Faith Forward - October 2001 by Armenian International Magazine

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Cover Slory

Departments

28 Faith Forward

10 11

From the Editor Letters 14 AIM View

Spirits and Stones Mark New Era lor Church and State

Notebook

16 Ouote Unquote 17 Did You Know? 18 Birthdays & Annivercaries I Believe 19 Postscript I Bytes on Fite

it or Not

Nation Defending Thysett

Nairi Hunanian Has His Day in Court

Charging the Masses ArmenTel lmplements Per-Minute Charges

Gonnections Alone Together

A mother and child battle homelessness on the streets of Yerevan

Sports

50 Spirit ol Unity Yerevan hosts Second Pan-Armenian Games

54 0n the Shell 56 Underexposed 60 Essay 61 How I Got

This Shot

Connections

40 Special Times

Focus

Playing Host to Putin

A ten-day visit to Lake Sevan provides more than

Russian Presidents first official visit to Armenia

fun times for the disabled youth of Armenia

Armenian lnternational Magazine Volume 12, lssue Eight

/\INI

Cover design by Patrick Azadian

$;1pjgtr#g[1gfr#d#[t;i::frt[t AIM OCTOBER

2OO1

[h1ilr$i]iT-*#*d$*f#,*il',+i:ffi

With British Airways,

itl

never been easier to get to Yerevan. Our service operates three times every week and with

all the connections from North America to London Heathrow there's never been more choice either. For full details, contact your local travel ageng visit our website at www.britishairways.com or call us on 1-80G,A|RWAYS. Services opemted by the independent carrier British Mediterranean Airways Ltd.

BRJTISHA'R'";F

1\INI Publisher

TenYears Later

I[ichael l{ahab6l Editor

Tony Halpln Sâ&#x201A;Źnior Editor

Jotn Hughos

years ago, in September 1991, the founders of

AIM

asked me to work with the maga-

Tn ! zine in some editorial capacity.After outlining everything that I thought was wrong with I the magazine. I said yes, because I could also see all the things that were right. It's been

Assistant Editor

Hrail SarIls Sa]Iisslan Editor al Large

PailI llazarlan

- ten fascinating years in Armenian and world history. Ten years later,I am still excited by all that is right with this experiment in free thinking and free press Of course, probably more than most, I can also see all the challenges which we still

ten challenging years

Associate Editors

A. H. Alerandrlen, Lauroncs Biller

Y8rcvan

R0nald

I[8nhow faralian, Grl0or Suny, T.lhe Uosl8ritchlan Associate Publisher

Tonl

l[olldonlan

Subscriptions Manager

Sola

l0odanlan

Advertising Manager

Fiml ][ekhita]ian Markeling Manager

fuahid Der vartenian

To improve the quality of AIM, two things are important: solid editorial work, and solid funding. The first

Administrative Assislanl

Esler Keshishyan lntern

Chrlstina Shirinyan

depends somewhat on the second. But

Yerevan Euroau 67 Koghbatsi Street, No.

only somewhat.

Phone 53 36 99 AlMarm@arminco.com

Good editorial strength can be found in the most interesting placesThis mag-

Coordinalor

Anahil ilailirosdan

azine's experience has demonstrated thatthere are terrificArmenian and nonArmenian professionals willing and able to take on the task of serving as honest mirrors TWo of those wonderfirl proright:Tony Halpin, Salpi Haroutinian Ghazarian, John Hughes.

Contribuling Editors

haven't met. But, new challenges will always confront us They may change year to year, but always, there will be something more that we can do to improve the quality of information available to us about the Armenian world.That quality is crucial because it's that information that each of us uses to form opinions about Armenia, Armenian communitieg Armenian identity, and our place in the Armenian world.

Left to

Direclor

PalrlckAzadian, P DA

Web & Promotions Arminoh Grl0oilan Photo Administrator

ilarlno Arushanian Editorial Assistant

Sona Daniellan Advertising lvlanager

Gohar Sahallan

fessionals are in Armenia now.

Based in Yerevan, Tony Halpin, whose name is familiar to our longtime readers, will replace me as AIM's new editor. He will also work with new and not-so-new journalists to continue to produce unique, insightful material for this magazine. John Hughes is there, too, not just writing his monthly essays, but also training new journalists. (John and Tony are also co-editors of a whole new enterprise about which we will be writing at length within a few months It's too big to just be a sidenote in this letter.) We're fortunate to have them both there. But our headquarters remain in Glendale, Califomia, where Michael Nahabet, the once and future publisher and one of AIM's founders, will oversee the continuing effort to keep AIM true to the mission for which it was created: to provide responsible information for the intelligent, caring reader. Although I wil no longer be editor or publisher, in my new capacity as a member of the Fourth Millennium Society Board of Directors, I will continue to be responsible for AIM's finances and governance. The board is committed to building free media in Armenia and the Diaspora, and in that growing effort,AIM continues to be an anchor. AIM will also continue to be the link between you, our loyal, curious, committed subscribers and the historic events that keep unraveling around us. In December, AIM will publish its 1fi)th issue. I will be dividing my time between Los Angeles and Yerevan, and doing what I can to make sure that we see the 200th issue as well.

/r*r

Contributo6: Amonia - Geyam Alnhamlan, llusil An, ZaB Chatlnlan, Suren Dchslian, Ailash$ Emln, Ashot GaGginian, Laun Gooonlan, Marianna G1i001ian, Julls llrlobran, Panndam Houhennlsian, LBing Zsytunian; Calllomis -Ara Anumanltn, Paul Ciads4lan, EllE Gallayan, Kilston Xidd, Jinsl Samrollan; L0ndon - F6lh Corl6y, Susan Patle; llou Y0*- Chrlttophtr Alamian, GoorCr Eoumo[tlan; Bhode lsland - il0il Malkallan; Pailr - ilyriam Gaum6; UruCuty Diego l(rnmanouklan; Wasilngton, 0C - iloond lioondlan.

&mmlr - lllilbl l0Efiatlan, Za{on l0adlldan, BuiDcn ]{rnCsahn, lhhnm Mildb]ian, l(aEn tllmlan; Fam - fiblE A0odilan, lrmimh JolunEs; Bllhmla - SNi lli (llngefi ila&ilnhn, Eh - Grru Lachlnlan; Yo* H.rry x0mdaliian; Rhodc lsland Bs4! &a zoblan. Photooraphers:

ilil

lrfficll[fr -

ibfir,

Tmnslato6iAmsnla

- ilichasl HaruImlrn, Edilor

SIudBn

(!ilchlyan.

Emritus

llaarlan

Ghallss

Accountino Seryices

Bedi0 Araradian, CPA Legal Servims Shah0n Haimpetlan, Attorn8y al Law

lntorlatioral Suiscripti0ns and Advortlsln0 Reprcsenlalives

Arlrillm

Coleqio [,teknilailsh, Vireydel Prno 3511 (1426) BLenosArs. Pl'ole 5411 4552 3590 VaI@i lskerder ian. 1 48 Koola Ave. Easl K llara NSW 2071 Phone 02.9251 2082; Allred lttartarian, P0. Box 370, Haris Pafi NSW21m, Phone0ESST 1846; Vahe Kateb P0. Bor250, Porl Metbourne, victoda3207, Phom039713 1213 Canad! Rami0 Hakimian, 31ao Sartelon SlrEt, Sl Laurcnl,oueb6 H4B1E], Phore 514 339 2517 Hong (009 Jack Mdian BM. A2, 11,f, Elmk A,26 Kai CtEUng Rd., Kowloon Bav. (owloor. Pho"e 852 795 9888 llaly Piere Balanian VE Morlam, 61 44,5. Rome, Phone 995 1235 Letano Zadouhi Kabarian. P0. Box 55669 Be[ul, Lehnon, Ptlone (1) 510212 thltsd A6b Emlrat0s GuliarJonian, P0. Box 44564, Aiu Dhabi, UAE, Phore 97126447721,fax971644 8191 Unllod l(n0dom Misk ohanian,105A Mill Hill Rd

^!tt!lir

Acton, London W3&JF, Phone 020 8992 4621

Writo lo AIM! We welcome all communicalion. Althouqh we read all letlers and submrssions, we are unable lo acknowledge everylhinO we receive due lo limited staffing md resourcâ&#x201A;Źs. Lellers to lhe Edilol nEy be edited for publication.

Armenian lnlernalional Magazine Founded in 1990 Founding Editor

Vadan 0skanian Michacl ilahabol

Founding Publisher

207 South Brand Boulevard, Suite 203, Glendale, CA 91204 USA 7979 Fax 818 246 0088 All\4aoa?ine@aol.com

Phone 818 246

AIM OCTOBER

2OO1

Armenians must insist on Genocide recognition and have strong territorial claims if they wish to suryive their collective trauma and, most of all, if they wish to honor the memory of their million and a half innocent victims. There is no moral reparation without territorial claims or did your innocent people perish for nothing? Salvador Meri Rodriguez Valenci4 Spain

More Science I would like to congratulate AIM magazine for the cover story in the July issue, which

reported the progress in scientific research in Armenia desprte all the difficulties. It was a well-deserved and long-overdue article on the

Lyndonb Iessons One can sympathizewith Rouben Galichianb

anger over the hundreds of thousands of dol-

lars that never reached Armenia's poor (Letters, June 2001). However, Armenians are not the only victims of a universal class known as the Poverty Middlemen who make a fat living administering to the poor.

In America, Lyndon Johnson's Great Society spent hundreds of billions of dollars on the poor, but today there is more poverty than there was 30 years ago, and there needs to be to keep the Poverty Middlemen in business. It has been estimated that if the Poverty Middlemen had been eliminated and the money given directly to the poor, they would all be in the upper middle class today.

PiereV Haig Dana Point, CA

ThatTWordAgain Gerard Chaliand, in yourinteniew (Nation, March 2001) says: "As for Tirkey, it should be made clear to them that recognition of the Genocide does not imply financial reparation and does not mean tenitorial claims." As I read these lines, my blood boils! Mind you I am not Armenian. To me any Armenian who pronounces these words sounds Iike a haitor! Germany is still paying financial reparations to Israel How can you say that Armenians must not claim anything even thoug[Tirks deported your people from their homes and lan( slaughtered almost the entirepopulation of Westem Armenia and oanpied their ancCIhal land induding Holy Ararat? I would like to hear your erylanation

$40,000 annual overhead budget, though constituting only 15-20 percent of CRD's operating expenses, is currently unfunded. Last year we raised sufficient flrnds to pay only half of this amount. Thus, employees were only paid apart oftheir already low salaries, and many critical repairs to CRD's facilities 3000rn (100m ft) above sea level on Mt. Aragats were not made. We can only hope and pray that the structues survive one more snowy winter, which has already arrived on Mt. Aragats with the fint snor+{all in the last week of August. Without the support of the Diaspora this vital part of Armenian science would be part

of our history by now, and not part of

Engineen and Scientists of America (AESA) in helping the Cosmic Ray Division (CRD) of Yerevan Phpics Institute.

port remains necessary to keep CRD opera-

This is the second year that AESA has been working closely with Dr. Chilingarian of

expresses its appreciation to those organaa-

the CRD to raise sizeable funds for the contin-

ued operation of the CRD on top of Mt. Aragatz. Additionally, AESA has been supporting publication of various scholarly textbooks and journals in Armenia for many years. AESAs Yerevan Polytechnic Institute (YPD

Alumni have been providing annual scholarships to the YPI's students. This year, financial supportwent to more than 60 studenb, which in

Armenia's present and future. Continued sup-

tional and its scientists employed in Armenia.

The CRD Support Committee publicly tions and individual Diaspora members that have so generously contributed to the CRD's survival (www.geocities.com/hyecrd). We especially wish to thank the dedicated men and women of the

CRD in Armenia for their hard

work under most difficult circumstanoes. We want them to knorv that we, tlre Diaqpora will do ow parttohelpthem to do theirs. Tanya Bresinsky, loseph D agdigian, Anahid Yeremian, CRD Supp ort Committee

tumprovided funds to paythe faculty salary.

H arv ard, Mas s achus etts

collaboration with the Friends of Armenia, AESA recently completed the desigr for a wireless telephone network for the Mardakert region in Karabagh, which for the fint time will bring telecommunication facilities to up to 42 villages in that remote area. Varaz Shahmirinn, Ph.D., President, AESA Glendale, Califumia

Thank you for your special issue featuring Armenian science. Armeniab fuhre depends on retaining its scienffic capabilities in those key areas in which it can compete globally. Armenia's Cosmic Ray Division (CR.D) possesses this ability. The photograph of CRD's instrumentation, displaying the Armenian and Japanese flap side by side, is clear testimony to CRD's intemational reputation. Thank you! Despite numerous hardships, the CRD has made major technical and scientific innovations

and is progressing towards financial self-suffi-

yean and the impmbifty of the same thing for the Armenians only 86 years after the Genocide.

C-osmic

2ffi

fhe

status of scientific research in today's Armenia. Your article mentioned the role of Armenian

ciency. All of these technologies could have the potential to boost Armeniab economicrevival. The CRD, facing a severe financial crisis for over a year and a haH, has depended on the

about the Jews return to Israel affer almost

esential support. Most of CRD's funding comes from outside scientific partnership, however these do not pay for overhead expenses.

Ray Division Support Committee for

AIM OCTOBER 2OO1

Letb Give Tluth a Chance In your August/September issue, I read a short letter to the editor by Sevak Khodaverdian

With only a few lines, Mr. Khodaverdian summarizes the mindset of most Armenians being stuck with Armenian-ness, forever. And why not, as long as we are against truthfrrlly looking into our communities, accepting and respecting all our realities and differences, whetherwe agree with them or not, more and more Armenians will increasingly feel 'stuck with Armenian-ness,' and worse yet, escape it.

