G. Tsereteli Institute of Oriental Studies of the Ilia State University Observatory of the Caucasus/French Institute for Anatolian Studies
International Conference
LOOKING BACK AND AHEAD: AN INSIGHT INTO THE IRANIAN INFLUENCE IN THE CAUCASUS
Dedicated to the 110th Anniversary of the Founder of the Institute of Oriental Studies Academician Giorgi Tsereteli
Programme and Abstracts
Tbilisi, October 1-2, 2014
International Conference
Looking Back and Ahead: An Insight Into the Iranian Influence in the Caucasus
Dedicated to the 110th Anniversary of the Founder of the Institute of Oriental Studies Academician Giorgi Tsereteli
Tbilisi, October 1-2, 2014
Organizers:
G. Tsereteli Institute of Oriental Studies of the Ilia State University Observatory of the Caucasus/French Institute for Anatolian Studies-Istanbul
Organizational Committee:
Adeline Braux, George Sanikidze
With the Support of
Rustaveli National Scientific Foundation French Institute of Anatolian Studies/Observatory of the Caucasus (Baku) Institut français de Géorgie Cultural Department of the Embassy of Iran in Georgia Service de coopération et d'action culturelle de l'ambassade de France en Arménie Service de coopération et d'action culturelle de l'ambassade de France en Iran
Address: 1, Acad. G. Tsereteli St., Ilia State University, Building G, Hall 106 Programme October 1
10.00-12.30 Chair: George Sanikidze Welcome Addresses Academician Thomas V. Gamkrelidze – Head of the Scientific Council of the G. Tsereteli Institute of Oriental Studies Giga Zedania – Rector of Ilia State University
Tea Shurgaia – The Reception of Persian Literature by Georgian Translators: Tendencies, Challenges, Perspectives (20th -21th c.) Irina Koshoridze - Oriental Buildings in the Caucasus (18th-19th c.) Hossein Razavi Borqei - The First Persian Language Medical Textbook in Tbilisi Grigol Beradze – From Tabriz to Tiflis with an Easel in Hand: On Some Iranian Artists Who Studied in Tbilisi (Late 19th – Early 20th c.)
12.30-13.30 – Lunch 13.30-15.30 Chair: Grigol Beradze Timirlan Aytberov – Dagestani Military Campaigns of Nadir Shah in Dagestani Arabic Sources Irina Natchkebia – The Role of Eastern Georgia in Napoleon’s Persian Policy in Early 19th Century (According to French Archives) Ali Dehbashi – Tbilisi in Persian Itineraries and Through Enlightened Iranians Marina Alexidze – Members of Qajar Family in Tbilisi 15.30-16.00 - Coffee-break
16.00-18.00 Chair: Clément Therme Florence Hellot-Bellier – The Attraction of Georgia for Christian Assyro-Chaldeans of Iran Manana Kvachadze – Tats in Georgia: One Hundred Years of Migration and Settlement Solmaz Tohidi-Rustamova - The Iranian Community in Azerbaijan: A Historical Insight and New Steps in Its Formation Babak Rezvani - Fereydani Georgian Ethnic identity: Emic Coherence, Hegemonic and non-Hegemonic representations of Identity Nikoloz Nakhutsrishvili – Iranians in Post-Soviet Georgia
19.00 -21.00 Reception (For participants of the Conference) October 2
10.00-13.00 Chair: Adeline Braux, Head of the Observatory of the Caucasus (Baku) Bernard Hourcade – The Islamic Republic of Iran and the Caucasus: Looking for Partners and /or Buffer Zones Rudik F. Yaralyan - Ethnopolitical Aspects of Azeri-Kurdish Relations in the Framework of Nowadays’ Regional Developments Clément Therme - Iranian Foreign Policy Towards the South Caucasus: Between Revolutionary Ideals and Realpolitik Ceyhun Mahmudlu - The Role of Iran in the Peace-Building Process in Nagorno Karabakh Conflict George Sanikidze – Iran and Georgia: Challenges for regional Policy in the 21st c.
13.00-14.00 – Lunch (For participants of the Conference)
15.00-18.00 A guided tour of the collection of Iranian art in the Georgian Museum of Fine Arts (For participants of the Conference)
19.00 Dinner (For participants of the Conference)
October 3 Excursion (optional) Summaries
Marina ALEXIDZE
MEMBERS OF THE QAJAR FAMILY IN TBILISI
Tbilisi became the place of refuge for several Persian political exiles. The most famous among them was the grandson of Fath-Ali Shah and brother of Mohammad Shah, Prince Bahman Mirzā, who was the governor of Tabriz and administrator of the South Azarbaijan. In 1848, he was involved in an abortive plot against his brother and, fearing for his life, left Iran with his 16 wives and 64 children for the Russian Empire. He settled in Tbilisi where the spent three years. In 1851, he moved to Shusha and died there in 1884. However, many of his descendants stayed in Tbilisi. They received European education in the best universities of the Russian Empire and gradually became fully integrated into the Tbilisi society. In the second half of nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, this branch of the Qajar family was a small but prominent part of the society of the city. Their residences in Tbilisi at 17 and 19 Gorgasali Street and 14/21 Qazbegi St reet are still known as the Qajars’ houses.
