission is securing Europe's security. And Armenia is a major contributor to the architecture of the fundamental charter confirming the principles and conditions of that security. From

the first paragraph to the last, during a year of weekly, day-long sessions, Armenia was a bona fide, sometimes easy, sometimes difficult, always constructive and substantive participant in the construction of what is a doctrinal document. In the entire text, there are only one or two paragraphs with

direct implications forArmenia. If Armenia had contributed only to those two ideas, it would have come off appearing either obstructionist, or utopian, or recalcitrant, or isolationist. Such a niurow focus would have done nothing to strengthen Armenia's negotiating position on its own issues. Armenia, after all, is neither Germany nor the US nor the EU. The implication of this bit of old news is that Armenia has no influence with which to say, "This is our position, take it or leave it.,'Armenia achieved its influence and credibility through its authorship accomplishments. The gains? Armenia's credibility and credit from the Charter process carried over to the Istanbul Declaration of the OSCE 1999 Summit which was hatched on the spot, after several daylong negotiating sessions. As a full contributor, discussant and negotiator pertaining to both the form and substance ofissues and

documents, Armenia achieves a status that far outweighed its own natural standing. This is a generic stratâ&#x201A;Źgy waiting to be followed at not just the international level, but at the Diaspora level as well. If there is only a single dimension toArmenian issues, then there is nothing to trade. To put it bluntly, if Armenia (and Armenians) stick their nose in all sorts of issues, then they stand the chance of being rewarded for taking their nose out. Or alternately, for having stuck their noses in. In any case, there is the chance of a reward. But only if they participate.

It Takes Two to Dialogue Calling on Thrks to Discuss Genocide is Not Enough. Armenians Must Talk, Too Question: Are Armenians mature, serious, sophisticated, tolerant enough to handle serious discussion about the Genocide? Answer? Some are, some aren't. Turks have thrown publishers in prison for attempting to produce books which discuss theArmenian Genocide (See page 30) by the Ottoman Turkish government during World War I. This is considered uncivilized, reactionary and intolerant.

Little in life, let alone the history of

the Armenians, is devoid

of complexity. Laying bare these intricate, knotty layers

and nuances is what scholars do. Calling them traitors for trying to do their job is insupportable. Assuming that discussion about the Genocide can only mean dickering over terms, facts and realities

is simply wrong. At the same time, calling on the French, the British, the

accusation

Armenians have thrown every inflammatory label and at (Armenian) scholars who are attempting to engage (Turkish) scholars in trying to understand how Genocide happened and why it happened. Isn,t this reac-

Americans, the Russians and everyone else to acknowledge the Genocide, without expending equal effort on trying to understand why the Turks have not is not productive.

tionary and intolerant?

attempting it should only be encouraged.

Armenian-Turkish dialogue cannot be forbidden. Those

AIM MAY

2OOO

Helping a Nation, One Person at a Time Doing Something Beats Doing Nothing Any Time No one need bother pitying the Armenians. They do such a good job of it themselves. Even if other behavior is more appropriate or more beneficial

of Armenia in Armenia. It is not abject poverty and destitution

or more useful or more effective, pitying is easiest. And there's been pitying, at great length, since the Octobet 27

and their children that makes them pack up and leave.

assassinations.

dends. He is sustaining families, and nourishing culture. There is no sense in sitting back and complaining that the government is not supporting the arts. There are lots of places in the world where the arts survive mostly through charitable con-

Government instabiliry, massive emigration - things don't look too good in the Homeland, so there's plenty to grumble about. What to do? One option is to curse, throw in the towel and convert. Choose some other ethnicity and get a life. The other is to beat one's chest and wallow in pity. This is

being done in massive amounts around the planet, and in most public forums. The third is to follow the example of thousands around the world and Do Something. One example is a Chilean business consultant who has become a sponsor of the arts in Yerevan (See page 62.) For several years, he has underwritten the salaries and performance costs of a 38-person choir. He is thus making it possible for 38 families - a couple of hundred individuals - to continue to live with dignity, and in Armenia. Those 38 are spending

money in Armenia and enabling others to stay. Further, they are doing more than feeding the economy. The 38 members of the choir are nurturing souls. By performing Bach and Mendelssohn, the choir is contributing to an improvement in the quality of life in a society where Rachmaninoff and Hayden are recognized as easily as Madonna or Sophia Loren. And finally, it is the quality of life that will keep the people

that is leading most families to emigrate. It is the absence of hope and the inability to live the kind of lives they want for themselves

Still, one man's efforts are paying dividends. Double divi-

tributions. The US is a prominent example. There is also no sense in complaining that the various Armenian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) - including those involved in humanitarian, educational, cultural and artistic endeavors - are not self-sufficient. Most NGOs aren't. They survive through donations. Their overhead is paid through donations. Their programs are funded through - yes, donations. You don't trust the institutions and organizations entrusted

with administering to such entities? Do

yourself' Do it

directly. Find one institution, organization, traveler, "missionary" you trust and tell them they have so many hundreds of dollars to utilize to improve the lives of 5, 50, 250 people. Provide art supplies to the Art Institute for one year. Buy textbooks for a classroom. Put in a working fountain in a village.

Fix an ambulance. Before you say, "But the problem is so huge, what good is helping 50 people" - ask those 50 people.

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AIM MAY

2OOO

(( ls there any prospect ol an improvement in

IUrf

the economic situation? The economic position is serious, and that's why so many young people are leaving the country. An improvement will only Gome with a peace setilement in the region. No government, not the present one 0r any other, can do anything until the public debt is paid off. We have to tighten our belts to face the present difficult stage u -Sebuh Hovnanian Member of the Lebanese Parliament, speaking about Lebanon , in Monday Morning

l(Armenia's border with Turkey is like the Berlin Wall and there's no intercommunication, and this is regrettable ol course. !t chairman of the commftee on Foreisn

(lWe must not cherish

Retations,;fl:[f;.mlnl

NAT0 military stations in Azerbaijan will help us lind a lavorable solution to the Karabakh conflict; NAT0 war planes will never bombard Yerevan. t!

-Zardusht Alizade

Chairman, Social-Democratic party of Azerbaijan

Fmhs m

hopes that the deployment ol

Sfi

Gayane Grigorian, 3g, of the Armenian Philharmonic 0rchestra became the first woman since the 1979 lranian revolution to sing to a mixed audience of men and women in Tehran. The arias from an lranian opera were not tough. lt was singing while all wrapped per the lslamic Republic's dress code that was the hardest part, said Grigorian. "lt's very ditficult to sing with a scarf like this. But I love a good audience, wherever I am." Grigorian's audiences were good - and the shows sold out - for weeks. Blh Ptann How to mark the 1700th anniversary of the acceptance of Christianity as a state religion in Armenia? Have a race, of course. The Automobile Federation of Armenia, assisted by the State Motor Licensing and lnspection Department, sponsored an exhibition and race of antique and self-made automobiles. 0f the 20 cars which raced from yerevan to Ejmiatsin, a1927 German DKW was the oldest in the race. Tltm d When Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze sampled the first extracts of oil in his country, from a well at the US-Georgian joint venture Taribana, his comment was: "The taste is reminiscent of Georgian red wine." Uum ln Dagestan, a secular Muslim autonomous republic on the Caspian Sea, a hand grenade sells for about $1.80, or 50 rubles. A trader in Buinaksk, a town where the Russian troops are based, said, "soldiers buying vodka offer grenades and shells more often than money. I know that the official price of one 5.45 shell is 8 rubles (25 cents). Here I can get them 10 times cheaper." lndeed, last year Dagestan,s lnterior Minister Adilgirey Magomedtagirov announced to his countrymen that they can carry "whatever [they] wish - pistols, assault rifles, grenade-launchers, even a tank." But, he said "come to us and register it." Dagestan, just east of Chechnya in the Russian Federation, is the only Russian region where citizens are legally allowed to possess weapons.

Today the [Azerbaijanil people betieve neither the authorities nor the opposition... The people already understand that the lands [occupied by the Armeniansl can be liberated only by war.rt -Tofig JabarOv, Azerbaijani leader of Karabakh Resistance Movement

l(ln

our search of the premises of the members of the "Goodwill Society" we lgund a n[mber of books that had not be.en apprg1ed by our Gensors... We lound p6ems written ny inC ituOents ol the Armenian seminary onlhemes that en-couraged the Armenians td reestablish ttre'inOefenUince ol their nation. We also lound out that members o[the society we]e permitted by the clergiio Oiiiver lna.tionalisticl speeches in Armenian churches... ! was inldrmed that in one oi ttresi spliectrii, Haikazuni, a member.ol the.society, inflamed the people to rise and t0 establish an iniiipCnOiht Armenia. He inlormed in Alexandro-poi thit tris speech was regeiued urith gliat enihusi-a_colleague asm. The Armenians of this area have been coltecting lunds ior schools and various piUiicaiions. For example, 9ulamiriants, a merchant lrom Yerevan-, who had written a tragic ptiy iin itriliii of Senekerim of Uasputakan, solicited funds for- its pubtication and managed to-haiie iirde piinling ot this work, which was app_roued by the Armenian ihiet of policy of Yereian. The Yereuin proyinie ngw has, in addition to the printing prgss-at Ejmiatsin,lhree ither-presses - a neu, press in d;miiiCin, one in Yerevan, and another one in Alexandropol. r, from_ Turkey

Report of

MaiOr ZOlOtovSkii

Source: George Bournoutian, ed.

(August 25, 1875) on the politicat activities of Armenians in Transcaucasia.

Russia and the

Amenians 0[

AIM MAY

2OOO

fransauasi| 1 998, from the Central State Historical Archives in St. petersburg.

lostlii[e ol flnmenian$ In September 1990, AIM wrote: Most of the Armenian women in Ma'an, a remote village in the south-

em area of the Jordanian desert, were deported

1915 from the

Chomakhlou region of Caesarea. Dr. R. Der Nerssessian who was a member of the exiled group, has written about the reign of terror that took place after the bomb exploded in an Armenian home in the neighboring town of Evereg. Turkish authorities rounded up all the male for military service and threw them in prison. conscripted been had not who adults The remaining inhabitants of Chomakhlou, consisting of the elderly and women and children, were ordered to leave the village. According to Der Nerssessian, more that 1,600 left their homes with a few necessities and their herds. After a 40-day trek over rugged terrain, the group anived in Aleppo, Syria, minus 20 memben who died en route. They boarded a freight train headed for Damascus, where 30 more died of illness. Der Nerssessian kept an accurate record of the number of persons sent to each of the villages. In Ma'an, in addition to the 15 families from Chomakhlou, there were some Armenians from Kilis, Beilan and Hromgla. In Wadi Mousa, there were 450 refugees from Chomakhlou. The largest contingent of Chomakhlou - 750 persons - were sent to Shobak. Stricken by hunger and illness, the bedraggled group was described by T'E. Lawrence as "arriving like the sight of them was frightening." -ghosts; The Arminian survivors lived in abandoned dilapidated warehouses. Der Nerssessian said the first months were unbearable. ..We of Armenian sold everything we had; clothes, shoes, buttons, hairpins. It was quite common to see Bedouin men wearing the dresses grass to eating to resorted refugees the Armenian Meanwhile, had bought." they clothei the new off to show the street women and walking cisAn empty day' survive. An old Bedouin, who was 1l at the time, recalled that in the village of Bussayarah more than 10 people died every better became Armenians As the well. tem became the pauper's grave. That cistern is still refened to as Bir-al-Nassara - the Christians' with the resideits, they started to work ar small jobs, They did sewing and grinding, baking, shoe repairing, etc. In Tafileh' the acquainted to the Bedouins. Armenians opened a limestone quarry and produced material to build houses. They also planted vegetables that were unknown

AIM MAY

2OOO

NOTEBOOK

Gele[natinU lachin May marks the eighth anniversary of the liberation of Lachin by Armenian forces. The 1992 victory marked a nrming point in the conflict over Karabakh: an open road between the embattled enclave and independent Armenia. When the first convoy of 62 trucks, loaded with food and fuel from Yerevan headed for Stepanakert, the first question on everyone,s mind was how long would the conidor remain open. Everybody expected a

military counter-attack. And not too many expected they would be able to hang on to the mountain corridor. So the ftucks wasted no time going through with minimal essentials. Enough flour, for example, to increase rations from one kilogram per adult per month to three. The mood in the caravan was celebratory. For good reason. Their success meant the effective blockade of Karabakh by Azeri forces had come to an end.

Quickly, construction began on a hospital, a school, a church. Negotiations within the framework of the Conference on Security and Cooperation

Europe (which later became the Organization for

Security and Cooperation in Europe) evolved such that it became clear to all sides that Lachin is not, could not be, on the negotiating table.

And it hasn't been. Today, there are thousands of inhabitants in that region which is governed by former Karabakh Committee member Alexan Hakobian. The corridor, which is a rugged mountain pass,

now has one of the best highways in the region. Its construction was made a priority by the Armenian govemment which made the difificult

choice four ye:rs ago, despite other pressing needs. Funding was made possible by Armenia Fund, Inc. Eight years later, the words of Oleg yesayan, who was prime minister of Karabakh then, and today, heads its parliament, ring fiue still.

'This corridor," he said in May 1992, "is not about capturing another's

territory. It is a road for

life."

ln llis Memony Since the October 27 assassinations of eight of Armenia's top offi_ cials, the government of Armenia and the people of the Republii have looked for ways to honor the memory of those slain, and to try to under_ stand what happened.

The investigation has proceeded slowly. Some say the military prosecutor - it's not a criminal court that is handling the case _ has

moved at best clumsily, at worst with clear political motives in mind. Dozens of individuals were arrested, most have been slowly released. The most sensational rurest was that of the president's Chief of Staff, Alexander Harutunian and Harutiun Harutiunian, the head of the Government's Press and Information Office. The first has been freed, the second is being detained for another month. Mushegh Movsisian, the member of parliament who was arrested soon after the events, is also still being held. The most recent arrest was that of a man charged with transporting the weapons to the site. The memory of the deceased is being honored in various ways. Last month, on Vazgen Sargsian's birthday, the late prime Minis-ter y_a-s regembered by public ceremonies (See Armenia Briefs, April 2000.) Earlier, the families of members of parliament who were kiiled were present at various schools and other institutions renamed for their

loved ones. This month, speculation continues over the possible political future

of Stepan Demirchian, son of the slain National Assembly president Karen Demirchian. On the anniversary of the senior Demirchian's birttr, the cental stop on the Yerevan Metro system the stop at Republic Square - was named for Demirchian. Amemorial stone to ttre enduring politician who would have been 68 this year, was also consecrated on the main sfeet

AIM MAY

nearby.

2OOO

NOTEBOOK

2;728

Auakian's Jounrey

Number of Bibles American missionaries from Boston sold in Diarbekir, Mardin, Harput (Ottoman Turkey) from 1868 to 1879

50,000 Number of nrincs set by both sides during the militsrl. eonflict over Karabakh

,,] ,ri " , r,ISr{XX} ]

Number of hectares, in Karabakh, that are still mined and therefore can not be cultivated 1"ff10 1rS00

Number of hectffes de;mind by specialists each year

vtvvv 3,000 Varieties of butterfly which can be found in Annenia

S. Avakian, 88, may have been trained in aerospace technolparallel career in Armenian studies makes him one of the but his ogy, renaissance men who has left his imprint in many institutions. His family had escaped Kharpert, in Ottoman Turkey, before the Genocide. He was bom in Boston, Massachusetts and graduated from

Ana

23 Numbpr of Amenian flthletos set to participate in the

the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After World War II, Avakian returned to Fresno, California, where he was raised, and became active in writing and lecturing about things Armenian, and teaching language classes to beginners. In 1970, Califomia State University in Fresno wanted to set up an Armenian Studies program. "They offered this opportunity to me," said Avakian, "and I accepted." Avakian served as the Director of the Armenian Studies Program for the next four years until his retirement. Professor Dickran Kouymjian currently heads the department which has grown considerably since Avakian's days. Avakian had also been Executive Director of the Armenian Assembly in Washington, DC in the mid- 1970s, as well as one of those involved in the founding of the Armenian Community School of Fresno. He has retired, but is not inactive. "I have climbed MountArarat, taken groups to historic Armenia, met many people along the way and heard many stories," said Avakian. "I felt tire need to share these with people." The result is his most recent work, Armenia, A Joumey Through History. It consists of over I 30 stories about people, ideas and events in the Armenian experience. His first book, Armenians in America, was palt of the lrrner Publications "In America" series. His coloring Book for Children, published by the Armenian Apostolic Chtuch, Eastem Diocese, continues to teach *re Armenian alphabet through rhymes and verses. Avakian is cunently involved in translations of all kinds. People who find old family letters which they can't decipher bring them to him. He also does more formal translation, such as Antranig Antreasian's Oul of the Long Nigftr, for which he is seeking a

publisher.