Let

not shoot the messenger for telling need more individuals like Mr. Hughes, who are not so concerned with protecting a false image of Armenianness - in which anyone can get stuck - to see and report candidly, humorously, and even us

it like it is. Maybe we

affectionately. We will not solve the problem of prostitution if we do not accept it as a reality and talk about it. We will not solve the problem of domestic violence, if we deny it, hide it, or justifyit. Andwewill not triumph over bigotry, if we do not open our eyes, and face it. Why can't 11

TfE Fourth Millennium Society is an indepff&ntly tunded and administered public clnrity committed to he

we just celebrate our Armenian-ness without having to close our eyes to the tuth, without having the pressure of continuing the myth? Simon Sagherian

Armenian lnterrEtioml lr4againe in its elfort to conbibute to the national dialogue. IIE diredors are grateil to he BsEhdors, Tndees, Pfom urd Frie, rrb of frp Fouttt Millennium Society ufio are comiitteo to ttp lBlfueing, groffr and darelopment ol Amenians and Armenia lhrough the promotion of open discusion and the free flow ol intormation among individuals and organiations. TlEir fimncial contributions supportlhework ol the Fourth Millennium Society and ensure the independence ol AlM.

EncinqCalifumia Miles Ahead Thanl$ for the many humorous essap by John Hughes in AIM. Every month, I read them fint before anything else. "John's Tips For Tlavelers," in the July200l isue was a gern

A wise man said once, "An ounce of humor is better than a pound of seriousness; for a smile will alwap carry you an extra mile'" Thank you again for keeping us smiling Haik Marcar

SanlosqCaffimia Old Memories, New lhaditions It is almost a tradition in our family to read through AIM each monthwith every member of the family. Your July isue was exceptional. As my mother was flipping through the pages and commenting on the articles, she came across the article about the gospel of St. Barsegh. With amazement she looked up at us and back at the article. She had no words to say. You cannot imagine the happiness she felt and how honored she was. My grandfather was the one who had brought the gospel to Armenia and donated it to the Matenadaran. We, as children, heard so much about this book. When my mother showed him the article, he was so surprised his eyes filled with tears. I want to thank AIM and Parik Nazarian from the bottom of my heart for such a special gift.

ZhaklinTsarulqan Glendale, Califoria

inlofldion to] tE purpose ot developing an infonned public. underpinning all our work is ttE lirm conviction fd fp vihlrty ol an indeendmt press is fundamenhl to a dsnocratic society in tumenia and democratic institutions in the Diaspora. The Fourth Millennium Society publishes

disserninafiiofl ol

Vahe Aghabegians, Salpi Haroutinian

Diruclon

because of Prime MinisterVazgen Sarpian's and

Speaker of the Padiament IGren Demirchian's much-too-friendly attitude tolvard Russia

On the other hand President Kocharian has the shrewdness to placate both East and West and thereby keep his head intact.

When we come right down to it, a small country like Armenia is just a pawn in a big power world politics. Sincerely, lohn D ouninn Burbank, Califumin t2

Shahen Hairapetian, Michael Nahabet, Ratli

Zinalian, Directors

2001

Shahen Hairapetian, Armen Hampar, Zaven Khanlian, Michael Nahabet, Alex Sarkissian, Bob Shamlian, Ralli Zinalian

Bcnelaclon Sarkis Acopian, Albert & Tove Boyaiian, The Calesiian Family Foundation, lnc.

Hirair Hovnanian, The Lincy Foundation, Louise Manoogian Simone

Sonlor Truslccs AUSTBALTA Heros & Kate Dilanchian CANADA Razmig Hakimian, Kourken Sarkissian H0NG K0NG Jack Muian USA CA Armand & Nancy Arabian, Khachig Babayan, George & Flora Dunaians, Armen & Gloriat Hampar,

Araxie M. Haroutinian, George & Grace Kay, Joe & Joyce Stein NY James Tutenkian Rl Papken Janiigian

Founding Trusloes AUSTRALIA Varoojan lskenderian USA CA Garen Avedikian, Mardo Kaprielian, Edward Misserlian, Bob Movelt Varoujan Nahabet, Norair Qskanian, Emmy Papaian, Zareh Sarkissian, Rafli Zinalian FL Hagop Koushakiian PA Zarouhi Mardikian

Tonth Anniysrsary Colporato $poneorc Aesthetic & Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, Garo Kassabian; Armenian Jewelers'Association; Commerce Casino, Hasmik Mgrdichian; George Tumanian; Grand Tobacco, Hrand & Mikayel Vardanian; ISB Group, Armen & Ketty Kazandiian; Law 0flice ol Aris Artounians, Aris & Karine Artounians; Law 0ffices ol 0urlalian & 0urfalian, Rafi & Sarkis 0urfalian; NASA Services lnc., Sam & Elizabeth Sarkisian; Nick & Kamelia Sarkisian; Arsen Sarkisian; Pacilic Sales, Jeny Turpanjian;

Remax of Glendale, Vahe & Aida Yeghiazarian; Yerevan Hotel

Associale Trustoos AUSTRALIA Arman & Nairi Derderyan USA CA Vartkes

& Jean Barum, Walter & Laurel Karabian, Gary & Sossi Kevorkian

Nazar & Artemis Naarian, Ralph & Savey Tulenkian NH Jeannette John

Patrons Rouben

lnt{ElllA

V & Tania

Chakalian

Khachatur & Bouzanna Soukiassian AUSNAUA

Hagop & Violet Dakessian Caro & Diyana Danielian

Artin Etmekiian

Ardash & Marian oerdetian

George & Vartouhi Tavoukiian

Dimitri & Tatnara Dimitri & Lucille EsleplEnian Manoushag Fermnian Gagik & KnaI Galsthn Vahan & Audrey Gregor Pierre & Alice Haig shahen & Marlha Haroutunian Arpiar & tlermine Janoyan Steve

Mack Vahanian

Anonymous

c^tll0A

Playing the Game Surprisingly, hardly anyone speaks or questions Nairi Hunanyan's three month stay in Tiukey prior to the October 27, 1.999 assassinations (AIM, June 2001., "Tiials of the Century"). Are we supposed to believe that Hounanyanb stay was ostensibly to study futue trade relations between TLrkey and Armenia? It is well known that the West was unhappy

Gtuarian,

Louise Aznavour Gerair & Elise Dervishian Migirdic & Ani Migirdicyan Soghomon & Aryiar SaiartB & Families

Alex Sarkissian

& Helen Shamlian

Robert

Sun Plastics, lnc, Petros & Garine Taglyan Ara & Avedis Tavitian Gaidzag

& ozovig Zeitlian

usl cot{rEcncuT Louis T. Hagopian Kevork & Pamela Toroyan

us^ IilASSICHUSEITS Kevork Atinizian

Richard Simonian

CYPRUS

Z. Greg Kahwaiian

ust illcHlc^ll

Garo Keheyan

Jack & Maro Kelaydiian

George Chamchikian

BNAET

Silvia Ficici

EtfitoI

Kevorl & Salenig Karajerjian Nishant & Sona lQazian Kirk & Ann Kesapyan John & Rose Kelchoyan Zaven & Sona KlEniian

Kevork Bouladian

Krilor Krikorian

UAE

Julie KultBniian & Boger $rauch

UST XETT JERSEY

Margaret Chantikiant

uilllto nl{GDoll

Louis & Grace Kuiliian Dora Serviarian Kuhn

Diran & Suzi ClBkelian

Avik iilahdesiant

ust clLltoRl{ll

Stepan & Erdianik Maftarian Harout & flih Mesrobian

M. Michael Ansour Harry & Alda Koundakiian

Adrine Karakashian

ITIIY Krikor & Harout Istanbulian t

Razmik A, Tatevossian

Mihran &

Elizabeth Agbabian

Garabed Akpolat

Edward & Alice Nataergian

Harry & Alvart Barseghian

Armand 0. Norehad

Aram & Ierez Basenian

Kenneth & Cindy I'lorian Bali ourtalian

Daniel Behesflilian

Michael & Hermine Piranian Hralch & Helga Sarfiis

Beri & Hera Boyajian

Friends ol

Edgar & Sarah Hagopian

Alex Manoogiant Kirakos Vapurciyan

u8 xEvtol Larry & Seda Barnes

U8I

XEW YOBT

Nancy Kricorian Vahe Nishanianl V John & Lucille G, Sarkissian Harout Topsacalian

u8l wlslllxGTot{ Dc Barry & Maroaret Zorthian

Alil

The Fourth Millennium Society is gratelul to ttE following for contributing during ttE last month to ensule AlMb linancial independence. l,StlLvidiHovanessian US FL Chaheo lsrabian

AIM OCTOBER

2OO1

Ths .&rnnenian ffi*ns ffinmmw Dnnor Rf,gist.mr Nee&i Your,Suppmrt. Register to Become a Donor

Bella Kocharian M.D. The First Lady of Armenia and Honorary Chairperson of the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry Charitable Trust was the first bone marrow donor

It's a simple process. Anyone between the agies of 18 and 60 and in good health can give a small blood sample for tissue type testing and listing with the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry.

to register.

Join 1,500 Armenians in Los Angeles and in Yerevan who have registered to donate bone marrow to a patient with the same tissue type who is suffering from leukemia or other blood-related disease. 10,000 volunteer bone marrow donors must be recruited by the year 2004 in order to achieve the rate of one match per 200 donors.

We Crurunutffird f,m [m*e a Sing1ls ffim#-.-

Avagyan, M.D.

Send Your Monetary Donation The Armenian Bone Marrow Registry Charitable Trust was founded in 199g to serve patients in Armenia and in the Diaspora who suffer from blood-related diseases. The Registry established its first tissue-typing laboratory in Yerevan, Armenia, in December 2000. A satellite recruitment center and typing laboratory was established this year at the Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Cenier, Los angeles and the founaution Laboratory Glendora. The Registry has secured the cooperation ofseveral international medical centers, such as the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust in England, Glendale Memorial Hospital and St Jude Hospital in US. Plans include the establishment of recruitment centers in Europe and in the Middle Eist. $450,000 is needed to operate the tissue-typing laboratories with medical staff and testing equipment and to maintain a computer database for searching and matching leukemia pitients with suitable bone marrow donors. Generous grants already have been received from the Lincy Foundation, Glendale Memorial Hospital and private donations. USA

fumenia

Frieda Jordan, Ph.D., Chairperson 347 West Stocker Street Suite 208 Glendale, CA91202

Sevak Ava6iyan, M.D., Executive Director Fax (3741) 53 98 90 375002 Yerevan, #1A Saryan Street

Phone/T'ax

818.5 47 .137 4

E-mail abmdr@arminco.com pnone

in Glendora.

laboratory in Yerevan.

This ad has been sponsored by the Glendale Memorial Hospital.

The Armenian Bone Marow Donor Registry is a nonprofit organization registered 6 a 501@(3) under the Accredited by the Armeniil govemment 6 m indepndent, nonprofit, non-govemmental organization.

Laboratory

ABMDR

3741.53.9880

{llcrrrlair }'lr:nr*r"iul llo*pital nnel I lrrfth {l,ntu. (;l lu Armenian Bone Marrow Prdect

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Armeniu Health AIliance.

Tissue-typing is done on a small blood sample by DNA molecular typing methods.

The Day After The US can't be satisfied with short term solutions pased. And in recent yearg leading ttrg lght has been Senator Sam 'Brownback, a Republican from Kansas Helping him were various proAzerbaijan and pio-oil forceg many of whom are represented in the new Bush Administrition. It is no surprise then that when the same Senator began to lead this new battle to remove 9ffi, many in the Armenian com-

The Armenian world, toq changed on September 11. Armenia's princiole of 'comolementariw' was validated. It took the US and Russia 10 years to ngure orit mat they ieally are no longer enemies' tha! in fact they-are vulo"ribl" in si.ilarways It t6ok unimaginable terror to drive homett g po9t that Armenia and Rissia and dozensof other countries, toq can in fact be victimized together, and dependent on each other for their seclrity. - Now,ther! is anew enemy- anundefined, untypical,unfathomable one and to flghtit,Americans are leadingttre fight andtininguq alliesArmenia said proriptly and clearly that it is willing to join the alliance to work against the forces of terror.The US wants more. The US wantsArmenia andArmenians to accept that Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act - passed by US C-ongress lntW2,,which p-rohibits direct govemment to government asistance to Azerbaijan unt{ att blgctades placed onArmenia are removed-should be waived in order to allow the LjS and its alies to use Azerbaijan and its resources to fight terrorism. to supportthe effort to defendUS national interArmenians arewilling-time, Armenians are committed to defending ests But at the same Armenia's national interests, too' It is for this reason that Armenians have been weary of this renewed effort to remove the only hurdle to all-out military assistance to a neighbor whose leadenhip keeps calling for military solutions to the complex political Karabakh conflict. US administrations have wanted 907 removed every year since it was

munity and the Armenian lobby were suspicious . I[ in the short term, the US requires (easier) access to Azerbaijan, especially in these diff,cult timeg so be it. But the US will also need a peicetut, staUtg nonthreatening Caucasus in the long run. Thil.is 9sp.9; tiaUy true sinceits staunchest allyTurkey is right next door, and its (still) sworn enemy kan,is just on tte other side' this neig5bornood is too volatile,varied and historically tangled to^be taken for ganted. The US should use this opportunity to }noct a few heads togdther and force the three Caucasus neighbors and their neig.tbors (moist of whom are US allies) to collaborate' That means Armenia agreei to removing 907, Thrkey agrees to opening borden, Azerbaijan agrees to quit talking war and starting to think peace. Removing 907 alone means giving intransigent Tirkey and unbending Azerbaijan a-dditional resources with which to continue attempts to iso-

late Armenia. That's no way to achieve lasting peace'Thath also no way for the West to avoid what can be huge headaches in this traditionally tough

region. .