Timirlan AYTBEROV
DAGESTANI MILITARY CAMPAIGNS OF NADIR SHAH IN DAGESTANI ARABIC SOURCES
1) Military campaigns Nadir Afshar and his generals, who were held in the areas of aboriginal settlement of ethnic Dagestani (RD, AR) were reflected in the historical sources, the Dagestani composed in Arabic. This is, firstly, a very valuable memorabilia (chronographic) recording the accession of Iranian troops on certain Dagestani territory, in certain localities. Secondly, records and small volume historical descriptions of battles that took place between the Iranians and the Dagestani. Third, private letters and official character. Fourth, writing stories about the mountain of individual contemporaries Nadir, belonged to the Dagestani Sunni religious leaders - in the context of their participation in the events of 1734-1742 years. 2) Military campaigns 1734 and 1735's, as a relatively successful for the Iranians got decent lighting in Persian, Georgian and other sources of the XVIII century. Dagestani sources, written in Arabic, given here, however, valuable additions and clarifications. Identifies specific ways in which Iranian forces were, and called the place of fights between them and the Dagestani. About the campaign Iranian forces against the Transcaucasian Avars, who conducted (1738) Ibrahim Khan Afshar, brother of Nadir Shah, well described by Georgians, Persians (Muhammad Kazim) and Dagestani sources provide valuable corrections and additions. For example, they describe exactly the way Ibrahim Khan, on Zakatalsky area (AR). The battle between him and the Avars, and finally, indicate exactly the place of his death. There is an eyewitness to this event. About hostilities Nadir Shah in Dagestan, which took place in 1742, Dagestan sources provide valuable additions to what we already know from the Iranian authors of the XVIII century. The way the Shah in the mountains and foothills, space battles and their results. Moreover, they point out very objectively - without explicitly boasting and attempts humiliation Iranians. 3) During a military campaign in Dagestan, carried out by Nadir Shah in 1741, it has not been foreigners (for example Russian), and ended this campaign of the Iranian army defeat. For this reason, in the most prestigious works of XVIII-XX centuries. Written in the East and in Europe about the deeds of Nadir Shah, regarding title campaign in Dagestan, said very little, and in the most general terms. Dagestani chronicles, official letters and other sources, written in the XVIII century. Allowed me to make such a clear description of the campaign and Nadir Shah in Dagestan in 1741, which ended in his defeat. 4) After the campaign of Nadir Shah in Dagestan, undertaken in the following 1742, when Dagestan decided to give him the opportunity to go back without the express shame, Iran's policy has been changed. Nadir Shah, according Dagestani sources, invite Dagestani military leaders at the ceremony, held in the South Caucasus. Part of Dagestan took these invitations and gifts, but most of the Avars and refused to continue the war - mainly on the territory of Georgia. 5) Camping Nadir Shah in Dagestan, although devastated by the time of the Dagestani land and caused terrible famine, but they contributed to the development in Dagestani, especially among the Avars, interest in the native language (religious and secular poetry), and native history. They have increased self-esteem, they were even more respect and fear their neighbors in the Caucasus. Dagestanis XVIII century, especially the 2nd half of it, as if turned to the Swiss South Caucasus, ie mercenaries, who fight for anyone. This situation persisted until the beginning of the XIX century, when Russian military force established in the Caucasus.
Grigol BERADZE
FROM TABRIZ TO TIFLIS WITH AN EASEL IN HAND: ON SOME IRANIAN ARTISTS WHO STUDIED IN TBILISI (LATE 19TH - EARLY 20TH CENT.)
The paper discusses the ‘Tbilisi period’ in the biography of three representatives of the Arzhangi family of artists from Tabriz (Iran). Reference is to Sayyed Ebrahim Aqa Mir (he was one of the court painters of the Qajar Crown Prince Mozaffar ad-Din Mirza), and his sons – Sayyed Hosayn (known as Hosayn Mir Mosavvar Arzhangi) and Sayyed ‘Abbas (known as ‘Abbas Rassam Arzhangi). According to the memoirs, biographical notices and other written sources, the above three artists acquired their first skills in traditional Iranian painting and calligraphy in Tabriz, from where they travelled to Southern Caucasus several times, visiting Baku and Tbilisi. In the city of Tbilisi (then Tiflis) they spent a couple of years (Sayyed Ebrahim Aqa Mir in the 1880s-1890s, Sayyed Hosayn in the early 1900s, and Sayyed ‘Abbas in the 1910s), studying there the principles, methods and techniques of European academic painting. After finishing their ‘Transcaucasian study tour’, they travelled from Tbilisi to Moscow I n order to continue their art studies and further perfect the newly acquired experience in academic painting. The years of study in Moscow and Tbilisi played an exceptionally positive and important role in the professional growth and creative development of the above-named Iranian artists and considerably broadened the thematic cycle of their works Particular attention in the paper is paid to the biography and creative work of ‘Abbas Rassam Arzhangi (1892-1975), one of the most prominent Iranian artists, calligraphers and sculptors of the 20th century, several examples of whose early paintings are preserved in Tbilisi, in the Oriental collection of the Shalva Amiranashvili Museum of Fine Arts (Georgian National Museum). The presentation is accompanied by a set of illustrative slides.
