Law Offices of

r,r lil 'li\ llr rl lr ,,

La,,v Offices of Rafi Oudaliart 3900 West A arreda Av--nre Surte 2100. ToiLrca LakeiBurbank. California 91505 Te ephone 8 l 8.8,11.5757 i Telefax 81 8.841.9004 CoverStorv Musib forA NewAge t2 Jazz and rock are the musical languages of our time, expressing global ideas and feelings about the issues of today. Do Armenian musicians have anything to say? Who's banging the drum for a modem Armenian sound? lnteruiew Terms of Betterment to He is 's first vice president and now also its prime minister. An economist by raining, he is also one of the few ex-Communists in the new republic's top leadership. Gagik Harutunian discusses his govemment' s short- and long-term plans.

Special Repoft Bandages or Bullets? n Injustafew shortweeks, aroundtheDaspora have raised millions of dollars to assist the people of Karabakh. Campaign organizers say ttre cash will buy humanitarian aid. But is some really going for guns?

Mosaic Kulds? ilo, Yezidis..' 3(l Until recently, one of Armenia's most colorful and mysterious ethnic minorities did not officially exist.

Focus Politics of Remembrance 36 Across the Diaspora, participation in the coflrmemora- tive events sunounding the 77th anniversary of the Genocide has dwindled. Is it a general tend in increased public apathy? Oris the rivalry among the three political parties the cause of the lackluster observances this year?

Publishers'ilote 4 Book 35 Letters 5 ldeac 3a Analysis 8 Faces 40 People 23 Essay 42 Postscdpt 34

Cover Design: Vahe Fattal Cover Photo: A grufllfi ln YertYan From the Editor ^T\INIhrbll.hcd by AlI, lnc. EDltOn.lil.clllEF: Vartan Oskanian EXECUIIVE EDIIOB: Salpi Haroutinian Ghazarian As this issue of AIM was ready to go to press, Los Angeles began to bum. tAilAGlLG EDIIOR! Ralli Shoubookian (English) The anger and tALAOlilo EDIIOn: lshkhan Jinbashian (Armenian) frustration of a subcommunity that has more young men in EDITOBIAL COXSULI !.T: Minas Koiaian jail than in school was manifested in seemingly irrational violence. Couldn't EDITOn EIEBIfUS: Charles Nazarian DIREGtOn OF OPEnATIOI!: Michasl Nahabel the resources that will be spent during the next 20 years to clean up the inner COXIBIBUIIIG EDITOBS! Kevork lmirzian; Ara Kalaydjian; Haig Keropian; O. Koshishian;H. Sassounian; wounds and extemal damage have been invested 20 years ago to build the Taline Voskerilchian ARIS EDIIOR: NeeryMelkonian (Santa Fe) community? IEDICAL EDITOR: Vicken Babikian (Boston) Both of our managing editors are from lrbanon. Beirut started just this way, SIAFF WBITEBS: Tony Halpin, Viken Bsrberian ASSISTAI|I EDITOR: Katherine Chiljan they said. I hadn't seen the destruction of the last Capital of the Diaspora. I'd COilfnIBUTOBS: Gerard Libaridian, Florence Avakian, Moorad Mooradian, Amen Aroyan, Gilda Kupelian, Linda always lived in this new one. Kirishjian, Christopher Atamian, YvetteHarpootian, Gerry S. Graber, Michael Mastarciyan, Lola Koundakjian, Susn Patlie, The parallel image in my mind these last few days has been the frustration in COBRESFOiaDENIS: Washington: Zanku Armenian, that other place-the real capital. Will Armenia, too, Chicago: Sonia Derman Harlan Detroil: Simon Payaslian explode? It doesn't Boston: Arto Payaslian San Francisco: Janet Samuelian require a great stretch of the imagination to see that anger directed inward-at irontreal: Gulizar J. Mardirossian London: Ani Manoukian Pads: Armineh Johannes, Khatchik Kechian Bruss€ls: the social andpolitical disorder,orresentrnentdirectedoutward-at aWestnot Kevork Oskanian Vienna: Sebouh Baghdoyan Amsterdam: Arsen Nuarian Tokyo: Sonia Katchian Amman: Ara Voskian sufficiently thoughtful, generous nor committed----can inflame more than Sydn€y: Haig Lepediian Buenos Aircs: Sam Sarkissian Itloscow: Tigran Xmalian speeches. YEnEYAII BUREAU: Papken Gadachik (Chief); Mark What is it going to take for us to mobilize? "Lives, man, lives," says a friend Dadian, Gayane Hambartzoumian, Souren Keghamian, Gourgen Khajagian from Boston. "Even then, it's not enough." PIIOTOGBAPIIY: Los Angeles: Michael Agyan, Kevork Jansezian, San Francisco: Armen Petrossian, New York: She is somewhat cynical, this friend, but what she says is true. We need to Tony Savino, Harry Koundakjian New Jersey: Ardem Aslanian Boston: Lena Sanents, Ari Stamatiou Providence: wake up, and soon, to the dangers. Armenia's problems to a large degree are Berge AraZobian Patls: Armineh Johannes, Aline Manoukian our problems too. And we have not yet started to less Amman: Karekin Kelelian : Zaven Hachikian, think-much act- Roupen Mangassarian, Mkhitar Khachatrian seriously about them. Just like in Los Angeles. Will we be 20 years too late in ART DIBECfOn: Vahe Fanal CBEAf IVE SEBVICES DIBECTOB: Dicran Y. Kassouny Armeniatoo? PRODUCfIOII DIBECTOR3 Vartan Karaoghlanian PNODUCTIOT OPEBATIOI{'S TAI{AGER: Our Special Report this issue examines the tenor of this last round of fund- Azniv Oknaian raising and donating. Who is giving the money? To whom? For what? Is the CInCULATIOI{ DIRECfOB: Thomas Yeterian tARKETtt{G gALAGEn: Armsnia K. Sinanian money getting there? ADTI]{ISTBATIVE DIBEG'OR: Seta Kouzouian ADVEnTISING DIREC'OB: Aline Kassabian Not that money is the sole prescription. In future issues, we will also be ADVEnf ISING DEPAB?IEials Ani Stepanian, Victoria Manjikian, Tsoghig S. Elmastian, Hratch Yerknabetian looking at Diaspora leadership and decision-making processes. Have the ADHIIIISTBATIVE ASSIS?AllI: Karine Djerrahian attitudes and policies changed in accordance with the crisis in Armenia? GOLOB SEPARAIIOII: A & A Graphics, Canada What are we doing? Who are we kidding? IiITERXATIOTAL SUBSGBIPTIOI{ and ADYERTISIIGKruil nEP8ESE]|IATIVES: Misak Ohanian Room 4, Capital House, Markel Place,Acton London W3 6QS, England Telephone 081 992 4621 PARIS Edik Balaian 5, Rue d'Alembert, 92130 ISSY-les-MLX, Telephone tl{, 95 00 49 )br iiIONTREAL Gulizar Jonian Mardirossian 2350 Manella Street, #1 1 5, Montreal, Ouebec, H4P 2P4 Telephone 514 / 735 7301 no country, not even the United States- Israel's staunchest ally-recognizes these territories as anything but occupied. AMERICAN BISTRO I find this mistake not only personally offensive but an affront to our fuab friends, \TOPID HIALTII CUIdINT who, more than 70 years ago carne to our rescue, opening their homes and borders. AIM should have been more careful in A vide variety of international this matter. Armenians cannot afford to an- health rnemu from fieoh fieh, tagonize any country or people, especially now whenArmeniais independent andneeds pn6ta tc ve6etnrian dbhes. the help of the intemational community (in- cluding the fuab World) to survive and ProsPer' lor tlre healtl - corucious vatchesarkisian of today - Falls Church,Virginia 6enerat.ion Chef fuky Der6froudian Moorad Mooradian's article was most oflero, interesting. It would have been more en- lightening if he had mentioned that both rivers Euphrates and Tigris rise from the Drivate 65rorp clasoeo in heights Armenia in Turkey. This is a Tony Halpin is enjoyable to read. His of IlealtlCookiqg writings and observations are realistic. I would historical and geographical fact. honorhim with the Armenian "Pulitzerhize" SebouhZarehTashjian for"Chi Kidem" (Essay, March). Amman,Jordan One month every season in Armenia by 213.931.8t67 Mr. Halpin will give your readers the ruth of Author responds the modus vivendi there. In his excellent review of my bmk,The Norayr Melkisetian Serpent and the Bees (Book Review, Febru- 6OO9 WEST 3RD STREET Glendale,California ary), Dr. Fred Assadourian notes that it is LOS ANGELES,CA 90036 regrettable that my stay in (then-) Soviet Staffwriter Tony Halpin lefifor Yerevan Armenia was too brief for me to meet also at the endof Aprilfor a more extendedstay. with distinguished Armenians outside the cultural field, such as computer specialists Hedtage house and scientists. As an example, he mentions I was pleasantly surprised by your article ViktorHambardzumian. abouttheArmenian Library and Museum of Thefact is that I did meetHambardzumian, America (Heritage, March). The collection but not in Armenia. It was in in of Armenian artifacts and the efforts ex- 1968, where the eminent astronomer had pended in their preservation is quite impres- been invited by the Hungarian Academy of sive. Sciences. At the present time we are in the process An invitation was sent by the president of of building the Armenian Heritage Museum, the academy (who knew my ethnic heritage) a 4,0fi)-sq.-foot adjunct on the gounds of the to my office intheAmericanEmbassy. Every new 10.2-acre Ararat Home and Convales- prominent Hungarian scientist was present cent Hospital of t os Angeles. in the packed auditorium of the academy to The museum will consist of a large gal- hear the lecture, which Hambardzumian de- lery, a historical research library, a stage, a livered in Russian with a simultaneous vault, and an office for the sale of duplicate translation into Hungarian. Armenian coins and books. Among other Later, afteradmiring scientists finally left things, it will house a collection of ancient him alone, I approached him with an Arme- Armenian coins; 50O-year-old maps; news- nian greeting and his eyes lit up. We chatted paper clippings and books on the Genocide; for some time, and while his manner had General Antranik's tunic and sword; needle- seemed dour during the presentation, our work and costumes. conversation appeared to transform him. He Robert M.Shamlian said gleefully that the last thing he expected C hairman, Board of Trustees to meet in the Hungarian People's Republic Ararat H ome and C onvale s c e nt was an American-Armenian diplomat and Hospital of Los Angeles his Armenian wife. While the occasion itself was unforget- Watermarks table, the most memorable thing about In Moorad Mooradian's article, "Wars Hambardzumian's lecfure was his omission Over Water" (Intemational, February), the of any mention of Armenia's debt to the map accompanying the article showed Is- Soviet Govemment for his or Armenia's rael, including the occupied Golan Heights, contributions to Soviet science. At a time the West Bank and the Gaza Strip without when such expressions of gratitude were de referringto them as occupied territories. This ri gue ur and their omission unforgivable, the is not only reprehensible but inaccurate, since famed Armenian astronomer displayed a

AIM, May 1992 Planning to visit courage which, it should be noted, the Hun- Asuggestion... garian scientists fully appreciated. We all hear, readand participate as much FRANGE EdwardAlemnder as we can in the collection of funds and to spend some Bethesda,Maryland donations for Armenia and Artsakh. Much is time in the French needed and continuous help is a must. capital:p[RlS ilewstradition I have a simple suggestion: ff only half The article "The Media& The Message" the Armenian population of Califomia We offer you accomodations .(Media, January) was very interesting, par- (around 300,000) donates $10 a month, that in our furnished studios ticularly Prof. Ben Bagdikian's appraisal will make a million and a half each month. JUSTOFFTHE that "when it comes.to Armenians and Arabs, It's not much, but collecting that amount CHATFS.ELYSEES. the media follow official govemment objec- each month will make a difference, and this tives." is only Califomia. If all Armenians in the Rooms include kitchen, Charles N. Mahjoubian U.S. makethis ahabit, aconsiderable amount television, telephone. S o ut he a s t e rn, P e nnsy lvania would be collected which can buy much of the food and the medicine so desperately Monthly rate:$1,300 Responding to letterc neededoverthere. Minimum stay: l month What the Azeri and Soviet armies were Ten dollars a month won't hurt any of us, unable to achieve but want to, comes in the but will make a difference in the lives of our Contact: form of advice from Karokin Goncu of brothers and sisters in the homeland. YEZEGUELIAN Northridge, Califomia (Letters, March). RitaMesrobian INC.ARMENIAN He recommends that "our brothers and Omaha,Nebrasla sisters" in Artsakh move out of their ances- 34Avenue tral homeland. Andanirony... desGhamps Here is my suggestion to him: Go to I am a second-generation American of Elysees Artsakh, travel the villages and towns, talk to Serbian ancestry. The Serbian religion, like Paris 75OO8, the people, find out what they want, andthen that of the Armenian people, is a "member" FRANCE help them achieve theirgoals. of the Eastem Church. The history of our two If this is too taxing (and since he's con- people run remarkably along a similar path. Phone: cemed about "getting on with economic de- Both suffered for 500 years under the Turks (33114359658r velopment" in Armenia), send money or a yet somehow survived, as did our customs, Fax: check to the Armenian Govemment at the raditions and faith. We also fell under the (33f 1.rc7.rc859 following address: Ministry of Foreign Af- thumb of Communism, which was no great fairs, Baghramian Avenue, Yerevan, Arme- benefactor to our ways. But what is most nia. ironic to me is that we, in the freedom of the GaroTouryan Westem world, were able to do to ourselves NewYork,NY whatthe Turks and the communists fiied but ROGER K. DENDENIAN failed-we divided our houses. FINANCIAI CONSI'LTANT Using convoluted logic and outright Things for the Serbs are now changing. demagoguery, Karokin Goncu tries to con- Theyear 1991 has shownpromise inarecon- vince Armenians to submit to slavery and ciliation of the two factions. We look forward annihilation. to 1992 as a year of full recognition of both TheAzeri economic blockade is an actof factions by each other and of total unity. It outright war. Underthese conditions Artsakh took a lot of "Christian tuming of the cheek" Armenians have no other altemative but to to get this under way. Unity is necessary for defend themselves. In a state of war, indi- strength, security and freedom. With us in viduals who aftempt to demoralize their own the diaspora, in solidarity, streng*r spills compatriots are tried for fi€ason, and those overtothe"oldcountry."Withsuch shength, who spread enemy propaganda are branded our Serbian people will neveragain be led to traitors. thekilling pits like sheep, as they were in the MamphilTouryantz genocides ofthe past. Flushing,NewYork Unity starts,like the longestjoumey, with ONE COMMERCHL PIJTZT a fust step. Two strong Armenian communi- 25mflrx)R It was curious to read the seemingly nice ties may be good, but one community with HtnTFOnD,CT()6r0S remarks of DellaJeff in yourlrtters section the shength of the two is the best way to (January). In a quest for intemational recog- secure the furure and to prevent a repetition 203 240 2itao 800 842 8450 CT nition, it is amistake forArmenians tojoin in ofthe past. 8(m 243 3rs4 USA unholy alliances with groups bent on de- NikolaTarailo sfioying Amenia and her people. CrownPoint,lndiana These groups include the Turks, the Kurds, Letters should be addressed to: the Azeris, and others of that ilk. By their AIf, actions ofthe past and the present, they have P.O.Box 3296, fanhettan Bcach, GA 90266 POLICEOFFICER RECRUIT proven that their promises are worthless and orhrtolSlSf W2N Serve and protect in a community with that they should in no way be trusted. Comments may also b€ phoned in to AIM's new a large Armenian population. Ifthey are really repentant over the past, T€lcphonc Lott.rs B.nk. per mo. (inc. PERS) Call l{l&546 l3O3 $3,144 let them translate their actions into some old- your Cltyof Glendale with views, which will be considered for fashioned reality. publication. Letters whether mailed or phoned in, 613 E. Broadway#100, should include full name, addross and home tele- Glendale, CA 91206 SteveYakoubian phone number, and may be edited tor purposes of (818) 548 - 2110 Torrance,California and space.