Number of Armeaian athletes set to participate in the kayaking competition in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney

I'"

6'500 Approximate number of cellular stations in use in Armenia, out of a capacitY of 30,000 561.6

In millions of dollars, ;{rmeda's share of the f6rmer USSR's external dobt (assumed by Russia, 1n l99tz) 32

In billions of dollars, Russia's share of the former USSR's debt

876

In billions of dollars, Armenia's foreign debt in 1999

According to legend, number of years, BC, that Alexander the Great took an apricot plant from Armenia to 0rcsce and named it 'armenica'

Photos

Birthdays & Anniversaries: The town of Lachin.

tlS Dept.

State, Russia and the Anncnians ofTranscaucasi4

Hay astoni Hanrapentiun,

Postsuipt: Monument to Demirchian. Where Are They Now: Dr. Arra Avakian.

AIM MAY

2OOO

Vo skeporik

n 8ll|0ffi

Brrm'$

April 24Marked Around the World didn't seem to be thetrgency of a: u,mjor milesione. Nevertheless, the 85th anniversary of the beginning of hpre

the Armenian Genocide by

the

Ottoman Tb*ish goveflrnent in 1915 was marked around &c worM

onegil

&,i,.,,lt.

Traditional marches tookplace in various '

cities, including Beirut wherc more, Ihan

walkd four miles, acs'i,uiiianied by a scout marching band. The march culminated with a rally in Bourj Hammoud, where over 20,000 people had gattrered. The guests included l-ebanese dignitaries as well as representatives of Armenian instinrtiocr. The number of those cornnremorating was high in Tehran, too, where anti-Tirkish chants were coupled with anti{S chants. '"Tirkey is criminal and the US supports it," ?,000 people

wasi one slogan.

In France, the French Foreign Uinisry issued a statement of "deep sympathy'' as. thousands of Parisians walked in protest toward the offices of the French Prime Minister whose govemment had not supported a bill in the French $enare sta;ing that France recognizes the Armenian GenociOe. In Marseilles, the French Senate's refusal galvanized over 1,000 protestors who gathernd at the Palais de Congres. For ttre frst, time, a Ti.rk addressed the Annenian survivors, and was received very favorably. AIi of tho Ascociation Against Genocidq had come into the fore last year when he gathered 11,3ffi.eiifrqt$rss

Ertem, the president

of Tirks and Kurds who recogniM:,the Genocide, and detvered the document to

Yerevan. During and after the comrnernoration, Jean Claude Kebabdjian of the Centne .de Rechershee sur:h

Dia$p*a

idl$l

(CRDA) called for a stop to the burning of the

Tirkisli flag or the use of such slogans

,hrkish

assassins, saylng Oat barbaiism and

genocide do not justify such cries or chauyinist acts on the part of Genocide survivors and their descendants.

Earlier in the month, Ertenr. together with historians Tessa Hofinann and Jirair Kotcharian presented the same signaturu to

the pHnnan Parliamenr's Human Rights Colimission. 1 ln Washington, DC, beyond observances oh Capitol Hill, work continued on passage of House Resolution 398, the Genocide Resolution. In Los Angeles. former Foreign Minister Raffi K. Hovannisian spoke at the Martyrs Monument in Montebeilo, wirh a couple of thousand in asendance.

Thc pommunities New York and Bos0on, found new and thought-provoking ways to commemorate; Professof$ Veh&x Da&ian, Peter Balakian and Allan BVan tJl.

took part in a forum on The Armenien Genocide: "Justice, Affirmation, and

Reconciliation" at the large lecnre hall of the

John F. Ifunnedy hesidential Library and Museum in Boston, with mole than 600 in attendance. S$veral ootsd writsrs rsad and spoke at the New York Public Library in a program entitled "Remembering 82 Writers

Kill€d in the Armenian Genocide," sponsared !y the PEN American Center and the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America.

AIM

FIAY.Iz0OO

Fal Lefl, top lo bottom: Genocide survivors l,h*.ipg,hororad in Times Square, New York;

Writers Peter Balakian (seated) and Agha Shahid Ali (standing) were ioined by Vartan li0roi;O1ian,'Uiana Der Hovanessian, Robert Jay

Liftgll,,Rokrl Lipsky, Rose Styron to remem. ber their colleagues killed in 1915; President

and Mrs. Kocharian, Garegin ll, Catholicos of All Armenians walked to the Tsitsernakaberd

Memorial Monument.Left, top lo bottom: Thousands rnarched in Beirut; Hundreds demonslrated in Moscow in

frorl 0lth6lIrkish

Embassy; Young and old walked in London to remember the victims. Bsl0T*, lop torboilom:

Buming the Turkish flag in Athens; Mourning the victims in Springlield, Massachusefis.

;

o Y c c I

AIM MAY

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sector," said Brett, adding that France agrees

EenoGlde ncGognition

with the European Union's proposal to start a process of decommissioning Armenia's

On the 85th anniversary of the genocide in the Ottoman Empire, President Robert Kocharian, in a message addressed to the nation, reiterated that, ..The problem of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the international community is currently among the tasks of Armenia's for-

Armenians

eign policy." Kocharian assured, "We will continue our activities in this direction, as we are convinced that this crime against humanity is not only the Armenian people's issue, but also has moral and political significance

internationally." Referring to ArmenianTurkish relations, he said. "We are also deeply aware that, in our region, the establishment of long-lasting stability and regional cooperation is to a great extent conditioned

by Armenian-Turkish relations reaching a new level. The admission of [this] historical truth should promote the creation of an atmosphere of mutual confidence and understanding in our relations."

rnnGe Euno[ean

Parliamentanu Ilelegations iil Yeneuan

A delegation of deputies of the French National Assembly, headed by chairman of the French-Armenian Interparliamentary Group, Jean-Paul Brett, paid an official visit

Yerevan. The delegation

met

with

President Robert Kocharian, National Assembly Chairman Armen Khachatrian, Prime Minster Aram Sargsian and other high ranking officials. Among a range of bitateral issues, "We have discussed issues relating to the resolution of the Karabakh conflict and attracting Western investments in the energy

nuclear power plant with "simultaneous creation of other sources of energy." A German Bundestag delegation, headed by the German parliament's Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, Hans Ulrich Klose, also paid a visit to Armenia to get "a full picture of the situation in the region," said Klose. A number of regional issues and the Karabakh conflict were discussed with President Kocharian. He told the parliamentarians that "any document on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict should be based on the principle of equality of the conflicting parties" - Karabakh and Azerbaijan - adding that the final resolution of the conflict should aid development of bilateral relations and cooperation in the spheres of energy, industry and trade.

Armenia and Iraq established formal diplomatic relarions in February of this year, partly in response to the wish of theArmenian

community

in Iraq,

according

"The Armenian-Iraqi relationship is developing within a framework that does not contradict UN sanctions" against Iraq, adding, "We hope that the sanctions will not last too long," as geographically Iraq is the nearest Arab country to Armenia.

$ign Agneement (ySU)

and

Ankara Technical University (ATU) signed a first-ever exchange agreement in yerevan, despite the absence of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey. The educational exchange agreement "can help improve relations between our two countries," said YSU Rector Radik Martirossian. 'There is a broad scope ofcooperation between our countries. We are neighbors and must have civilized ties in various areas of life," he added. The agreement involves student and faculty exchanges between YSU's Turkish Studies Program in the Oriental Studies Department and the newly established Armenian language and literature program at ATU. ARF-Dashnaktsutiun students protested ttre signing of the agreement with anti-T[rkish banners and bumed a Turkish flag. They demanded Turkey recognize the Armenian Genocide.

AIM MAY

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Yerevan."

Stnastoung Constitutional Court Chairman Gagik Harutiunian and National Assembly Deputy Chairman Tigran Torosian met with a legal issues commiffee

of the European Parliament

Strasbourg. The discussions focused on changes that Armenia's Constitution must undergo within the framework of European legislation. This is part of a series of ongoing discussions necessitated by Armenia's desire

to become a member of the Council of Europe, and later of the European Union. Officials in Stasbourg made recommendations regarding Armenia's court system, its human rights environment, separation of power guarantees, and local govemance.

the

Armenian Foreign Ministry. Two firms in Armenia have already obtained UN authorization to do business in Iraq. Foreign Ministry spokesman Ara Babian afflrmed,

Yerevan State University

Nevertheless, Professor Semra Kurucu, coordinator of foreign relations at ATU, said "our delegation was hosted very warmly in

Am[a$sa[0ns and Iliplomacy

. Armenia's Ambassador to Russia Suren Sahakian visited Astrakhan and discussed

with local aurhoriries the possibility of expanding Armenia's current (and only) Yerevan-Poti ground transportation route and connecting with south-eastern AsiaIran-Russia international transit route. . Armenia's Ambassador to the Organiza-tion for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Jivan Tabibian (below) was appointed Ambassador to Austria as well.

Turkey, and given Armenia's history. The Minister was in Washington DC, for a series of working meetings with members of the Clinton Administration. He went on to

. Armenia's Ambassador to Tajikistan Aram Grigonan (resident in Ashkhabad) presented his credentials to Tajik President Imomali Rakhmonov. The sides discussed possibilities of expanding Armenian-Tajik bilateral relations, especially in the economic and trade spheres. Grigorian also met with Foreign Minister Talbak Nazarov. . Ruben Hakopian (ARF) was appointed Consul at the Armenian Consulate in St. Petersburg, Russia. Armenia is also planning to open a Consulate in Novosibirsk. Russia plans to open one in Giumri. . Ambassador Armen Sarkissian was dismissed from his position as Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

New York where he addressed the UN Review Conference on the Non-Proliferation

of Nuclear Weapons.

[n-ilGniia-3f,

Azenbalian - 14

unicef ffi United Nations Children's Fund

Indonesia's Ambassador to Armenia Gde Arsa met with National Assembly ChairmanArmen Khachatrian and discussed bilateral relations.

Armenia registered a victory at the United Nations last month by becoming a member of

Spanish Ambassador to Armenia Jose Louis Crespo de Vega (residing in Moscow) pre-

Fund, known as UNICEF. The executive board

sented his credentials Kocharian.

the Board of the United Nations Children's members is responsible for providing intergovernmental support to and supervision of the activities of the Children's Fund. Board members serve a tkee-year term, and are elected with regard to geographic representation. Thus, Armenia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Movses

of 36

to President Robert

. Tokyo named Minoru Tanba Japan's Ambassador to Armenia. Tanba is concurrently Ambassador to Russia and Belarus.

. Newly arrived 28-year-old Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Armenia Toili Kurbanov met with representatives of the mass media in Yerevan and explained the key elements of Turkmen-Armenian bilateral relations.

Abelian, has become one

that through regional cooperation lasting peace and stability may be achieved in the region. The Minister explained the nature of

Armenia's proposal to establish a Caucasus Armenia's Minister

Foreign Affairs,

Vartan Oskanian (right) presented Armenia's current foreign policy priorities at a meeting at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, DC on Friday,

April28. Foreign dignitaries consider the CSIS, an independent non-profit think tank, one of the premier forums for the articulation and discussion of issues of international relevance by

high-ranking officials who develop and implement foreign policy. The Minister was introduced by Keith Bush, Director of the Russia and Eurasia hogram at the CSIS. In his introduction, Mr.

Bush pointed out that Armenia's Foreign Minister had addressed the group about a year ago, prior to the October 27 assassinations which had greatly impacted the country's internal and foreign relations. Nevertheless, Mr. Bush observed, Armenia's ability to avoid civil unrest following such a calamitous event was a laudable indication of its adherence to the path of democratic development. After addressing the domestic situation, Oskanian explained that Armenia believes

Stability Pact which will include not only the three core Caucasus states - Armenia,

Georgia, Azerbaijan, but also the three

Russia, Iran, Turkey, plus the two powers with clear interests in the region - the European Union and the US. "We must recognize that the big powers the US, Russia, the EU, China and others - do have interests in our region," Mr. Oskanian said. "We must not aggravate the situation the such that their interests collide Caucasus; rather we must transform the region into the place where such interests coexist rather than come head-to-head. That

regional neighbors

is how our policy of complementarity

was

bom. We will not choose between the East and the West. We can have good relations with Russia and the US, with Iran and the US. In fact, we can serve as a bridge for different interests to coexist in harmony." Minister Oskanian explained that Armenia is close to Russia. but it's also close to the US, Europe, China and Iran. He dismissed concems about the presence of Russian bases in Armenia, explaining that they are there at Armenia's invitation, given the continuing lack

of relations with Armenia's westem neighbor, AIM MAY

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of four Eastern

European members to serve on the board. The other three are the representatives of Russia, Ukraine and Romania. Azerbaijan had presented its candidacy for the board as well, but had received only 14 of 54 voices. Armenia was elected with 39 voices, in a closed ballot, with one abstention. The voting took place at an Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) session in early May. ECOSOC, whose members are elected by the General Assembly, is the UN's central forum for the discussion of intemational economic and social issues of a global nature, and the formulation of policy recommendations on those issues. The Children's Fund, as well as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees,

the World Food Programme and other UN programs report directly to ECOSOC' Neither

Armenia nor Azerbaijan are members. UNICEF carries out its work through 125 country offices. In Armenia, UNICEF has several health and education programs, including textbook printing, children's immunization, mothers' nursing education, HIV-AIDS and sexuality awareness. Together, their value exceeds $10

million.

Next year, UNICEFwiII mark the l0ttt anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child, with a heads-of-statâ&#x201A;Ź summit. Also nextyear, one ofthe Eastem European countries will be eligible to chair the Children's Fund.

;-;*r***u* The National Olympic Committee of Armenia reported that 23 Armenian athletes have qualified for the Sydney Olympic Games. Nine athletes will compete in Armenia for six available positions in the weightlifting division of the Games. Among the other qualified athletes are five Greco-Roman wrestlers (right: Armenia won the gold in 1996) three freestyle wrestlers; three boxers (above: Armenia lost to Cuba in 1996) and one each in Judo, diving, and, new to Armenia, kayaking. Two Armenian swimmers have been given "wild-cards" to participate "in the spirit of the Games." The number of participants could increase as qualifying competitions are underway in Armenia for archery, shooting, tennis and Tae Kwon Do.

Monastery of Haghpt

An official of the UNESCO-affiliate International Organization for Protection of Monuments, Alkiviades prepis, met with Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II in Ejmiatsin. prepis is preparing a report for UNESCO's Committee on World Legacy for the possible inclusion of Ejmiatsin and Zvartnots in the registry of world historical monuments. The monastic complex of Sanahin, as well as Haghpat are already listed in the registry. UNESCO has included the l700th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity as state religion in Armenia in its calendar of events and activities.

AIM MAY

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Not only in los Angeles

PoftiGal 0pposition Fonmed, Again Four snrall parties. *hose fitunders wcre

all ottice-holclers at orte timc in Lel'ort Ter

Petrossian's adrninistratioll. Iirrnted a new Union o1'Right-Wing Forces itt Arlrtctria. 'lhc Union hrings togethcr firnlc-r National Security Advisor Davicl Shahnazarian's 2lst Century Partyl tirrrler Prilnc Minister Hrant Bagratian's Libenl' Partl': fbrnter National Assembly Chairman Babken Ararktsian's Arrnat IRootl political organization: and fbrmer NA Deputy' Vigen Khachatrian's Liberal-

The Sisian Bcncvolent Funcl. an initiltive ot the nrunicipality ol Sisian in thc Siunik province (sgitthcrn Arrncnia). held a l2-hour telethon on a local tclevision channel. About 350.(XX) Dratns (S6.-5(U was misecl lilr the ktwn's children ancl s<rcially vulnerable fnntilies. The luncls will bc usecl' in par1, kr provide afl classes fix'kids. This socially cunscious town is also visibly cleancr ancl bettel rnaintairred than rnanv others in Anncnia. What a diff'erettce local governance ttlakcs!

Den)ocftrlic Pilfl\.

In r joint dee lat'ariorr. the leetlerr ol the new Union stated their intention to join their etlbrts in uniting "political tbrces advocating democratic. liberal r,'alues" in Arrtrenia. While ..ct'ucle lbrce in criticizing authorities tirr using resolving intcrnal political isslles witllout real l)r()Srlrtll\ lirI p,,;f,ia,, itlltl c\'()lltrllliL t['rclopment." thev noted. "the countrv is paralyzed with nrass enrigration and is bleeding with ter-

rurisnr." The declaration r" arned

that

"Arnrcnia's territorial integritv ancl cvett its statehtxrd are in dattgct'." Thc [.]nion u ill r.vork towarr.ls re gional pcacc. stability' and "creating

and strenstherting good neighborll Ielutions" with all ncishboring states.