A Missed Opportunity No crowds lining the streets leading up to the hill newestArmenian cathedral, St' Gregory the Illuminator played host to two historic occasionsThe first was the visit of nearly two dozen eormenical religious leaden who were in Armenia to celebrate the 170ttr annivenary of the acceptance of Christianity as a state religion'The second was the visitby Pope John Paultr. Both events came and went with remarkably little public participation. The church and state apparatuses delivered clean, well-orchestrated events JuSt

tlree dap into ib life

as the

However, neither event earned the kind

of popular attention that it

andrequired.No one evenknew theArchbishop of Canterbury was in town. The joumali.sts following the Pope noted that the public reception in Armenii was among the lowest tlreyhad seen' In a country woefully short on public information, there seemed to be even les than usual. No one seemed even to know when the Fope would be at the Tsitsemakaberd Genocide Memorial.There were no crowds lining the streets leading up to the hill,where deserved

the Pope prayed and Charles Aznavoursang' churctr trierarchy blamed the government handlers and vice versa.

ffrl

Everyone blamed everything on the need to maintain strict security. But in the end, one thing was certain: Armenia missed a rare opportunity for public exposure.

Thisonecan'tbeblamedonanyoneexceptthoaewhocouldn'tseetheseocca-

sionsforwhattlreywere-thoee uncommon chances to open tlre doors andwindoun and let tlre world

Intemational exposure that could not have been

ptr-

themoneyinthe worldcould have beenhad forfree Let's pray that the lesson will be learned before the 1800th anniversary celebrations On the otlrcr hand, these huge celebrations demonstated that while Ejmiasin remains unquestionably the spirinral center of the Armenian faith, a there is an expectation that SL Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral will role as the nationalcathedral of the Republic ofArmenia,where Diaspora and homelandmeet tomark important occasions of state. Built with Diaspora money in the heart of independent Armenia, it has come to symbolize the possibilities of partnership in the face of seem-

chased for all

ffil

ingly insurmountable

obstacles.

Fitting In The road to Brussels lies through Moscow Madimir Putin's visit to Armenia is the ninth scheduled by a head of state this year and undoubtedly the most important' Even as he arrived, the after-ihocks of the Septeiber 1L terror attacks in New York and Washington, DC were beginning to reshape the world. The-question for Armenia is not whether it is for or against terrorism a no-brainer-but how it fits into the newNewWorld Order being created by the AmericanJed campaip against Osama bin Laden and his Titliban

protectors

Putin has played his hand brilliantly,historically re'positioning Russia at the heart of Europe.Both Nato and the European Union now regard Russia - and Putin's Rusia - as essential to the future shape of the continent.

Its expectations and concerns will feature far more strongly in discus sions about security and trade. More than ever, it will be important to be Russia's friend - a role that Armenia is happy to play' Securing greater influence by proxy in Europe's corridors of pover without bein[ characterized as Russia's "]ittle brother" will be a tricky

AIM OCTOBER

2OO1

balancing act for Armenia's diplomats. But it will be harder still for those countries in the region that are not close to Russia. For the immediate future, the road to Brussels lies through Moscow. At the same time, Tirrkey's status as America's most important Muslim ally is being enhanced further. To prevent a war againsi terror descending into a conflict with Islam, the US will need the demonstrated friendship of every Muslim government it can get - and pro-Western, secular Tirrkey fits the bill. Forget any prospect of a Genocide recognition Bill in Congress this

year. And expect little by way of progress in resolving the Karabakh dispute. America's plate is full and such concerns are simply off its menu. Presure for a resolution-should there be any-will be on terms aweptable Ankara as Azerbaijanh proxy. The best Armenia can hope for is to put the !o issue back into cold storage - not necessarily a bad outcome. Armenia will struggle to maintain its hitherto successful policy of ,,complementarity" - essentially balancing its friendships in the region - as the world reorientates after September ll.WaningAmerican interest and growing Russian power will test the skills of its diplomats to the

full.

Consumers Must Have aVoice A textbook

case

of do's and don'ts

The ArmenTel controversy is a textbook case of do's and don'ts. There is much to learn here about economic development, privatization and regulation of utilities, contractual obligations, the role of government, the identification and articulation of a society's priorities - and the list goes on. The dispute says much about a new government making a bad deal with a company that is far from perfect in its management and its objectives. It also says volumes about responsibility, and long-term accountability. On both sides The govemment signed a contract with a communications company. The contract is good for 15 years. Calls by members of Parliameni and others for reneging on the deal are short-sighted and ineffective. The courts will have to sort out responsibilities on each side and make appropriate determinations. The problem is not whetherArmenTel is meeting its end of the bargain.

It is not only in Armerua that there are claims that a service provider water, electricity, telephone * is concemed more about its own business interests than of society at large. The problem in Armenia is that there are insufficient safeguards built into the regulatory scheme to protect consumen'rights.A public utility,like a telephone company,is not just any business Its performance directly affects individuals' lives and safety, and business productivity and performance. To protect the public, an independent agency, like a public utilities commission is necessary to defend the rights of consumeri. The alternative is to depend on lawyerg politicians and businessmen - each of whom serves a specific client or constituency. None of these has a direct mandate to protect the needs of society. It is the government's responsibility to create such an agency, especially as discussions go forward to privatize the remainder of the energy sector, and to improve existing water supply systems.The public interest must have a r

voice.

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NOTEBOOK

reiects and criticizes the ellorts of the people ol Nagorno Karabakh to run their Iives on principles and practices of democratic, electorat representation, even as it is criticized by international observers for ignoring free and tair election procedures during its own elections. rl

rrlt is ironic that Azerbaijan cavalierly

Vartan Oskanian

Armenia's Minister of Foreign Atfairs, 2001

rlThe lslamist inlrastructure

in Azerbaiian is built on the

experience ol bin Laden, Khattab and their companions in not only absorbing volunteers for Alghan iihad during the 1980's, but ol transforming them into a cohesive elite corps (which is still cohesive and most active more than a decade after the Ofunr?r,;rlfl#Jarl3n,

deemed world class. Unhappily, these advantages all but evaporated as South Ossetians, with Russian connivance rebelled lor separate statehood followed by a similar eruption among Abkhazians, displacing hundreds ol thousands.

*,oA?l)H',!f,',

Delense and Foreign Affairs Strategic Policy,1999

( ( During these 10 years we have had more

r(The question ol all questions is this: lt is either the will of the people that supercedes all else and the people themselves elect their leaders and their development path, or the people's and the country's luture are decided by "heroes" who leel that the people are too immature to solve their own problems. lf a country's late is determined by these "heroes," then that country has no luture.

achievements than losses. Achievements are not necessarily those which you see with your eyes. There is a whole series ol leelings, sensitivities which over these next decades will become lirmly entrenched and become the guidepost by which luture generations will be ,'*fl;il,r,. sukiassian

Member of parriamenr,

( ( Given

Member of Parliament, Republic of Armenia, 2001

-,,yfr#o,,iHSlll[i1i

this history, this thirst lor independence, many lelt Georgia would llower on attaining that price in 1991. lt was blessed with agricultural bounty and hydroelectric potential;with a network ol roads and rail, a pivotal location, and an educated citizenry: Georgian institutes lor mathematics and physics were

I ( Heydar Aliyev's successor will be his son llham. I know him well, and he's not a strong political operative like his father. ln all probability, the real power will

rest with Azerbaijani oil magnate, Lukoil President Alekperov. 0l course, that won't be obvious, but in the shadows, but still, it will be ttr' Ooly3rUrnlooro, Member of the Russian Duma, 2001

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NOTEBOOK

ENll| EomG$ to Anmenla Cable News Network, Without the Cable

rmenia is now part of the world linked by Cable News Network. Free, and 24-hours a ciay, CNN has been parr of the Y-erevan broadcast menu since August. "This is not a CNN representation or a CNN in Armenia. We are just re-broadcasting the European CNN," says Bagrat Sargsyan, head of the Yerevan CNN, which is affiliated with the local Channel L. "This is a great chance to have a different point ofview, to see and get acquainted with Western values." Signing such a contract with a local distributor for rebroadcast of CNN programming is a first for CNN as well.

f, II rl

Until now, only a few people with satellites in Armenia had the chance to view CNN. But it's an expensive pleasure to have a satellite

and the majority

of the population was

deprived of the chance to have international news in English on teleyision. Armenia is the

only country in the former Soviet Union to rebroadcast CNN and the organizen ofthis project hope that after some time more people in

Armenia will get used to hearing news in English and watching the channel. "The CNN broadcasting is like a window to the whole world," says Gordana Duspara, regional director of distribution for CNN "and we are truly happy that Armenia already has the chance to look through that window and get to see what is happening in the world right away." The September 11 events in the US quickly made clear the value of such a news source in Armenia. Duspara says that soon, perhaps, news Top: Gordana Duspara, regional director ol from Armenia will be a regular part of CNN's distribution for CNN and Armeniab Minister "World Report." As of now, however, the only ol Foreign Allairc Uarlan 0skanian, at the local information will be advertising. opening ol the Gl{l{ ollice in Yereuan, 0n -Lusine Zeytunyan

AIM OCTOBER

2OO1

July 31, 2001 . Photos by Karen Minasian

NOTEBOOK

Finst Pnesiilent ol the Repuilic I

en years ago this month, kvon Ter Petrossian was overwhelmingly elected the fint president of the Republic of Armenia, bringing into

reality the centuries-old hopes and aspirations of the Armenian

people tobe govemed by a demooatically elected president of their own. The euphoriawas so high, that initialhardships and abuses of powerwere downplayed and tolerated by the populace. The honeymoon, however,

did not last long. The political and economic realities of Armenia, complicated with the ravages of earthquake, war and blockade, soon caught up with TerPetrossian. Despite the political upheaval of his fint term, Ter Petossian was reelected for a second term in an election marred by vote rigging. The results of the elections were ovenhadowed by a series of mass protesb, which were accompanied by the anests of activists and parliamentary deputies of the opposition. Ter Petrmsian's decision to use troops against his own citizens proved extremely damaging to his political image. In March 1997, Ter Petrossian invited the president of the still unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Robert Kocharian, to take up the post of Prime Minister of Armenia. Differences on a solution to the Karabakh issue soon put Ter Pehosian and his new Prime Minister on opposing ends of the pole. At a press-conference in September of L997, Ter Petrossian announced that he regarded it as an elror on Armenia's part to require the international community's remgrrition of the independence of Karabakh and put forward the steps he thought were necessary to bring an end to the c.onflict. At the same time, he announced his support for a set of agreements, which required the removal of Armenian forces from six Azerbaijani reglons before the beginning of talks on the status of Karabakh'

The outcry against these proposals was so overwhelming that on February 3, 1998, Ter Petrossian announced his resignation, thus ending a reign that had begun with so much anticipation and fanfare' -Asbed Pogharian

$ensitiue to BiUotry ollowing the September

rr,2mr terrorist attacl<s in New York City

andWashington, DC onVache Mangassarfun's nlk show, Glendale City Councilman B ob Yousefwn w amed area Armenian Americatu about the possible dangers of their ethnicity. Below are excerpts from a Glendale Nat s Press article, on September zo by Karm S. Kim, fearuring the Councilman's comments : "I tried to explain to the Armenian population that they need to be a *The majority of people in little more sensitive," he [Youseflan] said. Glendale are good people, but then again, we can't control people who get irate or unbalanced. To them, anyone who's dark skinned and has dark eyes might look like an Alab." Yousefian wamed Armenians against playing their music -which might be mistaken for Arabic music - too loud in cars' He also advised against qpeaking too loudlywith other Armenians in a language thatmight be mis-

taken for Arabic, and said merchants should consider taking down shop sigrrs written in Armenian.

resporue to the initial artich additittnal commmts

from

the

Councilman wrd the nlk show hrtst were featured in a folkw-up article in the Glendale News Press, on September 21, by TimWillert "Armenians in general and Middle Eastern gtoups need to be cautious," Yousefian said Thursday. "Because I think there are people let's say the skinheads - who are not too crazy about foreigners to begin with, who are looking for an excuse to do somethinguazy"' Actor and talk show host Vache Mangassarian defended Yousefian's remarks, and agrecd that the Armenian community should be very cautious. "For someone's ear that is not used to that musig it sounds foreign," he said. "You are drawing unnecesary attention. In that case, I ttrink Bob

AIM OCTOBER 2OO1

NOTEBOOK

Gonncctinu to llids

I I I hat's the use of a playground without swings, slides or monkey uIeffi ;,["Jllqtr;:;;kf,;1:;i:#:,."t8'],JJrffi :;*;

children's singer-songwriter Vaco (See AIM Nov/Dec, 1996), some of whose songs are as well known in Armenian households as Bamey's "I love you, you love me." So far, Vaco has created 5 audio tapes (over 50 songs) and 2 video tapes. However, "Playground" sets a new standard not only for the singer-songwritea but also for Armenian children's music in general. "Playground" consists of 13 lovely tracks,9 in Armenian,3 instrumental and one in English (which he sings with his son). Even though the songs are on playfirl themes dear to children, the music is so lively and fresh, it easily crossbs over to the taste of adult audiences as well. Beautiful melodies are intertwined with delightful sounds as diverse as the Japanese koto, Peruvian guitar, African rain stick, Armenian duduk, the harmonica, kazoo, and even the sound of live

crickets especially recorded on the hills of Hollywood ("The Hollywood Hills Cricket Choral," as Vaco likes to refer to them). One of the instrumental pieces is called "An Armenian in Machu Pichu." The background on the pieces is that an Armenian visiting Machu Pichu in Peru is so much reminded of the Armenian highlands that he takes out his shvi - an Armenian wind instrument - and starts to play. Soon, the natives trickle out and join him in their native instruments, thus creating a higtrly enjoyable Armenian melody with Latin overtones. The only song with I)rics not by the singer-songwriter is a beautiftrl piece called "Eshe" (The Donkey), based on a poem of Paruyr Sevag. "Connecting with Paru1'r Sevag was a treat, and writing a melody to his poem was a lot of fun," states Vaco. "I could hear him laughing out loud, enjoying the process just like me." -Asbed Pogharian

AIM OCTOBER

2OO1

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PlaylnU l|ost to Putln BY TONY HALPIN I YEREVAN

special occasion when any head of stale calling. but all the slops were pulled out when the President of Russia made his

tsa

l.orn.,

fust official visit to Armenia. Vladimir Putil anived in Yerevan on Friday September 14 for talks with President Robert Kocharian, bringing with hirn a high-powered delegation of ministers, regional governors. and other leading Russian politicians. The two-day visit got off to a relaxed start as Putin joined Kocharian at the presidential dacha on Lake Sevan. They piloted a motor boat on Sevan and took walks together in a

Carnp David-style get-together intencled to demonstrate publicly that a pelsonal chemistry exists betwccn the two leaclers. The setting ma1, have been informal but the agenda was strictly business. Putin ancl Kochariar.r had private talks tit the dacha on strengthening Russian-Armenian relations. and in particular improving the level of economic cooperation between the two countries. Putin and his wife Lyudmila. accompanied by the Catholicos Karekin II. paid their

respects

at the

Genocide Memorial in

Yerevan the following day, laying a wreath at the eternal flame in memory of the dead. A round of intense formal discussions followed in Yerevan, both at presidential level and in bilateral talks between the foreign and

defence ministers of Russia and Armenia. Members of the Armenia-Russia inter-governmental committee also met. What emerged were agreements on longterm economic cooperation covering the period 2ffi2-10. and on protecting and promoting inrestrncnts in thu two countrics.