Ali DEHBASHI
TBILISI IN PERSIAN ITINERARIES AND THROUGH ENLIGHTENED IRANIANS
“Tbilisi Itinerary” has been published after over one hundred years in Tehran which somehow emphasizes the historical and cultural relationship between these two cities and is a symbolic reminder of such a relationship. Iranians reported their first encounter with Western and modernized culture through their itineraries about two hundred years ago. Authors of such Itineraries reflected their travels to the modern cities and narrated the progression and new civilization in their writings and these narrations were so attractive and glamorous for Iranians. These authors, who enjoyed their new style of writing, idealized their observations and descriptions and managed to picture an utopia in Iranian minds which was called “Farang (West) and Farangstan (Western)”.This utopia, same as renaissance for Europeans, became an incentive and stimulant for Iranians to enter into the new world of thought and history and endowed the traditional and fatalist Iran with a strange hope and dynamism. It paved the way to reach the new age. Tbilisi Itinerary, among Iranian Itineraries written about unknown countries, is a narration of cities and a land which is prosperous. A land enjoys safety discipline and law. It experiences a constant progress .There are hospitals, schools both for boys and girls and shows a free society which is charming for its narrator, that is , Mirza Taghikhan Kashani who is a physician and an eminent scholar, He is missioned by Naserdin Shah to go to Alexander II , Russian Czar and his son , accompanied by a delegation, This small Itinerary is a report depicting that era. Florence HELLOT-BELLIER
THE ATTRACTION OF GEORGIA FOR CHRISTIAN ASSYRO-CHALDEANS OF IRAN
The Church of the East inappropriately designated as “Nestorian Church” is regarded as the Iranian Church, because it was established in the Sasanian Empire (224-651) which stretched over East and West Zagros mountains, particularly over the province of Mesopotamia, the cradle of the Assyrian Empire. In 1552, the Church of the East underwent a schism which resulted in the creation of the Chaldean Church. In the nineteenth century, the treaty of Turkmanchai treaty signed in 1828 opened the Northern provinces of Iran to Russian interference and the Caucasian provinces attracted the Azerbaijan’s Iranians, including the Iranians of the Chaldean Church and the Church of the East. The Christian immigrants to the Caucasus founded new villages where their descendants lived up till now. The latter retain the memory of their ancient history, while the architecture of the Tbilissi’s Chaldean church Mar-Shimun-Bar-Sabbae takes us back to very ancient Iranian and Assyrian history.
Bernard HOURCADE
THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN AND THE CAUCASUS: LOOKING FOR PARTNERS AND /OR BUFFER ZONES
Since its foundation as a modern state in the XVIth c., Iran is scared by being surrounded by hostile forces. The British, Ottoman and Russian empires of XIXth c. do not exist any longer, but today the Islamic Republic's main policy remains “ Nor East nor West” and to have stable/neutral relations with its neighbours (Russia, Arab states) and international partners (USA, EU). To challenge the regional or international powers Iran has always favoured the existence of buffer zones or buffer states, or “proxies”, around the Iranian territory. The Islamic Republic is still looking for regional (or international) partners able to take part in the “containment” of the majors regional/international powers (Hezbollah, Syria, Venezuela, North Korea...). The Caucasus states (Armenia, Azerbayjan, Georgia) have a key role in this policy because of their historical and cultural links with Iran/Persia, and their location facing Russia and also Turkey and European Union. After the independence of these states, Iran tries to build rational political economic relations, but the old idea of considering these regions only as buffer zones remains sometimes. Irina KOSHORIDZE
ORIENTAL BUILDINGS IN THE CAUCASUS (18TH-19TH CENTURIES)
The paper explores the Oriental palaces built in Caucasus during 18th -19th centuries. There were some important secular buildings in various parts of the South Caucasus which show the influence of Iranian and Ottoman cultural trends mixed with the local traditions. One of the most important examples of this kind of monuments is the Palace of Georgian king Erekle II in Telavi. It has close parallels with Iranian Palaces of the same period. The Palace has a ground level large columned porch used as main audience hall, called talar, with one side open to the exterior and supported with columns. The walls were decorated with glass, stucco relief and paintings. The Erekle palace have the same features but also reflected the local traditions -the main audience hall was indoors and outdoors talar space was narrower then in Iranian Palaces. Another important survived example of the palace is Sheki Khans Palace in Azerbaijan. It was built in 1770 is and richly decorated with mural paintings, shebeke glass and tile decorations. It`s only fully survived example of such kind of architecture. After the annexation of Georgia by Russian Empire and Russian-Iranian wars many rich Iranians moved to Caucasus because of the political reasons. One of the eminent figures between them was the religious leader (Mujtahid) of Tabriz Muslims. He was granted the land in Tiflis where he built the palace and garden which till today kept the mane of the old owner (Mushtaidi). The newly discovered materials in the Museum of Folks and Applied arts in Tbilisi helped us to reconstruct some parts of that palace -10 Musharabi (shebeke) windows, door and mosaics shows the connections with the Iranian art as well as the shebeke traditions which are connected with the Sheki palace craftsmanship. In the same period after the destruction of Qajar`s residence in Erevan (1829 ) in 1850ies the Russian officials rebuilt and repainted Erevan Sardar Palace - the former residence of Qajar rulers. There were changed some details in architecture but the main layout and