6 AIM, May 1992 ESS WATCHES

MERVYN'S

For nearest location and store hours phone 1.800-MERYYNS menia still doesn't seem to fully grasp what The Fall of Shushi: Karabakh is." Asked where decisions about the region were made, he replied: "All decisions origi- AnAccident of Timing nate in Karabakh itself. There are powers who wouldlike to interfere. There are groups of the city. In response, the statement said, who come from Armenia, they obey By TONY HALPIN the Presidium of the Karabakh Parliament Karabakh of course, but they also listen to and VARTAN OSKANIAN called the Karabakh Defense Council into those who have sent them." He did not elabo- emergency session on May 7. The Presidium rate. he attack on Shushi and its subse- "disagreed with the Defense Council's strat- The Armenian Revolutionary quent caprure just when Armenian egy of defensive tactics to counter outside Federation/Dashnaktsutiun party President Levon Ter-Petrosyan Azerbaij ani aggression." holds sway in Karabakh, while the was talking peace with Instead, "itcalled on the Defense Council Armenian National Movement gov- Azerbaijanis in Tehran is curiously reminis- to put an end to Azerbaijani army attacks." erns Armenia. "We do ourbest to try cent ofthe Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor at The statement added: "In its late-night meet- to be above" party rivalries, said a time when two Japanese emissaries were ing, the Defense Council determined to Sargisian. But the fact remains that discussing the Ten Point peace plan with counterattack Azerbaijani army positions." Shushi was attacked while President Secretary of State Curdell Hull. History The following day, Armenian forces Ter-Petrosyan was outof the country, records that the emissaries had no clue about launched one of the largest and most impor- in kan, leading Armenia's most se- the impending attack on Pearl Harbor. tantmilitary operations of the four-yearwar. nior foreign delegation to date, for a It is doubtful that the same could be said in this case. Or is it? Advisors to President Ter-Petrosyan said they had been given no waming by the authorities in Karabakh that an attack was imminent. This left Ter- Petrosyan in the embarrassing position of trying to explain why a major offensive was taking place at the same time as peace talks aimed at halting the conflict. He told report- ers in Iran that neither his nor Azerbaijan's government had any control over the situa- tion in Karabakh. The whole debate is about whether the Karabakh confl ict is the resultof an irredentist or secessionist movement. Where secession is an aftempt by an ethnic group to withdraw (with its territory) from the authority of a larger state of whichitis apart, irredentismis a movement by members of an ethnic group in one state to retrieve ethnically kindred people and their territory across borders. The Karabakh conflict has elements of both irredentism and secessionism. Fromthe Azerbaijani perspective, the Armenian gov- ernment is the irredentist state, trying to retrieve the territory of Karabakh, which lies in Azerbaijan but is populated mostly by Armenians. The Armenian government, on the other hand, has made clear that it has no teritorial claims from Azerbaijan and the Turkey has not lost sight ol its pan-Turkic ambitions. ln 1933, during border ne- conflict over Karabakh is one of national gotiations with Iran it successfully acquired 6 km border stripe with Nakhichevan in self-determination for the people of the au- exchange of other concessions. Today, the notaon of linking Nakhichevan to Azerbaiian tonomous territory. The people of Karabakh, through the region ol Zangezour in southern Armenia is being advocated by some meanwhile, have expressed their willing- circles at the State Departmnent and more recently it was expressed by Turkish President Turgut Ozal. The exchange of Zangezour region with Karabagh and the corridor to link ness to eitherbecome an independent state or it with Armenia is seen as a permenent solution to the Karabagh problem. incorporate into the Armenian Republic. Despite Armenia's official position, a Seemingly, this was planned and organized meeting with Azerbaijan's President Yagub number of unanswered questions arise. Was in a single night. Yet, talk of an attack on Mamidov. the timing coincidental or deliberate? Did Shushi had circulated in Yerevan for weeks; Armenia acknowledged the serious sig- Yerevan favor or oppose the action? Are it was viewed as the most logical move after nificance of the takeover of Shushi to the events now beyond the control ofthe repub- the recapture of Khojaly. Disagreement be- peace process by casting the incident as a lic, and if so, can it prevent sliding into war? tween the Armenian and Karabakh govern- purely defensive response to Azeri aggres- The official Armenian version of events ments over whether and when to undertake sion. "The agreements reached with kanian was presented in a May 9 Foreign Ministry the operation was also well known. mediation in Tehran... offer special hope," press release. It said Azerbaijani forces had Only aweekbeforethe attack, Karabakh's Foreign Minister Raffi Hovannisian said in launched a major offensive against the capi- official representative in Armenia, Manvel the May 9 statement. "Unfortunately, while tal and had reached the outskirts Sargisian, told a press conference that "Ar- the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan

AIM, May 1992 were engaged in talks in Iran, Azerbaijanis and less than 30 Armenians were reported ing Azerbaijan's request forTurkish help, by had launched a major attack against killed, according to initial television accounts invoking Article 51 of the UN Charter, to Stepanakert which threatened the city's very of the action on May 8. As news of the repel an invasion ofits territories. existence." Armenian success spread through Yerevan The same advisor pointed out that "When the first information about Shushi that Friday, a sense of elation gripped the Azerbaijan had been trying for months to came, the Iranians had thought that maybe city. A11 weekend, at concerts and dinner "ffap" Armenia into a war, and had renewed their mediation was a failure," said one parties, Ar- in the cafes and on the sidewalks, the shelling ofborder regions inside the republic . menian presidential aide at the Tehran talks. only topic of conversation was Shushi; But he doubted that an Armenian corridor "But after they talked to the two presidents "Shushi is ours" was on everyone's lips. would provoke a full-scale war because and after they heard more details, they still Repeatedly, people pointed out that this "neither Armenia nor Azerbaijan is ready for was the first time in 600 that war." years that Armenians had Themostdangerous aspectof ttris situation increased the territory un- is thatTurkey may use this historic opportu- der their control, so used nity to help Azeris reciprocally capture the have they become to re- Zangezotr region in Armenia to link versal and retreat. The Nakhichevan with Azerbaijan-an idea psychological release was floating aroundU.S. State Departmentcircles palpable. for some time as a solution to the Karabakh Some worried about problem, and more recently was subtly ex- possible consequences of pressed by Turkish hesident Turgut Ozal. the victory-that it would Public pressure for action is mounting on the unleash a terrible retribu- govemment in Turkey and may become in- tion. But most were sim- tolerable in light of a corridor opened from ply relieved that the citi- Karabakh to Armenia through Azerbaijani zens ofStepanakert had at territory. Further instability in Nakhichevan last been freed of terrible may also provoke a military response, al- Grad missile attacks though the cost to Turkey's international launched from Shushi in image may act as a deterrent. recent months. very Nevertheless, Armenia was taking no quickly, a new topic of chances. Alarmed by statements fromTurkey conversation emerged: about possible intervention after fighting were the Armenians in broke out along Armenia's border with Karabakh going to push Nakhichevan, Ter-Petroysan appealed to the all the way to the border UN Security Council to hold an emergency ArM Maps D K' with Armenia and create a session to hear an appeal for the dispatch of had hope that the agreement would remain in corridor through Azerbaijani territory for peacekeeping troops to the region. place." supplies of food and fuel? And would this A ceasefire was agreed with He described the fall of Shushi as an mean full-scale war? Nakhichevan' s President Gaidar Aliyev, and "accident of timing," adding that "it was Indeed, as of this writing, Karabakh's both sides agreed in principle to place inde- perhaps unwelcome timing for the Arme- forces had moved into Lachin, establishing a pendent observers along the frontier. Arme- niangovemment." vital link between Karabakh and Armenia, nia said Aliyev has been pursuing relations The "Armenian goverment was not re- reopening land transportation routes to the independently of Azerbaijan, and it blamed sponsible [for the attack] but we thought that blockaded population. Azeri forces hostile to him for violating the anybody could use it against us," he contin- However such a move seems inconsistent ceasefire. It added that "extremist" elements "It ued. is not so easy for the government in with Armenia's overall Karabakh policy, in Azerbaijan wanted to bring Nakhichevan Yerevan to influence the one in Stepanakert. and may jeopardize some of Armenia' s gains. back under Baku's control to obstruct the We can't say for certain that, even if the An advisor to the president acknowl- normalization of relations with Armenia. President govemment and tried to do it, they edged the diplomatic difficulties for Arme- Thenextfew weeks willbecritical. kanian (Karabakh) would agree." nia if Karabakh forces attempt to create a mediation is in full swing and trusted by both position The that Armenia has no territo- corridorthrough l0kilometers of Azerbaijani sides, but the litmus test will be its ability to rial claim from Azerbaijan has played ex- territory at Lachin to the republic. enforce a ceasefire. tremely well on the intemational scene, put- "I think we would try to use our good The UN Security Council has agreed to ting both the Azeri and the Turkish govem- offices to persuade them to think twice be- send a fact-finding mission, and the peace ments on the defensive. fore making the corridor," he said. "Ofcourse, conference arranged by the Conference on Asked whether Turkey would link the we would give them food and petrol if they Security and Cooperation in Europe draws improving of its relations with Armenia to do it. There are many women and children nearer. Perhaps most decisive is the growing the latter's withdrawal from Karabakh, there who are on the brink of famine and instability within Azerbaijan, where a struggle Turkish Foreign Minister Hikmet Qetin re- starvation." forpolitcal power is paralyzing the decision- plied that that was out ofquestion because no The Karabakh parliament has declared making process in Baku. Elections are formal invasion Karabakh of by Armenia the independence of Karabakh from scheduled for June 7, but it is unclear who, if has taken place. And so, whether Ter- Azerbaijan, which was rejected outright by anyone, will take decisive control. The mili- Petrosyan knew of the attack or not, Azerbaijan. But with the fall of the last Azeri tary momentum has swung in Armenia's Armenia's Karabakh policy conlinues to get stronghold in the region, Karabakh could be favor after Shushi. Paradoxically, Armenia high marks. viewed as a de facto independent territory now needs strong Azerbaijani leadership in Indeed, the attack came suddenly and from Azerbaijan. Under such circumstances, Baku if a diplomatic agreement that will without warning. Just as swiftly, the any encroachment by Karabakh Armenians stick is to be found. Azerbaijani stronghold of Shushi fell to Ar- into Azeri territory will not be viewed as an With rcports from Karnik Badalian in menians in Karabakh. More than 100 Azeris exclusively Azerbaijani problem, legitimiz- Yerevan

AIM, May 1992 danger, unless serious action is taken. And of course, intemational agencies will have to evaluate the situation and determine whether it's Armenia's possible to reopen the power plant. Therehas beenonly talk aboutthis, andeventoday no one isreally able to say whether the cost involved would make it worthwhile. There has been no precedents anywhere in the world where a power WayOut plant was restarted after a similar shutdown. This is acomplicated technical problem, not just a political one. To place our hopes today solely on the atomic power plant would be a Vice President Gagik Harutunian was named the form ofself-deceit. Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia in Novem- ber, following the resignation of Yazgen Manoukian. What ptans does the govemment have lor relations with countries, particularly in the area of eco' Elected to the Parliament in the May 1990 elections, neighboring nomics and transPoilation? Harutunian ,44,hasbeen professor of economics at the The problem lies in reviewing not only transportation issues but all State University, and was economist for the Armenian economic issues, to try to avoid one-sided dependence. If we want to Communist Party since 1982. Harutunian has traveled enter the world market, we must pay geat afiention to our relations with neighbors. widely and studied market economy in the West. He has our Today, we are in a position to significantly increase the breadth of authored more than 60 scholarly publications. transportation links with Turkey. Those issues are even now under negotiation. It is possible, for example, to construct a rail station for freightatAkhurian, one that wouldbe able tohandleupto I 50wagons By GOURGEil KHAZHAKIAN aday. Alsoonthe agendais theopeningof ahighway through Iran, anda AIM Yercvan Bureau rail line through Nakhichevan. Alil: Are you more a vice-president than a premier? premier. November 25, And what steps are beingtakentocreate ineentiveslor HARUTUIIAN: Perhaps more of a On diasporan Arme' CouncilofMinistersbuilding, Irealizedmorefully attracting loreign-and especially when Ienteredthe into the rePublic? that the situation is so complicated that traditional methods would be nian+apital Today, one of the comerstones of Armenials economic policy insufficient to overcome it, and we must quickly move to an emer- is the development of a environment that stimulates outside invest- gency system of government. Every evening since then we have held ments and the introduction of new technologies in the republic. a session where we analyze the problems of the day, project an In this regard, the government has already forwarded legisla- evaluation for the next two or three days, and determine what to do to tive bills which provide tremendous opportunites and freedoms for control the situation, because the influence ofextemal factors is quite business transactions in hard currency. Production enterprises even great, and changes occur with such speed that often they necessitate a have the option of paying salaries in hard currency, and importing re-evaluation of previous decisions. So, those decisions must remain exporting goods and services. quite flexible. and Admittedly, this doesn't constitute an adequate incentive for I devoted all my energies and abilities to the problems of govem- foreign investments, and we are working on several otherproposals ing, and fundamentally adopted the functions of apremier. One of the in consideration ofthe cost ofnew invest- major difficulties is that it is not possible, even under the heavy in this direction. First, ments there is a plan that takes into account existing burdens of the day, to forgettomorrow. It is thereforeessential that the [public-sector] between l0 and premier finds ways to deal both with that day's problems and to industrial production facilities that are anywhere 80 pe.rcent developed but would not see completion in the present integrate them somehow with solutions to global problems in all situation. The ideais toprovide foreign andlocal investors, whether areas. they are full or ghost partners, the right to acquire the titles to those !s the goyernment planning ways out ol this enelgy facilities and to import the necessary material for the completion of next winter there wil! be light and heat in their construction and starting operation. The enterprise then be- crisis so that joint production people's homes? comes a mixed-ownership venture, and when starts, it is administered jointly by the government and the private The fundamental step in that direction will be a change in the way investor. energy resources are received and used. We are developing a plan to Another version of the plan envisages selling the partially utilize Armenia's hydroelectric stations more effectively. completed facility to the individual, who pays only for the existing This year, even before such changes, a considerable portion of edifice. capital will be invested to make it possible to utilize effectively the a tax rate on income from such water reservoirs at Eghvard and other places, thus enabling the We are considering establishing is half of that in and the other republics' creation of resultant capabilities. investrnents which Production facilities in the earthquake zone are mostly exempt We are taking steps tocreate mobile electric stations with 200 mW from taxation. capability which use diesel fuel. Usually we have found that the most fundamental concem of ln order to provide stable service, we are also trying to change the who are considering investing in Armenia is the exist- geographic location ofour supplie centers, and to acquire fuel from individuals ing guarantees for protecting their investment capital. The govern- non-traditional sources. has sent a draft bill to the parliament outlining safeguards for It is imperative that there be essential changes both in the infra- ment we expect it will soon pass into legislation. structures, which determine the way energy resources are received, foreign capital; In effect, there is quite a considerable number of inducements and in the structures which utilize them. for investing in Armenia, and I should point out that we are by the serious interest of foreign businessmen. The Goutd a 1s-spened nuclear power plant save us? encouraged number of joint ventures which are currently in operation has Since the powerplantclosed, it has been essentially "deserted." To surpassed 80. The major difficulties they currently face is the reopen it under existing circumstances would present an even greater unstable energy supply, an outdated transportation system which

l0 AIM, May 1992 needs an overhaul, and the shortcomings in the existing banking But our condition is further compounded by the absence of a and financial institutions, which do not have credits in foreigi national, independent economy. banks-an essential ingredient for free enterprise. But all ofthe-se The European countries I mentioned at least had their own problems are being addressed by the government. national economic systems, while Armenia is integrated in a system 99 times larger ttran itself-and an unstable one at that-from which Wlrat does Armenia stand to gain by memberchip in our counby must pull out and create its own economy. intematlonal economic organizations such as the Interr We will not free ourselves from destructive outside influences if national tonetary Fund orthe EC? we are unable to solve the key problem: After achieving political I would like to reflect on this question in some detail, because independence, our@onomy must be transformed into a system which today thereare few people whohave a full and realistic picture of our characterizes an independent state, and that requires deLp structural economic situation. At first glance, one sees the blockade, the energy reforms. That is the second problem. crisis and so on, but in realify, Armenia's economic situation is muiir The effort to concurrently solve these two compound problems morecomplicated and the problems go much deeper. entails serious complications. It is possible to achieve succeis only by We are attempting to solve simultaneously two huge problems, taking into account hth the outside forces and the legal means, ani special situations which we cannot circumvent. It is of course possible that the reforms would be endlessly postponed, producing serious social tension. I want to underline the fact = that a continuation of this situation means that our economy will l foreverbedependenton extemal ups and downs. Ifconflicts ariie, for example, between Turkmenia and the Ukraine, Armenia is immedi- ately affected. If Yeltsin issues a decree on the rising price of fuel, again, Armenia is rippled. Extemal aid and assistance is essential and will make it possible for us to resolve these two problems-to implement deep sUuctural reforms and to quickly move to market relationships.