L.nproved transport links. including

project to share a port on the Black Sea. were also discussed in an effort to bring economic cooperation up to the same level as political and military relations. The latter were firmly cemented by the joint declaration of strategic partnership signed by the two presidents during Kocharian\ state visit to Russia last year. Armenia s debt to Russia. which currently stands at some $97 million. was also discussed. The debt, incured mostly from the provision of energy supplies, including nuclear fuel for 22

AIM OCTOBER

2OOI

the Metzamor nuclear reactor, could partly be

repaid by giving the Russians

a stake in

Armenian enterprises. Cooperation on the intemational stage was high on the agenda, the summit mming just days afterthe terrorist attacks in NewYork and Washington, DC had thrust the fight against

terrorism to the forefront of everyone's minds. Putin delivered a hard-hitting condemnation of terror at a press conference in Yerevan,

comparing the attacks on the World Tiade Center and the Pentagon to atrocities committed by the Nazis. Having endured internation-

al condemnation for the war in

Ckrechnya

launched following bomb explosions in Moscow tower blocks - Putin also talked of his sense of "guilt" at having wamed repeatedly but in vain about the threat posed by terrorists.

The Russian president ended his visit by meeting MPs at Armenia's parliament and delivering a speech at Yerevan State Univeniry Later, at an official dinner for the Russian delegation, there was approval and amusement at the ice cream dessert, presented in the colors of the Russian and Armenian flags. Officials in the Armenian protocol departmenthadgone togreatlengths to ensure that the blue sfripe in the Russian flag was exactly the right shade - apparently a tricky busines with ice

oearn

The dessert passed the Putin taste test on such minor details do the personal relationships of state solidify or Opposite page:

dissolve. r

Russian President Putin (center)

with his wile Lyudmila and Gatholicos Karekin ll, as they lay rloures at the elerna! llame ol the memorial t0 lhe uictims of the Genocide. Top: The two presidenls at the welcoming ceremony at Zvartnob. Left: Kocharian (!eft)watches, while Putin pilob a motor boat on Lake Sevan, where the two relaxed at the presidential dacha.

AIM OCTOBER

2OO1

llaton

llelenillnU lhyscll Nairi Hunanian Has His Day in Court BY ZHAltt{A ALEXAI{IAN AND JoHl'l HUGHES

I YEREVAN

Inside the Yerevan courtroom where a ldefendanti cage challenges any notion of lpresumed

inno.cence. Nairi Hunanian looks small and harmless and oddly resolute. He is neither imposing nor impressive. Nor could anyone be, it would seem, from a box of bars that - were it an animal in there - the softhearted would call it cruelty. But even without those damning bars, his guilt is unquestioned. On October 27, L999, Hunanian led a killing spree in the Armenian Parliament that was televised worldwide to the glee of viewer/voyeurs and the horror of a struggling nation becoming unhinged bullet by bullet. A hime Minister, a Speaker, and six members of Parliament were executed, vic-

tims

of an irrational plot sketched

Hunanian. A plot he now says went terribly, irreconcilably, wrong.

Well, maybe not irreconcilably. For Hunanian isn't seeking reconciliation. He seeks, instead, adoration. The killer sees himself a hero. In testimony that began in the bone-chill of winter and stretched into summer's scorch, Hunanian has used Judge Samuel Uzunian's court as a forum for seHaggrandizement. His cage has become a pulpit and a stage. And with the passing days there is growing reason to favor the placarded opinions of sidewalk demonstrators who are calling the trial a mockery. Prosecutor's question: "When you visited the place where your parents were born, who usually went with you, your mother or your

father?" Defendant "Which times do you mean?" As if they are interviewing for a pulp biography rather than litigation, prosecutors have forsaken their traditional role of proving

AIM OCTOBER 2OO1

guilt. Their tactics, rather, are aimed at the question that is nearly two years unanswered:

whv?

The question will linger. Meanwhile: Who? Who is Nairi Hunanian? A poet, he says. "I have felt more like a poet since 1988," he said in preliminary testimony. A martyr, he says. During a meeting with Paruir Hairikian, head of the President's Committee for Protection of Human Rights, Hunanian the accused killer said: "Your children will put flowers under my monument." The man who would be martyr is 36. In a l%-page statement he wrote during preliminary hearings before the court, Hunanian's autobiography started from age - even then - he says he was able to recite the epic tale of Armenian folk hero two, when

Sasountsi Davit. The accused killer presented

Nalion

himself as a man of high character, a leader.

He also included in his written testimony drafts of 40 laws, mostly conceming language, ecology, drug addiction, prostitution - all part of his plan to "Rescue Armenia." One of the laws he proposed stressed the need to prohibit all forms of media except State journalism. Hunanian himseH was a joumalist. "He never considered himself to be only a reporter of an

information agency," journalist Anna Israelian says of Hunanian. Israelian recalls that, as far back as 1990, Hunanian had an idea for how to improve relations between Turkey and Armenia by creation of a joint television project.

"In this matter it

also became clear that even his acquaintances had underrated the level of his pretension," Israelian says. "He

Hunanian in the face. Hunanian, his former "subbotnik" partners recall, simply cried. "Nairi," one friend recalls, "could have friends ortemporary associates but he was not able or he just didn't want to treat somebody as an equal." Those who knew him a decade ago,

say Hunanian was quick

to shift blame if in turned sour - a

something he was involved characteristic with a familiar ring, compared to recent court testimony: "I killed because I

had lost self-control," Hunanian testified, careful to point out that his brother, Karen, fired the first shots which caused Nairi Hunanian to panic. "At that very moment there was much noise in the building, all doors were open. Many bent down and lying on the

al problems."

izen of the Armenian Union of Students, an organization supporting the Karabakh

not bom in his mind," says Israelian. "He hated being ruled by anybody and he never regarded himself as a subordinate." Which, at least on one occasion led to confrontation. During Soviet times, students were required to participate in "subbotnik" - a work project that included such tasks as sweeping streets and cleaning parls in their spare time. When

Hunanian appointed himself leader of his group and began giving orders, one of the

other boys became angry and

slapped

observer of the court proceedings. "He feels good when he has power to rule other people. That kind of man cannot even treat members of his family as an equal. He must dictate his will to others, to subjugate people." Which may explain why Hunanian refused one court

jointed. But upon retuming to Armenia, he realized that he lost all his contacts with his friends and acquaintances. He applied to different offlcials for jobs, for positions that

According to accounts from acquaintances and former classmates, Hunanian became a recogrrized figure in 1988 as one of the organ-

Dashnak Party and considered himself an apologist for the nationalist political party's platfomr. He organized student strikes and demonstrations, many drawing the affention and support of the Karabakh C.ommittee and various political figures. Which is why several members of Parliament recognized the man who opened fire on their colleagues in the National Assembly October 27, 1999. Ever willing to be a leader, he was equally unwilling to be a team member. "He did not comprehend any thought or idea, which was

Hunanian was a master or a puppet. Psychologist Albert Nalchajian expresses approximately the same point of view concerning Hunanian. "He is a person, who is always striving for power," says Nalchajian, an

prison. (Another attomey has been appointed, but Hunanian has not spoken to him.) Sometime in the mid-f)s, Hunanian left Armenia for a resort town in south Ukraine. Information conceming his life there is dis-

indeed, he didn't wish to have petty intentions - his undertakings at least concemed territori-

philosophical text, though his ability for memorization was better than his skills in debate. Hunanian was a fervent member of the

interest and speculation about whether

appointed attorney, choosing instead to

to become a connecting link between two countries' presidents. And,

ty to persuade, of his ability to memorize

courthouse crowds have dwindled as the case goes into its 10th month, there is still keen

defend himself with legal expertise gained in

was going

Movement. The Union published three issues of a newspaper in which Hunanian "put his every wish, step or intention across in interesting and beautiful, ideological form,'o according to Israelian. Others speak of Hunanian's abili-

Nairi Hunanian's life of oblivion changed in a matter of minutes two years ago. And, while

would restore his (perceived or actual) status,

including director floor and people were moving in all directions. And it was really difficult for us to orientate ourselves and understand what were all those people going to do as we were in a stressftrl mental condition. I went up the rostrum and started to shoot spontaneously." So Hunanian qualified the crime he committed, not as premeditated but as a result of an emotional and unstable state of mind and "unintentional." He did not, however, express regret. Hunanian's testimony sparked hot discussion during breaks at the courthouse. "I have been waiting for this day for L0 months," said Ashot Sarkissian, attorney for (slain Parliament Speaker) Karen Demirchian's family. "I was thinking at nights what was he goingto say,howwas he goingtocomment on that. If he is a man, then why didnt he walk out and say, 'yes, I did that and I don't regret it.' He turned to a nonentity when he said that his brother was the first to enter the building and he only followed him." Before he became a terrorist, Hunanian was idolized by his younger brother, Karen. And revered by his mother, a schoolteacher who once compared her son to Jesus Christ a messiah who would save the Armenian nation. Hunanian's father, a poet, claimed that his son's merits far exceeded others who had taken high positions of authority while his more qualified son suffered, unknown. But

AIM OCTOBER

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Armenpress news agency and head of personnel of the National

Assembly.

In ance

1998,

Hunanian organized a perform-

in the Department of Philology

at Yerevan State University in commemoration of the 1fth anniversary of the student's move-

ment. Among those attending was Prime Minister Yazgen Sargsian, who would be among the dead when Hunanian became famous a year later. After describing, in often disjointed detail, the events of October71,1D9, Hunanian concluded his testimony by saying that his attempted revolution "was broken" and as a result people who were not meant as targets

"I found myseH in a mnfused mental condition," Hunanian said. "At first instinctively and then consciously, coming to my senses and cooling down, I started to feel and realize under those circumstances people would misunderstand the program to replace the govemment." Hunanian concluded his became victims.

testimony by telling the court

of how

helped the wounded in the aftermath of the shootings, appearing, said some in the courtroom, as il he were waiting to hear gratitude for his kindness. r Nairi Hunanian Presiding judge Samvel Uzunian Photos by Mkhilar Khachatrian Opposite page:

Top:

lllation

GhanulnU the Ma$$Gs ArmenTel Implements Per-Minute Charges BY HAY!(M BAGH|AiT AND NARINE KHACHATRIAI| IYEREVAN

he decision by Armenia's monopoly tele-

phone provider, ArmenTel, to introduce per-minute charging for local calls has provoked flerce controversy. Customers were scheduled to receive their first bills on October 1., despite declara-

tions from government ministers that ArmenTel had no right to institute the new charging system. On September 1, the company announced its intention to charge four Drams per minute (less than one US cent), prompting street demonstrations from angry consumers long used to a free local service. The storm of protest also reached the Parliament. The Speaker Armen Khachatrian

declared: "The whole county is against the introduction of the time-metering sptem, the socialcondition of the country doesn't permit it."

The dispute is particularly tricky because effectively the companyis atwarwith itseHover the issue of charging. ArmenTel is 90 percent owned by the Greek telecommunications company OTE, while the Govemment of Armenia holds the remaining ten percent of the stock.