decorations of the palace followed the old iconographic compositions but were executed by the local artist Mirza kadim Erivani. In the mid 19th c. Tbilisi became the capital of Caucasia gubernia and the centre of the Russian Orient. The municipal and other secular buildings were constructed according to Russian and European architectural plans but their interiors where decorated in Moorish style. The first building of this kind was an opera house called Caravanserai. It was built in 1850 by Italian architect Skudieri. The building was constructed in Italian Palace style but the interiors of the main concert hall were painted by Russian artist Gagarin in Moorish style. Another good example of this of this style is the Palace of the governor of the Caucasia in Tbilisi, which was renovated in 1870 by German architect Otto Simonson in Renaissance style. The main hall, The Mirror Hall was decorated in Oriental Style with stucco and glass decorations like the palaces of Iranian Rulers. In 1880, the Russian Empire officially announced the Oriental Exotic style as the major style for the municipal buildings of the town. Two buildings from this period still survive - the Opera house and the municipal building. Both the facades and interiors of the buildings are designed in Oriental Exotic style. The facades have tow colors of limestone (dark red and yellow), stone carvings with different floral motifs very similar to Spain Moorish architecture. The style of Georgian local architecture in these buildings is totally absent. In 1890ies, the style in architecture changed again. Finally traditional Georgian architectural features were mixed with the European, Russian and oriental exotic style in a thoughtful cultural architectural manner. In the secular buildings s wooden balconies (Firuza residence) and open arched galleries (Tarkhan Mouravi residence) were carefully interwoven with previous styles. These designs became the foundation for late Georgian commercial and residential architecture.
Manana KVACHADZE
TATS IN GEORGIA: ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF MIGRATION AND SETTLEMENT
In 1910-20s different Muslim ethnic groups from the neighboring regions of Iran and South Caucasus started to inhabit the territory of East Georgia with the purpose of earning. One of them was tati-speaking ethnographic group of Iranian origin migrated from village Lihij of Shirvan. The process of migration continued in the Soviet period, being most intense in 1930-40s. Later-since 1960s one part of these people settled down in Gombori village, others settled in the districts of Tetritskaro, Marneuli and Bolnisi in different times. Migrants from Lahij are referred to as "Layijis" based on their endonym. Whereas according to the tradition of Turkic-speaking world the term "Tat" is used to denote representatives of ethnic group hailing from Iran, regardless of their ethnic and linguistic belongings. The Tats living in Georgia retain their identity in the multiethnic environment while trying to share the lifestyle of the local population and engage in process of civil integration. From 1980s I research the culture and speech of the Muslim ethnic groups of Gombori. The materials and analysis of the fieldworks show interesting pictures of the migration processes, demographic state, linguistic orientation and pure linguistic trends.
Ceyhun MAHMUDLU
THE ROLE OF IRAN IN THE PEACE BUILDING PROCESS IN NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT
Iran, neighboring country of the region is interested in the solution of the conflict by peace and announced her intention to contribute her efforts for the resolution process. Indeed, Iran was one of the first countries initiated peace talks between the conflicting parties. Officially recognizing territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, Iran supports the solution of the conflict within the frame of this principle. Generally, Iran doesn’t recognize the legitimacy of territorial claims based on historical arguments since these arguments may lead endless prolongation of the conflicts. NKC from its beginning became one of the main challenges for Iran’s foreign and domestic policy. Since, it was threat to the national security of this country. In March 1992, Iran initiated mediation role in Tehran and invited the delegations from Azerbaijan and Armenia for the negotiations of the issues such as: temporary ceasefire agreement; lifting of blockade from Armenia; exchange of prisoners and deployment of observers. As a result of the meeting, on 15 March the declaration on the resolution of the conflict was signed and it was agreed a seven day ceasefire as an initial step in the resolution process. Unfortunately, the mediation process initiated by Iran failed- the war did not stop but intensified and resulted with the occupation of Shusha the city in NK predominantly populated by Azerbaijanis. Indeed, the continuation of Armenian aggression over Azerbaijani territories regardless of Tehran declaration hampered Iran’s mediation efforts in the conflict. Besides, government changes in Azerbaijan in June 1992 also affected the exclusion of Iran from the mediation process. The new government of Azerbaijan rejected Iran’s any roles in the resolution of the conflict. In the summer of 1993, as a result of Armenian occupation of south and east parts of Karabakh thousands of Azerbaijani refugees crossed Aras River and arrived in Iran. But Iran didn’t want to host them for a long period of time that’s why didn’t settle refugee camp in its territories. Instead, the refugee camp was established in Azerbaijan after the Azerbaijani refugees were moved back to their country. In September 1993, when Armenia spread the aggression policy over Nakhichivan, Iran tried to prevent it through sending the troops to cross the border in order to secure “jointly managed” dams over Aras river. The Iranian intervention resulted with the guaranty given by Armenian officials about no any military operation in Nakhichivan. It should be expected that during the war and after the ceasefire as Turkey, Iran also would support Azerbaijani position in NKC, since