{

New, lnnouatiue Housing Plan Launched hy USAID

}'* ..=

-raf

i.*'.=i{i:=':*:=:

:E.iA::i*F;,..-i.-:*- _

US and Armenian otficials signed a rnemorandum in Giumri. attended b1' President Robert Kocharian. * hereby the US aid agency. USAID. will provide ihrnilies in the earthquake-devastated region of Artllenia

with certificates toward the purchasc

o1'

homes. An estimated 26.000 families are still living in tenrporrrv shelters (donliks) in Armenia's second lar-test cit1,'. By June ol'this year. certificates ll,ill be issued to 150 firlnilies. USAID has allocated S l5 rnillion lirr this lrousing plan. tleytincl plovicling thc Ittuch neeclccl lir'irlg spaces. US Antbassador to Arrttenia N4ichacl

v', *-

,;rr>-

Lcrt.unon aclcled. "The econotll)"s cleveltlprnent is tnore it.t.tpoI1ant lirr Lrs so that those who ltlrre !()lltn (crlilieitter todltr Ititre,rppottunilicr lu uork uttd et,ttlitttte tt, lrrc ltcre." Meanwhile. USAID Yercvatr ol'fice's Dilnu Tsitst,r .lrid the t S uill itttplctttent rt nurtther t,l prrUtct. in Arrttcttiu lotllipo !;11r rrrillion. The prt,jeets u ill he irrrplelrrented hy

USAID (b5 percent) and hr the Deprrttrnents of Agriculture. Energy'. Trade and other organizul i,,ns.

Ar\,1 I\IAY 1000

!r"f^

"*,,,;{,#,,

, ,x,;

I i, ','\-r'1 { ,{t ,,. l'r,

Japane$e Banl( Loan lon National

[iFponf-

Officials of the Japanese International Bank met with Armenia's Transport and Communication Minister Robert Nazarian to negotiate a $50 million loan for the development of Zvartnots airport infrastructure. Nazarian told the bank officials that a package of plans and documents would be ready within a month. The Japanese delegation visited the cargo terminal at Zvartnots and inspected the various services and the runway of the airport.

power network the US AES Silk Road, France's Electricite de France, Spain's Union Fenosa, and the international ABB Alston Power. Meanwhile, the National Assembly (NA) blocked the process of privatization of Armenia's energy sector. The overwhelming vote in the NA was in defiance of President Robert Kocharian's efforts toward the adop tion of special legislation to clarify the terms

sale.

The NA decision will also complicate Armenia's pledge to the World Bank (WB) which had stipulated that further loans to Yerevan would depend on the successful privatization of the energy sector. WB spokesperson in Yerevan Vigen Sarkisian stated the Bank's Structural Adjustment Credits to Armenia have been "indefinitely postponed" because of the NA decision. Armenia is expecting a $46 million loan from the WB to cover half of the state budget

shortfall this year. Observers believe Kocharian will most likelv veto the NA bill

Mmt$tny neEa$ed fludit Repont The Finance and Economy Ministry issued a report on 1999 Financial Audits based

blocking privatization.

ABB Alston is involved with

several other projects in Armenia, including the construction of a new SO-megawatt steam gas plant in Yerevan and the building of telecommunications infrastructure.

on 698 inspections. The audits were conducted to determine the effective use of state budget funds by govemment agencies. The report

spelled out violations and noted a total of 6.4

billion Drams (about $12 million) in illegal payments and suspicious expenses. Ministy official Roman Mirzoyan said the state budget received 1.4 billion Drams less in taxes this year than expected. Other violations in the areas of construction, services, and pension funds, as well as in the inventory of state prop-

erties were noted. However, Mirzoyan said some 2.1 billion Drams were recovered and legal action is being taken by the law-enforcement agencies against the lawbreakers.

Rqsto_nation Undenway with Genman Loan ABB Alston Power company won a contract for the restoration of Kanaker Hydro station. In accordance to an agreement signed in 1997, the German government will provide a DM 25 million,40-year soft credit for rhe project, at an interest rate of 0.75 percent. Repayment will start 2012. Armenia will allocate DM 500,m0 for the project from is budget. Two 25-megawatt units will be restored at the Kanaker station, which was built in 1936.

Enengy

Dc[t

Restnuctured, [ut $ettack lon Pniuatization Armenia's Energy Ministry and

the

Russian ITERA gas company agreed to restructure Armenia's $17 million debt to the company ($11 million in hard currency, $6 million in barter.) After negotiations in Moscow, ITERA agreed to continue delivering gas to Armenia. Earlier, the company had stated it would suspend supplies due to the outstanding debt, which the company put at $30 million.

Armenia's First Deputy Energy Minister Karen Galustian said $l million of the total debt was paid at the end of April. Another payment of $10 million will be made by July of this year; and the remaining $6 million will be paid through barter.

Iicense As in most cities with a heavy public transportation system, the City of Yerevan, too has a problem with unlicensed vehicles for hire. City officials announced that there are some 500 vehicles transporting passengers in and around Yerevan without proper licenses, which is costing the city an estimated $200-300,000 per month in tax revenues. Yerevan's more than 100 transportation routes are curently served by 100 cable buses, 1,200 licensed vans and more than two dozen diesel buses. The Municipality has stepped up efforts to curb license dodgers with the help of traffic police.

Gentnil Banl( Pnesent$ Repont

Energy Minister David Zadoyan said ITERA could still compete for an alliance

In a report submitted to the National Assembly, Central Bank President Tigran Sargsian detailed the Bank's 1999 activities and economic developments in Armenia. Sargsian noted the Bank's major task is to maintain inflation within the limits of Fiscal Year 2000 economic projections and enumerated the risks such a policy could have on the country's overall economy. In reference to the recent intemal political crises in Armenia, Sargsian said preservation of financial stability in Armenia is a necessary

with the four other companies bidding for the

minimum.

Energy Ministry officials refuted press reports that ITERA's earlier announcement for suspension of gas deliveries was in "retaliation" for excluding the Russian company

from Armenia's electricity distribution network privatization tender.

AIM MAY

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$ymmtic Ru[ten lon the Ghincsc MaFl(Gt

The Chinese Shansi company and Amenia's Ministry of Industry and Trade signed an agreement on cooperation and bilateral consultations. Deputy MinisterAshot Shahnazarian and Shansi executive Liu Chang Gui discussed the prospects of Chinese investment in Armenia's Nairit Plant - one of Armenia's largest industrial complexes and a producer of synthetic rub' ber - and the possibility of selling Armenian-produced rubber in China.

US Ambassador to Armenia, Michael lrmmon, together with US Agency for lntemational Development and World Bank officials, met with a businessmen's group headed by Aram Vardanian, chairman of the Union of Armenian Manufacturers and Businessmen. They discussed bringing Armenia out of its

ongoing economic difficulties, as well

regional economic cooperation and the input of intemational financial instinrtions in the development of the private sector in Armenia. American efforts to help economic develop ment continued in Washington too, where the US-Armenia Thsk Force on Economic Reform was set up based on an agreement betweâ&#x201A;Źn US Mce President Al Gore and the late Prime

Minister

Armenia, Vazgen

Sargsian.

Preliminary meetings have been held in

W Top ten countries with highost reliance on nuclear power in 1999

Washington wittr Armenian-American business-

men. An American delegation, headed by Ambassador Bill Taylor, the Coordinator of Assistance to the Newly Independent States, headed for Yerevan for the first session and met with the Armenian delegation led by Minister of

Finance

[rvon

Barkhudarian. The American

side included representatives from

the

Departrnent of Commerce and Treasury, the Trade DevelopmentAgency and the US Agency for lntemational Development, as well as the National Secwity Council. The Task Force is expected to promote and coordinate economic cooperation and US assistance to Armenia. Observers in Russia and the rest of the CIS have commented that this is an American attempt to establish a foothold in the region.

Country

Percentage of electricitySefierated by nuclear power

Bmo lltMrh

75.0

78.1

6t.7%

s&h

47.1%

Sfldt MtiilG

47.0

Sffsklt

{8S

llrrtuo

4s.8r

"t'-

hnwy lnrmh In

1999 there were a

s.8%I SJ'6Itotal of

436 nuclear power plants operating around the world.

Source: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

AIM MAY

2OOO

Moscow. However, in case such an arrangement is made, Georgian Foreign Minister

Irakli Menagharishvili stated that

the

Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty requirements should be taken into consideration. While affirming Russia's right to relocate its troops, Menagharishvili said Moscow "must comply" with CFE in preserving military balance in the region.

lGtgnmn r0 fletgnmn Electnicity to

Turkey and Georgia signed an agreement double Ankara's purchase of electricity

from Georgia to 100 million kWh per month from the current 45 million kWh. Armenia is one of Georgia's main energy suppliers, providing about 25 percent of its

NATO's Military Committee Chairman, Admiral Guido Venturoni, visited Tbilisi and discussed Georgia's participation in the alliance's Partnership for Peace program with President Eduard Shevardnadze and Defense Minister DavitTevzadze. A NAIOsponsored military exercise will be held in Georgia this year. Tevzadze stated that military units from Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and the US would participate in the exercises as part ofthe Partnership for Peace program. In 2001, Georgia will host the first ever mili-

tary exercises, which will involve land and naval units from NAIO countries and non-

northern neighbor's electricity needs. Energy-poor Georgia, which still owes Yerevan $4.4 million for electricity, resells Armenia-supplied power to Turkey. In another development, Armenia's Energy Minister David Zadoyan said plans are underway to construct a new 220-megawatt capacity elec-

trical line from Armenia to

Georgia's Armenian-populated Javakheti province. The new $2.5 million power line will eventually extend to Adjara and thereafter to Turkey. According to Zadoyan's estimates, the extension of the new line is expected to be completed by the end of October.

member partners.

Currently, a 20-soldier Georgian unit is participating in peacekeeping operations as part of a Turkish battalion in Kosovo. In another development, Turkish and Georgian military officials signed an agreement in Tbilisi under which Ankara will provide $4 million to reorganize the I lth brigade

of the Georgian iumy, raise its standards to

NAIO

requirements and finance the opening

of a NAIO office in Tbilisi. Since 1998 Turkey has allocated close to $10 million to the Georgian Armed Forces. Meanwhile, after months of negotiations and delays, Russia and Georgia agreed on a timetable for the withdrawal of Russian troops stationed on Georgian territory. Some 2,800 Russian soldiers stationed in Gudauta, at the Georgian-Abkhazian border, and in Vaziani, near Tbilisi,

will be withdrawn by July l,

2001. The other two bases, one in Batumi and the other in Akhalkalaki near the GeorgianArmenian border, will stay until 2003.

The possibility of Armenia hosting the Russian troops leaving Georgia was discussed during Armenian Defense Minister Vagarshak Harutiunian's recent visit to

that, 'the holding of elections to these or other authorities of the puppet regime established with the help of foreign intervention contradicts universally-accepted international legal principles and norms and the

Constitution of the Azerbaijani Republic and is legally void." Branding the Karabakh elections a "political provocation," the Parliament appealed to international organizations and world governments, including the UN and OSCE, "to stop this provocative action," and assist in the resolution of the conflict between "the Republic of Armenia" and Azerbaijan.

$ecunity $ystem

Irithmetic President Aleksandr Dzasokhov of North Ossetia criticized Armenian hesident Robert Kocharian's proposed 3+3+2 security system for placing Russia in the "second tier" of the

system, rather than among the core states. Kocharian's proposal places the three South Caucasus states at the core, with Russia, Turkey and Iran in the second tier, and the European Union and the US in the third tier. Russia, as "the largest Caucasus state," said Dzasokhov, should not be relegated to a secondary role. He proposed a 4+2 formula (Russia, Armenia Azerbaijan and Georgia, plus

Turkey and Iran. Dzasokhov's "arithmetic" excludes the US and the EU who are out'to weaken Russia's influence in the Caucasus, and then to exclude her completely from the sphere of Caucasian interests."

Agneement Turkey and Russia signed an intergovern-

mental agreement

Istanbul

regulate

bilateral interaction of frontier services in the Black Sea. The agreement is aimed at curbing illegal traffic and smuggling of arms and drugs, illegal movement of people, and terrorism. The agreement also includes provisions for joint protection of marine resources, protection of the environment and prevention of pollution of the Black sea.

upsGt ouen Kanalakh's Ghoice The Parliament of Azerbaijan (Milli Majlis) denounced the upcoming parliamentary elections in Karabakh, which is considered "an integral component part of the Azerbaijani Republic," said an official statement, adding that the elections are infringement

Azerbaijan's "territorial integrity." The Parliament went on to state AIM MAY

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fFom Hnguagc IIe$ t0 Economic Goopenation The annual summit of Turkic-speaking countries was held in Baku. The presidents of Azerbaijan, Turkey, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan and the parliamentary speakers of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan participated in

the gathering, which focused on boosting economic, trade and cultural ties among the participant countries. Summit discussions focused particularly on the flow of oil and gas from the region and the fight against crime and terrorism. "The 21st century will be a century of strengthening ties between Turkic nations," said Turkish President Suleyman Demirel. At the conclusion of the summit, a Baku Declaration - in which the participants agreed to establish a permanent secretariat of the Turkic countries in Istanbul, where the next summit will be held. The Turkic-language countries' summit has been held annually since 1992.

joint declaration was signed - the

The European Union expressed disappointment to Turkey over the country's slow passage of human rights reforms since it was made a candidate for EU membership last December in Helsinki. EU Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen told Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, "With some concem we have unforhrnately noted that not much progress has been made since Helsinki." Verheugen pointed out the lack of improvements concerning Turkey's Kurdish population. On his part, Cem warned EU officials that dragging out Turkey's membership issue could risk a backlash in his country. "We do not believe that the pre-accession period

-Viewing

can be extended indefinitely without the risk of fatigue arising in the candidate country" said Cem. The EU has set up a committee. which will screen Turkey's current legislation and see that they comply with EU laws.

lnan $eeks Nuclean Reactons Russian Atomic Energy Minister Yevgenii Adamov said Iran is planning to order three

additional nuclear reactors from Russia. Moscow has refuted Western concerns that the construction of Iran's Bushehr power plant is helping Iran develop nuclear weapons technology. Adamov said Moscow is also negoti ating a contract to supply India with five nuclear reactors.