Whetr does the process ol pfivatization stand today? Privatization is an issue which concems many people, and any effort at economic reform is effectively measured by the progress of the privatization process. Indeed, it is a pivotal issue. The proposed approaches are quite varied. I personally find that this process is progressing particularly slowly here. After land reform, it was not possible to successfully privatize the production sector, the service arena, and obviously, there developed a rift between privatization and the possible ways of implementing it. After privatization of an industry, a corresponding arena must exist for developing private relations. But here, that arena has not yet been created. Therefore, two principles are thrown forward. First, that privatization is harmoniously achieved together with the development of market infrastructures; secondly, and parallel with that Lffort, mechanisms for the protection of social rights must be created. Oth- erwise, we will face dire and extreme circumstances----on the one hand, economic non-productivity, on the other, social tensions. There are two extreme approaches to privatization. One is the explosive method which calls for privatization to be completed within a 2- or 3-year period; the other is a continuous stage of privatization to last I 0- I 5 years. I feel that the most appropriate would be an approach between the two that might be called a "ioft-radical,, approach. Soon, the Supreme Council will pass a law on privatization which will direct the govemment to flrst privatize agricultural institutions, small establishments within the service industry and light production, alarge part of those institutions in heavy industry which employ up to 300 workers, the state's residential agency andthe agencies dealing with incomplete construction. That stage may be called light privatization. In 1993, we would begin heavy privatization, which would include all large industrial Vice President and Prime Minister Gaglk Harutunian institutions. each of which, when taken separately, could be deemed unsolvable For the moment, institutions involved in the production of energy, by any other country. metallurgy, chemical production, fiansportation-all of significant First, we must go from a centralized, totalitarian economic system sEategic or tactical importance for Armenia--can not become the to free-market relations. Look at the efforts of Eastem European objects of privatization. countries-{zechoslovakia, Poland, , even East We are facing a dilemma of two extremes and we must find w!!c^h, yhilg lltegrating into rhe huge economy of West Germany, is intelligent and wise avenues of harmonizing the two. To what extent still facing difficulties. The experiences ofthese countries show that can the state maintain control of those agents which ensure structural passing from one system to another in a comparatively short time changes, and to what extent must the production base remain free of demands reforming all sructures, particularly-a clear-iut displace- all intervention in orderforfree enterprise to effectively progress and ment of the cobwebs of inertiaand foranew mind-set to take root. develop? I

AIM, May 192 ll

6 8-

ix machines and sushi, carphones andAIDS, drive-bys and BMWs. Modem Armenian music has yet to say a word on any of these. And yet they are all around us and we around them. We are in the thick of modem life, like everyone else. We've contributed to ttre rape ofAmazon rainforests and the wealth of the Middle East, the breakup of the and the slaughter of blue whales, but our musicians are still singing vapid songs.

In its entirety, modemArmenian music is a wonderfully uneven art form. It has all the basic components to move to a higher and more original tier. Yet those who sing and write it have retreated to the redundant, the obvious and the facile. In Armenia and the Diaspora, our ears are polluted by argot pop tunes called rabiz (blue-collar pop) and the yawn estradayin (liter- ally, of the street). In both genres, what is missing is substance and authenticity.

At the opposite end of rabiz and e stradnyinis the wannabe cutting- edge maverick, experimenting with raditional Armenian music. This alternative camp is sweptby the currents of Rr ssian, British and

By ISHKHAI{ JlNBASlllAil

i:1 illl .-:liri.,,* .;rl:. -E -a'ri. =::l:

lxenrnrau rRJo larWe play because we are musiciails; w€ have to play."

AIM, May 1992 l3

I American pop music. It is difficult to look at A few bands have already strrted work to rope. Today, they all live in America. this hybrid-pop group as genuine Armenian. derail Armenian music from its headlong But at least the music it generates builds on rush into the predictable. A number of com- The longing for environment social indignation, existential discontent and positions since the early '70s is proofthat our Jazz is a spontaneous art form bom in the Armenian variations of the New Age sensi- spiritual and artistic liberation has begun. street. It is the music of the urban mob bilities. shrouded in night, and ofshady whores and Somewhere in between the two poles is lnto the todern giddy patrons whispering, out of sight. Jazz classical music. Despite its technical excel- So far, only a handful of artists have is a city's throbbing pulse. Take the city out lence, classical Armenian music has-like a made a successful entry into modemism. ofjazz and you strip it ofits essence. broken record-reproduced itself. But un- Singer Tatevik (Hovhanessian), pianists "Yourdevelopment as a jazz musician in l*e rabiz, this genre draws substance from Davit Azarian and Artashes Kartalian have Yerevan is completely dependent on your traditional Armenian music and remains a no pretensions of tuming our music upside inner world," says Azarian. "You isolate rite ofpassage for bolder efforts. down, but they have at least stepped out of yourself in this inner world. You sit in your The fundamental problem with Arme- the grungy ghetto into the worldof jazz. home,youdevelop yourself. As an artist, my nian music today is its spirit. Like our his- All of these artists, together with the place is where my art will grow the most." tory, it is anescape fromtragedyorahelpless members of their respective ensembles- In 1986, the Davit Azarian Trio released confirmation of it. Given this condition of double bassists Gevorg Gevorgian and in America "Stairway to Seventh Heaven," a pathos, it is easy to read the subtext in Arme- Rouben Parkhoutarian and percussionists tightly knit collection of works composed nian love songs as amessy and shrieking run Alexander Grigorian and Grigor Palakian- mainly by Azarian. The record is a fusion of from an unjust world. are natives of Armenia. traditional jazz and European and Armenian This escape is notjust from one person; it In Yerevan they all lived under the chill- medieval melodies. The scores are reinventive is from a horde, or an amy, or an entire ing grip of communism, where talent faced and serene. nation. It is a collective lament-very egali- the danger of tuming brittle. But incredibly A resident of Providence, Rhode Island, tarian, very literal, very ridiculous. they kept their fascination with jazz fluid and Azarian has become something of a roving While this kind of music describes the alive. Despite run-ins with Communist musician. He hops from club to club playing tragic, it makes no effort to transcend it. It officialdom, all of them have received kudos in trios, quartets or quintets. His mobility is verifies and satisfies the psychology of the in the former Soviet Union and Eastem Eu- well suited to the thriving jazz clubs that dot victim, yet fails to ex- - the lengthof the EastCoast. plore the varied nuances ! Jazztakesitsunchartered and contradictions inside soul from improvisation- the victim's psyche. The $ the chaotic fusion and result is a universe of I deconstruction of notes. It is nostal gia and black-and- flexible enough to share and white monotony under borrow, wise enough to dis- the jurisdiction of a ruth- rill. less enemy--dead or "Today I play here, to- alive. Take your pick. morrow somewhere else, the Armenian music has third day over there," says yet to perceive the rela- Azarian. "You're among tivism of human exist- different musicians, and all ence. Our innerchaos and this precipitates artistic ma- sexuality have yet to find turity." expression in Armenian It was this restless songs. Our urge to ques- American environment that tion absolutes has yet to sparked the imagination of find its way into lyrics. Azarian and other musicians

lAzzwrTHAN ARMENIAN SOUL: Davit /.z;aian fuses medieval ffi€ldiffffith-- modemiazz

t4 AIM,May 1992 early jazz on. American inspired their art, low his words. There is nothing in the works On the other hand, Tatevik, who is careful andfrom adistance suggested avagueprom- ofthis group that suggests inertia. to distinguish between modem authentic Ar- ise. It also gave their experiments a kind of Theircompositions (especially those that menian music and the kind which "invades anchor they were pulled to. fuse Armenian music to jazz) soundrefresh- from outside," contends that the Armenian Under communism, Armenia's musical ingly unorthodox and modern compared to language is fundamentally disobedient to the milieu was dominated by classi cal, e stradayin most of what we have heard since the late demands ofjazz. and rabiz. While interesting works surfaced '70s. "It is not as though you can create con- during theearly y e ears of stradayln, this genre "When we play, we're not conscious of temporary music by taking a melody and soon tumed toward mediocrity and mo- any innovations," says Kartalian. "We play orchesffating it," she says. "True folk music notony. Meanwhile, artists forced under- because we are musicians; we have to play." can only be bom from popular sources and a ground dabbled in altemative modes of ex- Kartalian talks with the unfeigned confi- peoples' experience." pression. dence of an artist who has broken out of the Both rhythm and blues and gospel share a Tatevik's music is a spit at our traditional confines ofnational art and assumedalarger, spiritual concordance with Armenian tradi- understanding ofthe mawkish female singer. more complex vision. "I don't think ofjazz tional music, she says. In Yerevan, Tatevik avoided estadayin to as concrete American folklore," he says. "I Reflecting on the possibility of whethera singjazz in English and released a collection think of jazz as a geme. an immense voca- hybrid West-Orient musical texture can be of songs in 1984 called "Daydream." tion." appreciated by an American, Arab, Chinese Later on, composer Artur Grigorian in- So long to the ghetto. orGerman, Azarian says that itcanbedone if troduced her to the idea of singing in Arme- the Armenian idiom does not take over the nian. Her collaboration with Grigorian and Everybody's language compositional search. songwriter Vahan Antreassian spawned What does all this mean for Armenian Aside from their achievements as jazz "Drner" (Doors). Grigorian was well aware music? Kartalian believes that as long musicians orArmenian experimental artists, of Tatevik's musical vision and the unique as Armenian artists create, irrespective geffe Davit Azarian, Tatevik, and Ardashes possibilities of her voice. of or geography, and as long as what they Kartalian reveal an often dizzying ability to "Dmer" is nothing less than a total re- produce good, break out and dream. They have the courage vamping of Armenian pop is Armenian culture will ben- in stnrcture and topresentArmenian artists with achallenge- world efi t from intemational recognition. vision. Using elements from rhythm of opening up to the world while exploring and blues and American and redefining the very pop, Tatevik injected a - $ sources of Armenian mu- distinctive and slc. unpredictably quirky flut- "Individuals from dif- ter into Armenian songs. i. ferent national back- She now per- lives and grounds who do not speak forms in New -6 York. 4 each other's limguagecome Rouben Parkhoutarian !' to the stage and salute each of the Kartalian Trio be- s other with a simple hello," ' lieres that international jazz-much says Tatevik. "They know like intema- no other language. They tional suffering i art-is ask'Whatdo we play? This from inenia. Innovations blues?' They set the tonal- are always taking place. ] he ity. It is moving. They are says. but these are new re- playing." arrangements of old dis- I coveries. Listening to the Translated from the I Kartalian Trio in Los An- Armenian by Taline geles. it is tough to swal- Voskeritchian and Viken Berberian. L-l

MODERN POP Thtevik's music is a refreshing spit at our trafitional understanding of the mawkish :'. :! female singer

., ;.tlij,,i . :t:. , ,',11,t,

AIM, May 1992 l5 groups were once again forced to play in restaurants and at weddings to generate the funds for buying the new hardware. Rock suffered another setback when Armen Hovanissian's pioneering television program"22-30" was pulled off the air. The RotbRoad show had greatly advanced rock's crusade, bringing the Beatles and Black Sabbath found in the graveyard of music history. into Yerevan homes. By GOURGEN KHAZI{AKIAN In the late '70s, the Soviet monolith With the advent of glasnost, rockers ANd HASMIK HABUTUNIAN moved quickly to label rock decadent and reappeared. You could see their monikers bourgeois. Guitarist and composer Armen painted along thecity's walls, buteveryone hen performers talk about Torosian says he was ordered by the knew that the heyday of the '70s were long rock in Armenia today, the Komsomol Communist Youth League to gone. Groups such as Asbarez, Maximum, conversation invariablY drifts stop performing one of his songs. The lyrics Ayas, Dar6rk, 36 Plus 6, and Soma found to the summer of '77 . During included the word "God." themselves with Neanderthal musical gear those sweltering months, Yerevan was By the late '70s and early '80s, rock in competing with futuristic music videos. buzzingwith excitement. Rock in Armenia Armenia was in a state of inertia. "The was alive and well, thanks largely to vacuum was also the result of changing llore than hardwate Arevadzak, a hip band that surfaced during technological conditions," says one musi- Musicians in Yerevan say that if Arme- the Brezhnev '60s. Like a pendulum gone cian. New bands were unable to enter musi- nia had hi-tech equipment, it would easily wild, the '17 Arevadzak concerts offered a cal life because the demands on rock had produce first-class rock musicians. They curious range of music from Deep Purple to become more stringent. "You had to know cite the example of veteran guitarist and more traditional Armenian songs. much more than three chords," he adds. "In former Asbarez member Yuri Mayilian, The '70s were the glory days of Arme- order to go on stage, a band needed state-of- who now lives in Yugoslavia. nian rock. Groups milling around in the the-art musical instruments and equipment, Mayilian left one of the better-equipped margins moved center stage. They broke especially digital synthesizers." Emerging rock groups in the country. Originally a out of their high schools student band, Asbarez and research institutes to has played in several So- perform to legions ofyouth. viet music festivals. One Who were these maverick of the tracks from its artists influenced by the 1989 release, "Anath- music of the West? ema," includes a fine Enter guitarists Boris song inspired by the and Rafael Antreassian, Karabakh rallies. pianist Davit Azarian, Asbarez has also de- songwriter/singer Artur veloped a hybrid texture Meschian, and vocalist described by German Elvina Magarian. rockmagazine PopCorn Injust a few years, they as "Oriental heavy rock." would line up-not to buy It too weaves Armenian bread, but to make an exit. medieval music into its Today, all of them live in songs. America. And rock bands But Asbarez recently such as Meloman6r and sold a recording to PE- Yerazoghndr can now be KO Intemational, a Los