the number of common values, such as religion, close traditions, history and ethnic kin living in both of the countries. However, Iran improved its relations with Armenia and became one of the main trading partners of this country. According to the statistics, in 2010 Iran was fourth trade partner of Armenia. Besides, basic demands of Karabakh Armenians are also supported by Iran. In fact, the strategic partnership with Iran became a way for Armenian to circumvent the economic embargo laid by Azerbaijan and Turkey. The resolution of the conflict is under the interest of Iran since the national security of this country required the stability in its neighbors. Therefore, from the initial stage of the conflict Iran tried to contribute its efforts for the resolution of the conflict. Despite the failure of the mediation initiated by this country the first ceasefire between the conflicting parties was signed as result of the Tehran Declaration. Despite the close relationships with Armenia, Iran recognizes territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and supports resolution of the conflict on the principles of territorial integrity of sovereign states. Irina NATCHKEBIA
THE ROLE OF EASTERN GEORGIA IN NAPOLEON’S PERSIAN POLICY IN EARLY 19TH CENTURY (ACCORDING TO FRENCH ARCHIVES)
At the turn of the 19th century in order to include Persia in the plan of the Indian expedition Napoleon inserted the issue of Eastern Georgia which was annexed by Russia in 1801. This decision coincided with the preparation of the Third Coalition against France, and the first Russo-Persian war (June of 1804). With the object of clarification of this topic we introduce some documents preserved in. The main purpose of Napoleon’s envoys to Persia in 1805, Amédée Jaubert, and Alexandre Romieu was gathering of exact information about Persia. Their reports are kept the Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affaires. Among them especially important is the Draft of Franco-Persian Treaty composed in Warsaw in the April of 1807; which presided the Treaty concluded between France and Persia in Finkenstein on May 4, 1807. Formulation of the issue of Georgia given in the articles 3 and 4 of the Draft differs from the corresponding articles of the Finkenstein Alliance Treaty. In the context of Napoleon's oriental policy it was not accidental that information about Georgia published by Malte- Brun in March and April of 1807 in the Journal de l’Empire preceded concluding of Finkenshtein Treaty. Franco-Persian Alliance Treaty, which in fact was the first military and political agreement between European State and Persia at the beginning of the 19th century, attached to Georgia international importance. After concluding Treaty of Tilsit (1807) Georgia which was already included in the geopolitical space of the Russian Empire lost its importance for France, but still was important for Persia. The question of Georgia was of particular importance for Persia and to this fact testifies negotiations of the Plenipotentiary minister in Persia with the Teheran Court in 1808-1809. Among the Archival material there are interesting manuscripts about Georgia by Jean-François Rousseau - Consul in Baghdad, Pascal Fourcade - consul in Synop, and Guillaume-Antoine Olivier - envoy of the Directory to Agha Mohammad Khan. The kingdom of Kartli and Kakheti is mentioned as a beautiful country under the governance of Persia, which in 1783 entered in the dominion of Russia. When Agha Mohammad Khan learned this information, he ruined the capital city of Georgia - Tiflis. The fact that the new ally of Georgia – Russia did not take part in this war, was assessed by Frenchman as the barbarian policy of Russia towards Georgia.
Nikoloz NAKHUTSRISHVILI
IRANIANS IN POST-SOVIET GEORGIA
After the collapse of the Soviet Union representatives of Iranian business gradually enter independent Georgia, the part of which established here. After the Rose Revolution under the new regulations facilitating launching of business, registration of firms, residency and naturalization – laid down to attract investments from overseas –the number of employed Iranians in Georgia has been increased. The process of settling of Iranian citizens in Georgia has been made intensified by the establishment of visa-free regime between Islamic Republic of Iran and Georgia on the ground of governmental agreement of the November 3. 2010, which was enforced in January 26 .2011. It is worthy to note that except for trade and economic activities, a certain part of Iranians entering Georgia became occupied in educational and cultural fields. Due to unilaterally suspension of abovementioned agreement in July 1. 2013, the tightening of the terms of residency permit and freezing of bank accounts for Iranians, triggered the process of immigration of Iranians from Georgia and it is in progress at present. It’s too difficult to make predictions what number of Iranians residing and employing in Georgia in recent years will be able to meet demands of The Law of Georgia on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons been enforced in September 1, 2014.
Hossein RAZAVI BORQEI
THE FIRST PERSIAN LANGUAGE MEDICAL TEXT BOOK IN TBILISI
The first Persian book in Tbilisi is written by kammal-uddin Hubaysh Teflisi in 12 century A.D. There is no evidence about his life, but it is supposed he was born in 480 (A.H) and died in 560 (A.H). Probably he migrated to Baghdad when Tbilisi was captured by Christians. Although he wrote in Arabic, he has many works in Persian in various fields, such as medicine, astrology and literature. The numbers of his book are about 19 and the most famous one, kamel-attabir, is about interpretation of dreams. The characterization of his books is simplicity and clarity as well as categorized information. This book is result of a sixteen-years attempt which was made to research analyze, correct and revise of Bayan-atteb, based on five remained manuscripts. Perhaps of his death, this medical book is not completed. The author eagerly has researched about his books for many years and hope to published other Teflisi's books in future.