Finm Building Powen Plant in Enclave ol Nakhicheuan The Israeli Betaman company started the construction of a 3.5 megawatt mini power plant in Azerbaijan's exclave of Nakhichevan, to be completed by the end of this year. The new power plant will provide much needed power supply to the exclave's

Ordubad District. Meanwhile, Hart's Middle East Oil and Gas reported that Israeli companies are in the process of presenting bids to participate in the construction of the Main Export Pipeline, which will carry Azerbaijani oil to TurkeY.

of MGM,s latJst James Bond thriller, The World is Nit Enough, starring Pierce Brosnan, about terrorists planning to bomb

pipeline. This conference Central Asian pipeline, was not mandatory at the second conference dedicated to security issues of the Baku-Ceyhan conference was held last security pipeline first rurkey. The and Azerbaijan Georgia, from offi...r tf participation was held in Tbilisi with the and to establish a central year in Turkey and a third will beield in Azerbaijan. Plans are underway to hold field exercises in Turkey this fall command system for the security of the future pipeline'

-. II

AIM MAY

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COVER STORY Of all these books, Ulzsal ve Uluslararasi Hukuk Sorunu Olarak lenosid, by Vahakn N. Dadrian, is perhaps the most controversial. A Turkish translation of an essay published in the Yale Law Review, Genocide as a Problem in National and International Law concisely details the charge of genocide against the Turkish state, and discusses the legal ramifications. The book, published in Istanbul in 1995, was first banned and later unbanned in a historic State Security Court decision. The public display, not to mention the publication, of Dadrian's book would have been unthinkable just a decade ago. As recently as 1988, an intellectual was sentenced to seven years in prison for translating (correctly) a passage from the Encyclopedia

University of Chicago was invited to Kog University in Istanbul, where he delivered a talk on the Genocide to students and faculryA subsequent interview was published in

malized

Paris-based CRDA (Centre de Recherches sur

seem to indicate this is

la Diaspora Armenienne or Research Center

a resolution ofthe Karabakh conflict. There is even talk now of a Caucasus security pact which will include both Tirrkey and Armenia.

on the Armenian Diaspora) who had come to make a presentation at the Istanbul Book Fair, appeared on a popular television talk show,

making his appeal

for

rapprochement

between Armenians and Turks and further dialogue. His address was covered by every major newspaper in Turkey and was one of

The Armenian Question was the greatest taboo in a land of taboos. The publication of Dadrian's book is only

Turkey

are

in Armenia in 1995. As early as September 1990, Levon Marashlian, a

ence)

California-based historian, was invited to present a paper on the Armenian Genocide at the 1998, Turkish Historical Conference. the Professor Ronald Grigor Suny

In of

even though

all official

sources

still strongly linked to

Although the Armenian and Turkish (and Russian) proposals about such a pact differ, still, the very idea of a regional security system that shall include these two contentious neighbors is a bright sign. Developments within Turkey have paved

the way for discussion of what used to be

- if not prohibited.

called the Armenian Question, within Turkey and without. Calling what has emerged a dialogue may be incorrect. It is not a dialogue in the sense of a single recognizable side communicating with another. But Armenians and Thrks are engaged in a range of conversations which encompass such diverse elements as scholarly conferences, cultural events, diplomatic gestures and business relations. To understand the future of such a dialogue, one must understand its roots, its goals and its

and Eastern Anatolia. Only a decade ago, someone who spoke only Turkish had no access to books which strayed from the official line on the events of 1915. Even Armenian novels, poetry, and cultural productions were suspect

changing. Since l99l there have been almost two dozen books on Armenians, from novels and memoirs to political works by Dadrian, Taner Akgam and Yves Ternon. Agos, an Armenian weekly founded in 1995, publishes in Turkish (See AIM, March 2000) and reaches a significant Turkish audience. Salktm Hantmm Taruleri, a film about the injustices of the 1942 "Wealth Tax" as experienced by an Armenian family, was one of last year's most popular movies. These changes are by no means widespread or irreversible. But, as Historian Jirair Libaridian explains, "These are real changes. They constitute part of the larger changes in Turkish society, including the widening of the margin of debate on a number of issues. The creation and nursing of public opinion is no longer a monopoly of the state." Increased freedom in the cultural and political sphere has been paralleled by changes in the intellectual and economic spheres. Akgam, a Turkish scholar living in Germany whose 1992 book addressed the Armenian genocide and Turkish identity, presented his theses at conferences in Germany, Russia and (at the state-sponsored confer-

struction workers come to Armenia on specific intemational projects. There are hopes that relations will be nor-

Milliyet. This past November, Jean-Claude Kebabdjian, founder and president of the

Britannica that dealt with Armenians

one indication that things

materialize. Turkish products are widely available in Yerevan markets. Turkish con-

potential pitfalls.

The first words of

Kebabdjian's November

Jean-Claude

8th

address at Istanbul's annual book fair were, in Ttrrkish,

Merhaba Dostlar Merhaba Hemsehriler [Hello Friends, Hello Countrymen.] The audience, which exceeded the capacity ofthe auditorium and filled the aisles, edged tentatively into applause. "You have before you today

a man

whose

life is the result of a historical accident. My parents, born in Yozgat, arrived in France in

the first successful attempts to reach a large Turkish audience. In March, a conference on "Armenians at the End of the Ottoman Empire at the Turn of

the Century," held at the University of Chicago, brought Turkish and Armenian

scholars together

to talk about what

Libaridian calls "their two histories."

On the political front there has been change as well. Encouraged by the US and Europe, the Republics of Armenia and Turkey have moved towards political rapprochement. This winter, serious talks took place on even a tentative opening of the border between the two countries, and business ties between Armenians and Turks, have already begun to

AIM MAY

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1924 after having lost everything because of history. They had to leave their lives, disappear forever, without a trace; this was the case of my maternal grandfather, who disappeared in l9l5 during the deportation. This was the case for many others, dead or disappeared. Their children were never born.

"History is made by people. And not all these people did the same thing: there were those who were butchers and those who were not. The fact that my parents were able to survive, escape death, take refuge in another country is proof that in the masses of people there were people who were not indifferent. I owe my life to my parents, but also all the other people without whom my parents could not have survived." Kebabdjian, seated between author Rait Pertev and human rights activist Akin Birdal in a panel dedicated to human and minority 3l

COVER STORY rights in Turkey, came to Istanbul with the goal of creating a dialogue that could lead to

reconciliation between the Turkish and Armenian people. "One cannot enclose a culture within frontiers or in the past. One cannot hide behind an

official affirmation as

behind a besieged

fortress. The sentiment of patriotism consists of discovering and appreciating one's neighbors and their culture, and they doing the same. "l believe that we are on the path towards a true reconciliation as we approach the future.

For a long time, the people of Turkey and Armenia have been looking at each other and seeing only the face of a mirror. But now, thanks to the

effort of pub-

Ternon really exists. It was on this trip that he

They

the

press.

ties have been crucial in protecting Zarakolu from state efforts to end his work. Since publishing

to truly learn about

Belge, the pub-

lishing house to which Kebabdjian

Dadrian, Belge has published nearly a dozen works deal-

referred, had pub-

ing

350

titles, including the works of Laurence Dunell, Taha Hussein and Tarik Ali. Ragip

Western

Zarakolu's European

each other."

with

Armenians.

The most recent are an eyewitness geno-

Ayse

Nour Zarakolu's leftist publishing house has been. for 25 years, on the frontier of minority and human rights publications in Turkey, and in 1993, they challenged the Armenian taboo,

publishing Yves Ternon's Histoire

et Genocide under its title in Germany, Ermeni Tabou. Three thousand copies sold. The book was confiscated within days.

was very aggressive. The taboo is

really deep," Ragrp told AIM in December.

Since the printing house was in Ayse Nour's name, she was brought before the tribunal for the pre-trial hearing. She was accustomed to this. Thirty-five of her books had been "tried." Asked why she published Temon, Nour replied that she was a human rights activist who wanted to prevent all genocide, and that this was impossible without an acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide. The prosecutor responded by asking for her immediate arrest. Her time in prison was

cide

testimony Pailadzo

an, a collection of articles by Dadrian, and a book of short stories by the German humanitarian and attorney Armin Wegner, as well as a booklet of Armenian songs from Istanbul and Anatolia. . Immediately prior to the appearance of these most recent titles, Zarakolu was asked what he thought the government reaction to these publications would be. The man who has received death threats and fines, who has been imprisoned and firebombed, smiled. "We will see," he said. "We are forcing them, step by step, to accept the right to pubIish on Armenian issues." Within Turkey, the Armenian weekly Agos has become the center of a growing Turkish-Armenian dialogue. Since its inception in 1995, Agos has become the bridge between the two communities - a sort of Armenian embassy. Hrant Dink, Agos's charismatic publisher, has forged ties with a wide spectrum of the Turkish press, and when a story breaks they turn to him for insight into AIM MAY

2OOO

the Armenian perspective. To date there have

been no articles attacking Agos. On the contrary, there have been many articles in support of its efforts, to the extent that, according to Dink, "when Armenians have problems, these people [his readership] are the first to defend us."

Zarakolu believes that

by publicizing

state infringements of minority and Armenian

rights, Agos has created sympathy for Armenian issues, especially among Turkish intellectuals. Their work has made "a real contribution to the creation of an atrnosphere of dialogue," he said. But, he emphasized, Turkish publishers need to get involved as well.

"The Genocide has become part of the Armenian identity. We must free them from that burden, we must carry it together."

devoted

to publiciz-

ing Zarakolu's cause to

tory to lift the face of the mirror and

Ragrp traveled to Paris to gain documentation that a man named Yves

themselves

opportunity to see both sides of his-

"It

the

only published the book, but had written it under the pen name Yves Ternon. So in 1995,

CRDA.

the

Zarakolu and

state's efforts to suppress the Armenian issue have led to increased intemational support for Zarakoll. It began when the prosecutor in the Ternon case, hoping to pin a few years on Nour's sentence, claimed that she had not

Raffi HermonnAraxes of

and many others,

lished over

publishing house was fined $7,500

first met Kebabdjian and

lishers such as Belge and Aras

we have

harsh, and some say even caused the cancer from which she is currently suffering. Though the Zarakolus lost the Ternon case the book is cunently banned and the

The Kurdish Factor

It is impossible to speak

about these

changes in Turkey without discussing one of the primary catalysts: the Kurdish issue. In Turkey, the relevance of the Armenian question is directly proportional to the relevance of the Kurdish question. The emergence of a Kurdish identity in

it impossible for Turkey to maintain the fagade that Turkey is and always has been a land of only Turks. Twenty years of human rights abuses and intercommunal fighting has alienated the Kurds which form a

Anatolia made

large segment

of Turkey's population, and

driven them to reexamine their history. And as Kurds began to look into their own past, they could not ignore the parallels benveen their current situation and the Armenian genocide. In Turkey, those fighting the hardest for genocide recognition are those who fear that Turkey may be headed for another disaster in Anatolia. This is true of Zarakolu, whose first efforts on behalf of the Armenians came out ofhis realization that "Turkey was in danger of a new disaster that could develop on the same level as the genocide." It is true of

Ahmet Onal, head

Peri Yayrnlarr,

Kurdish press that has published a half-dozen books on Armenian history, who realized that "in order for Kurdish scholars to claim a

Kurdish reality they had

discuss the

Armenian reality." It is true of MED-TY the Kurdish television station broadcast from Western Europe and watched via satellite throughout Anatolia. MED-TV runs programs about Armenians, and reserves April 24 of every year for a full day broadcast commemorating the genocide. It is true of Ali Ertem, who founded the Association Against

Genocide

Germany (see accompanying

story) which gathered over 11,000 signatures

cs'vE*,s.,?onY

:r,iiillr .?

,r.\

'..",

,iii

i'.1:',;.,:-iti ;r{,,rr-lr

Above: Armenian Turkish dialogue is an attempt at mending broken bridges, like this one ouer lhe rivet Aradsani (Murat) in Eastern Tu*ey. Left: Taner Akgam's Hunan flights and the Arnenian luestion is one ol many titles lhat examine the Armenian Genocide.

from Kurds and Turks who recognized the Armenian genocide. And it is true of the thousands of Kurds in Anatolia who

these changes reflect a meaningful change in Turkish policy? Many, like Dadrian, have

acknowledge, among themselves for now, the reality of the genocide.

edges that "Turkey's European Union candidacy is bound to encourage greater press freedom," he maintains that "These changes are

ing for ways to create the necessary forums, disagree vehemently. Libaridian says, "This is not a matter of haggling over the Genocide. The truth is not somewhere in the middle. The numbers, the facts, they are not debatable. That is not what

but token gestures aimed at impressing

we are doing.

European observers rather than eamestly liberating the system as a whole." Surprisingly, the issue of academic dialogue is a controversial one.

"That's not the way to get at the truth," Libaridian continues. "My argument is that

The awakening

Kurdish interest in

Armenian issues is evident at the Book Fair. Kurdish readers have been avid consumers of

recent publications about Armenians, and Mgrdich Margosian's memoirs about life among Darbeku's Armenians sped through multiple editions at Aras publishing. But, as Robert Kopta of fuas tells it, Kurds came to the Book Fair not only to thankAras fortheir books.

"People would come to us saying 'I'm sorry, my grandfather killed Armenians,' or 'My grandfather saved some Armenians,'

" said Robert, who estimated that in the past two years, there were probably 40 incidents like this. "Our stand turned into a wailing wall." Within Turkey there is increasing intemal and external pressure, for a re-examination of the past. Surprisingly, the government seems reluctant to shut down this discourse. Do

their reservations. While Dadrian acknowl-

Richard Kloian, director of the Armenian Genocide Research Center, is "all for dialogue," but, he continues, "I am troubled by the projection of such a dialogue into the public arena as a step forward when it in fact simply gives Turkey and her trained 'experts' another opportunity to 'debate' facts, to counter arguments and to once again take credit for 'engaging in open dialogue with

Armenians,'all the while proceeding at full speed the continued aggressive denials of the

you have to look at the whole mental attitude. it that Turks have not recognized this? The answer

This is a historical problem. Why is

is that the problem of Genocide is a problem in and for Turkish history. It says something to a Turkish historian or intellectural about Turkey. Not that they're good or bad, but it says something about how the state evolved." That is precisely the reason some Turkish scholars have openly called for a discussion of the Armenian Genocide. And they call it Genocide. That's a sign that the dialogue has begun.

genocide in every forum it surfaces."

But those scholars who believe in

the

need for such a dialogue, and who are lookAIM MAY

2OOO

Carl Robichaud is a graduate student who travels extensively through Turkey and Europe.

COVER STORY

hnUHuailloIb Interview with Ali Ertem, Chairperson of the Association of People Opposed to Genocide by TESSA H0FMANN ighty-five years after the first major

genocide of the twentieth century, recognizing and coming to terms

with the Armenian Genocide of 1915-'16 is still the biggest taboo of Turkish history. This holds not only for "official" Turkey, which in

Hofmann: In 1915, the Committee for Union and Progress, or the Young Thrks, a nationalist party holding all the portfo-

were forced to express pride in their "newTurkish" identity. Racism in its purest form, coupled with religious prejudice, is the order of the day. We are a tense nation prey to the

advantage of the World War to

delusion that we are surrounded by enemies, as is suggested by the common saying,

lios in the Sultan's government, took rid itself of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire. The Allied Powers,

France,

1999 erected, not far from the Turkish-

war, they would call

monument

the

the Genocide

be seen lrom a long way off and can only be

account

great many Turkish opinion-makers and influential intellectuals. 0nly a handful of Turks in Turkey or abroad have raised their voices to

demand that history be approached objectively, or even to ask the Armenians' forgiveness for the crimes of the past. This makes

the accomplishments of the "Association of People 0pposed to Genocide" all the more remarkable. Since 1998, it has gathered over

11,000 signatures 0n a petition demanding

that the Turkish parliament recognize

the

Armenian Genocide. More than 10,000 ol these signatures were provided by Turkish

citizens.

November

1ggg,

the

Association's chairperson, Ali Ertem, sent the petition and signatures by registered mail

The Turks who live and work in Germany feel the con$equences of racism in their own lives.

those responsible for

"Turkish victims of the Armenians" that can

regarded as a provocation; it is also true of a

Injustice and deception hold sway at all

Britain and

Russia, vowed that, after the

Armenian border,

"Turks have no friends but them-selves."

Great

for

against

and

to t'crimes

humanity

civilization."

But the Allies did not make good on their promises. Mustafa

Kemal's

T[rkish

Republic never had

face up

the

murder of 1.5 million

levels of social life. In terms,

very general

new campaigns of extermination that violate international borders, and endless

violations of human rights are all conse-

of denying the Genocide. That is what our social reality

quences

is like.

The organization

Armenians. To the

that you head,

present day, not only representatives of the Thrkish government, but also leading Tirrkish intellectuals have vehemently denied that a genocide ever took place. What effects does the ttArmenian Taboo" as Yves

"Association of

in his book, have on

Ternon calls

the

People Opposed to Genocide," was founded in Frankfurt in Sept. 1998. What are its objectives? Whom are your activities meant to reach? Who is eligible to join?

contemporary

Our aim is to make it clear that genocide

Ertem: The Armenian Genocide and

is something that humanity simply cannot reconcile with its conscience. Genocide is the worst crime that man can perpetrate

Thrkish society?

Genocide denial continue to have devastat-

against man, a crime motivated solely by the

ing effects on Turkish society. Historical facts are very deliberately distorted,

victims'ethnic or religious identity. With the extension of industrialization and the reinforcement of the apparatus of the modern

although the public is aware that two-thirds of an entire people was simply killed off. While vital social concerns are ignored,

state, this crime has attained unheard of pro-

questions I had asked him about the objec-

Turkish citizens are supposed to regard their own state with fear and trembling. People who did not even understand Turkish, that is,

portions. Our conscience demands that we act justly, that we do what is right. If we countenance genocide, we will end up betraying all other human ideals and we will have failed to do our duty vis-i-vis future

tives of his organization.

Kurds, Arabs, Laz, Cherkez, and others,

generations. Our Association therefore

to Turkey's Great National

Assembly. The

same day he provided written responses to

intimidation and violence are glorified.

AIM MAY

2OOO

il-Ilr

COVER STORY appeals to all those whose consciences

will

not let them live with this crime.

But we have a special task when it comes to Turks. For those who have the greatest obligation to come to terms with this problem are the Turks and the other peo-

ples who were used as tools during the Genocide carried out under the leadership of the Young Turk "Committee for Union and Progress." Our priority must be to address

It will

these groups.

we set out to accomplish on this trip. From the first day, we were received with great enthusiasm and hospitality. The Armenian media gave considerable attention to our project. And it was covered beyond Armenia's borders as well: there were

reports on our project

Yerevan to very good use. After the commemoratlon, we met

take a great deal of energy and extraor-

dinary powers of persuasion to lift the

taboo on Genocide.

the

An effort

lasting several gen-

erations

will

be required to open peo-

ple's eyes.