I]P FROM TI{E UNDER. GROUND: Yerevan's Vostan Hayots twice performedin Stepanakert amid bomb blasts

l6 AIM, May 1992 Angeles-based Armenian-owned music small circle of rock fans, Vosdan Hayots in gear and for promoting the art form. Yet, distributor that deals in kef or festive music. l99l finally managed to release its first the absence of a network of music person- Ironically, the sound is glaringly non- record,,"Zartir Vordyak," a popular nation- nel to handle the logistics of putting on a Asbarez, a group that usually meshes som- alistic song. If in the beginning the band concert places tremendous burdens on the ber Armenian melodies to . was influenced by Anglo-American groups musicians. "We have to do everything our- Financial considerations could help explain such as Pink Floyd, Deep Purple and An- selves, by hand, immediately before the the band's decision to target the Los Ange- drew Lloyd Weber's rock ope ral e s us C hri st concert," says one of the musicians of les crowd, which usually thrives on sloppy Superstar, the first release shows that the Maximum, the oldest rock band in Arme- Armenian pop produced on hi-tech ma- band has already found its musical identity. nia. "Then, we have to get on stage and sing chines. Today Vosdan Hayots searches for inspira- and play," he adds. David Ohanjanian, rhe Yerevan musicians are enthusiastic about tion in medieval spiritual music. Areg leader of Asbarez, is more specific. "The the possibilities ofrock. They have begun Nazarian, the group's leader, song writer, musician dies three times: serious trials fusing the seemingly incon- vocalist and bass player, is backed by first, afterhehas installedthe equipment for gruous melodies the of Orient with that of Hovhannes Kourghinian on vocals. It is the concert; second, at the conclusion ofhis the West. The two traditions are kept intact, Vahe Khatchaturian, a professional pianist live performance; third, after the concert, so that they actually complement each other. who graduated from the Yerevan State when he has to dismantle the equipment One of the best rock groups in Armenia Conservatory, and new bassist David and put it in the car or truck." today is Vostan Hayots. It was the only rock Musheghian who make the fusion of West- As in the past, when they were forced to band that flew twice to Karabakh in war- em rock and Armenian pop elements hap- sing in restaurants and at weddings, today's time to give concerts. Thousands of young pen. rock musicians have to find ways of surviv- people flocked performances to their to "Music is at a complete standstill in ing and generating income. "In order to be hear rock amidst bomb blasts in Stepanakert. Armenia," says Nazarian during a phone able to buy instruments, we have trans- Another maverick rock band, Ayas, interview. "In a situation where fuel is formed ourselves into a cooperative," says searches for texture in secular and religious scarce, it's absurd not only to give concerts one of the musicians of Maximum. "The medieval hymns. Armenian sharakans are but even to rehearse." government encourages cooperatives, but rich in "blues-like intonations," says Artur Live concerts and studio recordings can there are still very few sponsors," he notes. Midinian, who plays keyboard for Ayas. A bring in the money forbuying the necessary Armenian rockers believe that their mu- cutting-edge composer sic is strong on content. with formal training, But the only hope they Midinian is a tireless see is the possibility of champion of fusing church performing and produc- hymns to rock. ing in the West. Only prowess Technical that would permit the quality aside, the of these groups to finance their bands will depend on rheir artistic projects in the level of commitment to new and unusual con- Eastern and Westem tradi- text of an independent tions. This means that Armenia. rock-with its expression of revolt less relevant in post-Communist Arme- Gourgen Khazhakian nia-will have to deliver is a member of AIM Yerevan more on its artistic than bureau. Hasmik Harutunian is a Los ideological appeal. Angeles-based journah After several years of ist. Tal i ne Voskeritchian underground concerts for a contributed from Boston.

BLTJES & SHARAKANS: Ayas searches for texture in church hymns androck

AIM. May 1992 t7 can eithergoto aEuropean soccermatch ora Mindless State concert. "Our music brings a lot of energy and a lot of fans to venues that don't have enough room to handle them," TheRoadtoRock says drummer PatrickGharibian. It also leads to police interference to break up the ruckus, momentum in 1989 when his band, then which has brought the band some notoriety. By HABIA ARUOUDIAI{ known as The Touch, performed in Yerevan "Metal artistry straight from the mind" is to legions of teens and raised 150,000 rubles how Gharibian describes the band's music. for earthquake relief. It was the lrst time a He formed the group in 1986 with bassist or a [.os Angeles musician, the road diasporan Armenian group performed West- Paul Boghossian. After several lineup to rock is full ofhazard signs. Along em pop music in Armenia. Mooradian's first changes, it now features lrvon Sultanian on the way, many are exploited, jeered album sold I ,000 copies within two weeks in guitar and Rafik Ohanian on vocals and at a accident, eagerly and, like bad Armenia. His second album is expected to be guitar. Mindless State is a Bacchic metal conditions, it is easy forgotten. Under these available this month. band, "and notheavy orhard rock," Sultanian well-paying to see why most of us choose George is not the only Mouradian on the emphasizes. Members admit having Arme- and "practical" careers. [,os Angeles Armenian pop music scene. nian influences in their lives but not in their plunge pop Still, a few have opted to into Brothers Steve and Ara also have music in music. They all agree that there is a need for music careers. their hearts, but their approach is different. young and resourceful Armenians to stand "I do this because it is fulfilling," says While they share the contemporary pop up and express themselves. guitaristDavidAjian. "I supposelcouldbea sound, they sing in Armenian. Called The group will play in the Golden Au- a year, but real estate agent making $75,000 Ararock, the band tapes its background mu- tumn Intemational Festival at the Pasadena who cares? I'd rathermake $250 a weekand sic in their home recording studio and then Rose Bowl this summer. play have a castle." music than big empty uses the tape during concerts. Brothers Vahe and Zareh Marzebetuny philosophy and Such is the of a small If you want to see decent slam dancing, have played electric guitar and bass together struggling group of musicians who work fistsflying inthepit, andfans screaming, you in bands sincehigh school. They laterformed during the day to play music at night. an all-Armenian rock/ Kevin Mooradian and ! .g heavy metal band, initially his seven-man band, The Y called Red Snow. When E d Collective, mix Western o o Donny Sarian took the o pop with Armenian lyrics. d rhythm helm, it was re- The result is very strange, named Mach l. Although very affected, very pseudo. Mach I'sArmenianheri- His music can be heard G tage is not reflected in its blaring through Trans Am music, it is in its lyrics. speakers in the grotty David Ajian's Rings streets of Hollywood, ofSatumformedin 1989. where he has a strong fol- Although this hard-edged lowing. Mooradian, who rock band has since split uses the stage name Kevin up, today Ajian is pursu- George, made his debut in ing a solo career. He just the early '80s playing in finished recording a five- Los Angeles night clubs song cassette that is heavy and touring different cities on keyboard and tambou- nationwide. rine. There is a smattering His career was glven of Armenian influence in

NEW VOICES: Kevin George (leftf; Goukan L.A. (top right), gettrng ready forArmeniatour,

bandfrom Paris

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! frr.r.*r.t.*tuirr key- Ajian's music, "but most people wouldn't forThe Vicious Suaves, thumped the dumbeg fiddle), the santour and synthesizer to play the instruments recognize it," he sayS. as a child. He traces his strong rhythmic boards. Both leamed got the Self-taught Edwin Alpanian has plucked nature to Armenian records he listened to by themselves. Tildian hold of studying in Yerevan. A a gritty guitar with his bandmates since jun- while growing up. Vicious Suaves members kamancha while ior high school. Calling themselves The describe their music in jest: "It is kind of composer and a professor of music at the introduced teaching courses Strange Tongues, they play progressive hard rhythm and blues, kind ofjazz, kind of fast Sorbonne, Akian The santour rock throughout the Los Angeles club cir- Armenian music." for playing the santour there. instrument with cuit. The Tongues appeared on cable televi- Pianist Gary Simonian plays keyboard in itself is an ancientArmenian a guitar if ever there sion recently and won first prize in alterna- Mind Design, a polished and primed rock 80 chords-a hydra of had disappeared from Ar- tive rock radio station KROQ's contest for a band. Simonian, a classical-trained pianist, was one. Since it and was only loonyjazz tune. feels that Mind Design allows him to mesh menian music for centuries classical motifs with . The played in Iran, Akian introduced a new ap- No outlet for fresh sound band plays in Los Angeles and has a tape proach that marks a departure from the lra- priority to melody Formed two years ago in Los Angeles by under the nameof Lestal. nian technique, which gives young Armenians who have left family and Paris-based Zartonk (Renaissance) mer- and improvisation. joined Lorys' brother, friends overseas, Goukan L.A. (They Come its attention for their original style, instru- After being by Rich- to L.A.) is high on nostalgia and, refresh- mentation and experimentation with tradi- bassist Franck Tildian, and drummer playing Pari- ingly, strong on melody. This jaunty pop tional Armenian folk music. Although now ard Tonelian, Zartonk started stations, intro- band held several of its first concerts at the disbanded, there was a time when Zartonk sian caf6-theatres and radio Los Angeles Night Rock Caf6. Their first tumed 20th-Century composer Gomidas on ducing modemized Armenian traditional group quickly and only album produced in 1990 sold 1,000 his head, only to hurl him back into history. music to the French. The copies-notbad foran unknown band's first In this sense, it is an altemative band. attracted a considerable following. released its frst album. release. Founded in Paris in I 975 by young physi- In 1976 the band disbanded "Getting to the audience is the most diffi- cist Lorys Tildian and professional musician It wouldbe also theirlast. Zartonk today a success- cultchallenge inAmerica," saysAlex Bessos, Stepan Akian, Zartonk marries Gomidas to in 1971 , but Lorys Tildian, who writes most of the band's material. the sound of the electrified kamancha (spiked ful computer businessman, is working on with There are no Armenian ra- new comPositions the use of computerized dio stations to promote new q and synthesiz- music, he says, adding that samplers ers. When this avant- their target audience of l8- c garde folk to 30 -year-olds. seldom lis- 9 Armenian is soon released, it tens to the handful of radio music with the programs that feature tradi- will be in line Stepan tional Armenian music. plans ofbmdmate 1989. In addition to the second Akian,whodiedin "The fact that we can album. which is set for re- introduce new techniques lease this fall, Goukan L.A. in our music means that also plans to record a music we are alive as a nation," video soon, to promote their had said. music in Armenia as a pre- Akian lude for future performances With reports trom there. Rick Vartanian and Mixingrhythmandblues Aline Bezdikian in Los with rock and jazz is Aram Angeles, and Armineh Haroutunian's fort6. Johannes in Paris. Haroutunian, a guitar genius

L.A. METAL: Mindless State (top left); cover of Asbarez's 1989 LB "Anathema"(top 't$t)r Mach I's song "Our Cqr,11.pard. tribute both to their 1et_e-Iather.aud - lhe Genocide

20 AIM, May 1992 The lyrics of these songs are nothing less than biting social commentaries on Soviet life. In one of his songs, "Zoo," Hakhverdian lashes out atcommunism forstifling creativ- RequremtoMan ity and the arts. It is no wonder that authori- ties did not allow him to give concerts. They did noteven allow him to practice his profes- sion---directing. The patent Hakhverdian stunned audience. His voice trembled with By HASMIK HARUTUNIAN style is the serene, solo guitar. It is reminis- emotion. Between songs, he told the audi- cent of Jacques Brel, Vladimir Visotscu and ence that in spirit he felt as though he was still George Brassense. in Armenia. His first album, "La Vie" (Life) was released in 1987, followed by wo decades Armenians Meschian's music resembles his nature- before "Cazananotse" (Zoo) in 1990. Many of the thronged into Freedom clear, poignant and accessible. It is also Square, tracks on these albums are about the artist's ArturMeschian modem. There are only a few musicians who was already sing- fragile inner world, and about love, which ing requiem can skillfully play the works of early 20th- his for communism. makes one forget that in the not-too-distant Together with Century composer Gomidas on an electric Levon Melikian and Grigor past he was the rebel who spit on the world. Nalbantian, he formed guitar. a rock band called Eduard Zorlkian might not seem like a The Apostles. The lyrics to many of Meschian's songs musician at first sight. A geologist by train- During the late '60s, are drawn from the poems of Lebanese- The Aposrles were ing, he gave up stones long ago to become competing against Armenian poet Mushegh Ishkhan. Put to officially sanctioned music director of Triangle, a Yerevan-based music, they can drive an uncouth stoic to popular music called rabiz or art for the theatercompany. tears. masses. Ironically, the disgruntled masses Zorikian completed a recently Ruben Hakhverdian is a Rimbaudesque were tuming their ears to the likes of The based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairy Apostles. rebel raised in Yerevan's streets. He lived his tale The Emperor's New Clothes, which he youth as a Bohemian and his earlier songs The songs of Meschian, Ruben plans to adapt to film. Last year he released Hakhverdian and Eduard reflect his contempt of the bourgeois. "Imprisoned Dreams." The Zorrkian a embody album contains two poems generation's belief in the by Frangois Villon set to West and their rejection music. of Soviet social realism. Three years before all The crowds they com- this artistic fren zy,Tni.kian manded were in tune with was busy composing y'rrs the beatnik :eitgeist, and requiem for communism, their songs = drew from soon to be officially pro- their politics of discon- claimed dead. It was so tent. searing that during a 1989 Today, Meschian lives concert in Paris, localcom- in the United States. The munity leaders ignored the soft-spoken artist says he rapture ofZorikian's young left Armenia three years audience and complained ago to focus on music- that it was just too much. and focus he does. Dur- ing a Los Angeles con- Hasmik Harutunian is cert in 1990, Meschian a Los Angeles-based jour- played solo guitar to a nalist, working in the tele- vision industry.

THE APOSTTES derivedits in- spiration from fumenian liturgy and , sharakans

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,UNI ground, travels and training. 109 Eost Horvord St.,Suite 305 Ghef of Bom in Baghdad, Glendole, CA 91205 Krikorian was raised in |ptel5462246 theBaabdaneighborhood in Lebanon. Every ManyBrews weekend, up to l0 families would gatherto enjoy each other's company and food. Haig Only 70 of the over 300,000 restaurants learned the wonders of good food during in the United States have graced the presti- these weekly events, and also from his Aunt gious Gault Millau Travel Guide with a l6- Shoshig. "Her doughs were magnificent," point rating or more. And of these elite Haig says. "The filo dough we know today is restaurants, only one is run by an Armenian. a nuisance compared to hers." That restaurant is Lalime's in Berkeley, When the fighting broke our in Beirut, Califomia, and the chef/owner is Haig Krikorian moved to England, but later settled Krikorian. Lalime's cuisine blends Arme- in Northem Califomia. He met Khajag nian, Lebanese, Italian, French and Ameri- Sarkisian, owner of the Orient Express res- can flavors, reflecting Krikorian's back- taurant and catering in San Francisco who encouraged Haig to attend the prestigious Culinary Academy. Upon graduation, the Orient Express welcomed Krikorian as its head chef-and also to l5-hour work days. That excellent training period enabled him to openhis ownrestaurant. Lalime's (his wife's maiden name) fame spread by word of mouth, AlMfor and is now one of the most popular restau- rants in Berkeley for quality cuisine at mod- Educotion erate prices. As the highest rated Bring AIM ftr your clossroom Armenian chef in America, Haig Krikorian offers this advice where issues of inbrest the b to those considering a life in the restaurant Armenion community ond lhe business: "Do it right. Many people who are world con be studied, in the business haven't found the definition discussed, questioned ond of what they're trying to do. It doesn't matter whatpartof theculinary fieldyou ft nolly, serve to fo cilitoc want to get into, butchoosesomethingandstickwilhit. " mutuol understonding. Let us ,g He cites Zankou Chicken in Los Angeles as showyou : how!Order an example ofgreat success for specializing E complimentory copies of in one thing. A computer 9 to simplify book- "AlM ForEducotion" bro = keeping is also recommended, but having a teocheryou know. reliable chefis essential "ifyou want to have a life outside the restaurant." Colk o l-8qF736 32ft Krikorian -Michael