Babak REZVANI
FEREYDANI GEORGIAN ETHNIC IDENTITY: EMIC COHERENCE, HEGEMONIC AND NON-HEGEMONIC REPRESENTATIONS OF IDENTITY
Fereydani Georgians are the only Georgian Iranian community in modern-day Iran that still speaks Georgian. They are Shi’ite Muslims, while the Georgians of Georgia are predominantly Orthodox Christians. After having introduced the Iranian Georgians in general and Fereydani Georgians in particular, this presentation deals with the mechanism by which Fereydani Georgians reaffirm their Shi’ite identity in harmony with the Iranian Georgians’ role in the Iranian history. After discussing the theoretical foundation of the relationship between history and ethnic (and national) self-identification, the article describes how Fereydani Georgian identity is represented today and how important historical events are narrated in order to create a cohesive and coherent image of self–an outcome that is called ‘emic coherence’. The particularity of one group’s peak-experiences as well as the ethno-political context have a role on ethnic self-identification and representation of their identity. The concept of historical peak experience is a concept introduced by the Dutch political geographer Gertjan Dijkink at the national level. This concept is introduced in this article on ethnic level. At the end, the non-hegemonic versions of representations of Fereydani Georgian self- identification will be discussed. Although the hegemonic version of this self-identification represents Fereydani Georgians as an integral part of a multi-ethnic, but nevertheless cohesive Iranian nation, and stress their role and contribution in the Iranian statehood and nationhood, there are non-hegemonic versions ranging from ethnic particularity to total denial of ethnic identity. It will be discussed why are these non-hegemonic self- identifications rather weakly developed and why the hegemonic version of their identity representation will be the dominant version for a long time to come.
Solmaz RUSTAMOVA-TOHIDI
THE IRANIAN COMMUNITY IN AZERBAIJAN: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE AND NEW STEPS IN ITS FORMATION
The presence of Iran in the Caucasus and Azerbaijan was realized not only in the political, economic and military spheres, as well as in the social sphere, i.e. by its population- citizens. The history of presence in this quality has begun since the beginning of the nineteenth century, from the Russian-Iranian wars. People, mainly Azerbaijani Turks which at first, in 1801 was the subject of the kingdom of Georgia, then under the Gulistan (1813) and Turkmenchay (1828) treaties subjected formally (de jure) to Iran, but actually (de facto)were independent feudal states, that in the past freely moved in these areas, with the amalgamation of Azerbaijani khanates to the Russian Empire divided as a single nation and became the subjects –citizens of Russia and Iran.Thus,“the Iranian” problem in the Caucasus–arrival of the Iranian citizens to Northern Azerbaijan which had already become the administrative area of Tsarist Russia and their long-term or permanent living there has the 200-year history. In different stages of this history arrival of Iranians getting mass character had a variety of economic, political and social reasons. This is a very broad topic; therefore, in this lecture my goal is to consider the emergence, place and nature of the Iranian community on the bases of historical stages. The arrival of the Iranians to Azerbaijan, exactly to say, to Russian Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijan People's Republic, Soviet Azerbaijan and the present day Republic of Azerbaijan can be divided into 5 stages. The first stage covers from the mid-nineteenth century, a 70 years period (until 1917) and according to the nature it can be characterized as “laborer migration” of the Iranians. The second stage covering from 1917 until April 1920, mainly the period of Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan characterizes an eventful period in the history of the Iranian community in the Caucasus, as an intense period for the split in the community on the basis of class composition. The third stage covers the period of 1921-1940 years, and is considered to be the most difficult period for recent results in the history of the Iranian community in Azerbaijan – to be completely destroyed and the abolishment of the community. The fourth stage covers the period of 1946-1990 years, and is characterized with the leaders and participants of the national liberation movement in Iran, with emergence and activities of new political “community” of the new Iranians as a result of immigration of the national and left-wing party members to Azerbaijan. The fifth stage covers from the 1990s up to present and is characterized by emergence of the community involving the Iranian citizens working within the framework of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Iran, in construction and industrial business, trade, cultural and educational activities and those studying in Azerbaijan. Since its inception, more than 100 years of existence in this or any other form, the “Iranian” community in Azerbaijan in the best case had the function of a “civil society” abroad and has not been able to influence on the state's political, social and cultural life in any way.
George SANIKIDZE
IRAN AND GEORGIA: CHALLENGES FOR REGIONAL POLICY IN THE 21ST C.