In April 1999, eleven members and supporters of

your

Association traveled to Yerevan to take part, along

with the people of

Armenia, in

the annual ceremony in memory of the vic-

tims

the

Genocide. Apart from the 1995 visit

in the Austrian,

Russian and US media. We put the short week at our disposal in

with the

When one acknowledges the historical realities of the Genocide and expresses remorse, the Armenian people, which has a deep-rooted sense of history has no place in its heart for feelings of hatred or vengeance.

Social-

Democratic deputy mayor of Istanbul to the monument commemorating the Genocide - a visit it was later denied he made - yours was the first visit to be made for this purpose by Thrks and Kurds from Thrkey. What were your feelings and the feelings of those who went with you about your stay in Armenia? \trhat kind of a reception were you given? First, I would like to take this opportuni-

ty to express my warm

thanks

our

Armenian friends, especially the members

of the Central Council of

German-

Armenians, the Center for Research on the Armenian Diaspora (CRDA) in France, and other notables. They were unstinting in their efforts to make our trip a success. I am very glad to be able to tell you, without any exaggeration, that we achieved all the objectives

representa-

tives of various institutions, including the Research Center on

the Peoples of

the

East, the Middle Eastern Department

Yerevan

State

University, represen-

tatives

minority

groups, and so on. All of them extended us a very warm welcome. We had ample

occasion

talk

about our project and exchange views. We

were asked

very

interesting questions.

For example, "Who finances your activities? What prompted your decision to concern yourselves with Genocide? Are you

not afraid of

the

Turkish state? Will your trip be given coverage in Turkey? Are there political forces that support your efforts?" We tried to answer to the best of our ability, going into as much detail as possible, and we also frankly pointed out our weaknesses. These include our small numbers, our insufficient knowledge of genocide, and

certain social realities. Everyone in Armenia, from high-ranking personalities to the man in the street, very much appreciated

I would like to emphasize something here: when one

what we were trying to do.

acknowledges the historical realities of the

Genocide and expresses remorse,

the

Armenian people, which has a deep-rooted sense of history, has no place in its heart for feelings of hatred or vengeance.

AIM MAY

2OOO

\ilur Associ:rtion aclrlresses

itself

above all lo people l'ronr'l'urkey living in (]errnanr'. Can (lcrnrany play a positive role u hen it conres to thc discussion of

STRATION ,E$ IGN c DE XtlllNt NG HlrhtG G

the,\rnrenian (]enocide taking place in 'IIrkel itsell"l In 1,our opinion, what

part c:ln the 'l'urkish Diaspora in (iernranv plal in honestll coming to grips rvith the

knoun that u'hen Hitlcr vuls Plurrning thc mass e\ccutions

tl'rc Sllrvic Populatt0n ()l

Poiand as u'c'll as thc annihilation ol thc Je*s on an inrlr.rstriul sculc. Itc alludcd to thc cxternrination ol thc .{rrrrenrans: "WIto

todav rcrrcntbcls thc annihilution ot'the Anne nians.)" That ntcans tltat tltc reco_qni, tion of tltc .lcri ish (ie nocidc anrl thc iirrget-

tine ol thc Arnrcnian (ierrocidc are notjus-

past?

tilicd It is tnle tltat ri

t8{8} 246-9962

rlircct our-efforts muinlv at peoplc lrom TLrrkcl, livint

Germanl'. The

Tulks who lir,e

rrnrl

in Gcrnranv leel the collsc-

rvork

quences o1'racisnt in their ow'n livcs:

Tr.rlks huve

bccrr

rcl-lcatetllv cr;rosetl to racist irttacks ill cit ics througltout

(iennln\. Thcr

Germany could play an outstanding part in enlightening people about the Genocide if it did not act in such a half-hearted way.

don't corresponcl

ancl

to prei ailine intirscs

of tliat histor1,.

Do you think it would be possible to create :ln

"Association

People Opposed to

(icnocide"

'furke-r'

itse

lf? If

not. rvhal is stantl-

In'l'urkcr.1-rcoplc hlrr c colne togcthcr ltt-ounrl vurious grassnxrts initiativcs lrrc tkring outstuniling uork. 'l-hct, are u

t() unde rstand u hat lrcing ti national minor-

nrcuns. Anrong the Turks

tlie realities

ing in the *a1,?

ulc

gnrduallr conting

it)

b1'

ol'Gernran historr,

the

\'lLrsliins ll'onr Tulkcv u l-ro are of othcr etltnic buckgrouncls br-rt cctnsider thentse-lvcs Turks. sontc - still verr, teu. it is truc ob.jcct to thr- uav ntinorities are trcutccl in Tu|key and to the huntan ilghts srtuali0rr there. I think that thc llrst tusk ol'cvcn, ltonest. progrcssive Tr"rrk is to libcmtc thcsc individuals fhrnt thc cllects ol lonsstan(l ing lalsification of' histor-v. (lernlrrtr coultl

play an outstancling part in cnljshtcnins people aboLrl the Cicnocitlc il it did not act in such l hall'-hcarlcd way. (icrrnunv's on rr

riskins

the

il- livcs to

l)r'e scr'\

e and

clelbnd

hunrarr rights. 'l'hc Turkish Hr.rntan Richts Associution is onc goocl cxarnple. Although

l7 ol its

nrcnthcls havc paicl l'rtr their

couragc u,rth their livcs. it has consistentlv nrainlainccl its 1-rosition against the arbitralr crcrcrsc ()l' statc 1-lower. A nunrbet' ol cor.nrttittccs liarc been crcated within thc llanic uork ol thc Hur-nan Rights Associati()n. ln TLrrkcr. thev cannot call thcir initiative an

"Association ol Pcoplc. Opposcd

hls ncr,cl strl{cr-cd ll'onr her'

Genocidc." The Clontntittce crcaletl to defend minorin rishts u,irs callcd thc

acknou Ictlgcrncnt ol' thc .lcwish Gcnociclc

"Conrnrittcc to Observc atrrl Pursuc Minor-ity

rr illin-sncss to rlake rcparations. thc c()ntntr\,'il Gcrrnany cnjoys QLrite

Rights." The grcilt nia jorit! ol its rtrcntbcrs are \\onren. Thcr hurc ullcadv tlone astottncling *ork. l-hcit' rkrcurtrctrtltion ot' the pouronrs ol' (r unrl 7 Scptcrnbcr 1955

rcputation antl hcr

intcrnutionul cstccnt. thc reason is that she has bccn ri illinq to rccogrrizc the IJewishl rit'rrIr irlt iln(l nlitke t('Iirtirli(rn\. Horr cr cr. I do not understand vn l-rv Ciclnranv takcs a ncgative. or. in thc best ol'

ca\cs.

ahstcntionist ltosition or.r the Alnrcniun Gcnocide. Toda1. as in thc pust.

ol'lc|s :rn r'\ilt)tl)l!'. Il)ltt,:. lt|e Itr)rtr.:.\in! slowlv. but thcv arc pror:rcssing. We havc closc conlacts u ith thc Huntan Ilights Associa tiorr in Tul'kcr'. Togcther. uc shall ckr orrr utruost 1o [rring about condcnlnation

(icrrnanv is a Turkish allr. Allicd u,ith 'Iirrkcv rn World \&ar I. Intpcnal (icr-nunl doubtless plal,ed a rolc thcn us ri'cll. F-or exanrple. the Gerrran (lcneral Linrarr vorr

to prcvcltt thc dcltortittion of Arntcnians liln Sntr rnu. It is

Tessa Hofmann ls a German historian

Sanders was able

thc (icnociclc.

translated from the German by

Goshgarian

COVER STORY

Innx-AnupNtn Golden Bridges

lsFaEl Enters the Dialogue

20th Century Iranian-fumenian Paintett By Alice Navasargian

By MAITHEW KARANIAN

the

accepted an invitation from the Armenians

Armenian Genocide are growing tire-

to speak at a memorial gathering on April

some to many Westem governments.

24 in Jerusalem.

urkey's continued denials

The latest expression of this weariness came from Israel on April 24, when a state minister expressly affirmed that the events of l9l5 were genocide against the Armenian nation. But instead of calling on Turkey to admit to the crimes of its Ottoman forebears, the

cabinet minister

Israel's Minister of

Sarid told the crowd "As Minister of Education of the State of Israel, ...I will do everything in order that Israeli children learn and know about the Armenian Genocide." On the following day, Israeli Minister of Justice Yossi Beilin said the events of 1915 "cannot be defined except as genocide." Beilin's comments were brief and less detailed than Sarid's, and they reiterated Sarid's main point about genocide. But Beilin's words were not merely cumulative, because of Beilin's political affiliation. Beilin is a member of the Prime Minister's ruling party. Sarid is in the opposition. Israel's Charge d'Affaires in Turkey, Moshe Kamhi, clarified their comments after receiving a demand from Turkey. He told the Turks that the two ministers' statements are their personal opinions, and do not reflect the govemment's policies.

The tempered reply was aPParentlY to be sensitive to the world's

intended

This coffeetable album will lead you to the seen and understood through the eyes

Orient,

fuminian nainters. You willbe cfiarmedhot onlv bv the u'niqr,

*ry

of life, national customs,

bdt also bv the orieinalanistic lanzuase of the

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Armenians without causing further annoyance to Turkey. But it failed to have that effect.

leader

in the Armenian-American

community in Washington, DC said the official clarification from Israel was offensive to Armenians.

copfia) of

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And the Turkish govemment rejected lsrael's Minister ol Education Yossi Satid Education, no less - advocated that Israel's schools include the Armenian Genocide in their curriculum. Turkey demanded a clarification, and it got one. But the clarification from Israel was a deliberately worded response that did not expressly retract the minister's statement. The episode was an embalrassment to Tirkey, but it is not expected to sour IsraeliTurkish relations, or to have an affect on Armenia's relations with either of the counfries.

The diplomatic row occurred after Israel's Minister of Education Yossi Sarid

the explanation as inadequate. Turkey

Neur

demanded that Israel issue a "satisfactory" statement, and it demonstrated its anger by refusing to attend a recent diplomatic event

Aoonrss

that had been sponsored by the Israeli Embassy in Ankara.

Israel had not issued any further comments as of late May.

An Unlikely Partnership Turkey and Israel have been nurturing a cordial relationship in recent years. Turkey's interest in this partnership is, at least in part, to obtain Israeli technology and to receive a share of Israel's military expertise. Israel's

AIM MAY

2OOO

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COVER STORY interest is to enlist Turkey's assistance in

their own personal words, and no basis for

containing their mutual Arab foes. As an apparent condition for this relationship, Turkey has insisted that Israel maintain a policy that the events of l9l5 should be discussed among historians, and not politicians.

speculation that the govemment of Israel is signaling a shift in diplomacy. "Sarid did not discuss or clear his wonderful performance with any government leader," says Charny. "I pray that there is a change [in Israel's

Israel's clarification said that it was sticking to this "policy," which had been

official position on the Armenian genocidel," says Charny. "But I have seen noth-

in 1995. An official of the Armenian National Institute (ANI), however, says that Israel's

ing, heard nothing, from any public or private source to suggest that there is."

adopted

reply comes close to affirming the Genocide.

Rouben Adalian, Director

of ANI in

Washington, DC, points to what the Israeli clarification did not say. "They don't deny the remarks. There's been no retraction, and they don't disavow

the statements. Therein lies the difference," he says.

Israel merely says, officially, that its "policy" of allowing historians to discuss the

of l9l5 has not changed. A genocide scholar from Israel who is

Charny is a Professor of Psychology at Tel Aviv University, and a leading scholar on genocide and the Holocaust. He has written extensively on the subject, and he is also the

of the two-volume of Genocide (ABC-Clio,

editor-in-chief Encyclopedia

1999) which is a comprehensive reference work with major sections not just on the Jewish Holocaust, but also on the Armenian Genocide, as well as on denial of genocide and the comparative study of the genocides

events

of all peoples.

familiar with each of the ministers disputes this hypothesis. The scholar, Israel Charny, says there is no reason to suspect that the

Because of his history of involvement in this area, he is in a position to know whether a change in Israeli policy had intentionally been signaled. Charny was the organizer of a

ministers'statements are anything more than

Tel Aviv conference

1982 when the

Turkish government pressured Israel to disinvite the participants scheduled to speak on the Armenian Genocide. Charny refused despite the implied threat about the safety of Jews escaping Iran through Turkey.

A Giant Step Forward Regardless of Israel's official stance, however, the statements of Sarid and Beilin illustrate a growing unofficial resistance in Israel to Turkey's continued denials. This is a "giant step forward" for Israel. "On a cultural level, in terms of the country's press and media, and in reflections of public opinion, there definitely is a corrective process going on," says Charny, in a telephone interview with AIM. Adalian is more blunt. This is evidence, he says, that Turkey's

"intimidating methods are building some resistance." In other words, there's a backlash against Turkey's heavy-handed denials. "I see it all over." Beilin, the Justice Minister, had said that "something happened that cannot be defined except as genocide. One-and-a-half million people disappeared. It wasn't negligence. It

COVER STORY was deliberate.

"We must clarify to the Turks that we cannot accept their political demands to ignore a historical event." Beilin's comments had been reported in Ha'aretz, the Israeli Daily newspaper. He had been motivated to make the statement by his "impeccable integrity, moral coherence," says Charny.

order that this monumental work, The Forty Days of Musa Dagh is once more well known to our children.

"I would like to see a central chapter on genocide [in the school curriculum], on this huge and inhuman atrocity. The Armenian Genocide should occupy a prominent place

"He's from the government party, and yet he spoke!"

Sarid, the Education Minister, said during his comments that he had been deeply moved by the epic account of one

in this program, which does justice to

the

national and personal memory of every one of you, to the memory of all the members of your nation. This is our obligation to you; this is our obligation to ourselves." Charny frames the issue not merely as a moral obligation, but also as one that strikes at the heart of Israel's national interest. Turkey's denials perpetuate the genocide, he says. And, by involving Israel, Turkey implicates Israel not just in wrongly denying the Armenian Genocide, but also in

covertly supporting those who deny

the

Holocaust.

This "policy of pressure" has

battle during the genocide, as portrayed in Franz Werfel's 1933 novelThe Forty Days of Musa Dagh. He called the book a masterpiece, and said that it shocked millions of people. "For me and for many youngsters, my generation in Israel, The Forty Days of Musa Dagh had a formative effect on our personality and our world outlook. "Today in Israel, very few youngsters have heard about Musa Dagh, very few know about the Armenian Genocide. As Minister of Education of the State of Israel, I will do whatever is in my capacity in

been

applied against Israel "to the point of extor-

tion,"

he says.

In the short run, it may benefit Israel to placate the Turks. But in the long run, this appeasement could put Jews and Armenians at risk of continued genocide, he says. "It's a trap," which Charny says he is optimistic about avoiding. Why the optimism? Israel's leaders are "already taking positions we didn't see in years past," he says.

"Israelis are becoming more aware."

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NATION

nulnglnherlllu IhB 0uilke

Earthquake Zone Construction Slower Than Expected Texl & Photos by MATTHEW KARAlllAil veryone loves anniversaries. It's no matter whether we are marking the passage of l0 years, or of 1700. Either way, we all get to celebrate, to commemorate, and sometimes even

destroyed by the December, 1988 quake. By the end of 2001, just in time for the commemoration of the 1700th anniversary of state Christianity in Armenia, the earthquake zone was to be rebuilt.

to pontificate. So it was no surprise 16 months ago when

Journalists toured the stricken towns on the lOth anniversary, and they found residents who were enthusiastic and hopeful.

journalists and politicians seized upon the tenth anniversary of the Armenia earthquake to make predictions and promises about the region's future.

Armenia's president, Robert Kocharian, promised a massive rebuilding effort. He predicted that the weary moniker "earthquake zone" would soon be obsolete. The heart of the promise was a three-year plan to deliver new apartments, schools, and

public buildings to the areas that were

Noq half way through this rebuilding plan-which had affectionately been dubbed the "Kocharian Plan," a year and a half agothe likelihood of meeting its goals is slim. The promises of the plan are now jokes, say some.

Creating a Market for Housing In Spitak, a town that was completely leveled by the quake, the promise of the plan is perhaps most evident.

AIM MAY

2OOO

Spitak has always been a special case in Armenia. Other Armenian towns, and the city of Gyumri, suffered tremendous losses, but in Spitak nothing survived. This made Spitak's situation unique and helped it to capture the attention of the nation's leaders. The Ministry of Urban Development has recognized this and has given the reconstruction of Spitak

priority over other projects. But a rown with priority

in 2000 may merely be a town that's fint in line for nothing. Kamo Khachatrian wishes this wasn't true. Khachatrian is the Head of the Departrnent of Housing, an office that is subordinate to the Ministry of Urban Development. He is trying to find homes for everyone in the earttrquake zone. It's a task that could fill his entire career.