AIM, May 1992 23 Armenians young and old give money to the ARF Artsakh Fund at the offices ol Asbarezdally

vate foundation may not require that a dona- tion be spent for foreign purposes' It may, however, make an unrestricted gift to any domestic charity, which is what the Lincy Foundation did. Its checkfor$3 million was madeoutas a gift to the Westem Diocese to be used for humanitarian purposes to help the Armenian people. Thechurchthen appliedttre giftto its Karabakh appeal, though in theory it is free to use the money as it chooses. "It can be used for any humanitarian need as determined by the Diocese," said a source at the foundation. However, the donation came after Arch- bishop Hovsepian told Lincy that the church was holding a telethon for Karabakh, and that the Bishop of Karabakh, Primate Pargev Martirossian, would be attending. Separately, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation in the United States has raised close to $l million in seven weeks for its Donors, Artsakh Fund. A military commander from Karabakh, Anranig Haroutunian, has been instrumental in drumming up supportforthis Money appeal, with a 23-city speaking tour. Gunsand so far The ARF westem region, which the end of April, as well as four portable X- has raised $500,000, has already sent By TONY HALPIN ray machines, 20,000 baby bottles, and a $400,000 directly to the Karabakh authori- communications system. ties in Stepanakert, according to the fund s the fighting intensifies over It added, in a statement, that quantities of committee's chairman Khajag Dikijian. He "medical said he did not have information on how the Nagorno-Karabakh , so too do the antibiotics and other medicines, efforts of Diaspora Armenians to scanning equipment," electrical generators, money would be spent. help the region's embattled 55 tons of powdered milk, and 5,0ffi boxes "The money will be at the disposal of the population. In the United States and across offood were also being sent. govemment of Artsakh and they can use it as Europe, campaigns have been organized to Mrs. Najarian was the only committee they best see fit," Dikijian said. sPend raise millions of dollars for Karabakh. member who responded to inquiries about Information on how they Fund-raisers proclaim the urgent need the fund. Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian, of the cash has been requested so for medical supplies and food for people in the Westem Diocese, declined to answer that donors can be told, he the region, which is undoubtedly true. An furtherquestions about the committee's work, added. unstated but implicit message of some ap- and other members of the committee did not Publicly at least, peals is that the population also needs guns. respond to repeated requests for interviews. Haroutunian insists that moneY By farthe most successful campaign has But a measure of control is being main- raised will be spent for humani- been that organized jointly by the Westem tained. One million dollars has already been tarian purposes, to buy food, Diocese of the Armenian Church of North placed in the Catholicos'bank account in medicine, and clothing for the America and Medical Outreach for Arme- Switzerland, in the name of the government people of Karabakh. He says he nia, which has gamered close to $5 million of Karabakh. To make use of that money, tells those who ask why he buy thanks largely to a $3 million donation from govemment officials must gain prior ap- doesn't use their gift to Kirk Kerkorian's Lincy Foundation. A tele- proval from Archbishop Hovsepian for the guns that it isn't the responsi- thon during which $700,000 was pledged, purchases they wish to make, explained bility of people in the United together with a $300,000 donation from Najarian. States to aid them in this way. Louise Manoogian Simone, Presidentof the "They flrst contact here and with his "My response is simple-I i Armenian General Benevolent Union. con- permission they can go ahead," she said. The tell them Ankara provides the tributed to the total. remaining $4 million would go to Karabakh weapons," said Haroutunian, guns The fund-raising central committee has "in different forms" and would all be spent indicating that Armenians seize and said it intends to put the entire amountraised within one year, she added. ammunition when they take Azeri strong- "at the disposal of the govemment of Committee members Dr. Vartkes Najarian holds, which they believe were supplied by Karabakh" for humanitarian purposes. Pri- of Medical Outreach, and Rev. Berdj Turkey. orities, according to committee member Djambazian, senior pastor of the United Ar- But with nods and smiles, there seems to Mary Najarian of Medical Outreach, are menian Congregational Church in Los An- be an unspoken but clear belief among many "medicine, number one, and food, number geles, traveled to Karabakh to assess the donors that their money will indeed buy two." emergency needs on April 21. weapons and ammunition for fighters in To this end, the committee announced it The Kerkorian gift was less of a clear cut Karabakh. was sending l0O tons of meat. margarine. donation to Karabakh than many press re- "I presume that the money donated so far given a cer- rice, and sugar to Karabakh from Europe at ports have indicated. Under U.S. law, a pri- through our fund-raiser is with

24 AIM, May 1992 tain intent and that might be for the security Once the money gets there it's really hard to Many of those involved were conscious of Artsakh," said Dikijian. "I don'r know rhat find out what it is being spent for." of having separate and competing campaigns a fact, for but that could be true. Fund-raising in Europe is taking a variety for money, but none believed it hindered the "There are people who want to sendfood, of forms. In Germany, local Armenian unions effort to raise cash. which is ultimately rhe lrst priority. There in cities such as , , and Ham- "It is unfortunate that things started out are people who want to send first aid and burg are collecting money to give to repre- this way," said Khajag Dikijian, "but I don't medication. But there are also people who sentatives from Karabakh who are due to see any real problem with it. Prospective don't want another massacre to take place visit soon. Vartkes Alyanak, a member of donorsalwaysemphasizethat it is not impor- and they want our people at this time to be Berlin's committee, said they sent DM20,000 tant where the donation is given as long as it able to better defend themselves." (about $ I 2,500) to the Artsakh Committee of is a reputable organization or church or be- Dikijian said the ARF planned to offer a the Parliament in Yerevan in April. nevolent organization. They are all ultimately choice of options in the next phase of its "We said the Armenians in Artsakh should forthe same goal." fund-raising effort, so that donors can indi- decide what they would like to spend the He added that the ARF was not asked if it cate how they would like their gift to be money on," he said. Asked if they would would like to join the Diocese/lvledical Out- spent. The options are unlikely to include object if the money was spent on guns, he reach campaign. "l think we would have guns. replied: "If they think this is the thing that is taken part ifwe had been asked." "l feel the ARF in this country would not most necessary for them, we would have no Mary Najarian, of Medical Outreach, said get involved in such a rhing. I don't know objections." they did consider asking other organizations about the world organization but we would Another organization, the Armenian Co- tojoin but decided against asking any of the not take such an action," he said. operative Group of the Society for Threat- political parties. "We did not want it to be a "Our organization is a revolutionary or- ened Peoples, in Gcittingen, is also raising political issue, this was to be absolutely ganization and we do believe in armed money to give to agroupof parliamentarians humanitarian," she said. struggle where it is needed. But in this case in Armeniaresponsible forhelping Karabakh. Odette Bazil, who said the Armenian we prefer peaceful would a solution. "They can do whatever they feel is appropri- Relief Society was making a separate collec- "But if a military solution is going to be ate with the money," said organizer Dr. tion in Britain, saw no problems either- imposed on us, our organization will do its Gerayer Koutcharian. "The more the better." best so our people will be prepared for it." The ARF in Paris seems to have become There seems to be no shortageofDiaspora Medical Outreach's Najarian also ruled the focal point of fund-raising efforts in the cash to aid the struggle in Karabakh, even if out any use of donations for military pur- community generally, aftera Karabakh sup- the intent behind the donations is sometimes poses. "Medical Outreachcan't spendapenny port meeting in March which attracted more skouded in afog ofeuphemism and unasked on guns, if we do we jeopardize our position. than 1,300 people. At least 700,000 francs questions on the part of donors. Many [see We have not done it and we will not," she (about $ I 25,000) has been collected. story next pagel clearly want their money to said. "But we are not against those doing it, In Britain, an umbrella committee of six be used at least in part for military purposes, God bless them, let them go and do it. I groups has raised f12,000 (about g2 I,500). and in this they would be no different from, personally wish them all success." It sent medical supplies costing f10,000 say, some Irish-Americans' aid to Ulster. Such "wishful thinking" probably moti- ($18,000) in April aboard an aircraft taking Though never explicitly stated, those re- vates many of the donors, according to Osheen aid donated by the Christian Solidarity Inter- ceiving the cash in Karabakh will have little Keshishian, who hosted the Diocese and national organization. Odette Bazil, chair- difficulty if they decide that buying

Screenshots of the telethon on Armenian Teletime in Los Angetes-Volunteers taking pledges; host Osheen Keshishian with Vartkes Naiarian of Medical Outreach (middle), and with Karabakh Primate Pargev Martirossiiri anO-eUi. Vatctre ffovsepan oi ttre Wlstern Diocese.

Medical Outreach telethon onLosAngeles's woman of the Armenian Emergency Supply Kalashnikovs and ammunition from the Armenian Teletime. Committee, said they planned to send a sec- Russians constitutes the best use of the money "Donors say to themselves our money is ond consignment of goods this month. they can think of. going for food and medication through the The committee comprises representatives Do people care whether their donation Church in Armenia. However, most people of the Anglo-Armenian Association, Arme- buys bandages or bullets? The absence of want guns and ammunition," he said. nian National Committee (ARF), the Arme- tight controls over how the funds are spent He added that it was difficult to keep nian General Benevolent Union, the Hunchak suggests not. Most donors probably consider track any of money in Armenia. "If you ask party, the Ararat freemasons lodge, and the a successful conclusion to the conflict would me, why not, use some of it for ammunition. Armenian Community Center. be good value for their money. f

AIM, May 1992 25 This is the case of the inner dictator speaking. For the layer Four type every:', Excuses thing is predictable and ruaflce is non-exis- Excuses, tent. The Layer Fo'urtypc quickly forgtts &at LEUOIT JERNAZIAil it's not possible to plan and predict every- thing, because apopulace evolves accdfutg toits own laws, whiehassumes acertain state It should have been so simple-independence. And it tumed out so of chaos. Besides, it makes little scnse to complex. If post-communist Armenia is the answer to our prayers, how does bicker when bombs are blasting. one explain-the Diaspora's inactive majority? Why is there so little aid for The layerfour typ,e often rationalizes in a pompous palitical tone.'His subeonseious Where are the legions of volunteers? Armenia? says, "I'maperson of serious political ionr There are the obvious explaaations-the absence of effective organiza- victions,sol can hold back support'when the tional sfructures in the Diaspora or the politics of partisanship. Thes*lave to govemment pulsues the wrong policies.'" do with powerorgroup intelest. The resuli is "actively convinced"inaction. Then there areihe psychological reasons-*-tle multiple layers of ratio- l-tYC* 5l lillratecer rre do' lt't nalization and self-justification These allow us to remain passive with our no god. We'rs not otgFnizedi conscience intact.-Despite a glamorous exterior fagade, however, the thafa how we've alwaye bogll fortress is a forffess nevertheless, and ttre swamp is still a swamp. andthat's how wellalwayr ho, So, what are tlrc layers of excuses? What you have here is national devalsa- tion and self-hate, feelings that are prevalent LAYER t: Eailhquake relief ef- resolved simultaneously. The individual's among ethnic minoritiss. Self-hate results ftom one's awarene$e of one's own national forts showed that ateistance irresponsible, womb'like peace is preserved, weakness in ofgreatextemal fstes. doesn't get there. and the burden ofresponsibility is kept at a theface rage distance. It is often a source of childish Self-hate seems to say, "Wh! arenot we This is perhaps the most popular rational- "Let them get organized" assumes the strong enough so that I can have a ss{ure ization and not completely unfounded. But need for leadership and conffol. Isnt ithigh sense of belonging, without having to suffer even if an organization does not merit trust, timethat weridourselves of Fathers andBig or work?" how difficult is it to find another? Are they The Layer Five type finds it hard to mesh all untrustworthy? with 'other' cultures, but feels uncomfort- If you want to do something, you find a able with his own. His sruggle for identity way. If you do not, you flrnd an excuse. [t is and belonging makes him furious and judg- easy to convince oneself that inaction is the mental. By judging others, he elevates him- resultof someoneelse'sdishonesty. ALayer self. One type who accuses others of dishonesty The Layer Five type stresses his superior- may be projecting his own shrouded dishon- ity overothers often to break free from them. esty. What you endup with is self-deception. of ratlo. LAYER 2 I'Ye alroady don+ my LAYER 6: The absenee bit. f,ow it's other people's lum. naHration The layer six type has no need for self* Who is to decide the necessary measures justification-his conscience has been ef- and limits of aid? How is assistance rendered fectively silenced. His ties to things Arm+ by one person dependent on others? The nian have probably been severed. He has no subconscious logic of tlris rationalization need for a defense because there is little lo says, "I've done enough to look good in my fight for or against. own and my friends' eyes. I don't feel the The Layer Six type harbors foreign, fl ashy, need to do more." values. At What you have here is self-assertiveness seductive and easily-appealing some point, he might desire a return like and egotism masked as altruism. But who some third-generation Armenian-Americats. determines standardsof assistance and need? it's difficult to re-assume an assimilated Perhaps the problem lies with the But identity. community's standards. Brothers? In Armenia and Karabagh, it cer- It's impossible to understand every flight LAYER 3: I can't do anything by tainly is. myself. Let them get organized. We could replace the naive logic that of the imagination and layer of rationaliza- demands that we be led, with the mature tion. But it's possible to explore if we resist the last convenient excuse, "Al1 of this ap In the language ofthe subconscious, read thinking of independent-minded people who plies nottome, but to my neighbor." this as "I'm too small, inconsequential and don't wait, but themselves lead - leading And ttren, who knows, maybe we can weak to bear the burden ofresponsibility." even those who have not leamed to make find other means of self-justificxion.... Gather a few Layer Three types and you theirown decisions. end up with responsibility so diffused that it Dt l*von Jernazian ts a Caltfomla Li- becomes nobody's responsibility. But re- LAYER 4: The policies of the c+lngleld Cllnlcal Fsychotaglsl lb has tun sponsibility that belongs to everyone, really Armgnian government are xtfue tnltp Karsffih Mottgllfiantarldhas belongs to no one. And so, twoproblems are wnong. $srr$E t W soctelpryoftefryffilf,ipto-rs.

26 AIM, May 1992 Karabakh Armenians spurred the giving. Gentsand Many had donated money to church-related Sensibility organizations. Surprisingly, some frequently hesitated when asked specifically to whom By AI{l HAhrlAN campaign. L,ack of publicity contributed to . they senttheirchecks. Most recalledtheTV lack of giving. Those who do not watch ornewspaper ad to which ttrcy had responded. Armenian TV programs or subscribe to a "I think it was the Karabakh committee. Was We wanted to find out who gave to the political newspaper are excluded from infor- there a committee? Or was it through the various Karabakh fundraising campaigns and mation on a Karabakh fund. tndividuals had AYF?" It was unclear whether it was a joint why. Several dozen people in California not donated money simply because they had effort by several organizations, a central were polled on the telephone. It should be not been asked. "There is not enough public- body or a single organization. noted,however,thattheopinionpoll isneither ity... They only reach the same people, one A considerable amount of donors and a representative sample of Armenians glo- surveyee commented." Those who were nondonors alike believed that the Karabakh bally nor is it a replicable pool; it is a swatch aware fundraising of efforts but did not give, issue is of primary importance. "This has to ofprevailing opinions and consequential at- pointed to reasons of organizational frag- be dealt with hrst. This problem will deter- titudes held by ordinary diasporanArmenians mentation. "They have no central objective." mine a lot for Armenia, much hinges on on the recent Karabakh-related fundraising Others distrusted the ability of the organza- this," one said. Cynicism had seeped in, efforts. tions to use funds wisely and wanted to know however, since a majority of those who gave Despite the intemational mediacoverage - the specific use of funds. Some had lost faith said they were not convinced that their of events in Karabakh, a small margin of in organizations' use of funds for stated giving "would really make a difference." Armenians-U.S.-bom and immigrants purposes. And what did they think their money alike---had not heard of Karabakh nor knew Those who donated said they gave to a would be used for? Most said humanitarian anything of the recent political turmoil. Oth- certain organization as a matter of conve- needs-food, shelter and medicine. A very ers were deeply troubled and acknowledged nience. Thatparticularorganization had done small percentage said forguns, "certainly for the state of emergency. the legwork to achieve visibility and accessi- guns." Others considered both a great neces- Participation in Karabakh fundraising ef- - bility, and therefore received funds from the sity, while some insisted that their money forts was mixed. A liule under half of those public. A larger number said they had do- should be used for other purposes, mostly to questioned had not donated. Many Arme- nated to the ARFcampaign than to the Dio- schools. nians who considered themselves patriotic cese-Medical Oufieach effort. In most cases, Anl HadJian, Los and felt connected to the Armenian commu- political and religious affiliations a Angeles-bad so- were un- cial activist and writeL organlzed, con- nity lacked information on any fundraising important, they said. Instead, the survival of ducted and tabulated the suley for Al*1.