Legislators threatened to amend the telecommunications law to ban per-minute charging. The move was postponed at the request of the Govemment, but would have had no effect even had it passed - Armenian laws protect businesses against changes in the

AIM OCTOBER

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regulatory climate for five years from the date of investment. Why such anger, when per-minute charging is an established practicc in most other coun-

tries of the world? Indeed, when Armenians already have a track record ofbeing the most conscientious payers of electricity bills among

former Soviet states? Complaints that the tariffs are too high in country where the average citizen earns just 22,000 Drams per month (around US $40) form part of the answer. But so do govemment allegations that ArmenTel is introducing the charges while failing to meet its obligations to improve the quality of services. a

ilation

Until now, ArmenTel customers have paid only a monthly subscription fee of 900 Drams (about $1.60) with unlimited local calls. The new system will mean they get 120 minutes of calls free per month but must pay four Drams, per minute, after that. Part of the controversy centers on the fact that ArmenTel is creating two classes of customers, because the charges apply only to those whose lines have been converted to digital exchanges. According to government estimates, only about 44 per cent of customers have digital lines - the rest will continue to pay just the subscription charge of 900 Drams for local calls until the company converts their region to digital lines too. Some estimates suggest that bills for consumers with digital lines could rise to around 5,000 Drams ($9) per month, while others pay just 900 Drams for the same amount of calls. Andranik Manoukian, Minister of Communications insisted in an interview with AIM that he had banned the introduction of the new charging structure. He claimed the company had not submitted documents concerning the proposed tariffs in the correct manner. Deputy Minister Vaghinak Kocharian, who is also the Govemment's representative on the board of the joint venture, suggested that investments promised by the company had not been completed so far, saying ArmenTel was expected to spend $100 million on improvements to the phone network

between March 1998 and March 2001. "There are solid grounds for assuming that ArmenTel has not made the investments set out in the agreement," he said. Nikos Georgoulas, ArmenTel's Chief Executive Officer, told AIM that $127 million had already been invested in ffiastructure development and the switch to digital lines for all customers would be completed within three to five years. Kocharian claimed the installation of digital switching was behind schedule and, although tle number of mobile subscribers had tripled in the past 1.2 months to 23,000, "the quality is so poor that even callers in Yerevan cannot speak to each other". Georgoulas defended the decision to intoduce per-minute charges, saying they were necessary to fund improvements in services. New technologies such as better mobile telephone systems and high-speed Intemet connections were planned and would be made available throughout Armenia. Under ArmenTel's license agreement, he said, the company had the right to introduce per-minute charges as early as January 199,

but had held off until now. The tarifB were

"reasonable" and reflected the economic situation in the country as a whole. The company's board of directors met on September 27 and confirmed it wouldbillcustomers based ontle new tariffs starting October 1. "Armenia has to decide whether it enters the 21st Century in accordance with European standards or not," said Georgoulas. But Davit Harutiunian, the Justice Minister, conflrmed that in his view "the per-minute charge does not have the force

of the law at the moment". He

emphasized

that the goyernment was not opposed to such tarift in principle but the proper procedures for introducing it had to be followed. Vazgen Manukian, head of the parliamentary committee scrutinizing the telecomsector in Armenia, said ArmenTel should first intro-

AIM OCTOBER

2OO1

duce new contracts with customers, setting out

the revised system of charges, before introducing per-minute billing. Some experts suggest that consumers could have a case against ArmenTel if the company cuts off the services

of those who refuse to pay the bills.

How this dispute will be resolved remains unclear. The Govemment has threatened to take the isue to the courts if discussions with the companydo not yield a satisfactory solution. Meanwhile, the puzzled consumers are left in the middle. ArmenTel has warned that they face disconnection if they do not pay the new bills. The Government insists that the consumers are under no obligation to pay, because the company has no right to bill

theminthisway.

Goven Stony

falthFonward Spirits and Stones Mark New Era for Church and State BY TONY HALPIN AND GAYANE MKBTCHIAN

I YEBEVAN

r!hc dt.rms ol Sl. Cteu,,rt lhr: Illtttnirtrrtot' I Cath..lnrl li5c\ molc thrrtt l')5 I('e t irtto I the \er.rrrrt skr. its l.hlsical scrtle intettded to match its s-vn-rbolic significance. Eleven years and $12 million ir.r the making, the newest and biegest Armenian church

in the rvorlcl is both remalkahle material of laith. The Rcpublic of An.ncnia latest manilcstation

achievement ancl stirtement

of Arrnenian statehood

markecl its tcnth

vear in existcnce b.v paving homage in stonc to 1,7(X) ycars of Arrnenian Christianitv The catheclral was alw.ry,5 msls than a spiritual marker, however St. Gregor_rls came to cncapsulate both enduring values of "Armeniamess" and what that concept misht rnean in the lirturc. When Catholicos Vassen I blessed the lirst. memorial. stonc in March 1990. Armenia u'as

cleep into its carnpaign to break tiee of the Soviet Union. The act of commencing a church indeed a national cathedral - seemed to be part of that independence struggle, a reasser-

tion ol religious belief in a godless

Bv cleclicating the nation

- inside and beyond

Arrncnia\ borders - to the task of commemoral

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state,

wrapped up with a sense of the centrality of the faith to the Arrnenian identity.

Coven $tony

ing St. Gregory the Illuminator 17 centudes earlier, the Catholicos was underlining how shortlived the Soviet experience really was in compar-

ison to Armeniah adherence to Christianity. Faith fised with national sentimenl to fofiify Armenian David against Soviet Goliath. In looking ahead to 2(X)l as an crccasion lbr national rqoicing, the Catholicos also set lbrward the possibility of an altemative future emerging Irom the political cnsis of the time. A luture that Armenians themselves might mntrol. Vasgen I was fully aware that he was initiating a dream he would never see. But in laying the foundations lbr a project intended to

struggle 1br their very survival in Karabakh. and il' God hacl finally forsakcn the An.ncnians. What use was a church at such a time?

wondering

Thc tact that funcling came lront the Diaspora macle it appcar all the morc to critics within Armenia that this w:rs iut exlravagance supported by people who enjoycd every comlbrt in their distrint homes. "The idea of constructing a church hacl its opponents," saici Varazdat Haroutunian, an academician at Armenias Academy of Science and a member of the board that oversaw the project. "During those hard days. a lot of people considered it wrong to spend so much monev

reach completion at the dawn of the 21st Century he was piacing faith that it would also mark the start of a new era for Armenians. The construction of the cathedral has not been without controversy. The catastrophic economic collapse that accompanied Armenia's emergence into statehood led some to question the wisdom of spending millions of dollars on

same people spending largc sums on other social welf'art' projects within Armenia. Br

stones. People were hungry and cold. waging a

itseli. thc calhedral gencratcd 50{) constructirrn

on a church. They were ignoring the fact that throughout their history the Armenian people built churches and monasteries in much more

jobs, helping skillcd men to find honest work ancl support their families in a dignifiecl way. Simply the act ol underlaking such an enterprise was ern exprcssion of hope in dark times. All around. lirctories were closing ancl public setviccs colhrPsing. For a luw yrurs. cve n provisicln of the basic staples of life such as bread.

water. light and heat became unceftain. Amid the chaos. nraterial and psychological. the building of a cathedral appeared to be an exercise in spiritual renewal. It was a statement that things could get better through dedication and effort. It was also intimately tied up with nation-

building. Armenia's fbrmer Soviet institutions were discredited, the new ones barely formed. The Church provided an anchor to enduring values, something to which the new

difficult conditions." Others point out that those who gave money for the cathedral did so

from a sense of devotion and were often the

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0pposite page Sl. Gregory the llluminator Cathedral on the day of its consecration, September 23,

2001. Photo by Mkhitar Khachatrian Below Catholicos Karekin ll and Pope John Paul ll during an open air mass at Ejmiatsin.

Gouen $tony

construction of the Holy See to the development of our republic. Irt it be one of the most miraculous spiritual achievements of our independent statehood."

The architect of the cathedral, Stepan Kyurkchian, also regarded his task as much more than a matter of engineering and design. It had to be a building imbued with the power of spiritual renewal. "Throughout the project, I wanted to create something that by means of architecture would make people believe again. Entering the church, everyone should feel that they are under the protection of God," he said. Even the stone provided a metaphorical bridge to the nationh past, being taken from a mine on the Armenian side of the River Akhurian close to the historical capital of Ani, now situated inside Turkey.

It is hard not to feel a sense of divine authority as one approaches St. Gregory's. Located two blocks from Yerevan's central Republic Square, the cathedral dominates the landscape in a park close to Tigran the Great Street. Measuring more than 3,800 square meters (38,000 sq. ft.) in all, it is on the Ararat scale of church building, its size and solidity commanding respect. The cathedral, with its chapels and 70-ft bell tower, are flnished, although work remains to be done to lay out the surrounding grounds.

Entering under the bell tower into the vestibule, cool and airy, there is an immediate sense of calm. To the right, stone stairs lead up to the balcony where the choir face out across the enormous central hall to a painting of the Madonna and Child above the altar. The interioa plain except for the portrait, suggests simplicity and strengh, the dome lifting the eyes of worshippers towards Heaven. That itwas delivered on time owesmuch to Ed Balassanian, the project manager. When he

Left to

right Gatholicos Karekin Il and Presidenl Kocharian at the newly consecrated Gathedral.

tum in seeking to bind Armenians together in common purpose. A cathedral afflrmed that Armenia's Christian heritage state could

would be at the root of is identity, both internally and as it sought to establish itseHintemationally in a confusing post-Soviet world. Armenia was both young republic and ancient Christian nation at one and the same time, pre-

senting to the world an image of longevity even as it endured the birth pains ofindependence.

Karekin I, who succpeded Vasgen I Catholims of All Armenians, expressed

as as

much in a1997 ceremony to bless stones which had been prepared foruse inthe construction o{ the cathedral. As he anointed the light orange tufa stone with holy water, he said, "I devote

AIM OCTOBER

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was asked by Karekin I in October 1998 to take on the job of ensuring the cathedral was ready for the 2001 crlebrations, almost no-one in Armenia believed it could be done. Balassanian, an architect by training who had come from NewYork to run an arts center in Yerevan, explained: "There were foundations, the foundation walls, and 60 percent of the floor slabs had been put down, but that was it. The bell tower didnt even have foundations. "There were no final drawings to work to, it was the worst situation you could imagine. But this was a once in a lifetime challenge and I had to take it." He went on: "Whatever you see now was achieved in two years and eight months and by any standards that's good. The contractor (Yerevanshin) got this job done by hook or

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Coven Stony

1jd

T .r' I

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(Yerevanshin) got this job done by hook or by crook, he really worked at it."

God's newest house now holds

with generations of ancestors. The Catholicos told worshippers: "This church, with the heart-felt ringing of its bells, will become a new source of benediction for the people of Yerevan and for the lives of all Armenians, renewing our oath of faithfulness to God." He was also lavish in his praise of Diaspora Armenians whose donations had made the cathedral possible. The late Alex Manoogian gave $2 million early in the project and more came from his son Richard and daughter Louise Manoogian Simone - in all the family donated more than $5 million towards the

3,000

comfortably, seated and standing. Pews to seat 700 were in place in time for the consecration and the scheduled visit by Pope John Paul II. Eventually, there will be seating for 1,700 - one soul for each year of Armenian Gristianity. IGrekin II, Catholicos of All Armeniang consecrated the cathedral on Surday, September 23

in a two-hour

service marking the official commemoration of Armenia's conversion to Christianity in 301. Among those gathered for the high-point of the year-long celebrations for the l.700th anniversary were an impressive

cathedral. Contributions toward the construction of the St Tidat and St Ashkhen chapels and the cathedral's bell tower came from Nazar Nazarian, the AGBU treasurer, who lives in New Jersey, Norair Gevorgian, based in the Far East, and the prominent Argentine Armenian Eduardo Eurnekian.

array of ecumenical leaders:Alexei II, Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church,theAnglican leader George Carey,Archbishop of Canterbury, and representatives of sister churches around world. So were Armenia's and Karabakh's top officials, including Armenia's President Robert Kocharian, and his coun-

the

The congregation was swelled by visitors from the four corners of the Diaspora, many renewing bonds of kinship by marking the spiritual anniversary with their flrst visits to

terpart from Nagorno Karabakh, Arkady Ghukasian. The list of Diasporan guests was headed by the singer Charles Aznavour. The cathedral service, packed with the devout and televised live across the country marked the triumph of the spirit against his-

John Paul ll and Kocharian during the welcoming ceremony at Zvartnots. Lelt:The Pope, along with Karekin ll and other olficials visil the eternal llame al lhe memorial to the victims ol the Genocide. Top: Pope

It was a transcendent moment, modern Armenians in communion

tory and hardship.

AIM OCTOBER

2OO1

Goven Stony

the homeland.

Among them, Mary and Levon SheoHmelian, from Sydney, Australia, who said after the service: "We promised ourselves we would visit this year and be present at the

U00th anniversary celebrations Our hearts are thrilled."

Arpine Nakkashian, from Jerusalem, was equally moved by the experience. She said: "I was praying with my soul and heart for us to be united forever."

St. Gregory the Illuminator was with them in both spirit and body.In November last year, as part of preparations for the 2001 commemorationq the Catholicos led a delegation to the Vatican where Pope John Paul II presented relics of the saint - parts of his head and hand - for preservation in the crypt of the new cathedral.

lt seemed only fitting, then, that the Roman Pontiff should be next to worship at St. Gregory's in an historic first ever visit by a Pope to Armenia. Pope John Paul flew into Yerevan's Zvartnots airport on Tiresday September 25 from Kazakhstan. His journey from a mostly Muslim state to a Christian one had already taken on added symbolism as the world held its breath for a war against terror in Afghanistan, praying fervently that it did not degenerate into a wider religious conflagration. The Pope's first words on landing within sight of Biblical Mount Ararat were "God Bless Armenia" - said in Armenian. Although formally a guest of the Catholimgwith whom

he stayed at Ejmiatsin, John Paul's visit was

-il t*l ft{][

also a state orcasion of high sigrrificance. President Robert Kocharian greeted him at Zvartnots, saying: "This visit is of an historical nature in terms of expanding and deepening still further relations between the Republic of Armenia and theVatican."

The following day, the Pope visited the Genocide Memorial with the Catholicos by his side, to say prayers for the 1.5 million victims massacred by the Young Tirrk regime in 1915. He was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanian. "Liste4O lord,to the lamentthatrises from this place,to the call of the dead from the depths

the MebYeghern" the

hpe uid. He qpoke in

English but used the Armenian words for Great Ti'agedy or Great Crime to describe the Genocide.

The 81-year-old Pontiff, who

looked

Top:Visiton Iight candles oubide the St. Grcgory the llluminator Gathedml. Left: The consecralion Geremony at lhe new Gathedral was attended by ouer 3000. Photos by Melik Bagdasarian/AP

AIM OCTOBER

2OO1

Help solve the housing Nome Address City Stote/Province ZiplPosrol Code

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Gouen Stony

extremely frail for much of his visit,prompting renewed speculation about his health,went on:

"Listen, Lord, to the voice of the Bishop of Romg echoing the plea of his predecessor Pope

BenedictXV,when in 1915 he raised his voice in defence of the "sorely affiicted Amenian peo ple brought to the brink ofannihilation. "[.ook upon the people of this land who put their trust in you so long ago, who have passed through the great tribulation and never failed in their faithfulness to you. "We are appalled by the tenible violence done to the Armenian people and dismayed that the world still knows such inhumanity."