NATION The statistics are awful.

During the first year and a half of the Kocharian Plan, the earthquake stricken areas added only 995 apartments to their housing stock, far short of the modest goal of 6,641

new apartments. The Lori Region, which includes the town of Spitak, added 128 apartments in 1998, and 158 in 1999. The Shirak Region, which includes the city of Gyumri, fared better, adding 709 apartments during the same period. Khacharian is forthcoming about the reason for the shortfall. '"There wasn't enough money." ln order to meet the published goals of the plan, an additional 25,846 must be completed by the end

ple want to sell, and only one wants to buy," he says, sounding almost surprised by the way the free market works.

"As long as the price of buying is less than the price of building, we will buy." The most likely way for a person from Spitak to benefit from this plan, however, is

by leaving town. There are no pre-earthquake apartments there. Actually, there's no pre-earthquake anything. So no one expects to find any housing for sale. Refugees from the quake might need to relocate to Yerevan.

Khachatrian doesn't disagree, but he doesn't suggest an alternative for the people of Spitak.

of 2001. This twenfy-five-fold increase

in new housing over just the next 18 months is improbable, according to Khacharian. "With this [Armenia's] budget, we cannot solve this kind of problem," he says. Each new apartment that Armenia builds ends up costing the government. or private donors, roughly $13,000. In an effort to economize, the size of each apartment has already been reduced to about 65 square meters, and there aren't any other corners to cut, he says. These figures are only average costs, but they suggest that roughly $12 million was channeled to housing last year. By contrast, the total project cost is estimated at $250 million. "But don't be afraid of the numbers," says Khachatrian. This is because he's got a plan. Every year, it seems, more people leave Armenia than enter. the Samvel Nersessian. Chief Department on the Census, estimates that 600,000 Armenian citizens may have left during the past decade. Others estimate that the exodus is higher.

So Khachatrian's plan is to buy their empty apartments and give them to the earthquake victims. He estimates that the average cost of an existing apartment is about $7,000, which is 40 to 50 percent below the cost ofbuilding a new one. The supply of empty apartments

that are owned by people who have left Armenia is adequate to meet the goals of the Kocharian Plan, he says. Khachatrian had hoped to begin this buying program in April, through a program set

up with the United

States Agency for International Development (USAID) and

with $15 million in funding from the US. According to his plan, the family would buy directly from the apartment owner, with the money put up by the govemment. "This is very weird, but it happens: in the market where they sell apartments, nine peo-

AIM MAY

2OOO

Losing Hope in Spitak About a dozen people had gathered in the center of Spitak. It was a cold and snowdraped morning in early March, and the presence of a visitor from out-of-town seemed to have heated them up. The group was talking about the reconstruction. They were inside one of those metal containers that the Armenians call domigs. This one was about the height and length of a typ ical railroad car, and it was serving as a temporary food market. It has been ever since the earthquake. At 8 a.m., its primary appeal to the townspeople was that it wasn't freezing inside. But just barely.

NATION None of them agreed about the minutiae

of the so-called Kocharian Plan. But, with a unified voice, they all scoffed when asked if they expected the town to be rebuilt according to the plan.

'"There's no hope," says Pandought Petossian, a 60 year-old who survives on a pension, and who spoke for the group. "No hope." This, from a town that 16 months ago was vibrant with expectation. For Petrossian and for many others in Spia( their hopeful expectation was extinguishedroughly six monttrs ago, in late October.

The town's popular mayor,

Souren

Avetisian, had been meeting regularly with Armenia's ministers throughout 1999. Details about construction plans had to be agreed upon. There were financing anangements still to be made. So Avetisian frequently fraveled to Yerevan, Armenia's capital. Avetisian was making one of those business trips on October 26, shortly after an early winter storm had coated the mountain road with ice. Just outside town, his car slid out of control and collided with a truck. Avetisian was killed. Spitak mourned. Reconstruction stopped. It hasn't resumed.

The demoralizing loss of their mayor was followed the next day by the assassinations of Armenia's Prime Minister and several other

members

of the National Assembly. The

black of despair settled upon Spitak. "After the death of the mayor, everything has stopped," says Datevik Kharatian, a 2l year-old former student, who is now among Spitak's many unemployed. Her friend Anna Otalian, 20, suggests that the curent situation will continue. "There was supposed to have been next year no destroyed houses, only new houses. But now this is not possible." Spitak's mayor was popular and charismatic.

He was also prone to

understatement.

When the face of the town changed dramatically in 1998, with the start of several major construction projects, Avetisian refused to brag. "Spitak changes day by day," he said. Reconstruction had hit a stride under his leadership during 1998 and 1999. When the Kocharian Plan was just getting underway, in January, 1999, AIM reported from Spitak that

"Avetisian

is obviously doing something

right....Spitak is a town that's finally on the move." [AIM, Jan. 1999] Today, the consfiuction projects in Spitak are just as Avetisian left them on October 26.

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NATION There's a town center, but it is not finished. Building materials lay prone in a yard, and wooden forms jut from the unfinished center, poking at the sky. There's anew church, and some aparfrnents. But without the mayor, people in Spitak expect that construction will languish. The

how it had been ever since the quake.

Now, this hall-of-learning

formerly

tributed to the shutdown of the town's con-

know as School No. 6 - occupies a two story stone block building right next door. "It's the only school in Stepanavan with central heat," boasts Romik Baghramian, the town's mayor, during a tour in March. The school building is not new construction. It had been the town's warehouse and garage, but it has been rebuilt to make it suitable for school children to use. Construction on a new, permanent school, could begin as early as June. The town's domig-dwellers haven't fared

struction projects.

And then there is the matter of money, which has been in short supply. But for many in Spital it's the mayor who fintcomes to mindwhen ttrey lookattheirunfin-

Baghramian says there are more than 1,000 families who still need someplace permanent to live. Last year the town built only 148 apartments, none of which is ready for occupancy. "At the end of last year we had difficulty financing, and [construction] was stopped," says Baghramian. They are behind the goals

mayor's office is now held temporarily by a caretaker: the mayor's father. The death of the mayor does not account

for everything, however. The assassinations of October 27, and the political uncertainty that followed, are also likely to have con-

ished town, and imagine what might have been.

Seeking Stability in Stepanavan

well

as the children.

intemational agencies with high profiles, but many others are quiet groups or individuals. The Republic of Armenia is on the list, too. But "so far, nothing" from them, he says.

Part of Baghramian's fundraising efforts include lobbying the national government for funding. He finds this difficult, however, because he frequently has to repeat his efforts. "There are new Ministers all the time." Baghramian is referring not to any assassinations, but instead to the recent reorganiza-

tion of the govemment. In early March, President Kocharian fired all of the Ministers, and restructured the Ministries. "The Social Security Minister visited here four or five months ago. But now he's gone. Minister of Regions. He's gone." Baghramian continues, and lists more names, all of them influential friends of Stepanavan who are no longer influential.

The Vahan Tekeyan School is the pride of Stepanavan. Just a year and a half ago, the school oper-

of the Kocharian Plan, the plan that is offi-

Rebuilding After the Assasinations

cially known as the Priority Program for

of a double stack of metal domigs, a sructure that must have been the only twostory domig school in the nation. And this is

Baghramian runs through a list of the names of private donors who he is counting on for financial assistance. Some ofthem are

Stepanavan's leaders had cultivated professional acquaintances with Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsian and with National Assembly Speaker Karen Demirchian, and they were counting on their help in reconstruction. Each

ated out

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NATION of them had visited the town, and understood the problems there. Their joumey to Stepanavan hel@ each of them understand tlre isolation of the town, which

is located north of Spita( beyond a mountain range. Baghramian tusted the two men.

Razmik Oloyan, head

of the town's

Departrnent of Civil Construction, also had great faith in Sargsian and Demirchian.

"But after October 27 everything

got

ruined," he says. Sargsian and Demirchian were gunned down by assassins on October 27 dldlng a session of the Armenian National Assembly. The effect on the nation of these killings has been debated. Whether the killings will compound the delays in the rebuilding of the earthquake zone is not clear. Khachatrian, head of the Department of Housing Policy in Yerevan, says donations targeted for earthquake relief "dropped off' after the tragedy.

"The incoming of money [from abroad] became much less," he says. But he could not quantify the decrease, and he denied that the reconstruction project will suffer from the loss of the nation's top leaders. SpitalC the town that seemed poised to final-

Iy make it, is still stunned by the latest losses. "It's a pity. And it was all going very well in Spitak," says Khachatrian. Spitak is perhaps less able to cope with the psychological toll of the assassinations because of the loss of its local leadership.

In Stepanavan, however, the resilient mayor says he's starting all over with his networking and lobbying. Indeed, the new Prime Minister, Aram Sargsian, was scheduled to

visit the town last month [April].

During a meeting last month

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking candidates for an Economic Advisor (GS-14) to be based in Yerevan, Armenia. Applicants must be US citizens, have a PhD and/or a Masters degree in economics. The position broadly emphasizes macroeconomic policy, proiect feasibility analysis, international finance, banking, emerging markels and economies in transition. Candidates need 8 to 10 years of demonstrated ana-

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regional economic issues. This p_osition will be contracted under a personal services contract for trvo years with option to extend. Salary will be negotiated upon salary history not to exceed $85,774,with otherbenefits such as housing and 250/o post differential provided. A security clearance will be required. See more details

the

result of the assassinations. The quake wasn't the end, and the assassinations will not be, either, he says. "It's important to say we haven't finished."

ECONOMICADVISOR

rhe Econo-i.

mayor's dark, domig office near the center of Stepanavan, Baghramian appeared unfazed by any of the recent tragedies. He refused to quantify the loss suffered by the town as a

for this announcement at http://www.info.usaid.gov

Interested applicants should send SF 171 or OF 612 to Executive OfHcer, DOS/USAID,7O2O Ycrevan Place, Washington, DC 20521-7020; or by e-mail to: soleary@usaid.gov, or by FAX to: Attn Sean 9'!...y 374-2-151131. Submissions must be received at USAID/fumenia by COBJune 8, 2000 and should reference solicitation number 111-0500-001.

NATION

[l|o LauUhlnU l|Iattel' Aparan, the City of 1001 Jokes, is also an Earthquake Survivor Text & Photo by MAITHEW KARANIAN

Aparan hasn't received any assis-

paran is well known to Armen-

town

tance from the state budget since 1993.

located roughly halfu ay benveen

Last year's "Priority Program for

ians. They know

as the

rest

Disaster Zone Reconstruction" focused

stop for travelers. Many more know it as the sefting in which many a

on the earthquake stricken regions

joke takes place. This form of humor is not uncommon. Johnny Carson used to crackjokes about Burbank. Jay Leno can't resist making trailer park communities the butt of his jokes. And the Armenians do it withAparan. They call them (surprise) Aparantsi jokes. For example, there's the one about the man and woman who came across an international aid worker. The foreigner addressed them in English. The man just shook his head. He tried

and Vanadzor.

Yerevan and Spitak

around Gyumri, Spitak, Stepanavan Sarkissian says that the horrific in places such as Spitak has

damage

discouraged him from being vocal. This, plus self-dignity, according to Emma Arakelian, a secretary at Aparan Town Hall. "The administration of the village is very proud, and don't want to talk about their needs." What's needed are permanent homes for the ten families who are still living in metal containers, and funding to repair the houses that were damaged eleven years ago. There are also several construction

French. The Aparan resident continued to shake his head. The foreigner finally ried German, but to no avail. The Aparantsi still didn't understand. As the

projects that were halted, which Sarkissian would like to someday get

foreign language?" The husband calmly replied, "What for? He knew three

back online. There's the hotel that stands half-built on the town's main highway, and a cultural center that was never finished and never occupied. Nishan Kocharian, head of the

languages. Did it do him any good?"

town's Culture Department, says

foreigner walked away, the irate wife turned to the husband and said, "Didn't

I tell you it would be good to learn a

No Relief Aid Herc

But Armenians may not really know Aparan all that well, says the town's mayor.

Unknown to many Armenians, and foreign visitors, he says, is that Aparan was one of the towns damaged in the 1988 earthquake.

the earthquake victims can rightly assert

that they are forgotten, then Aparan might say it was barely known in the first place. The mayor, Vanik Sarkissian, says that

the visit of an American journalist in March was the first that he can recall. "No one comes here," he says with a laugh. And no one mentions Aparan during any discussions about earthquake relief. The national govemment doesn't. But Aparan has suffered too, says the mayor. For example, he says, as much as 60 percent of the housing was damaged by the quake. The town's fourth cen-

tury church, Surb Khach, was also damaged and was then improperly repaired. Sarkissian is afraid the roof might collapse. But without funding, he cannot make needed changes. Two Aparan citizens were killed in the quake, as well. But they were in Spitak at the time, so the deaths aren't attributed to Aparan. Sarkissian is proud of the role that Aparan played in providing assistance immediately after the quake. The town square was filled with tents. Evacuees from Spitak and Gyumri used Aparan as a way station, while on their

way to refuge in Yerevan. Some of

these

evacuated families stayed for as long as one year, he says. "We were the first to help people after the

quake. But Yerevan doesn't help us now," says Sarkissian.

AIM MAY

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would like to see Aparan become a destination someday, instead of a passthrough for travelers. Kocharian, who is not related to the president, says he wants to make Aparan a "resort town." He envisions a ski trail and lodge, winter sports, and an indoor swimming pool. This complex would be located just outside "Belarus," at the eastern edge of town, on land that is now used for farming. Belarus is the name given to the neighbor-

of brick homes that was built by Belarussians immediately after the quake. Belarussians built, and then occupied 38 freestanding homes here, when they were providing earttrquake relief. When they retumed to

hood

their own homes in 1992 and 1993, these houses were tumed over to earthquake refugees.

Today, it is one ofAparan's better neighborhoods.

RELIGION

Pupe [[EI 0 afiullcus Catholicos Vazgen I's Historic Visit to Rome Almost Ended in Disaster By FELIX C0RLEY

hirty years ago this month, in May

talented former patriarch (1937-1962) of the

1970, Cattrolicos Vazgen made a historic first visit to the Vatican for a meet-

Armenian Catholic Church, was later

Cardinal Aghajanian, while influential in

installed in the Vatican curia as prefect of the Congregation that handled missions (and by now more Roman than the Romans), yet

the Vatican, was not the only shaper of

ing with Pope Paul VI. The visit

trumpeted as pathbreaking atthe timenearly ended in disaster, as this newly released document from the Church of England archives at Lambeth Palace in London testifies.

Inevitably, the long-standing rivalry between the Armenian Apostolic Church and

the Armenian Catholic Church reared its head. The Armenian Apostolic Church regarded the Catholics as befiayers of the faith intent on subsuming the entireArmenian

Apostolic Church into the Church of Rome,

in the process

abandoning long-cherished Armenian doctrine, ecclesiology and traditions. Cardinal Gregory PeterAghajanian, the

Armenian Apostolic suspicion of him remained high. Aghajanian died in 1971.

But rivalry with the Catholics was not rhe only undertone threatening to derail the highprofile meeting. Ongoing rivalry between the Catholicosate of All Armenians in Ejmiatsin and the Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias was equally potent. The Ejmiatsin bishops were incensed that the visit exactly three years earlier ofCatholicos Khoren Paroyan of Cilicia - the first head of an Eastern Church to make an offlcial visit to the Vatican - was regarded by the Catholic Church as of such

AIM MAY

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importance to be singled out for mention.

Vatican policy towards the Armenian Church. The Secretariat for Christian Unity established in 1960, now the Pontiflcal Council for Promoting Christian Unity - had long striven to establish and maintain good relations wittr

other Christian Churches and with nonChristians, an aim boosted by the Second Vatican Council. At every stage of the preparation and the visit itself, the Secretariat headed by the Dutch cardinal Johannes Photo: Pope Paul Vl and Catholicos Vazgen I after signing the Common Declaration on May 12, 1970. Photo by Pontificia Fotografia, Felici. Courtesy of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America.