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AIM, May 1992 n volunteers from Karabakh. In Lrninakan, I stayed under their tents for three days where I made my first contacts. Of Stone I retumed in March 1989 as an envoy of Medecins du Monde. I was one of the first Armenians to officially visit Karabakh when tensions were beginning to simmer. and Steel During a four-day trip to Stepanakert, I met Arkady Volsky, who was the Soviet representativeto the enclave, and negotiated with him to allow foreign organizations to have an official presence in the Oshin Yeghiazariants, region.-Nearly 46, is chairman of Chene a month later, I retumed to Karabakh and stayed for a month. All inall,I've spentmore thanthre€months there. During all (pronounced' France shen') this time, Chene existed de facto in Armenia and had an unofFrcial and has visited Karabakh presence in France. seven times in the last three We are a group of 16 activists in France. Two ofus arepublishers, years. An architectby pro- c, t{ l= tv l= one is an engineer and another is a doctor. We provide financial assistance, technology and knowhow. For instance, we're teaching he spends more time rebuilding border villages fession, more effrcient agricultural practices to villagers in Zankezour and mound the enclave than he does drafting suburban Karabakh, so they can become self-sufficient. Parisianhomes. l{ow many new homes haschene built? By UIKEN BERBERIAN Today, we oversee three villages in Zankezour. Construction has already begun on five new dwellings in Nerkin Khendzoresk, two new homes in Khoanavar and five damaged houses in Maghanjough. What is Ghene and who arcthefounders? Our work is primarily focused on Karabalh and the border How much does it eoct to build a home and do the villages at the edges of vitlagers actually own them once they'ro completed? the enclave. Chene has It costs $5,000 to build a new house and all of them belong to =! 12 founders, most of Chene. The homes are leasedfor l0years for 1,fiX) rubles a year. The n whom were student rent money is collectedby the village's collective council and usedto friends at Yerevan's improve public works projects. After l0 yean, Chene transfers o E Polytechnic lnstitute. ownership of ahouse to the tenants. o , Onedaytheydecidedto move to Karabakh and Wlro are yout contributors? rebuild an abandoned The Armenian Relief Society rccently donated $20,000 to our border village east of fund, and the Armenian General Benevolent Union contributed Zarkezort called $4,000. We have used all of the institutional donations for construc- Spitakashen. tion. By 1988thegangof The board of directors has also poured in a lot of mdney into 12 had grown to 36 and Chene, and we've setupasystemfordonors inFrancewheremonthly decided to settle in withdrawals ale made from their bank accounts. Karabakh after reha- We're also tapping into institutions in the United States. bilitating Spitakashen. They are now all regis- How much hat Ghene contdbuted in dollars to tered residents ofthe re- Karabakh and ZankezouP gion. They have built Between 1988-l9m our aid from France to Karabakh was very six homes in hush-hush. No one knew what we were doing or what we took. The Oshln Yeghlazarlants Spitakashen,dugoutan contributionscame strictlyfrom ourtightlyknit groupof l6directon. irrigation system, and Our initial shipments included photocopying machines, paper, post- brought electricity to ttre village. With the exception of indigenous ers, Swedishautomaticjackhammers totaling $50,000' All of this aid stones, all of the building material was brought from Armenia by was for Spitakashen. helicopter. We became official in 1990, and since then we have shipped an It was the inhabitants of the surrounding villages who asked that additional $50,000 in supplies and material to Zankezour and the students stay. They consideredSpitakashenabufferzonebetween Karabakh. Azerbaijan and the interior of Karabakh. Have you deliverod military hardwaro or communi' lf only six homes were built' where dld all of the cations equipment to ofticialt in Karabakh? students live? No, butindependentofChene, afew ofus have takenhundreds of The sodents decidedthat whoeveramong themgotmanied first military flashlights, radio-scanning equipment and walkie-talkies couldmove into one of thenewly builthomes. Meanwhile,therestof from France. You must understand that this activity takes place them would live in the village's existing dwellings. independentofChene. There is no one living there now. The inhabitants of Spitakashen What we've done is take these supplies direcfly into Kambakh, retreated into nearby villages seven months ago because of Azerbaijani because there isn't an infrastructure there to attend to the basic needs attacks, but the village is still standing and the students still visit now of people. You know that, for example, there is no electricity there. andthen. It's total darkness. It's a war zone. The flastrlights we send help soldiers get around. And you know When did Ghene orgnnlze in France? that communication is very difficult because there are no proper It all began with my uip to Armenia following the earttrquake. The phone lines, and so the walkie-talkies will connect otherwise isolated most organized group thatassisted inrelief efforts was alegionof 600 villagesandresidents. I

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'a slh{idi.ry ofne Equilable was forgiven by God, who reinstatedhim as chief of all the angels. This has often led Devil's Advocates people mistakenly to label the Yezidis as devil-worshippers. Yezidis and Kurds: Melek-Tavous (King Peacock) rules the universe with six other angels, all of them TheTwo Faces ofArmenia's l-argest Ethnic Minority represented by the image of peacocks. Seven bronze peacocks called Sanjaq are kept at I to By ABlll l{El{ JOIIAilNES were 5, 90 Yezidis in Armenia, according Ialesh and worshipped by the Yezidis. Each and ANI KLTCHIAI{ the most recent census in 1989. year the Sanjaq, the largest of which weighs No one really knows the origins of the almost700 pounds, are paraded around Yezidi Yezidi religion, which holds that they were neighborhoods by religious leaders, and ife can be a little rough when you're created quite separately from the rest of through them the believer is supposed to popularly viewed as a devil-wor- humanity, not even descended from Adam receive a share ofwealth. shipper, but then the Yezidis have and Eve. Their belief system denies the exist- The Holy Bible of the Yezidis-the Kitab- always had something of an iden- ence ofevil and, therefore, ofhell. i-Jalwa-was discovered in Lalesh at the tityproblem. One Yezidi myth tells how Satan, or end of the l9th Century by Anastasis Marr, Until 1988, they were officially consid- Melek-Tavous, repented his sin of pride and an Arab Catholic scientist. It is entirely dedi- ered part of the Kurdish population. Today, they speak such good Armenian that it is often hard to distinguish them fr om Armenians-sorng hsvs even adopted the "ian" suffix at the end of their names. But the Yezidis have a distinct religion and a well-developed social structure. There are about 200,000 Yezidis, living mainly in the Sinjar and Seikhan regions of northem Iraq. Lalesh, in the

Sinjar region near Mosul, is considered to be their Holy Land and is the site of the tomb of their principal saint. In Turkey they live in Tour AMin, Mitsbin, Diyarbekir, the upper valley of the Tigris River, Mush, Sasun, Bitlis, Van-in short, on the territo- riesof WestemArmenia. cated to Melek-Tavous, who calls on his The first migration of people not to succumb to other religions and Yezidis to Armeniatook place to remain honest. He promises prosperity to in 1830-1840, from Iraq. the faithful and threatens the disobedient. Since then they have spread Marralso deciphered the 33 letters of the to other parts ofthe Caucasus Yezidi alphabet, which is based on the as well. But the greatest l.oukotka, in his "The Development Of The diaspora of the Yezidis is in Written Language," which includes illusfra- the Armenian republic: ttrere tions of the Yezidi leuers.

AIM, May 1992 Yezidism bears traces of tend funerals and weddings, say prayers, Iranian Zoroastrian, Chris- baptize male children, and offer spiritual tian, Buddhist and Islamic in- guidance. Pires assist in wedding ceremo- fluence. In theeastem world, nies and funerals. Next come the Merides, or peacocks represent beauty '!frfrtt#if;u;i,tfi. believers. Every community of Merides has and grandeur and have occu- its Sheiks and Pires. who visit their homes pied an important symbolic 'l*h[hft1=iif;i;t'll j.ffi and receive gifts. Marriage to non-Yezidis is position in the Sufi religion. Muslims see peacocks as a Baby boys are baptized on their first bird paradise, of symbolizing birthday, when a Sheik takes a handful ofthe pride and vanity. , .' . t::"::":;:"":":"'i;{;'::'; ,-; child's hair, recites some prayers, then cuts i ,.-_,-:i_.l1 .t,t'rn trtL.L ; . ^.-..-. fi t^r+t. Ogly But although God, or , .{..,1d-'-b-\blt. .5 , !: the hair. J-"lL'-"-s-{!rr" Jrr .'16s.".'r7flrr. l Zwade, is seen as .j'-1:1'.' {I- the creator . ". ,S"u^n, rlq. -1t:n,t- Some Kurds speak the same dialect as the of the universe, he has no Yezidis-Kourmanji-but the majority of direct concem for his cre- ,_y_,' _.:.*.1:,",^,::1.. .ulrrn i-nre " Yezidis consider themselves a separate na- ation and is not viewed as its ,:;:.,, . i::!:!:,-''' {'a i'' qr,' tion from the Kurds. Some believe them- protector ,EL-r'{ raa!-L' r - or patron. Each r!r{tsrrrrr- ,L-34r {" h_,Lor J, q-rrr selves to be that part of the ethnic Kurds ht- moming, Yezidis pray to the .it_r. *d,-r-{f- Jlvqo lq } r' \t' - which has retained the original pre-Islamic rF rr[J.:f u-:..:,r-:, ;n;tT' lc96q).J ,BF 44re.{r{, P. .qrl religion. roal ;-"pi.i19 r -f- .t D'r&1, tl ;1.\', eFiq.J. qttJ L$hL!, The Yezidis and the Kurds were regis- iel{{!,J a! J^!!.li.s r-n, leogqrrr -a55 ttt :El)P {rP[' tered as different nationalities, even in the i--S ,-- tit'-t-'eir oac, 6JL U 4,t l. Lr*L! -aer wr early Soviet years. The 1926 All-Union cen- ",l;.:r qJ+b .t ,1.'lt)li:.. li.-'--11':: sus, for instance, put the numhr of Yezidis in Armenia 12,237 - at andthe Muslim Kurds atupto3,0O0. In 193 l,the Yezidis were entered un- der the same category as the Kurds and until 1988 were considered part of the same ethnic group. The Kurds themselves strongly oppose the idea

of "separationism" among the Yezidis, which is part of the rising feeling for self-determination throughout the lbrmer So- viet Union. The Muslim Kurds considerthe Yezidis Scenes ol daily life in Yezidi in villages Armenia; as part of theirnation, and Voice of Yezidis. their daily newspaper do not recognized their AIM photos by Armineh Johaness and M.E N claim to distinct nation- hood, just as they are acknowledged as a Sun as a source of life, so that there will be the day ofrest. distinct nation by the government of Turkey. prosperity and well-being in the world, ac- Their society is a rigid religious hierarchy During the national dcmocratic move- cording to Hassan Hassanian, a representa- of four main layers, which are kept separate ment in Armenia from 1988 to 1990, how- tive of the Yezidis in Armenia. by rules requiring them to marry only within ever, most Kurds left the republic and very Yezidis generally remain separate from theirown sub-group. At the top are the Mires, few remain in Armenia today. their neighbors and do not attempt to make who are elected in the families of sheiks. converts. They are mainly larmers in rural Below them are the Sheiks and the Pires. who AIM Paris correspondent Armineh Johannes was in Amenia in September. areas, although nomadic tribes do exist. inherit their positions and are be said to AIM Yerevan Bureau statf member Ani Wednesday is the Holy Day and Saturday, descendants of Melek-Tavous. Sheiks ar :,"!rr:"rr"o:r!r""ornl: ] AIM, May 1992 31 thrcats made? Wele they forced to lceve? tllOYAl* We haven't recorded any such cases, but the term Kurds "discomfort" might explain the situation. There might have been isolated cases of insults. But I wouldlike to stness that therehas never been a policy of oprpression or deportation by Armenians against andYezidis: Kurds. tAtOUD: Thereality is thattheKurds usedtolivetogetherwiththe Azeris in Armenia. Their children attended Azerbaijani schools and TWo Voices there werp marital ties between them. Naturally they followed their kinsmen when they left. Isn't it srange that they should leave with the Until the upheaval of the national democratic move- Azeris, instead of staying with the Yezidis, whom they consider as one people with themselves? The Yezidis and Armenians sent ment in I 988, some 4,200 Kurds lived in Armenia. Now delegations asking them to stay, but in vain. only a handful remain, most having left the republic. Kurds (in Arabic, "nomad" or "herdsman") have Wlrat aro the rocial condltlonr ol Kurdl and Yezldlr ln often been confused with Yezidis, so we interviewed a Amenla today? What art thelr roclal asplrrtlons and politlcal demands? representative of each community, in Armenian, to tllOYAl{: Several Kurdish national cultural centers have been discuss the similarities and ffierences benveen them. recently established in Eumpe-in Sweden, Germany and France, Shalro Mtroyan, a Kurd, is a corresponding member of and Armenia is no longer the only such country. But we cannot deny the Armenian Academy of Sciences. Hassanei Sheikh the fact that the Kurdish national cultural system created in Armenia in the Soviet Union and ab,road. It Mamoudis chief editorof the Yezidinewspaper Dinge since the 1920s was the first, bottr must be said that this was established at a time when Armenia itself Yezidisa. was in desperate need of resources to restore its collapsed economy and to feed is starving population, as well as thousands oforphans By A1{l KLTCHIAN and refugees--+tre result of the Genocide. The efforts of the Armenian intelligentsia to create Kurdish AII! Who are the Kurds and Yezidir? cultural centers were very valuable at a time when we didn't have our IHOYAI& The Kurds and the Yezidis belong to the same nation. own intellectuals.The system is still active. There is the Kurdiological of Oriental Studies in Yerevan, one of the During the Muslim Arab expansion, many nationalities in the region, Deparfinentofttrelnstitute including Kurds, were converted to Islam. A few, the Yezidis, seven equal branches within the Academy of Sciences of Armenia. writers in the retained the old religion. We also have a special departnent of Kurdish (New Thus, the Kurds and the Yezidis arc part of the same nation, Writers Union of Armenia. We have ournewspaperRra laza published 1930. The editors, separated on religious lines. Yezidi is not an ethnonym, it is the name Way), which has been since first publishers were Armenian, so Armenians actually of a religious group of ethnic Kurds. translators and f,AHOUD: SomeYezidi intellectuals identify themselves as Kurds, establislrcdRiaTaza. although most of them are registered as Yezidis. They consider it advan- tageous to be part ofthe Kurds, who number 20 million in the world. This is a matter of individual approach. It is their at- tempt to force theirpoint of view on others that is unacceptable. We have been told by ourancestors that we " are Yezidis and that the :- name of our religion is ! Sharaffuddin, ry"99 Shakro ltlhoyan, a Kurd (above); yezidi after a historical indi- editor Xassdnei Sheikh lilamorid (left) vidual, just as Ckistian- which believe have ity is namedafterChrist. The term "Yezidi" cannotbe consideredthe There are daily radio broadcasts for Kurds I name of the religion only, because no nation in the world is named been one of the most important stimuli for our cultural life. Kurds all after its religion, and secondly, there are no religious alphabets. The over the world, especially those in Turkey, have often expressed their past years, when the Yezidi alphabet is the alphabet of the Yezidi people. gratitude for these b,roadcasts. During the 30 threat of assimilation was imminent, those programs from Yerevan Are thero any linguistic differoncet? played an important role in the national survival of the Kurds. I were represented as Kurds. tHOYAl{: Absolutely none. I am a Yezidi Kurd. I speak the same tAtOUD: From I 93 I to 988, Yezidis movement stimulated the language as the Muslim Kurds in Turkey. The Karabakh national independence self-consciousness. As a result, f,Af,OUD: There is no suchlanguage as Kurdish. TheKurds speak awakening of our own national different dialects, such as Kourmangie, Soranie and Kouranie. Yezidis throughout the former Soviet Union are now registered by Kourmangie is the dialect also spoken by the Yezidis. A Kurd never theirown nationality. oice ofYezrZr, began in Yerevan says I speak Kurdish. It is a term attributed to them by others. Thefirst Yezidi newspaper,TheV in 1990. It is in Armenian, since we need to introduce ourselves to our Wlry did tlre Kurds emigmte trom Armenia? Were any Armenian brothers. We have also been promised a cultural center. I