The Pope brought with him the 1915 letter from Pope Benedict to the TUrkish regime

as a grft to the Genocide museum at the memorial. Though he has previously described the killings as genocide, he has not placed responsibility on anyone and avoided mention of Tiukey on this occasion. So did

the Catholicoq apparently anxious to avoid any political overtones for an essentially religious visit.

President Kocharian, in an interview with an Italian newspaper released to coincide with the Pope's visit, said: "It is impossible to heal the wounds of the past without restoring

historical truth, and the Vatican took an important step in that direction. I believe the Pope's visit to the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan will once again draw the attention of the civilized world to this crime of the last century lest such crimes are allowed to happen again." Pope and Catholicos led an ecumenical service St. Gregory's on Wednesday

evening, their joint service underlining the growing closeness between the two churches John Paul, whose speech was faltering and often slurred, stressed the importance of dialogue and mutual respect between Christian churches, overcoming the prejudices of the past. The cathedral echoed with applause from the faithful when the two men embraced towards the end of the liturgy.

On his flnal day in Armenia, the Pope travelled to the KhorVirab monasterywhich stands

on the site where St. Gregory the

Illuminator was imprisoned in a pit for

Unwittingly, perhapg he had illustrated how far it is possible to rise when you think you have sunk as low as you can go. r

years.

Karekin ll was accompanied by yarious relF gious leaders for the consecration ceremony ol St. Grugory the llluminator Cathedml. Photo by Melik BagdasariailAP Left: Ihe Pope and Karckin ll at the allar, which is plain, except for the Madonna and Child pomil, meant t0 suggest simplicity and strength.

Top:

AIM OCTOBER

2OO1

Armenia's ch Your gift in the health of ou

e€d your help.

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Enabling the Disabled at Lake Sevan TEXT AND PHOTOS BY HRAIB SARKIS SARKISSIAN

Il rrrr lrllitr-tr-le 1yl (nl()(t lett. ti:ilor: lrre l!*,,, ".,,. I ll(' \tlll ill)()\ | Lil l..r' 5u\ ln fcncrltr,,t.s tlre ht.rtlv (l(r\\'n l() ll)f nol'lc tnrl lclvcs thc skin lnrnt within minutcs. But on this particr-rlar clay in August. the sun is lost uncler'thc cloucls and the tbg. Huge ancl bcautiful. the lakc shows several hucs of blue harcl-

l1' seen elscwhere. The

part knttrvn

Gubrrdak Scr.an (Blue Sevan) is honre to thc

rlost exclusive 'gatecl resort'. wherc govcrn ment oflicials come to get away lnrm thc cit1,. It is calm and relaxing. also cxpensivc. At li l2 per clav per persou. not nranv in thc counlry can afford this - "onlv thc 'si.rccial' pcoltle," jokes a visitor. On this clccasion. at lcitst trvtt ol thc cabins facing the 'uvater ckr house sl.tccial pcoplc on a -llicv arc thc spccial cla,v, or rathcr te n clavs. 40

mernbers

tbr the

Pyunic. Arrucnia's orgarriztition

clisablccl. attcncling sunuttor alhletic

cilr.np.

Folkxi,ing thc l9lifi calthquake, a group of Arn.rcnians clcciclccl that chilclrcn who hacl been clisablccl lrv thc clisastor nccdecl some i-listraction lnrm thc grinr situation in Gyumri. Mani' ol thc chilclrcn u,ere thc only sur.,,ivors in thcir fanrilics.

'[hc

uruLrp collected as miinv cliildren as tl.tc budgct alkru,ccl and tx-_uanizcd the fitst sulnmcr carlp in Dilijan.a mountain rcsofi a few hours outsicle ot Yercvan. Funding came frcmt dilfi:rcrrt or ganizatiurs such as Aznavout Pour L'Amcnic. the 'li:kcyan Cultr"ral Association" and othcr kxill

organizations

"It was easier to find monet' thcn. sit'tcc people wcre more willing to contribtttc." sitvs AtM OC'tORIilt

2001

Hakob Abrahan.riar.r. 38. a founcling ntcmbcr of Py'unic and its prcsiclent. "lt was alstt much cheapcr to clo this at that tinre." The group quicklr, lornrcd into thc Pyunic organization (Arnrenian lirr Phocnix). while some of thc nrcnrbcrs beqan shou'ing both interest aticl grcat skills a1 sport. Pyunic hccanrc thc principal aclvocatc for cqual rights o[ lhc disablcd in Ar-menia. and the canips - al I-ukc Scvan irt thc suntmer. and Dzauhgatsor. in thc winler - bccatne athletic

training ccntcrs. Sonrc Pvunic athletes have sincc participatccl in marathons in Los Ansclcs. Ncw Ytrrk, and Chicago. The sailing thc onlv one in Amrenia. has become onc o[ lhc bcst in the worlcl, participating in thrcc Paralvmpics, at Atlanta in 1996. Nagano in l99li. and Sydney last year.

1eanr,

;:,!r..tl:

Pyunic organizes three ten-day camps every summer. Each caters for about 30 young people, aged five to 25. The younger ones are usually drawn from the orphanage in Gyumri, and the rest are mostly students and athletes There is a certain structure to the schedule, but the members have a lot of input as to the activities they want to do. Breakfast at the cafeteria is at 9am, then everyone helps out with housekeeping for an hour before going to stretching and aerobic workouts. Later, there are games organized by the three volunteers and two staff members - the winners always receive prizeg usually a stuffed animal.

Lunch is followed by fuee time to rest. From 4-6pm, some of the members swim and the athletes train in their various sports The sailboat that was purchased for the Atlanta Paralympics is here on Lake Sevan for the team members to practise on. After dinner, there are more games, painting and competitions. From 9:3G11pm, the small area in front

of the two cabins is transformed into a disco, complete with coloured lights and loud music,

for the members to dance, along with their neighboursThe volunteen are always around to assist the children with their every need.

One of those volunteers is Ara

Hayrapetian, a 20-year-old student from Yerevan's Physical Institute. He provides

physical fitness activities for the members and trains the athletes for competitions "I was not used to seeing disabled people beforg and it was a little awkward in the beginning. But after a few days,I got used to it

and now everything is normal,"

says

Hayrapetian. He assists children who need help getting into the water, teaches them how to swim, and joins in water games with them. Greta Khndzrtian, 1.5, has been attending the ffunic sunmer and winter camps since the fint one in 1990. She was the only survivor of the earthquake among her family of four and has lived with her grandmother ever since.

AIM OCTOBER 2OO1

Khndzrtian lost both her legs and has recently returned from the United States with prosthetics She is now training two hours each day for the LA Marathon in March 2002. "It is because of Bunic that I am able to do a[ thisito get away,make friends and find people close to me," says Khndzrtian,whq according to otherg has a very protective grandmother who does not let her out ofher sight.

At one point during the afternoon, Khndzrtianinvites some of the neighborgwho have become friendg to sit in her wheelchair. She leans them back and the kids scream in fear, as she laugts hysterically. At 15, she is happy with her new legg which enable her to play more freely with the otherq and doesn't think about much elsg she says laughing, espeinlomal game of soccel among Pyunic members and their new friends. Above lhe arca in lront ol the Pyunic cabins is wherc memberc hang out, make new lriendships, play games, and at nighb, dance. 0pposite page:An

Gonnections

cially about what to be when she grows up. Samson Khachaturian, 37, is one of the three paid employees of {unic. He started in 1996 as the organization's accountant, on a part-time basis, and has since become a fulltime employee. He deals with all financial and legal mattery obtains permits and documents needed for various projectq and heads the sunmer and winter camps "All the kids want to stay here for the entire time, but we can't

afford that," says Khachaturian. "They all want to come back every year, but we try to bring different kids who have not been here before. Only the athleteg who train here, return every year." It costs about $12,000 to provide camp places for about 100 members annually. If the funds are not raised, they can't come. In addition to the pleasure of being away and playing the children receive proper nutrition here, which some don't get at home. The

Armenian Dental Society of California's mobile dental clinic has been parked next to the $unic cabing and will stay for the entire 30 daysThe dentists take care of every child's teeth, free of charge. The youngsters also have the opportunity to associate with able-bodied kids, something that never happens back home. InArmenia, it is common practice to keep disabled people

special hospitals, or at home where no one can see them.

Narine Davtian, aYerevan Armenian who has lived in Moscow for nine yearg is vacationing with her friend and their four children at Lake Sevan. The president of a wholesale fumiture company, Davtian had planned to spend five days here and happened to rent the cabin next to those of Pyunic. "When the first

of 30 disabled youngsters arrived," Davtian said, "we would come out and talk to them for an hour and then go back into our cabin and cry for hours". She went on: "Our kids had a very hard time dealing with it.They could not look the kids in the eye.They didn't know what to do.We had never seen disabled people before." Then the families met Khachaturian, whose explanations and example helped to break down some of their barrien of fear. "After two days, everything was fine. I told my kids that it is the person that is important, not the way their bodies are. Now their friendships are truer and more sincere than any friendship my kids have had back home. A simple smile is more satisfying than anything elsg" said group

Daltian. "We have never had such a good time. My kids play with the Pyunic kids all day, swim with them, dance with them at night.They just

AIM OCTOBER

2OO1

Gonnections

clon't u'ant to leave." she aclds.

l-he faniilr, extendecl thcir vacation irt l-ake Sevan to 20 days. In addition. Davtian hus cor.nmittecl to helping Pyunic, both linancialll and through raising awarencss. .'l can suv (hat nrclst nights. I can't sleep. thinking luhout rvhat I can clo to help. Horv I can nrake thcir livcs a littlc casicr." she savs. "It is r,en' clilficult to bc intlillercnl ivhen vou personallr' scc thesc kitls ancl thc crpressiort in thcir * cs. T'hcv hlvc sccn a lot ancl contcmpltited life tttort tllrtt lll()\t ()l

Ltr

Itur.."

Davtian suggosts thcrc arc morc \\avs to lrelp than .just linancialli'. "11 pcoplc calr come irncl plat, r.vi1h thcnr. te ach thcnr sonrething. or just lalk to thenr. it'll hclp.'sirc savs. One fol'nrer nci-qlrlrour * as a schoolteacher and she ot'icrcri to teacli thc chiklren English. For ten clavs. shc an'arrgccl trvo classes ancl taught tlicrl basic riortls and cxplcssrons. She also agrecd to continuc tcaching sonre ol' them ri,hen thev returned to Ycrcvun. ll-ec ol charge.

Pvunic activelv adr,ocates lirr thc riglits ol' the disablecl rn a country which too ollen still o11iciallr, refuses to even acknowleclge thern. L:ach NIal' 28th. for example, thev or qanizc thc lnclcpcnclence Da1, Marathon through thc strccts ol'Yerevan. "Whcn lve first startecl doir.rg this. spectalors wcre shocketl and r.vcluld react ri'itir pitrlou,arcls thc participants." saicl Ablahamian. "But rrow ovcr a clccadc later. r,ou sce people's r:xcitcrncnt lr'hcn thcv see the kids. Thev ol f el t henr .j uice. fltnver-s a nrl encoura gemc'rtt." But thc cnthusiasrn of sor.r'rc s1-rcctatols is n()l ctl()tl!lll.Tllt cilt t,l \r'l't\irll i. llill ltr'tt:.ible to the disablctl. \\'ithoul anothcr's hclp. a person in a lr,heclchair cann()t cr()ss thc streel. let alone go into a rcstaurant. or cr"cn in anr-l out of residential builclings. Disabled stuclcnts have to have xrluntccls to carr\, lhcrtr in ancl out of classrooms. Ironicallr'. not cvL)n thc ncw

f*''*e%

ffi**-

Cathedral. built at a cost ol $12 rnilliorr. is acccssible to the disablccl. (-urrcntly, Pyunic is tn'ing hard to get a larv passcd so that all ncrv constructlon of public spaces is acccssihle to disablcd people. but the parliament has not ),cl niovecl this proposition through. PvLrnic rcccivcs cooperation frclnr thc (iolcnrnrcnt. lirreign organizations. indir icluals. iis rvell as thc president of Armenia. "For

-t.t3

' 7

,;!* ':-".1; a,J*t* j-x4at

',a; ' -!;'

-J

thc lust lirur vcals. Kocharian has

donatecl l'unds lkrnr thc prcsiclcntial luricl to the h'unic

0pposite paqe Greta

Khndzrtian, a double amputee, trains lor lwo hours each day lor the 2002 LA Marathon. Top Ara Hayrapetian (loreground) prepared to aid the athletes get in and out o, the water. R gh1 Leaving a prostetic behind while swimming is a common occurrence here.

AIM OCTOBER ]00]

"_.

Gonnections

camp," said Abrahamian. The president has also made available to Brunic a 32,000 square foot building, which needs major renovation. Through sponsors such as the British Embassy, World Vision of Armenia and private donors like Ralph and Sawy TLfenkian, about 10% of the building has been completed, including offrce spaces, a

training room, a computer room and a silk screening room that prints on clothing both for fyunic's use and outside groups, bringng in additional income.

Sunic

has started a building fund to raise

the estimated $1 million it will cost to complete the renovation. They have no finishing date, since the work will depend entirely on the availability of money. The largest portion of donations comes from l,os Angeleg which has a group of L2 volunteers supporting Pyunic.

"It is

difficult

to do

fundraising in

Armenia," says Sarkis Ghazarian,president of $unic, Los Angeleq which formed n l9E7 and alone provides for the administrative costs of Pyunic in Yerevan. Brunic Los Angeles also works to find sponsors for the other projects. This year, in addition to Kocharian's $3,000 donation for the campgThe Middle Eastem Armenians of Ios Angeles donated $5,000 for the same purpose.