RELIGION Willebrands - worked to make the visiting delegation welcome, to head off Armenian Apostolic concerns and to bring lasting fruit from the visit. The Vatican had hoped through Catholicos Vazgen's visit to push the idea of allowing Armenian Catholic priests to serve in Soviet Armenia, where the small Armenian Catholic community had been deprived of all its clergy. Although the Soviet regime had not gone as far as it did in Ukraine, where the Ukainian Catholic Church was banned, de facto the Armenian Catholics were not allowed any communal activity. Despite

lambeth Palace, Gouncil on Fonelgn Relations lArchbishop Bessakl Toumayan said that on the whole the visit had gone happily and had been useful in a number of ways. They had been met at the Airpoft by [Cardinal Johannes] Willebrands, [Father Jerome] Hamer and IFather Pierre] Duprey. The Catholicos [Vazgen] and some of the Bishops, including himself, had been put up in St John's Tower in the Vatican and the rest of the party had been accommodated in the Columbus Hotel. Whilst they had all received a good impression of the Pope himself, they had found him a little tense during the visit and there had been several clashes with Cardinal Aghajanian. lt had been originally agreed that the speeches which the Pope and Catholicos would make should be vetted by either side. The Armenians had sent theirs in, but the Pope's speech had been held

repeated attempts, the Vatican never succeeded in gaining permission for its priests to serve the Armenian Catholic community during the Soviet period and Catholicos Vazgen's hopeful remarks during the 1970 visit came

to nothing. Archbishop Bessak Toumayan, the prelate

of the Armenian Church in [,ondon, was a

up by Aghaianian and the text had been a number of times. When the

member of the large Armenian delegation to the Vatican. He maintained good relations with John Sanerthwaite, the head of the Church of England's Council for Foreign Relations, and gave him a full and vivid account of what had gone on behind the scenes.

changed

Catholicos read the Pope's speech, he was highly dissatisfied with it and wanted to return home. Willebrands had been a great mediator

and had promised to take the matter up with the Pope himself. The offending passage in the

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speech appeared to be the reference to the visit of [Catholicos] Khoren [of the Cilician

Seel whom, the Armenians thought, should not have been singled out for special mention - especially as the Patriarch of Jerusalem had recently been to visit the Pope as well. There

had been other references to past history which had been inserted at the request of Aghajanian, some of which had been removed through the assistance of the Secretariat for Unity. When Willebrands went in to the Pope during the Catholicos' visit, His Holiness refused to alter the text yet again as he said they had already had so many changes. [Catholicos] Vazgen was prevailed upon after consultation with the whole delegation to remain in Rome and to go through with the visit. The visit finally began with a happy meeting in the Sistine Chapel where the speeches were exchanged followed by a loving Kiss ol Peace. Even this event, however, had had its little difficulties as the Armenian Uniats

ICatholics] wished to sing a traditional Armenian anthem in its Latinised form. The Armenians obiected to this, as a result of which Archbishop Toumayan himself was invited to sing the Armenian equivalent of the Kyries which he did with pleasure. The Pope

toll free aOO-375-6O49 \ / \ / w .za bu g rom.cotn/long

RELIGION afterwards remarked on the fine quality of his voice and Toumayan reminded me that both Caruso and other famous singers had longed to sing in the Sistine Chapelwithout success. To make up for the ditticulties over the speeches, the Pope had invited the Catholicos to the canonisation ceremonies of a French nun during his visit and had given him a very good

seat. ln addition, the Pope had invited the Catholicos to the High Altar with him at the end

of the ceremonies and had given him a ring which he was wearing (this is now becoming an old trick) and had then invited the Catholicos to go round the Basilica blessing the congregation together with the Pope.

0n the following day, the Pope had received the Catholicos and all his party in a special audience in the Library when there had been an exchange of gifts. The Catholicos gave the Pope a special altar cross in solid gold. 0n

receiving Archbishop Toumayan,

the

Pope

spoke to him in English and commanded him to give his special blessing to his Armenian congregation here in the United Kingdom. Before the delegation left, the Pope came to

say goodbye to them and give the Supreme Catholicos a golden reliquary containing the relics of St. Bartholomew which had now been taken back to Ejmiatsin. Toumayan told me that when the Catholicos had had a private conversation with His Holiness, it had been agreed that one or two Armenian Uniats should be allowed into Armenia if they were given visas and the Catholicos asked that they should stay in Eimiatsin (where he could keep an eye on them). This is presumably only for

an experimental period to give facilities for pastoral oversight

to the Armenian Uniats

inside Soviet Armenia. I enquired if the Armenian delegation had included any laymen and was told that there

were laymen from the Armenian Church in America, but that the only layman from Ejmiatsin was Mr. Parkev Chahbazian (who is

the General Secretary of the Armenian CFR Ii.e. equivalent to the Anglicans' Council for foreign relationsl in Ejmiatsin. This man told Toumayan that the Vatican authorities had explained that they were giving Vazgen such a good reception as a kind of trial run in the hope that it would be possible in due course for the Russian patriarch to be allowed to

visit

Rome,

Reference: Lambeth Palace, Councilon Foreign Relations, Ancient 0riental Churches, File 7. Note by John Satterthwaite, general secretary of the CFR, on discussion with Bishop Bessik [Bessak] Toumayan on 7 July 1970.

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xpectations are high

even unrealistic

- of Armenians in politicql office. Increased worldwide Genocide recog-

nition, financial support for Armenia, and a greater respect for the local community are just some of the overwhelming hopes placed on the elected official who must also serve the needs ofthe larger society and build the necessary credibility with peers. Few have been able to so quickly meet the high hopes of Armenian constituents as

Montreal City Councilwoman Noushig Eloyan. Now in her second four-year term, the 42-year-old activist is fully committed to making her community proud while serving Montrealers equally well. It's a balancing act Eloyan has learned to manage, thanks to her own savvy and to the unique political climate that exists in this multicultural Canadian city. More than half of the 1.1 million people

living in Montreal are neither French

nor English-Canadian in origin. About 200 different "cultural communities" live as neighbors in the city where one can hear 90 different languages in addition to the official language French. A concentrated effort on the part of city leadership to promote a sptit of acceptance and

cultural preservation has made Montreal a model for other cities with large and varied immigrant populations. The French philosophy

of celebrating divenity has

dffirence clearly been adopted by Monteal. Vive la

ln her spacious office at the Hotel de Ville, Montreal's decorative downtown City Hall,

Eloyan talked about her decision

get

involved in govemment. "I'm a missionary in political affai$," she mused, and it is clear Eloyan does take her career in politics as seriously as any religious mission. Spending 80-90 hours per week on the job, Eloyan has chosen work over friends and even family in order to make the most of her opportunities. She has no

children and is not married. "No time!" she smiles. The personal sacrifices are apparently appreciated, as evidenced by her landslide reelection victory in November 1998. The Syrian-born Eloyan is enthusiastic about her accomplishments, especially the two

projects she championed specifically for the Armenian community in Montreal during her fint term. The fint was to sponsor aCity Council motion recognizing the Armenian genocide of 1915, and to designate Apil 24th as an official annual day of remembrance in Montreal. The second was the erection ofa genocide monument on public land. Tluough Eloyan's

Another genocide monument also stands in Toronto but it sits on private land. Strong opposition from the Turkish govemment thrcatened to derail both projects early on, but the young Councilwoman was able to convince her colleagues that the threats were not real. "Representatives of the Turkish goveflrment were saying we're not going to invest

leadership, both projects were unanimously approved by the 5l-member City Council which paid $170,000 of the cost of the large marble monument which stands in Marcelin Wilson Park. The Montreal Armenian community raised the other $100,000, but dedicated the monument to the victims of all geno-

any more in Monneal, we're going to put an end to the diplomatic relations with the city of Montreal," Eloyan remembered. But Eloyan

cides so that other groups could use the site

finally convinced Mayor Piene Bourque, and

their memorial

ceremonies.

for

French-

had made a promise to her grandmothers, both genocide survivors, that she would do every-

thing within her power to honor their experiences. So, despite the danger to her career,

I'm very grateful

to him and my colleagues on

Canadian artist designed the monument, entitled La Reparation, in the shape of a house divided in two halves. While there has been

the City Council for their courage," stated Eloyan who notes that none of the Turkish

some grumbling within the Armenian community about its rather generic appearance, all are proud nonetheless to have such a meaningful and government-sanctioned landmark in their city, the first of its kind in Canada.

Eloyan's current project involves the signing of a Friendship Act between the cities

AIM MAY

2OOO

threats of boycott came to pass.

of Montreal and Yerevan, a symbolic

deed

that would help encourage a spirit of connection between the cities. Montreal's Mayor has

CONNECTIONS been willing, but the declaration which was signed in 1998 is with a Yerevan Mayor who is no longer in office. and the Canadians say the process must start over.

Family Thaditions Eloyan's parents, Aghavni and Yewart are well-known educators. Her mother served as principal of the St. Hagop Armenian Day School in Montreal for nine years before retting. Her father, who was a long-time principal in Lebanon, is remembered by many as one of the best interpreters of Armenian poetry. "They taught me to work hard and reach

high, but always to stay humble.

was

brought up being told I had to serve my community, I had to share with my community," Eloyan said. And she has. "I came to Monteal in 1977 [having fled the lrbanese Civil War] and I was so well accepted. I appreciated the quality oflife here, I thought I have to give something back to this city one day. Then the Mayor called and said I want you to join our party. I was so flattered that I, an immigrant, was asked to be part of the decision making process. I said yes!" Eloyan had been working in real estate, served as President of the Armenian Cultural

Association and earned a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering at Concordia University in Montreal. Still, she was unknown to Montrealers. "When I went door-to-door'during my flrst campaign, I didn't like talking about myself but I had to," Eloyan remembers. She spent two and a half months knocking on nearly 4,500 doors in the district of I'Acadie, with many Armenian, Arab, Greek, Italian and French-speaking Canadians.

On Election Day 1994 Eloyan's life changed. "It was one of the best, most emotional moments of my life. First to be recog-

nized by Montrealers, and to be trusted to manage our city. What a privilege."

The following week the Mayor asked Eloyan to be the President of his Executive Committee, despite her inexperience. Her biggest lesson came in leaming how to deal with a confrontational and sometimes critical media, "I didn't have an easy time with the press. They weren't ready to see a stranger in a

high position like that, especially a wonum from a cultural community with no background in politics. It was very tough," she recalled. Eloyan obviously overcame her fint-term challenges, because when she won reelection

in November 1998, she received the largest percentage of votes of any candidate in the

city

of Monteal. She interprets that win as a sign of satisfaction from all ofthe groups living in her district. "This was an indication that I could serve everybody even though I'm a member of the Armenian community." Eloyan credits

Montreal's commitrnent to promoting multiculturalism with her own success in achieving support for issues important to Armenians. "We're lucky to live in a very open society in Canada especially in Montreal. People are used to living together with their differences in

coloq religion, language. It's wonderful and we have to keep it that way because it's very fragile," declared Eloyan who says she has no concems about drawing criticism from her colleagues for representing the specific desires of Monffeal's Armenians. "Everybody knows by now that I'm Armenian in origin and I'm very proud. I don't have to hide it. On the contrary,

I'm a very

good example that you can combine

different cultures and you can still be a good citizen and very well accepted by your colleagues and your peers," Eloyan noted.

'Charles Aznavour once said you can be 100 percent French and 100 percentArmenian.

The same is tme in

Canada."

Anmenia's Keepen $et to Become a

'I Gan leaue When IWant"

Gneen lleuil

Armenia's first-choice goalkeeper, Roman Berezovski (above, against Germany), who plays his club football

the Russian

fint divi-

sion for Zenit St-Petersburg, is set to sign a fiveyear deal with French outfit St. Etienne.

The "Green Devils," who recently returned to the French top division, have recently put their first-team goalkeeper Jerome Alonzo on the transfer list and plan to loan out number two Jeremy Janot. The 24-year-old Berezovski will join first division St. Etienne in time for next season. St. Etienne's former stars include French leg-

end Michel Platini and French World Cup winning coachAime Jacquet. Berezovski was bom in Armenia and is of Polish ancestry.

Anmenia (0) Geongia (0)

A fiece rivalry exists behreen Armenian and Georgian footballen, a cary-over from the old days when Ararat of Yerevan and Dnamo of Tbilisi competed for the highest Soviet awards. That rivalry was renewed recently when the Armenian and Georgian national teams (above, Armenia in white) played to a scorcless draw at Yerevan's [Imzdan stadium on April 26,2W. Roman Berezovski and Albert Sargsian were absent from the Armenian squad due to club commitrnents, while the Georgian team was missing many of its European-based players.

French-Armenian World Cup winner Youri Djorkaeff of the German Bundesliga club Kaiserslautem said recently that he could depart the club at any time. "l can leave when I want," declared the 32-year-old who was signed by Kaiserslautern from the Italian Inter Milan in August 1999. If Kaiserslautern doesn't qualify for one of the European competitions next season, it may lead to his departure and a race for his signature. Kaiserslautern was in sixth place in the Bundesliga in May and was holding on to the last UEFA Cup place. Moreover, Djorkaeff also defended his decision to come to Kaiserslautern saying he was told by the coach at the time that if he joined, it would have to be with all his heart. And when his heart's no longer in it? "I'll go. That's my point of view since the beginning and the coach and president have accepted that. It's a question of honor between men," explained Djorkaeff. Djorkaeff is one of the two Frenchmen of Armenian ancestry who were part of the France team which won the World Cup in 1998. AIM MAY

2OOO

Ahouian's Kotayk Rehonn Throughout the Soviet era, Abovian's Kotayk Football (soccer) Club was one of Armenia's top teams. In the shadow of Yerevan's Ararat, Kotayk competed in the USSR cup tournaments and lower divisions registering respectable results and preparing footballers to perform at the highest club level. In the post Soviet period, as with many other institutions and organizations, the club

faltered and finally vanished from

the

Armenian football scene.

Until July 1999. After an absence of four years, the club was recreated through the ambitious efforts of Suren Abrahamian, Nazar Petrosian, and Sergei Poghosian.

Suren Abrahamian

is the Director of

Abovian's Kotayk Sports Stadium, as well as head of Armenia's Football Federation, while Petrosian and Poghosian are veterans of the Ararat team which captured the Soviet in 1913. Poghosian resides in Moscow and also heads the management team for the Russian Federation's national squad. In a recent interview conducted by the

club championship

Yerevan-based

Football Plus,

Sergei

optimistic on the Kotayk reclaiming its foot-

Poghosian was cautious yet

prospects

balling legacy

days

independence.

According to Poghosian, Kotayk's immediate focus is the development of young talent in the region. The team is composed of l6 to l7-year-old players with plans of com-

peting

in Armenia's first division

(one

below the premier league). The ultimate goal, however, will be to go beyond the first and reach the premier division. The present team is composed mainly of footballers who were born in 1983. The team's task will be to represent Armenia in the European youth championship next year. Kotayk is being coached by veterans of Yerevan's Ararat - Edward Harutunian and Alexander Petrosian. Poghosian explained that the club is being supported by individual benefactors. For example, thus far, Nazar Petrosian has been

for

the team. Poghosian was hopeful that corporate sponsors will step forward in the near future to fulfill Kotayk's potential. The club has already contracted Abovian's Kotayk stadium for the providing the uniforms

next l0 years.

This year. the Kotayk youngsters particiin Armenia's Ninth Annual Indepen-

pated

dence Cup but were easily eliminated by Arax

(formerly Tsement of Ararat) in the first round. The Independence Cup is a single-elimination toumament where Armenia's premieq as well as lower division teams, take part. The heavy defeat must be viewed in perspective, as Arax AIM MAY

2OOO

is the reigning Independence Cup champion and its players form the core of Armenia's senior national squad.

-Patrick Azadian 53

ARI\IENrAN WbMEN oF Tr{E Srncn Medea Abrahamian

Hasmik

Heghineh Adamian

Azniv Hrachia

Satenik Adamian

Lucy Ishkanian

Kim Kashkashian

Yevgineh Adamian

Aida Kavafian

Anahid Aiemian Maro Ajemian

Ani Kavafian

Lucine Amara

Yevgineh Khachikian Karen Kondazian

Zabel Aram

Sylva Koscina

Kay fumen

Aline Kutan

fuous Aserian

Siroon Mangurian

Tania Ashot

Nvart Mari

Astghig

Olga Maysourian

Angela Atabegian

Goharineh Melkoumian

Cathy Berberian

Shushanik Mildonian

Louisa Bozabalian

Anna Navasardian

Ellada Chakoyan

Nadezhda Papaian

Cher

Arousiak Papazian

Lili Chookasian

Hasmik Papian

Hayganoush Danielian

Dora Serviarian Kuhn

Isabella Danzas

Clara Shahbazian

Anita Daraian

Datevig Sazandarian

Zarcthi Doloukhanian

Medaxia Simonian

Zarouhi Elmassian

Siranoush

Kallen Esperian

Sylvi Vartan

Arlene Frances

Hagint Vartanian

Gohar Galajian

Ruzanna Vartanian

Vergineh Garagashian

Vartouhi Varteressian

Yeranouhi Garagashian

Vartuhi

Gohar Gasparian

fuous Voskanian

Olga Goulazian

Lucineh Zakarian

Maria Guleghina

Rose Zulalian

This bilingual coffee-table book presenr the life stories of more than sixty Armenian women of sorurd and sage in Armenia and Daspora (circa 1S4Gl99), with short biographies, and their dramatic penonalities. The album contains 300 pages, including more than 280 photographs, both in sepia and fi.rll color. Hard cover 10.25" x12.75".