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34 AIM.May 1992 transported back into scenes of the death TheGerman marches, guided by Meddah, the novel's narrator. There, Khatisian meets the parents he never knew. He listens to tales about his native village, Yedi Su, and to harowing Gonnection pogroms. stories of The flrst part of the novel introduces joumal. So did Alexander Topschian, DIE HOREN : ZEITSCHRIFT FUR a Khatisian to the public hanging of three translator and literary critic from yerevan. I-IT ERATU R, KU N ST UN D KRIT I K Armenians. It then moves on to Thovma's Published The publication includes biographical infor- by Kurt Morawietz, , father, Vartan, who, convicted of heason, is mation on all of the contributors Germany and authors. rotting in a Turkish prison. The 2 lGpageissueisentitled, Fourth Quarter, 1990, pp 216. DM I 5 "Armenien: Hilsenrath depicts the brutality of prison Macht Licht! & Freiheit" (Armenia: Turn on life through grizzly portrayals and the use of the Lights! & FreedomlFa tributary refer- THE STORY OF THE LASTTHOUGHT obscene language. These scenes are often ence to two poems by Paruyr Sevak. By Edgar Hilsenrath interspersed with fantastical and symbolic Scribners, london, UK **r. images from afairy tale. 1990, pp 455, f14.95 As Thovma's "last thought" joumeys through Yedi Su, the setting shifts to Arme- D I E ERF O LGREIC H ST EN AR M EN I ER nian rural life in the late 1800s. tn a sryle DERWELT reminiscent of a folk tale, Hilsenrath're- Compiled by SabrinaStepanian & Diran counts Vartan's purssage to maturity and how Baghdadian he was tracked down as an adult by Ottoman 1991, Vienna, authorities. While telling the story of the Khatisian By ALINE S. KASSABtAit family, Hilsenrath describes the simple ar- chitecture, rustic lifestyle and daity activities of a community increasingly threatened by persecution. hree recent publications in Ger- man-a literary joumal, a novel, The fate which awaits Vartan Khatisian and a reference book for general in tlre last part of the book is sealed with the audiences-focus on Armenian signature of Hilsenrath, a survivor of the history and letters. Holocaust. The author steers the plot to mir- *They are talking aboutArmenians again ror the trauma and collective experience of in Germany," writes Dr. Raffi Kantian in an the Jewish and *:TT t"nocides. essay that appeared in a back issue of Dle geography, Horen (Goddess of Seasons), a German re- A bit of some history, and a view of arts and literature. Kantian-+he compilation of information about famous special editor of that issue-is an Armenians make up Die author and a fanslator based Erfolgreichsten inHanover,Germany. z Armenier der Welt He has pub- (Successful Arme- Iished several \ nians of the World) books, including by Sabrina Stepanian Die Ldwen (The andDiranBaghdadian. Lions, 1983) and The authors explain Literatur der that their publication is Armenischen meant to highlight Ar- Diaspora'89 (1989). menian talent and pro- He has also translated mote an awareness of the the works of authors contributions of Arme- Zareh Khrakhuni and nians to world culture. Paruyr Sevak into German. They believe that this sub. The 1990 issue of Die ject has not received the Horenincludes more than 20 attention it deserves. translations from Daniel The ll2-page book in- Varoujan, Vahan Derian, Silva cludes some 235 listings of Kaputikian and Gevorg Emin. well-known individuals from Kantian has some original trans- around the world. Each listing lations that appear in the German includes a brief biographical language for the first time. sketch and a summary of the The Story of the The issue feanres essays 7 individual's professional and on l,ast Thought by Edgar watershed political events of late artistic achievements. For easg ofreference, the Hilsenrath (the original German edi- '80s that redefined Armenia, v the names are classified under various cat- and on tion, Das Mtirchen vom Letzten Gedanken, literary life in the Diaspora e,gories, such as joumalism, sports and poli- and the influence was published in Munich by R. piperGmBH of Soviet authors on Armenian literature. tics. The book also features an index. & Co. in 1989) opens at ttre deathbed of S ucce ssful Arme nians of the W orldopens Tessa Hoffmann, a Berlin-based Arme- Thovma Khatisian, the main character. In with a foreword by noted actor nian human rights activist, contributed to the his "last thought," and activist a wizened Thovma is Sos Sargissian.

AIM, May 1992 35 broke.down," he said. "The meeting wanted to separate the cultural, religious and politi- TheApril ?A cal commemorations, and we had no prob- lems with ttrat." The ARF then brought a program for a political event to the meeting. ThatWasn't Proudian said the importance and nature of the program were fully explained in as much years-were plagued with division and in- detail as was available. "The idea was to By ARA OSHAGAN fighting this year. connect the 1915 Genocide to the genocide Speclal ro Altl The rain did cut into the April 24 com- today in Karabakh." After that, according to memorations in Boston, but by then, other Proudian, "they [the ADL] never showed up s the moming of April 24,1992, disruptive forces had done their work. Since again," andtheARFcouldnot wait, andwent wore on, Armenians across the the 75th anniversary of the Genocide, in on to organize its own commemoration. "that globe awoke to commemorate the 1990, the commemorations in Boston have "It's unfortunate," he lamented, we 77th anniversary of the Arme- been held in unison at the initiative of the still have to explain to some Armenians that nian Genocide. The day that faced them Armenian Revolutionary Federation/ the Genocide was a political act; its essence would be an important one. Dashaktsutiun (ARD and the Armenian was political, so today's messagemustbethe Only a few weeks earlier, the fledgling Democratic Liberal Organization /Ramgav ar same." Armenian republic had become a member of (ADLFthe two major political parties. All What about a worldwide ARF agendato "I even the United Nations; it was still knee-deep in churches, cultural, social and political orga- derail joint commemorations? won't the apparently inractable Karabakh con- nizations and other communiry $oups par- respond to that," Proudian said. "We don't flict; itsdisastrouseconomy showednosigns ticipated. A trend was clearly being set. want to waste time with such petty matters of improvement, and its relations with Tur- Then came 1992. Beside the annual Mas- when the Armenian people are in a life-and- key had startedto nlm moretowardhostility. sachusetts State House commemorations in death situation." The Armenian republic was reaching out which aU parties participate, two commemo- Disagreement and denouncement were into the world and looking to the diasporan ration events were held--one by the ARF also the playing cards ofthe political parties communities for economic support and po- andthe otherby the ADL. in all three major Califomia communities. In litical influence. Why this divisiveness? Fresno, commemorations were affected by More than any otherevent, April24 com- The answer depends on who you ap- the fallout between the ARF and ADL over memorationshave the ability tobring Arme- proach. On one side of Karabakh fundraising. As nians together to voice their demands in a the wall is the ADL, a result, the Armenian unified and, more importantly, powerful where conspiracy theo- Community Council, the manner, especially of the Turkish govemment ries abound. According two-year-old pan-Arme- and its supporters. Founding members of the to Kevork Marashlian, nian committee, is in Armenian Monument Memorial Council in executive secretary of danger of a premature Montebello, Califomia, remember when all ADL Eastem U.S. and death. In San Francisco, community groups and factions came to- Canada, an attempt to commemorations have gether to build the monument and participate hold a joint commemo- been held jointly for 15 in balanced, strong, effective commemora- ration was made: three years, but this year some tions at the site. Michael Minassian, the ARF pan-Armenian cofilmu- community organizations representative at the time, remembers the nity meetings were held, did not participate. effect of the gatherings on American and but they did not get very Perhaps the most di Turkish govemment officials who often re- far. Why? The ARF, he visive and pitched battles acted sensitively to the impact of a strong said, wanted to do some- were staged in Los Ange- program. thing political during the les. The ARF and ADL Set against this backdrop, the 1992com- commemorations and went head-to-head in their memorations should have been momentous' would not disclose to the news media. Nor Or,the They were and they weren't. ADL its exact nature. ADL's official newspa- ln some communities, people rose up to TotheADL, this was per in ttre westem U.S., the challenge. In Tehran,60,000 peopletook unacceptable and the published a call from the to the streets; in New Julfa, 2,000 gathered meetings ended. The ADL and the Social for the commemoration; one-half million ADL had no choice but to organize its own Democratic Hunchakian Party to the ARF to paid their respects to the Genocide martyrs in commemoration. jointly commemorate April 24 . Asbarez,the Armenia; in Holland, a weekJong series of "The ARF has a political agenda to be ARF's official publication, responded by commemorative events including a concert, separate-a worldwide political agenda," saying the three parties last year had agreed several film screenings, lectures by promi- Marashlian added, "and that's why practi- thatcommemorations would be leftup to the nent historians, an exhibition and a sympo- cally nowhere in the world were the April 24 churches and other community organiza- sium drew a total crowd of nearly I ,000 in a commemorations held jointly." The reasons tions. The parties would support the event community which numbers barely twice that. for this, he speculated, were probably con- and organize in parallel other politically ori- In other communities the response was nected to Karabakh. ented activities. dismal. ln some-Montreal and Sydney- "We have no intentions of bringing There all dialogue ended. there was, plain and simple, no effort to hold Karabakh-related issues here or taking our Some community organizations took part unified commemorations. In others-Bos- issues there," Marashlian said. in the traditional commemoration at the ton and Fresno--minor initial trends toward On the other side of the wall is the ARF. Montebello monument; an event which in unification since the 75th anniversary are Vatche Proudian, editorofHairenrlc, the ARF years past had drawn 5,000-10,000 people now derailed. And worse, some communi- Eastern U.S. Central Committee organ, took according to the Memorial Council's ADL ties-San Francisco and Los Angeles, where part in the pan-Armenian community meet- representative, George Mandossian, this year commemorations have been unified formany ings. "We had a few meetings and then it all drew less than 2,000. On the other side of

36 AIM, May 1992 town, 5(X)-1,000 people attended the Ramgavar and Hunchak political meeting at the Dickranian school. Why these cat-fights after 13 years of cooperation? Dr. Krikor Krikorian, president of the ADL Westem Region executive body, said the 1991 declaration of the three partiLs was only for that single year. "We believe that political parties should distinguish between political and religious commemorations,"he said. Based on this, during a standard protocol meeting between the Dashnaks and Hunchaks, the latter (who also represented the ADL at the meeting) asked ttre ARF if they want to hold a joint political event on Apil 24. "The ARF simply refused," Krikorian said. "The ARF ifdoing this on purpose." - e'fhoingafree-floatingconspiracytheory, he added: "A general directivehas been sent Tod.l (/ou /te@l ail-lte bnk un to all communities" to make sure com- /ou Aef memorations are not heldjointly. Why would the ARF take such a step? "The ARF wants to monopolize ApnlU commemorations," Krikorian said. ..They want to say that only the ARF remembers the Genocide, just as they have done with ttre sruggle in Karabakh." Speaking forthe ARF, Kevork Santikian, A homa-foun bmnch. chairman of its Westem U.S. Central Com- mittee, said there was no formal attempt to do a joint political event with the political par- ties. The other parties wantedthe ARF m l/err.J71/ar@ rlrnk nhete. zt*d flro,n. cosponsortheeventattheDichanian school, fou but Santikian said, "we don't consider that a political event." As to an alleged ARF directive to derail joint commemorations, he said the party Loanr ?ou c-en lnts uil*h. works in a decenralized manner, and that each CenEal Committee makes all regional decisions in its jurisdiction. He conieded that the Montebello event was not as suc- {avin6rth.-l nake ty'ou fmcr+.-r. cessfirl this year. "Armenians are not putting enough into it," he said, and added that 'lmaybe the proper kind of leadership is not there." He speculated that he may even be And more qAru)ers -th.a ]he. r{anotatd one.s. EJ€r17+ine,. partof theproblem. Amid the hustle and bustle of political muscle-flexing in the Diaspora, the new Ar- menian republic still waits to reap the harvest of the one advantage it has over the l9l8 republic---the existence ofan organized and potentially powerfuI Diaspora. This year, however, the Diaspora whose numbrs run to a full half of the worldwide Armenian population, missed the opportunity to shout what Turkey's small new neighbor can only whisper-the injustice of the Genocide andthecontinuingrefusaltoaccept Bank of America responsibility are still part ofour agenda. At least for now, unified and concerted GLENDALE MAIN OFFICE support-from the Diaspora seems still a long 345 No. Brand Blvd. wayoff. Glendale, Ca 91203 (818) s02-8706 Ara Oshagan is a lrcelancc wrtter M*d inLosAngel*. 6ila @ l99l BankArnerica Corporation FDIC

AIM,May 1992 37 deepchurch andhas adeep understanding of true Ctristianity," Saraydarian said in arecent interview at the Aquarian Educational Cen- Ghaosr California, of Agoura, Ghild ter, which he founded in 30 years ago. "But my own interest was to relate with many different religions and phi- Man of Light losophies, because I wanted to expand my gions consciousness. Torkom Saraydnrian Wade s through the Reli "I am wholistically oriented and my con- of East andWest to Findthe Primnl Source sciousness is synthesizing all these thoughts." He has studied and assimilated all the final solutions werebeing implemented, into major religions, from Christianity to the By LEON FERIIANIAN the light of teaching a way for a healthy, Trans-Himalayan Teachings, from Islam to Special to AIU joyous and prosperous life seems indeed the American Indian traditions. What similari- best "revenge." ties has he found in them? "My experience is asten your seatbelts. Coming into The expansion of the sPark within thatall religionshave one origin, one source," contact with Torkom Saraydarian's Saraydarian began when his father, a law- he responds. "But people take the source and books can be an inspiring and cos- abiding pharmacist by day and a spiritual change it according to their mental, emo- mically shocking experience-si- philosopher by night, invited the young tional orientations. Soreligions became more the multaneously. Torkom to the secret meetings which were or less distorted. In my own opinion, Consider New Dimensions in Healing, held in their house, where discussions took source of the light and wisdom is so immense and infinite that nobody can formulate it and tum it into areligion orphilosophy. They all ! ,g fall short."