Pyunic also tries through broadcasting

raise

awareness

on public television,

western films, dubbed into Armenian, which portray the disabled in a positive way. They have also produced a fact sheet, in Armenian,

Russian and English, paid

for by

the

Norwegian Refugee Council, on various disabilities "The two major obstacles Pyunic has are lack of proper fundg and convincing people that the disabled are and can be contributing members of Armenian society," says Ghazarian.

Hayk Abgarian, 23 from Akhalkalak, Georgia, has penonally suffered from society's lack of understanding of the disabled. Abgarian, whose left leg was amputated below the knee after a car accident at the age of ten, explains: "It always happens with the parents of girls There is this one girl whom I like verymuch,and she likes me too.Although she has no problems with my disability, her parents won't let us get married because of it. *People think that just because we are missing a part of our bodieg we shouldn't live, get married, and have a family." Abgarian is one of $unic's star athletes

and was once the strongest member of the sailing team. But he was told he could no longer compete in sailing, because, according

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Gonnectons

to international

Paralympics regulations, Abgarian's amputation was not considered

severe enough.

"Since

I did not

wish to have a few more

inches cut off my leg to make the amputation above the knee, I had to leave the team," said Abgarian laughing. ln 1997, he switched to marathon racing and has since participated in all of the six Marathons Sunic has participat-

tf"-'

ed in, finishing tenth out of 200 in the New York race three years ago. It is at $unic that Abgarian rediscovered his passion

for life. "After becoming disabled,

thought my life had ended," he says "But through Sunic, I realized that I haven't lost

my lifg

have only lost part of my

leg.

Everything else is the same."

Abgarian is one of the veterans at the camp and has seen how it can transform children. "When the kids come for the fint time, they are embarrassed at their disability, just as I was the first time I came," he says "But after only ten dayq their entire outlook on their disabilitieg their lives, and their opportunities change."

Abgarian has helped two others train for the Marathon. "They now race as fast as I

he says proudly. "And this year,

dq"

am training

Gretta." It is now 6pm, and some have started to swim. Abgarian and a member of the sailing team are taking a few visitors on the sailboat. The wind on Sevan is by now very strong, and they notice a vessel in the distance and fear that something may be wrong.They get closer and see that it is a paddle boat, with four passengers desperately paddling against the wind but beingpushed further and furtherfrom the shore.

After several attempts, the sailors throw a rope to the paddleboat and pull it close enough to transfer the passengers on board. The brother and sister, their father and their uncle, had been paddling for over an hour, get-

ting nowhere. They had no life jackets and none of them could swim. After bringing their passengers safely to shore, Abgarian tells his partner to add four more lives to the previous count of 34 they have saved down the yean while sailing on [,ake Sevan. !

Top:One ol the athletes is getling his teeth

checked inside the mobile dental clinic provided by The Armenian Dental Society ol California. Left:The mobile dental clinic is pa*ed by the Pyunic cabins lor the duration ol the Gamps.

AIM OCTOBER

2OO1

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Come experience these brilliantly colored w0rks 0f art in our current exhibition lhe Armenran 1ospels

af Gladzor.These pages are 0n loan from the [harles [.Young Research Library at UCLA.FoT more information, just call us at (310)440-7300 or visit us 0n theWeb at wwwgetty.edu. Parking is only 55,based on availability,and no reservations are required on weekends

orafter4 p.m.weekdays.^

GonnecUons

flonBIoUcthen A Mother and Child Battle Homelessness TEXI BY LUSTNE ZEYTUl,llAl{ PHoToS BY MKHITAR KHACHATRIAN uman digrity cannot always survive economic hardship. And on crowded Yerevan streetg tiny children urged by their parents to become beggan have become a troublesomgbut common characteristic of the city. This phenomenon has become so usual that it is a fficult task to distinguish "litfle cheaters" from those who are really in need of money. So common,toqthat exceptionsto the trend have become unusual - as noticeable as were once those begging children whose presence is now nearly taken for granted. Ruzana and Gevorg are two of the exceptionsAt apark near theAmerican Universig of Armenia,a damaged little boy in a damaged litfle caniage waits with hismother for a daywhen life will be better. It seems that every day repeats the one before. The boy is five. The mother is 48.And the days are long.The wheels of the carriage are broken, only two of four are

I YEREVAN

is a bumpy ride to nowhere.

neither run nor walk. In fact he can barely

But at least the park is beautiful. Shaded

stand.When he was a year old, the neryes on his legs fused, making it impossible for him to stretch his legs. But if Ruzana notices the other children, she doesn't envy them nor compare them to her boy. In her young yean Ruzana had an apartment ofherown. She was studying and graduated with a mnstructordesigrer's diploma.At that time she was working in Silachi shirt factory making her own living. Later she got married to a taxidriver and had three children. One daughter died from an illnes when she was two. Her

working.It

by trees. Songbirds Ruzana and Gevorg comb here early in the morning and prepare themselves to spend the whole day in their "splendid" apartment surrounded by trees and blossoming plants Their only possession is an old white bag with some clothes and, if they are lucky, some food in it, hanging from one side of the carriage. Ruzana gives Gevork something to eat and then pulls the wobbling carriage into the shade.Then she sits next to him

and they spend their aftemoon apart from people, in their own world. From time to time Ruzana gets up from her place and hands the boy the things he asks for - pencilg water - or a request to wipe his nose. She does every-

thing with suqprising patience. In Ruzana and Gevorg's "neighborhood," other children run and laugh. Gevorg can

AIM OCTOBER

2OO1

other two kids - 24-year-old son and 1S-yearold daughter - are now living apart from her, both barely eaming enough to keep themselves

When Ruzana divorced her husband, the court didn't give her anything from her husband's apartment, saying that she had one of her own. So she took her children and went

Gonnectlons

to live in her apartment in the Goum area.

Life was hard for a divorced

woman.

When the factory she was working at closed, she worked in a flower market as a designer. It was then that she had Gevorg from a man who didn't even come to see his child after his birth. He just disappeared. Then she tried to sell sunflower seeds in the Gum market where she met a man and they started a small business together. But the business failed and she had to mortgage her house and leave it. For some time,they lived in rented apartments and then that man asked them to live with him in his apartrnent. Together they placed Gevorg in the Nork Rehabilitation Hospital to straighten his legs but the results weren't satisfactory. The situation became worse when the man's brother and his wife who were living in the same house ordered Ruzana to take her child and get out of their aparftnent. That's how Ruzana appeared on the street pushing the broken carriage and her disabled child. At that time she was still getting 7,800 Drams (about $16) from the goyernment welfare system. But even this wasn't the end of their suffering. One day Ruzana left Gevorg in the carriage asleep while she went to buy food.While she was gonq someone stole the bag she'd left in the caniage with Gevorg. All their official documents were inside it. Without a passport, Ruzana cannot get government aid. She can't renew her passport as it costs money and lots of time. She has nobody to leave Gevorg with and can not leave him alone. Nor can she take the carriage with her. Home has become the park by day and a bus station by night.And, having found shade from the summer heat,theynow

face their first cold season, as homeless

But while other destitute mothers commonly use their children for begging on Yerevan streets, Ruzana has resisted such desperation. "Mom says that begging isn't good. We never beg. We just eat what people givq" says Gevorg, trying to crawl out of the carriage where he is kept like a prisoner. She protects her childfrom others and Gevorg in turn gives her strength to cope with hardships She even jokes when the caf6 owners in the park forbid her to cros their propertywith the broken carriage: "Gevorg," she says to her son,

AIM OCTOBER

2OO1

"they envy our'Mercedes'because they don't have one like ours." Whenthe eveningcomeqGevorgpu6hisarms arormd Ruzana's neck and slrc help him with some leg orercisesThen slre pub warm dothes on hinlplamhimcarefrrllyinhis'Mercedes"andcarher"sweetestburden"to the bus station or the Gum market wlrcre tlrcy sleep. "I have always thought thatpeople canbear any hardship and I think so now too. But here I am with my disabled child, without home and money, sleeping under starg" said Ruzana. "And I wonder how much worse it can

ries

get." r

housands of athletes from around the world gathered in Armenia for the Second Pan-Armenian Games The games, from Atrgust 18-26, featured more than 3,000 competiton from 30 countrieg including teams from the United Stateg Russia, Irbanon, Canada, Uruguay, Great Britain, Tiukey, Rance and Australia. Nine major sports - basketball, chesg mini-soccer, soccer, swimming, table tenniq tennis, track and field, volleyball - were contested in Yerevan, Abovian, Artashat and Ashtarak. The Olympic flame was lit at the GamiTemple in a qpectacular opening ceremony, with music, people dressed in ancientArmenian oostumes, and

AIM OCTOBER

2OO1

firework display.The flame was then canied to the Va4en Sargsian stadium inYerevan,which played host to many of the socoermatches

The competitive atnosphere was matchedby one as participants enjoyed the opportunity to seeArmeniain the run-up to celebrations a festive

1700th annivenary of Christianity in Armenia and ten years of independence. Yerevan streets were filled with cheerful young visiton dresed in white T:shirts bearing symbols of the Second PanArmenian Olympic GamesThe warm night air was often filled with the sounds ofArmenian songs sung withFrench, English, German, and Middle Eastem accents

for the

$ponts

The emblem of the Pan Armenian Games is composed of six interwoven colored rings, five representing the continents where Armenian communities exist and the orange ring at the top symbolizing the Republic of Armenia.

The Armenian Government provided US $80,000 to support the games, which was matched by theWorld Pan-Armenian Olympic Committee. The Government's support was an increase on the US $70,000 given to the fint games two years ago. While the games were generally played in an atnmphere of healthy mmpetition, the intensity

of the contest sometimes got the better of the competitorsTempers flared in a basketball semifinal involving women's teams from I-os Angeles and Armenia. The American team protested vehemently to the referee at the end of the match, which they lost, that their opponents had been

allowed to score unfairly. The security officials were forced to intervene and eventually calmed the situation down after some ten or L5 minutes Basketball also produced one of the most thrilling matches of the gameg when the [-os Angeles team met Tehran in the men's competition The Iranian side, cheered on by a large rumber of fun$were regarded as the favouriteg but the match ended with an 8481 victory for

AIM OCTOBER

2OO1

$DoHs

the American team.

There was criticisn

tm about the price of tick-

eb to some events,with tidrets to basketball games

in the Dmamo stadium ffimg 3,m

Dranrs

(about $550). Ilt a oourty wtrere average month$ mlaries are only around 22,ffi Drans (about $40),

many fans oomplained that tlrey had been pried out of the games and the 130Gseat spors hall was left halfcmpty.At other stadiumg tickeb were sold fu as little as 40 Drams (about $0J0).

But these were minor gripes in an event that inspired many with a new sense of kinship with Armenians worldwide. Simone Peleshian, 22, a student from Canada who came to watch the gameq said: "My visit to Armenia was a real discovery and an important episode in my life. "Everything was unlike I imagined before coming here,The mmt amazing were the youttr of Yerevan

I made more than 2ff) friends in less

AIM OCTOBER

2OO1

$ponts

than tbree da1n" The organizers were also delighted by the success of the Second Pan-Armenian Games and already have their sights set on staging the third Olympics in two years time. "The Second Games were definitely a step forward," Ashot Melik-Shaknazarian, president of the Intemational Olyrnpic Committee,said. "The most important benefit was the way

Armenia and Diaspora sport organizations worked together to organize the games"

In all, 143 gold, silver, and bronze medals were awarded to competitors The closing ceremony, attended by all the competitory turned into a two-hour party, with dancing musig and many colourftrl traditional costumes The evening was rounded off with another fireworks display - some later went on to Republic Square where an open-air disco had been set up.

President Robert Kocharian summed up the spirit of the games in a speech at the end of the formal ceremonies He said: "We have enjoyed a festival of youth and sport. But most importantly we have all felt the sense of belonging to one nation." .

AIM OCTOBER

2OO1

0n the

thell Mffru,

Ubwlng and Usbnlm $umesftns

This Monthb Feature

[nmm:ImSmyola Placchhaysililfilnffi John Hughes and Bnuce G. $trong Fourth Millennium Society 1-881151-01-B

lhe final line of the prologue best describes the mission and achievement of this I photo+ssay, "Ufe caught for a little while in a place where millenniums are moments"In what has unfortunately become a genre of jingoistic works' extolling only the virtues of Armenia this book stands out in that it sees through natural eyes the good as well as the bad, and through optimistic eyes it sees the good in the bad' Unique angles of perception and new perspectives engage the mind at every tum. The mmposition of the photographs as well as that of the essap are romantic in the same way that life itseHis romantic- in the same way that all thinpArmenian are romantic. It seems unfitting to name the images inthis work photograph$for they are not inEansigent, they move and live along with the words that accompany them and the poems interspersed throughout. Each photq each essay, each poem Lpures a moment and puts ii down on a thick, glossy, ovenized pagq making this work an excellent piece in quality of mntent and presentation. An impressive colleition, this look at "a very conrforting place of common living" suffers from few flawq the most notable of which may be the incorrect assertion that only 1 million Armenians died in the Genocide - the number is actually closer to 1'5 million.

Und ilensesslan Ilro Bl[b ln the lnmenian lhadition

century history of human rights and genocide must begin with the massacre of the Armenians." Thug the master Armenian poetq Siamanto and Vahan Tekeyan appear alongside such equally eloquent voices of resistance as Pablo Nemrda, Amiri Baraka,

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0-89236-640-0

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P:lHffl"llffi*

Wilfred Owen, Bertolt Brecht, Langston Hughes and nearly 150 others.

gtze the poetry of witness of the 20th centu-

rythis book itself

l(0tGhnak

becomes a witness to innumerable counts

Gham$ de $ayat ttloua

of torture, rape, mass

lcfffr?iffil-r.

Univenity

extensive bibliogaphy.

genocide.