In the presentation is stressed thaht Iranian politics towards Georgia is conditioned by following circumstances: 1. Iran, as territorially satisfied state, has no pretension towards neighbors and among them Georgia. 2. On the example of Georgia Iran opposes the enlargement of US and NATO in the Region and supports Russian interests. 3. The construction of pipeline Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan doesn’t correspond to the Iranian economic interests and diminishes the importance of Iran as of the transit territory for Caspian oil and gas. 4. Iran is interested by Georgian transit routes towards Black Sea and Europe. 5. Iran gives attention to the Muslim population of Georgia. As in the case of Azerbaijan, Iran competes with Turkey. This especially concerns Azerbaijani population of Georgia. Western orientation of Georgia and its complicated relations with Russia doesn’t help undoubtedly to the rapprochement with Iran. Relations between two countries can be named as ‘Cold good-neighborhood’. During the summer of 2013 some articles were published in the US newspapers (Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post...), where it was stressed that Iran use Georgia for laundering money. As a result, Georgia cancelled visa-free regime with Iran and many Iranian companies were obliged to stop their activities. Many Iranian-Georgian business projects were cancelled. The decision of the Georgian government is quit surprising – after the presidential elections in Iran there some positive signs for the West in its relations with Iran. But at the same time there remained several suspicions concerning Iran’s complicated political system and political actors with different aims. So, today’s Georgian government position towards Iranians’ activities in the country could be perceived in the frame of the Western policy towards Iran.
Tea SHURGAIA
THE RECEPTION OF PERSIAN LITERATURE BY GEORGIAN TRANSLATORS: TENDENCIES, CHALLENGES, PERSPECTIVES (20TH -21TH C.)
Translation of Persian literature into Georgian has an about nine century long history. In the Middle Ages Georgian translators mostly used to translate, imitate or make Georgian versions of the heroic monuments, love stories, didactic literature and popular dastans. The presentation deals with the new stage of this long history – the period from the 20- ies of the 20th century up to date. At the start of this period appears increasing interest to the Persian lyric which was lackadasical in the Middle Ages. The era of popularity of Khayyam among Georgian translators starts at the same time. A. Chelidze (1933) was the first amateur translator to introduce the poetry of several Iranian poets of the classic period to Georgians. The rest of Georgian translators of all generations has a background of Iranian studies at the university level. Until the 50-th the modern Iranian literature, with few exceptions, remained unflavored by the Georgian translators. The growing popularity of the modern Iranian prose starts in the late 50-ies and in the 70-80-ies most of famous modern Iranian writers had been widely introduced in Georgian translations. During these decades Persian classic poetry holds its popularity due to the activity of high qualified translators like M. Todua, V. Kotetishvili and others. Persian traditional verse and poetry prevailed, only J. Ajiashvili’s translations (Nima Yushij, Siavash Kasrai, Mehdi Akhavan Sales, Nader Naderpour) can be named as an exception. Iranian folklore gains the attention of the Georgian translators from the 60-ies. Georgian iranologists specialized in Old and Middle Iranian languages had published their translations from these languages (G. Akhvlediani, M. Andronikashvili, T. Chkheidze, M. Sakhokia). After the collapse of the Soviet Union and Georgia’s regaining of independence new tendencies in translating Persian literature into Georgian have appeared. Nowadays modern Iranian poets and writers are more in favor. Domination of the classic Persian literature decreases but it is still kept among the elder generation of the Georgian translators. Considering these and some other factors two periods may be outlined in the 20th-21th c.: I. from the 20-ies to the end of 80-ies of the 20th c. and II. 90-ies of the 20th cc. up to date. Clément THERME
IRANIAN FOREIGN POLICY TOWARDS THE SOUTH CAUCASUS: BETWEEN REVOLUTIONARY IDEALS AND REALPOLITIK
After 1979, Iranian foreign policy became one of the major focuses of Western analysts, mainly because of its universal Islamist revolutionary discourse. After the fall of the Soviet Union, a new geopolitical space should have been an opportunity for the Islamist oligarchy to reinforce the Iranian regional position. Even if Iranian foreign policy decision makers are masters in taking profit from tactical opportunities such as the evolution of Russian-American relations, they nevertheless did not have a strategic vision that allowed the natural expression of Iranian national interests in South Caucasus – a region that maintained historical and cultural links to the Iranian world inherited from the Persian Empire. This article will shed light on Iranian illusionary independent foreign policy and presents the main factors explaining the persisting Iranian dependency towards Russian interests in the former Soviet space. Despite these limitations, geographical, historical and cultural proximity as well as shared trade interests constitute a strong incentive for Iran and its South Caucasus neighbours to increase their bilateral cooperation and pursue the strategic objectives of these states to control a volatile region. However, the main success of Tehran’s South Caucasus diplomacy is the rapprochement with Armenia because this policy does not conflict with Moscow’s interests. In comparison, Iran’s new objective to become a Georgian ally is not realistic given the different strategic nature of their foreign policies: Georgia is a member of a pro-Western alliance and Iran favours the constitution of an anti-Western front on an international scale.