Iwouldliketoorder-copy(ies)of..Armenian.WomenoftheStage"at$79(US)eadr,includingshipping&hand1ing. NaMs

Checks payable to: Edith Navasargian

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P.O.Box 11535 Glendale, CA91206 Phone 818.957.8619

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Fax 818.957.5372 (

OTHER PEOPLE'S MAIL

Ih8sc am md httens lnom nealpGo[le. $snd us y0uns.

Dear A,

Hi T,

Things are going from bad to worse, andjust as you think it can't get any worse, it does. I was thinking about going toArmenia for a few days right before the news of the assassination. I thought I would go and come back on the 30th. Now I just don't feel like it. Sometimes I think that the assassinations, the "killing" of Levon Ter Petrossian, the mudslinging and the fixation on undoing each other instead of focusing on a future, are all the negative reinforcements that socialize you into what it is to be an Armenian. We are our worst enemy. The Other whom we grow to hate, whoever it is, is simply the opportunist who takes advantage of a situation. And we are taught that Armenians are intelligent! What lies and myths we lull ourselves with. Maybe we should f,nd money for building something that differs from all of this. But unfortunately the donors, for the most part, are not any different than the feudal lords killing

I'm sorry I've been a bum about writing... things are good here, this week it turned in to spring... or maybe I should say summer... and I can't tell you what wonders it has done for this god-forsaken place. The cafes have started to reappear this week, as have the little kids.

each other.

From C

Heyl

I'm 19 years old living in Califomia. Both of my parents are Armenian, living in [,ebanon. I lived in Lebanon for about 4 years, then I came back to the States because of personal issues having to do with my sexuality. I found this website through tons of effort, and it took me about a month to finally get in touch with you guys. I've accepted my gayness and came out of the closet. I've always wondered how it would be to meet gay Armenians. I've never ever met one in my life. As a matter of fact I haven't met any Armenians since I moved back to the States. It's so weird. When I came back from I-ebanon, I assured myself that even if I never spoke another word of Armenian or met another Armenian person again, I really wouldn't miss out on much. But that's not true. It's so weird, but now about a year and a half later, I want to feel what it's like to be Armenian, gay and accepted by people who don't mind the sexuality issue. Enough of my blabbing. I am cunently visiting some family here in LA. I'm bored out of my mind. HELP! They're family, what Bye,

can you say.

Istanbul was a good change from Yerevan in January. It seemed like being in Europe. The economy is developing and there is industry there, but here everything is at a dead stand-still and prices on the worst stuff is much more expensive than there. I heard some guy on TV say that only dead people are retuming to Armenia (the recent reburials) and all the living are leaving. I am taking classes with a private teacher who is determined that I will speak with a clean Yerevan accent. These days I speak more of my own created dialect than English - part westem Armenian mixed with more eastem and English-based grammatical stuctures. It is a pretty scary scene, but I can get my point across to people ttrese days. I even fought with some big man in the market who finally said you fight nicely. Love,

AIM MAY

2OOO

Anmenian Postage $tamps

lnmenia

and

lnmenian-AmeniGan$

Children's Magazines By Gobblestone Publishing Company

Christianity in Armenia, Third lssue The third series issued on the occasion of the 1700th anniversary of Christianity in Armenia features Armenian Educational Centers in the

Diaspora. Features Antelias, the Nercissian School in Tbilisi, the Holy Cross Churchin Rostov upon Don, the Mekhitarian Monastery in Venice, the St. James Monastery in Jerusalem and the Lazarian

The respected Cobblestone Publishing Company is responsible for nearly half a dozen children's magazines. Faces and Cobblestone are each quarterlies, and during the last year, each has had one special issue on Armenians and Armenia. Beautiful visuals (including photographs and illustrations) make the magazines attractive and accessible to elementary and middle school students. 48 pages each. $10.00 for both Faces and Cobblestone.

Postcands Martyred Sons ol

Armenia

$8.00

Three stamps issued to commemorate Karen Demirchian, with the National Assembly and the flag as background, Vazgen Sargsian with a military parade and the flag as background; and a third features all

eight slain officials.

Assadoun

Assadour, born in Lebanon in 1943, is a graphic artist whose "game of opposites is eternal and infinite... He is the master of contradictions, of innuendos, of ambiguities, of paradox." This set of 16 postcards, produced by ANMF, elegantly designed and printed is a unique way to communicate with those for

whom things Armenian don't

to be limited by traditional designs. need

Ghildnen's Gonstnuction Gubes Made in the Republic ol Armenia 11 pieces of hand-cut and shaped wooden pieces embellished with Armenian manuscript designs make for a beautiful and satisfying first toy for the youngest child, as well as the budding architect. Older children will enjoy the special designs and the traditional motifs.

Pack of Sixteen 4x6 full-color postcards

$20.00

Fragile llneams Armenia Photography by Antoine Agoudjian More than 150 black and white photos

from 1989 to 1998 depict various moments of loy and pain in the lives of Armenians after the earthquake. "The same things Antoine Agoudjian saw in Armenia, but he did it with a talented and watchful eye, as an artist devoting his sensibility to his art, with love. He took his time so he would not miss anything. Thanks to him, I went back, saw again and took a new measure of all that my eyes had only brushed past and skimmed through. Visiting in black and white this old colorful country." Paperback

pages

$28.00 1999, Actes Sud, France, ISBN 2-7427-2316-1

AIM MAY

2OOO

-Charles Aznavour

The Gycle ol Lile on Gompact Disc

llut ol Stone

Songs for the Soul

Armenia

Performed by Parik Nazarian

Photography and Text by Robert Kurkjian and Matthew Karanian

Each of these songs is a page of life, a mirror of a time, a link to our

history. lnherited from ordinary people who expressed their feelings and deeds through song, these bittersweet pieces sung with the occasional accompaniment of duduk, dhol and shvi, depict the disparity of birth and death, the pain of loss and the joy of birth, yearning and sorrow, genocide and displacement followed by rebirth, love and joy and war and vengeance. ln these songs, the beauty of love is symbolized by the seed of a pomegranate, the vigor of life by a blade of wheat.

Artsakh

150 vivid full color images made during the years 1995 through 1999 capturing moments in time, peoples' expressions and beautiful landscapes. "Three thousand years ago, among rock-strewn steppes, an ancient people chiseled a homeland. They created a society, and built a nation. These Armenians carved an enduring civilization - out of stone," say Kurkjian & Karanian. Deluxe Hard Cover Edition

184 pages

1 CD, accompanied by a 20-page full color booklet with Armenian text, English translations and related photos

$49.95

$15.00

1999, Stone Garden Productions, Washington DC tsBN 0-9672120-0-6

1999 Garni

A Wall ol $ilence The Unspoken Fate of the Armenians Produced and Directed by Dorothee Forma Humanist Broadcasting Fnd, The Netherlands An unprecedented documentary on the Armenian Genocide. The film presents the lives and scholarship of two historians - Turkish Scholar Taner Akcam and Armenian professor Vahakn Dadrian. "Turkey can never become a democracy if it does not Jace its history," says Akcam, "We have to research violence in our past in order to know and understand our present. Contemporary Turks are not guilty, but they have a responsibility toward history." Video Documentary - 54 Minutes - VHS NTSC $25.00

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Mail 0rders. AlM. 207 South Brand Blvd. Suite 203. Glendale. CA 91204 USA. Phone 0rders 818.246.7979. Fax 0rders 818.246.0088 AIM MAY 2000

luNIlilltHlltlil DililrtRI Moxmry in

BTEFrNGS oN CruncAL Issups

AIM's monthly dinners, featuring distinguished speakers, have turned into the gathering place for the "new" Armenian. Dinner is followed by a short briefing by AIM on the news events and

Started

1999,

developments of the month. The featured speaker makes

presentation on a contemporary topic with

significance in the new millennium. Presentations are followed by a dialogue with the audience,

B[llllltll JenAES TUf

BNKIAN

& IRT

ilondav

lum, looo

Fnou MeNuerreN ro yrRnveN

James Tufenkian's designer carpets which evoke the best of Tibetan and

Central Asian tradition, are advertised in Architectural Digest and sold on Broadway, in New York.

1994, Tufenkian started an operation in Armenia. Today, he controls

the entire carpet making & exporting operation, from the sheep to export. Samples of Tufenkian's designer carpets, made

"ft-rl

in Armenia, will be

on display before and during the presentation. The quietly successful businessman

will

talk about the ins and outs, the satisfactions and challenges, of doing business in Armenia.

P0llll(l H.E. AunessADoR

Hnnny GIruoRE

tTednudoy luly

ll looo

(nEuRED)

VrEwrNc AnupNre AND THE Ceucesus Gilmore, the first US Ambassador to Armenia, arrived in Yerevan

1992.

During the first three difficult years of independence, Gilmore provided critical assistance in Armenia's nation-building process. Five years after completing his

tour of duty, he follows Armenia's growth and remains interested in its development.

Dinner 7:30 pm. Briefing 8:00 pm. Speaker 8:30 pm.

BneNDYTE$r

CorrrcuoN

Donation $28 for AIM subscribers, $32,00 for non-subscribers.

109 East Harvard Street

GIendale, California

For reservations and information calt

818.146.lrl,

THE PROCEtt BEGINt: ABrvlENlA-DIAtPOBA CONFEBENCE utat thofirt rteV wtlo reuchfor a,frarutoorkfor conti*tr.ous, otltolrg, ri*aru, g0a.1,odthtd,

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Even without a blockade. with full access to the sea. with natural resources that outnumber Armenia's and with a population double that of Armenia's, the Georgian budget is not in much better shape. Pensions and salaries have not been paid fbr several months, and now the Georgians are facing another problem. The Chairman of the Georgian Parliament, Zurab Zhyania, raised an alarm earlier this month, warning his colleagues that if funds aren't found, the diplomats in the Georgian embassies in Yerevan and Washington DC "will be evicted." Although that's not likely in Yerevan (above) where they own the building, in Washington (lefi), on the third floor of a privately owned brownstone, anything is possible, even if the flag of the Georgian Republic is flying from a pole outside.

AIM MAY

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Fiue $tans and a Pool

Go Anmcnia

With all the bad news about the economy and politics and regional instability, it may come as a surprise to hear that tourism is up in Armenia. More people are traveling this year than last yeaq say a couple of busy trav-

el agents. And the increase is due to a greater availability of organized tours. If travel to Armenia used to mean a visit to Yerevan and

the obligatory day trips to Garni, Geghard,

Armenia's first five-star hotel is open for business. The Yerevan Hotel, a small, beautifully designed five story building was purchased by the Italian company Rencojust over a year ago. Last month, at the official opening of the building which is one of the jewels of Yerevan's Abovian Street, the full effect of combining good taste and sensible investment was evident. One hundred and thirty single and double rooms, as well as luxury suites are already available. But it is the hotel's services which sound too good to be true. Besides the expected restaurant, bar and disco bar, there is also a pool, sauna. exercise room, business center. conf'erence hall, meeting room and gifi shop. Renco is staying on to maintain and manage the model facilities. As one Yerevan paper noted, this may be an example of successful privatization with which everyone's happy. AIM MAY

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Sartarabad and Ejmiatsin - oh, and Sevan of course - today's tours also travel north to the earthquake region and the Georgian border or south to the land of figs and mulberries, and the lranian border. T<r make lif'e easier not just fbr the traveler, but fbr those organizing the visits, Levon Travel has published a 32-page booklet on the Ato Z of traveling to and in Armenia. Ten thousand copies are being distributed to various international and national agencies in North America from the State Department

to the Department of Energy. Armenia's embassies and consulates have received copies, too. Armenia's Ministry of Tourism had long wanted to publish such a compilation of information, but had not managed to do so.

Anything to make travel to and within Armenia more popular is a good idea, and this book takes a first giant step towards that goal.

FIRST PERSON tion by the drivers. All of them knew where Chile was, and not a few were fully conversant with the Pinochet case. One stood (so to speak) above the others. It was after we started the joumey that I noticed the crutch on the back seat, and soon afterwards the absence of one leg at the end of his body.

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The car was not automatic, but he seemed to manage without any obvious effect on the quality of the driving. He must have noticed my puzzlement as he remarked, "the result of my accident" - he was too young to have fought in World War II, and too old for the Karabakh conflict. I made three visits to the Music Institute, I ?

My choir practices there three times =

Babourian (righ$ is the artistic dir,ector of the choir Kouyoumdjian (left) sponsorc

I,egless inYerevan

somewhat lengthy and bureaucratic last

year, had been streamlined beyond recognition. Instead of being in different rooms and

intermediaries. My own little contribution, however modest, goes directly to a cultural activity I can see with my own eyes, as well as individually to its 38 members, some of whom I am helping to further their careers through special grants. I have also provided seed money for a small computer bureau

employing half a dozen members of the same choir in drafting music sheets for the

port control officer from the Republic of

Composers' Union.

and expedite the formality in a matter of minutes. No customs forms to fill and no

inspection. Twenty minutes after touch down, we are out in the street. In theory, I should now be able to drive all the way to Vladivostok without further controls. One day, I hope to test that theory. In the meantime, we do not go beyond the airport esplanade. Abig policeman stops us, alleging that our driver has not respected a Stop sign. A good natured discussion ensues

about the location and visibility of the said sign, and the matter is quickly "settled" with 1000 Drams (about US$ 1.90) changing hands. Welcome to corruption, which is a constant complaint by everyone. The policeman incident, however typical, does not seem to bother people as much as the "leakage" from foreign aid, particularly that which comes through NGOs. Clever donors set up their circuits directly bypassing all

Friends in High Places Last January, together with a couple of nity, I played host to three charming young

undertaking different procedures, the passArmenia, and his colleague from the CIS (a uniformed babushka from Central Casting) are sitting next to each other in a twin booth,

week, except in the middle of winter when it is l0-below-0 Centigrade, and thanks to the Free Market, there is no heating, and in the sunrmer, when it is closed. Despite everything, it manages to produce hrst class musicians.

other members of Chile's Armenian commu-

By ARMEN K0UY0UMDJIAN, SANTIAGO, CHILE

I had been warned that things in Armenia ! n^o oetenoraleo srnce last year. ano was ! ..uoy to see Inrs grapnlcatty. Ftrst ! ,*p..r'on, *.r. io,u,ry olllerent. ! ai.pon formalities. which had been

where musical theory is taught for composers and teachers (as opposed to the Conservatoire, which concentrates on instruments). The building is in a bad state ofrepair.

My 24 years of involvement in Latin America have made me somewhat cynical about comrption, not only because it exists nearly everywhere, and often less justifiably, but at the lower level it provides an efficient form of income re-distribution which neither additional taxation nor economic policies appear to achieve.

Legless Due to a sprained foot, I declined oppor-

tunities for out-of-town tourism. Having a number of engagements which were unrelated to my choir's activities, I was able to shake off my hosts who kept insisting that they had to accompany me anywhere I wanted or needed to go, had to have my meals at their place, and all because I was a guest and had to be looked after, and "made happy." I replied politely that the best way of honoring a guest was to allow him to do what he wanted, and I wanted to move about on my own.

I took taxis and mini-buses on my own, and was immediately engaged in conversaAIM MAY

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people who represented Armenia at the Scout Jamboree near Santiago. The leader was doing his national service in Karabakh, but the two others asked me to visit the

Scout Federation offices

Yerevan. In

small but well-equipped offices,I was warmly received by the Federation's president and

vice-president, who thanked me warmly for the very little I had done for their worthy representatives in Chile. We then proceeded

to talk about many things relating to

the

country, and I was surprised at their vast knowledge. As we parted, the Federation president casually said he was vice-chairman of State Television. The vice-president gave me a card saying he was a referent to the President of the Republic. I was too embarrassed to ask them what a referent was. In the evening, I ask my hosts and they said referent is Adviser. I never found out what he advised the President about. The Ave Maria Classical Choir, formed in 1994, has 38 members. lts conductor and artistic director is Artashes Baburian. Armen Kouyoumdjian of

Chile sponsors the group, by providing salaries and underwriting . The group performs Bach, Mozart, Mendelssohn,'as well as Komitas, Egmalian and Robert Petrossian. Armen Kouyoumdjian is a consultant on Latin American business. He can be reached at kouyvina@cmet.net

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