Published nearly concurrently by the British Library and then the J. Paul Getty Museum of Los Angeleq this work byVrej Nenessian accompanied the exhibit of Armenian Illuminations which took placâ&#x201A;Ź at L.A.'s famed Getty museum this September. The tradition of the Armenian translation of the Bible is studied from its roots in the conception of

professor, Caro$n Fiorch6's anthology is a beacon ofpoebry and resistance.As Nelson lvlandella puts it,'Against Forgetting is itseH a blow against tyranny." Forch6's work chronicles many of the countless injustices of this past century though the testimony of witness poets. From South Africa to North America to the Soviet Union and the United States, this volume is a defiant fist raised against oppression and persecution as well as an

theArmenian

open hand hopeful ofpeace. Despite the somewhat disproportionate coverage of Europe in relation to other similarly troubled population centers such as the social turbulence of the Americas in this centuryAgainst Forgetting is a truly excellent piece of literature, history and activism. To this collection, the century begins with the Armenian Genocide. "Any twentieth

alphabet to the resulting profound reverence for the bible as well as the writ-

tenword among Armenians

AIM OCTOBER

$un

CDAL 265

murder, oppression, repression, war and

2OO1

and regional sounds since 1976, has

acquired a new member for its 2000 release, Chantes de Sayat

Nova.This

ensemble of five is aligned in the Caucasian Ashugh and Armenian Gussal tradition, showcasing the regional instruments: the Kamancha, Kanoun, Dap and the Thr. \\e 23-page booklet accompanying the CD includes stories behind the instruments and musicians, in English and French, as well as song lyrics which are also published

inArmenian. The 11 tracks of the album are intermittently lyrical ensemble pieces and single instrument improvisations featuring the Kanoun and the Dap, which gives the recording a somewhat ryclical texture.

0n the $[ell

$hahen

llhachatrlan

- $lHllI

Martiros Sarian Museum, Yerevan 9697-62010

fhis exposition of I Sarian's genius

product of the original recording and not addition. Overall, Narek.com has produced a great work in the fleld of preservation of the Armenian culture. a

a re-mastering

I Phllatrllc

encompasses over 400 colorprints

Hlstony ol

Zaneh llouaneslan I lnfortunatelv this

detailing works

llwork

from eachperiod in Sarian's life. From

notiimply

ly intimate look into Sarianh worksAs a book of art should, it lets the works live on their own rather than offering too much e4planatory text. Thus the ad is e4perienced throughthe eyes of the reader as opposed to the eyes ofthe author. Numerous quoteg however, by the artist, alcng with the biography by Khachaturian balance the rmadulterated works with candid views into the mind and works of this great patriot among Armenian artists

entiate between a genuine Czarist-Russian

Kano Ghallllan Anmenlan tdlr $orUs tloftrno

stamp with anArmenian oveqprint and a forgery of the same. Examples of each stamp in the history are given in clearfull colorphoto.

I ln fte

$eples lnmenlan Mushal llcnlhge Narek.com NCR 1406

The flnt in a series

I to U" released by Narek.com,this CD

presents a bite-size paradigm of the invaluable work carried out by Karo Chalikian. Chalikian, an architect by training has been researching Arrrenian musical tradition at the Matenadaran, in Yerevan, for much of the past three decades He has recorded some 80fi) regional folk songs and has deciphered the traditional Armenian Khaz musical notation. This re-mastered collection of Chalikians recordings features only the original human musical instrument - the voice. In its

Armenian manifestation, that instrument is

unusual, warm and forceftrl in its expression. A great deal of information is presented along with this recording in a beautifully designed booklet with song lyrics and comments inArmenian as well as English.The one drawback is the echo sound effect which hangs over the first half of the recordingbut is thankfully absent from the second half of its 20 tracks;however, that echo seems to be

graphs Even the never circulated, never released stamps of the 1918 republic are presented with full desoiptionsThis work,as the stamps therein,is a rarity among rarities

Beginning with the Czarist-Russian stamps in use in Armenia in 1908 and ending with the Para janov stamps issued by the republic in 1999, this collection, despite its shortcominggis a philatelic treasure trove of information - a work of lasting importance.

Seeroon Productions

Ull:"1#,f*'#'LT gaining independence, Armenia had to face challenges and efforts to make a hansition from one system to another.

After 75 yean of communist rule, the old ideologies had to give way to the new and the county had to prepare itself to rebuild, leam and adjust.This would lead to development and practice of new systems that the free world has practiced and experienced long before. Social work has been one of the unknown fields (services) in Armenian reality during tle soviet era.The challenges ofcreating a new nation coupled with disastrous Gyumri earthquakg the war in Karabakh and the blockade has not only had economic but also psychological and social effects on the lives of the people in all aspects of lifg all ages The Univenity of Connerticut Sclrool of wor( deterrnined to make its own oontibutioqinmoduoed and developedthe field of

workinArmenia to asist tlre sidLdisabled, elderly and ttrme in needThe BeginningWrere the SovietEnds is a video abouttheirefforB and social

Writers CIub Press

0-595-15160-4

work of horrible

sumesinArmenia dwing aperiod of less than

llmemoriesAmon-

decadeTlainingstudenb in short oourses in social work grew to creating deparftnenb of a

strous memoir of a boy

who lived through the Genocide, this book is not written by the survivor himsegbut the man that the survivor entrusted with his bone-crushing joumal.

At the age of 16 HarryArtinian

was

approached by Hovsep Balian, a man with a story which he desperately wanted to get out to the world.Artinian took the mantle of the memoir and it has now seen the light

AIM OCTOBER

-By Ara Azumanian

lFistln Asadounian Beglming l{hene the $ouiet Eds: [ $trdy oI $ocial ltrr.ft ln flnmenla

Social

Ihe Eodless and tE lnfldds lhnny lnUnlan

ble darkness soon falls and this short read becomes a grueling endeavor. The cover, at flrst, seems melodramatically ominous. Three superimposed images a pile of skullg a burning cross and desert sand dunes - seem to be trying too hard to make you feel the pain of the narrator. That impression is quickly dissipated as one delves into the dry desert pages of 1915.

philatelic history; its first twenty pages attempt to give a brief history of the Armenians which seems to begin with Chdstianity and end with the Genocide.Although the volume would have beneflted from the absence of this initial lesson on Armenian history the historical accounts dispened t}roughout, which explain the context of each period in Armenian stamps make the history complete and wellplaced in human events Other than the introduction, ttre book is a tue philatelic study, with detailed information on everything from posffnarks to postcards With this volume in hand one can even differa

his early watercolors to his final self-portrait and dying words, the world of Martiros Sarian's artis brought to life inthis edition. C-ompiled and writtenby long time Sarian friend and confidant, Shahen Khachaturian, currently the director of the Martiros Sarian Museum, andThe National Gallery of Armenia, the text offen an unusual-

lnmeilr

of day. The story of this rascal boy begins Iightly enough - a few pages of humor filled mischiel even a wedding. But an impenetra-

2OO1

social work in major univenitiesAlthough poor in quality in terms of recording and editing the content is aninformative and welooming neun for thme who are interested andwilling toput tlreir eryertise to work inArmenia in order to make a difference in the lives of man5l The film is by Kristin Asadourian, produced by

Seeroon Productions and sponsored by the

Univenity of Connecticut, School of Social

work'

-By parik Nazarian 55

lhilenexposed

Armenia marked its tenth annivercary on September 21 by renaming a square, next lo the famous Kino Moskva in central Yerevan, alter Charles Aznavour. The French Armenian sing'er is thd pride ol Armenians, not iust as world-renowned enteltainet but also lor his dedication lo humanitar' ian wo* in Armenia through his chiritabte orlanization "Aznavour lor Armenia," which was set up aller lhe 1988 eailiquake, J!-e city ol Gyumri -By Parlk Nazarian, Photo by Melik Bagdasarian/AP and its people atso honordd him this month by unveiling a memorial statue in their

city.

AIM OCTOBER

2OO1

Undenexposed

J #*

anArmenian lerm for"bullfighting" prior to September 7. there was no need for it. Now the new phrase might be: "public relations disaster." Beginning September 7, against protests from animal-rights activists as far away as France and Germany, a group of Spaniards brought three nights of "corrida" to Yerevan and tumed Yazgen Sarkian Stadium

fhere

isn't

because,

into a bullring that became a circus On the second night of bull flghting (somehow

connected- at least amrding to the promoten to the 170ttr Annivenary of Ctristianity as the State religion of Armenia), things went a little loco. As themainbigbadbull of the nightcame intothe infield, he charged and broke ttroWh a barrier

protecting VIPs This prompted the Deputy Minister of Interior to draw his sidearm and commence gunplay in the general direction of el toro.

Unsuccesfirl in stopping the bull, the minister then hailed an ambulance and chased the bull, firingshots at the animal from thevehicle's sliding side door. The bull was either urtouched or unfazed and continued his charge.A matador was

to impale the beast with his sword. Problem:As this was supposed to be a"humane"

called

bullfight, the matador had left his sword back at his hotel.The bull and the crowd waited while the sword was retrieved and the bull having survivedbullets-could not survive the blade. Chased by an ambulance and shot at by a high-ranking official, the bull was put to death

AIM OCTOBER

2OO1

by traditional mears in front of a crowd that had, over the course of eventg tumed pro-bull.

No announcements have been made conceming retum engagements -Text by John Hughes Photos by Melik Bagdasarian/AP

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ilnmgn an autumn night when Mount Ararat holds the edge of the horizon like a friendly fortress, a yellow half moon has risen high enough to impress and near enough to inspire. There is a brilliant light near the immature moon. I never remember if it is Jupiter or Mars but it is always there, dangling - an earring for the man in the moon - and from my viewpoint about four inches separate the two bright planets. Yerevan stretches as far as allowed toward Turkey's stolen monument that this

nation

still holds as its

mascot.

If these

Armenians let go of everything that others have tried to take from them there'd be little left. So, boundaries be damned, that is their mountain. And on this fading day, I need it to be mine. I need something solid, because the country I came from - the only one I've a right to call mine - is crumbling under the weight of realized vulnerability. On my television screen I watch familiar buildings fall over and over and over again, and the CNN broadcast is an instructional video for Hollyrvood special effects. A plane loaded with civilian passengers cuts a crowded building in half? No. Not in real life. The ball of flame was a mere spark and now "my" country is on fire with hate and the throats of its leaders are parched with a thirst for blood. And how odd, it might seem, that comfort comes this far away... Five years ago I arrived here on a day when soldiers with big guns guarded streets and tanks flanked the Parliament Building and I wasn't allowed to walk through the

Opera House yard, and an Army officer detained me for no reason other than being a foreigner wanting to learn more about it all.

Now, there are soldiers guarding airports in

"my" country. Friends from the States were worried about my safety, especially knowing that the trip also included Karabakh. All they knew was what a map told them, and such limited knowledge puts Armenia in a part of the world generally unfriendly to the politics of the west.

Isn't it ironic, then, that people are now afraid to come here not because of what is happening in Armenia, but because of what happened in America?

And isn't it typical that Armenia suffered something it couldn't control? (Thousands

have cancelled trips

to Armenia

since

September 11, affecting both the tourism industry and the government's aviation tax revenues.)

On that first trip, I walked down Nalbandian Street and looked up at buildings with balconies and wondered what kind of people lived behind those walls. Now I am one of those people, and I sit on one of those balconies and I watch the "foreigners" pass below me. And there's a neighbor on my right I call "Carrot Top" because of her

whom

bright hair and who grows miniature peppers

she waters when the sun is sinking. And there's a cat whose real name is Habib on the left balcony who stares at me while I AIM OCTOBER

2OO1

stare at everything else.

And this place - exotic still

is, some-

times, simply the place where I live.The place

where things feel [amiliar.

I walk down Abovian Street. and in three blocks say hello to Samuel, the carpet dealer, to Ashot who barbecues chicken, to Grigor, a 9 year old from a nearby apartment, to Anna the dressmaker and Karina the waitress... This is my neighborhood. And, though I I am nearly never

am nearly always alone, lonely.

Living here is less like being a martyr and more like being an opportunist. I have honest cappuccino in the morning and respectable wine at night. There are a half dozen kinds of bottled water, electricity is reliable and I've got internet and cable TV in my flat. A cinema two blocks away plays movies in English (if I don't mind that they're five years old) and a new bookstore has a swap section for used paperbacks. My family has long since stopped sending me packages of canned food, proving that, even the folks in Alabama are getting the message that it ain't all heartache and discomfort in this place. Sometimes these new friends ask me: "Do

you miss home?" I say that I miss my best friend, and the joy of her company. But do I miss home? I often think I am finding

it.

How lGot this $hot

TvoVnshcs BY KAREN MINASSIAN

7::4..-:

Probably one of the capital's least salubrious districts,

Kond, is one of the ordesr parts of Yercvan. lts cr:urnhling houses lack runnin'g water and many have no sewage system, while rats infest piles of garbage ancl sCuttle in and out of people's homes. The local people may count the days until they can move to new apartments, but I have often been attracted to Kond to record its dereliction before it disappears into history. The area has been condemned by the municipal authoritieq which have been planning for years to relocate the residents. So far, however, nothing has been done. In spring of this year. I visited St. Hovhannes church in Kond. This is where the residents often come to seek solace and light candles, accompanied by prayers for a better life.A woman carrying her child caught my attention, offenng God a candle or two to calry up thoughts. She looked so serene and devout, despite the obvious hardships of her life. I wished that God would answer her prayers and that her child would grow up in a better environment' -Karen Minassian is a Freerance photographer in yerevan, Armenia

AIM OCTOBER

2OO1

The Story of a Place in Essays and

Text by

JOHN HUGHES Photos by

BRUCE C. STRONG In 56 poignant photographs, l2

essays, and seven poems,

two American journalists reveal a place that neither can claim as his own, but to which both were drawn for unexpected discovery. In a work of passion that combines iournalism and art, is the story of contemporary Armenia, unclouded by preconceived perceptions' Sometirues

takes

outside ele t0 Jee the inside story,

Hardcover

144 pages

-13"x1

Price: $50 Shipping within the US: $10 Additional $5 for C:nada orders Additional $10 for International orders

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