D- And how can one contact this force? know their own reli- !. "First, everyone must g gion," Saraydarian responds, "but must go deeper into the meaning of the religion and try to actualize it. You have to practice it. To do so you have to meditate. Meditation is assimilation of the light in the principles. And eventually, the differences disappear, because you are dealing with the source. "If you study deeper and you pass the jungles that they have created in the reli- gions," he continues, "you will see that they are all telling the same thing. Actually, the infinity in you is neitherbomnordies,neither incamates nor disincarnates. It's your body that dies. You etemallY arel "In my essence, I believe that the only reality is endlessness. That's why man is so beautifut, because he is not condemned to death after he leaves his body. He is an endless something, an expanding dynamism. That's whatmakes mereally happy thatman has no limitations. Any man who puts limita- tions on himself is committing suicide. There is always possibility and opportunity and challenge to expand. Expansion is the real- ization of the treasures hidden within you." But can this be known without an enor- Torkom Saraydarian-assimilating the higher light mous leap of faith? "That's why I have written 4l books and I have another maybe Saraydarian's latest and 34th book. In it, he place on the many mysteries of life-thereal 80 volumes to publish." weaves a fabulous web of ideas, exercises relationship of man to man and man, to the Indeed, Saraydarian has published 34 and visualizations, until the open-minded group, and the group to the nation and hu- major books and 15 booklets, some of which reader comes to realize what Saraydarian manity. have been translated into German, Spanish, calls "the divinity breathing within him, Charged up with these holistic ideas, Greekandotherlanguages. His seminal works within others, and within all of Cosmos in Saraydarian left Turkey with some teachers include Scienc e of B e c oming O neself (1969), Space." and friends ofhis fattrer, and began his quest and Science of Medilation (1971), which It is ironic that this book, which contains for knowledge in monasteries, caves and teaches how to approach life from multiple time-tested, holistic healing methods from temples of secretbrotherhoods in the Farand alagles. The Flame of the Heart, the lucid all major civilizations, has been synthesized MiddleEast. Purpose of Life, and the matter-of-fact Psy- by this Armenian who was born in the Vilayet He also studied in the Armenian semi- chology of Cooperation and Group Con- of Sivas during the hellish years following nary in Jerusalem, and subsequently served sciousness could be considered some of his the Armenian deportations and massacres of in the Armenian Church as a minister for five most accessible books. 1915. Coming from that darkness where years. "I think the Armenian Church is a very In the latter he writes: "Members of a

38 AIM, May 1992 group must have a common goal. Five fac- TIGRANTHEGREAT tors are involved in this: They Know them- selves; They know each other; They know Sterling Silver Key Holder what the common goal is; They know how to This is a reproduction of an original reach that goal; and They support, silver coin, which encour- wascirculatedduringthe age, enthuse each other to reach that goal.,' reign of Tigran ll (95-55 B.C.), . His more esoteric works include Orfter 9n9 of the greatest Armenian kings of the first century Worlds, Cosmic Shocks,atd,the l, I 20- page, B.C. Under his rule, he made Armenia a strong and two-volume Psyche and psychism. These powerful empire. The coin has been reproduced in solid books offer the adventurous reader concep- sterling silver and made into key tions of spectacular scope a holder. and depth, if he You can make a quantum leap of faith and fuse can own this object of Armenian history and with the notion "Energy follows rhoughr." culture for only $67.95. This key holder comes with a . InPsyche and Psychism,forexarnple, he 30-day full money refund if you are not completely shows the reader how to build a mental satisfied. U.S. dollars only. antenna, a rainbow bridge, which will con_ nect him to the highest heavens ofinvention. r- -l He shows ways to hamess the elusive muses, ORDER FORM and to illustrate the point, he mentions Gomidas Vartabed, who would sit at the Please sendme,keyholde(s). I enclose_perpiece plus g2.50 piano and the perfectly formed melodies shipping and handling in the U.S.A. and 94.5b for CaniOa. NewYork residents would stream forth into his inner ear from the addB 1/4%salestax. Total amountenclosed higherworlds. $ check/money order to: Although Saraydarian's -.Send head is often in VANDIAN DESIGNSCO. thehigherworlds,hisfeetarefirmly grounded P.O.BOX6s0 in the daily sorrows of our phnJt. When NewYork, NY 10185-0045 asked what practical advantages could any of Name the knowledge bring when we have all ihis gfobal pollution and starvation, *I he responds: Address think that all the misery, suffering ana pain are produced and manufactured by people City/State/Zip who are body-bound, emotion-bounO, s6f- : pleaseallow/t6weokstordellyery ! bound and mind-bound, self-centered, self- L-- __J interested, money-centered, property-cen- tered. ARlIlEt'[At{ IEEVIS|oil pRoDucnoils, tl{c Efe "So, the practical results ofttris path that I talk about is that it takes you oui of your limitation and self-centeredness and makes you acenterofhope. You think abouta//, and you don't have conflict with me, because I am you and you are me. And this is in all religions. But nobody practices it. "But you must realize that you yourself are a cell in your the body of the planet. TheVosbikian Bdnd interest lies in the global interest. There is no performing separation. Thus, nations are the organs of ten of their all time greatest hit the planet, yet they are fighting against each songs. Volume4. other and killing the planet." Enjoy the big sound of the fabulous piece Yet, Saraydarian remains i 0 optimistic. tn Vosbikian band. Perfect for partieal his book The Year 2000 & After,he writes: Greatforthe car! "To the world take 9lange will only ten Ihmlyhrdgpendenrvoriely ;riiy;, Order extra for family and f riends years if all nations cooperate and use their progromin theworld wealth for the rehabilitation Also of the world.', l(S0 - IV lnilernotiorul(Lml available: Volumes 1, 2 and 3. Torkom Saraydarian's work offers a po- tent system of marshalling human resourCes, To order, please make yor, r;;;l t+,rm0.l!if0z4qu order payableoavable "h""k I that we may be ready for the challenges of to: 1o The Vosbikian Band the age. To be ready means to be in contact l*818fiEz5350 g Tanner St. with our natural selves, which he describes Haddonfield, NJ 08033 thus inN 13645 Vonowen Street ew Dimensions in H ealing:,, After a Tel (609) a29-0800 (o good night's sleep, you must awaken with a Von l{uys, 91405 smile your on face, joy in your heart, and Please send me tapes(s) @ $B.00each optimism and vision in your mind. your A"Llt. (Shipping & handling inctuded) physical body will be energetic, your emo- ARINtlfl Ail fittytstoil ]tEIwoRt( tions magnetic, your mental body creative, your soul striving." channel

. Leon Fermanian ls a fielane wrlter (F. Volumes requesled; ba*d ln Los Angeles. KSChTV fjVoll trVol2 !Vot3 ! vot4 Lo, Ange/6, AIM, May 192 Young Artsakh Leader Dea il Al Adopts Five Artur Mkrtchian, chairman of the Gondemned Nagorno-KarabakhPar- liament, was shot dead Armenians home in at his human rights group Stepanakert April 14. The intemational launched an urgent Immediately after the Amnesty Intemational campaign last month for five con- shooting, the Armenian action in Azerbaijan. Parliament called an demned Armenians Convicted of murdering three Azeri sol- emergency session to in- diers and an Azeijoumalist in Nagomo- vestigate the incident, but last year are Hrachik Petrmian, reports of Karabakh so far neither Mkrtchian, nor Gagik Harutyunian, Arno accidental shooting Mangasarian and Garnik assassination have been lviia confirmed. Arustamian. requests tohave the sentence Mkrrchian,33,ledthe Appeal and although alldeath Armenian enclave's postponed were denied, have been stayed until May 2. drive for independence ientences Their lawyen werc not present at the ftial. after being elected pesi- 'Anyime there's adeath sentence, Am- in JanuarY. dent voice trying to get people to Azerbaijan considered nesty raises its get a stay ofexecution; in him an obstacle to the object to it and to that ttp rial upcoming meeting in thii instance, we're concemed probably was not fair," says Miriam Elahi, a Minst of the Conference on Security and betwepn Karabakh and Azerbaijan...We have govemment program officer for Amnesry. Cooperation in Europe. Azerbaijan denied no demands of tt e Azerbaijani leadership a number of different sources allegations of assassination. save for one-thc recognition of the inde- Apparently which is ap- In an interview in the March issue of pendenceof Karat akh,"he said. Whenasked reported the case to Amnesty, presidentof Azerbaijan AIM, Mkrtchian said his main message to how long Armenit ns could "hold on" during pealing to ttre acting to commute the death sentences. the world was that Karabakh was struggling thebloody strife,h :replied: "Life will show." named london-based Amnesty Intemational's for the freedom, independence and safety of The Karabal:h Parliament campaigns adopt political its population. He argued ttrat the media Mkrrchian's depu y, Georgy Petrosian, as a Urgent Action is critical, and for wrongly interprets the situation as an temporary replace ment. A three-day mourn- priioners whose situation world public opinion and pressure interethnic conflict or a dispute befween the ing period was d:clared immediately after whom was survived by his would result in a postponed or overtumed states of Armeniaand Azerbaijan. "If wecan hii death; Mkrtcl dan I speak about a conflict, then it is a conflict wifeandtwochilt ren. I verdict.

formalities, we have an office, some staff, so Seeking Spaee we can start work. There were two options: eitherto send people here for a short time and for lr.S. Embassy start or wait for the permanent staff to be organized. But that could have taken a whole The charg6d'affaires oftheUnited States year." embassy in Armenia is busy house-hunting Mann, who is married and has two chil- in Yerevan at the moment-thoughhe does dren, lists his family as his principal hobby. not plan to stay there. Stephen Mann, 40, He will be in Armenia until the ambassador who established the American diplomatic and a permanent staff take over. Humanitar- presence on the eighth floor of the llrazdan ian aid is among the embassy's top priorities, Hotel in February, is searching out a perma- as is the long-term goal ofbuilding economic nent home for the embassy as his first prior- ties, says Mann. ity. "We want to assist the development of The Armenian govemment has offered free-market relations. Our country is a good several to choose from and Mann is sizing example of the success of acapitalist system, each one up to select the most suitable forthe and we want to support its development embassy's needs. He is also establishing his here," he says. "We would like to help those contacts with Armenian society' "We have Americans who want to make investrnents already begun relations with the leaders of here and to support the marketing of Ameri- the republic and this will continue. We are can products." goingtoestablishcontacts in general society' Witt ttre embassy also issue visas? "We tl.S. Charg6 d'Al hlres Stephen Mann and we will get closely acquainted with the are going to issue visas for temporary visits situation in Armenia. an embassy here. ' and business rips. Emigration visas will be "The United States wanted to open an This is why th: embassy has begun life at handled by the Moscow embassy for the time embassy ils soon as possible. It was a great the Flrazdan Hot l. "Don't let that fact con- being," Mann says. for us to recognize the independence fuse you-this ir a fully official embassy," honor 4aYane Hambartzoumian of Armeniaandtobe thefirstcountry tohave says Mann. "We lon't pay much attention to

40 F,frll,May 1992 UN's Sevan Brokers Peace in Afghanistan

Cypriot-Armenian Benon Sevan was al the center of events last month in Kabul, where a loose coalition of army generals and rebel militia leaders joined to oust the gov- emment of Afghan President Najibullah. As United Nations special envoy ro Atghani- stan, Sevan accompanied the toppled presi- dent to the airport until they were stoppecl by rebel militiamen. Sevan remained in close ;l -1,# contact with Najibullah within rhe UN com- '1i.'\ -t pound where the pro-Moscow Communist !-: *f dictator was conflned. Sevan pressed for the rebel (moujahedeen) forces to "shelve their versity, Sevan has been a respected offlcial release ol the deposed president, and urged guns " and work together to fbrm a coalition fbrthc UN for 27 years. The Soviets installed meetings between the army generals and govemment. An alumnus olColumbia Uni- Najibullah as president six years ago. I

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AIM. May 1992 4l A Hitchhiker'scuide toYetevan

ARTASHES EilIN

erevan has always been a tough place for visiting aliens. The language gap is being bridged in many ways and by many. After seeing the Matenadaran manuscripts and perhaps Although Russian still has a few strongholds in the executive branches the National Art Gallery (for a Diaspora Armenian, also of the govemment and in what remains of the Communist aristocracy, visiting the relatives or those it is gradually yielding its status to English claiming to be relatives) there was not as a means of extemal communication. A much to do around. Reeking public host ofnew educational institutions, both restrooms would quickly dull the enthusi- state and private, assist in this peaceful asm of those exploring the city on their takeover. The American University of Ar- own. For tourists with strong bladders, menia is in the front ranks, successfully there was the annoying lack oftravel aids, implementing TOEFL mentality among pres- absence of proper street signs and, above high school graduates by its mere all, the language gap. Asking for direc- ence. Satellite television is another expo- tions was of little or no use, as the locals nent: the standard for good English accent never think of directions in the familiar is now set by Bemard (Baghdad) Shaw Western terms of north or east; in any rather than the school's class of'29. case, there wouldn't be a map handy. But most ardentexplorers ofthe lexical Restaurant service in those days left riches and inexhaustible flexibility of the much to be desired, and the substandard English language in Yerevan neither as- hotel rooms were beyond any criticism. pire to enroll in the AUA nor tune in daily Incessant surveillance by the KGB was to CNN Intemational. They represent the quite vexing for those who developed an emerging class of private shopkeepers- idiosyncrasy for bugged phone lines or long neglected but now proudly flashing cared to notice the plainclothes agents. their business signs in presumably Latin The possibility for sharing your initial characters. The signs range from straight- sentiments with the loved ones back home forward Gayane or Arto's Second-hand bordered on the impossible, as communi- Shop to hazy Mirage (pineapples 3,000 (latest cation with the outside world was close to rubles apiece) or World Today nonexistent. The only official bank in fashions). While Clofh is decipherable town offered a mere 0.55 ruble for one both in spelling and semantic, and you can dollar, and black market exchange, al- reasonably expect to purchase some sou- though a far better deal, sounded scary venirs in Prezents, still Razmik's Saloon is and insecure. The few trivial souvenirs by no means a replica of a Wild West bar, worth taking home instantly evoked ap- but a peaceful barber shop. A Firm Shop prehension fortheir secure passage through may prove to be a flimsy tin construction, the notorious Moscow customs. Still, all Hall of Commerce is an aggrandizedover- this was fairly compensated by the exces- statement, and the merchandise at Indus- sive warmth and hospitality extended to trial Goods can only be identified by trial visitors virtually everywhere, even by to- and error. tal strangers in the streets. Although numerous Video Rent Places These days life in Yerevan has eased offer a wide selection of pirated films of an up on foreigners a little, and laws of explicitly erotic nature, the sexual revolu- conservation suggest that they might be tion hasn't gone too far in Yerevan. Cus- treatedwithless sycophancy. Don'tworry tomers will be greatly disappointed if they yet-any odar in independent Armenia mistake Sendwitches for an escort service will still get preferential treatment any- with a touch of black magic, or look in the where from bread queues or ticket reservations to access to the AT&T Maniac for S&M accessories. The latter is simply a crude transcrip- satellite link! tion of the Armenian word for necklace. havetobe reminded: Quite a few private and not-so-private banks in Yerevan now Still, visitors with an Italian background will compete for your every cent, scores of new restaurants offer quality aCazzino in Yerevan is most definitely a gambling lounge. food with attempts at introducing diversity, there are toll restrooms And finally, don't forget to buy a couple of postcards on your last that are clean, and even Cadillac hearses are available for rent. Direct day, because, as the vendorpromises in writing, "Pictures of Yerevan flights link Yerevan with a couple of Westem and Eastern capitals, will jog yours memory" when you are backhome. and the KGB seems to have dematerialized or at least become less of Almost forgot: hitchhiking in Yerevan is not free! a nuisance. (I am not sure about the phone bugging-it would be Afiashes Emin is a writer, translator and the director ol the unwise to dump all the sophisticated equipment.) William Saroyan Center ot Yerevan State University.

AIM, May 1992 To LufthanSo, therc's no such thing as a forcign country.

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