Rudik F. YARALYAN
ETHNOPOLITICAL ASPECTS OF AZERI-KURDISH RELATIONS IN THE FRAMEWORK OF NOWADAYS REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS
Iranian Azeris and Kurds have traditionally had complicated relations mainly manifested in territorial and cultural claims. The nowadays unprecedented activation of the Kurdish factor in some regions of the Middle East such as Syria and Iraq has made direct impact upon Iranian Kurds' and Azeris' political consciousness which may provoke some underlying issues taking the form of Kurdish-Azeri ethnopolitical conflict. The another problem may be the possible negative interferences by some geopolitical players in Kurdish-Azeri ethnopolitical issues which should also be appreciated as a real threat for the stability and security in the South Caucasus. Biographical Notes
Marina ALEXIDZE is an Associated Professor at the Department of Iranian Studies of the Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. Her research interests include cultural, religious, and literary aspects of Georgian-Iranian interrelations in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. She is the author of the books Persians and Persian Culture in the Nineteenth-Century Georgia (Tbilisi, 2009, in Georgian), Georgia and the Muslim East in the Nineteenth Century: Studies in the History of Culture, Religion and Life (Tbilisi, 2011, in English), Georgia through the Eyes of the Nineteenth-Century Iranian Travellers (Tbilisi, 2012, in Georgian). E-mail: [email protected]
Timirlan M. AYTBEROV is a graduate of the Leningrad scientific school of Oriental Studies, Co-Chairman of the "Spiritual Heritage", a Senior Researcher of the medieval history of Dagestan Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnography of the Dagestan Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences. E-mail: [email protected]
Grigol BERADZE presently is a Chief Scientific Consultant of the G.Tsereteli Institute of Oriental Studies (Ilia State University). Since 2010 he is also an Invited Expert-Consultant (in Islamic History and Art) at the Georgian National Museum. He studies problems of the history and culture of Iran, Central Asia and the Caucasus (medieval period and modern times), as well as problems of the historical and cultural interrelations of Iran and Georgia. He has participated in numerous international scientific congresses, conferences and symposia and has published up to 80 scholarly works in Georgian, Russian, English, French, German, Persian, Arabic and Japanese languages. Dr. Grigol Beradze is Member of the Editorial Board of the “Journal of Persianate Studies” (Leiden & Boston: Brill); Member of the Societas Iranologica Europaea (since 1990); European Society for Central Asian Studies (since 1998), Association for the Study of Persianate Societies (since 2004), etc. E-mail: [email protected]
Ali DEHBASHI is an Iranian journalist, Iranologist, researcher and writer. He is a member of ‘Societas Iranologica Europaea’, and has attended many meetings in its periodical conferences in different universities and cultural centers all over the world. He is also the chief editor of Bukhara magazine, a periodical magazine on arts and culture in Persian published in Tehran. E-mail: [email protected]
Florence HELLOT-BELLIER is a member of the Joint Team of Researches (Unité Mixte de Recherches) “Mondes iranien et indien” (Paris, CNRS). She works on the modern history of Iran, especially on the relations of the Christian minorities with the Muslim Iranians and with the Western powers in Iran in the 19th and 20th centuries. She wrote about these issues in her publications: “France-Iran, quatre cents ans de dialogue, 1604-2004” (Peeters, Louvain) in 2007, “Les Assyriens du Hakkari au Khabour. Mémoire et Histoire” (Geuthner, Paris) in collaboration with Prof. Georges Bohas, in 2008, “La Géorgie entre Perse et Europe” (L’Harmattan, Paris) in collaboration with prof. I. Natchkebia, in 2009 and “Chronique de massacres annoncés. Les Assyro-Chaldéens d’Iran et du Hakkari face aux ambitions des empires (1896-1920” (Geuthner, Paris) in 2014. E-mail: [email protected]
Bernard HOURCADE is a geographer, Senior Research Fellow, emeritus at CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris) and Woodrow Wilson Center Global Fellow (USA). He lived and made many stays in Iran since 1970. He was Director of the Institut Français de Recherche en Iran IFRI (1978-1993), and later in Paris founder and director of the research center Monde iranien (1993-2003). Bernard Hourcade conducted numerous field researches with Iranian scholars about the social, cultural, political and economic geography of Iran and about urban development, especially Greater Tehran. His analysis on Iran have been published or broadcast in many French an international media. He founded in 2011 “Irancarto”, a web site devoted to geographical studies on Iran www.irancarto.cnr.fr. B. Hourcade is agrégé in history and geography (1969) and doctor in geography (Univ. Paris-Sorbonne, 1975). E-mail: [email protected]
Irina KOSHORIDZE is the director of State Museum of Folk and Applied Arts of Georgia and professor of the Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. She is the art Historian who works in Islamic art. Since 1986 she worked in Fine Arts Museum on the various positions –curator, scientific secraitair, and head of Oriental Arts Department. From 2004 she was the chief curator of the Modern & Contemporary Art Division of the Georgian National Museum. From February 2014 she is the director of State Museum of Folk and Applied Arts of Georgia. Currently her research is concentrated on Islamic art and the cultural connections between Georgia and Iran in the 17th to 19th centuries. In 2007-09 She was in New York University as a fellow of the Open Society Institute and she is working on creating an Islamic art curriculum for Georgian Universities. E-mail: [email protected]
Manana KVACHADZE is an Associated Professor of Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. She works in the fields of linguistics and literary studies. Mention should also be made of her ethno-linguistic fieldworks, during which she studies the speech and culture of Iranian-speaking ethnic groups, living in Georgia. E-mail: [email protected]
Ceyhun MAHMUDLU is an Assoc. Professor and PhD in History. Dr. Mahmudlu is the Head of the Department of International Relations and the director of Qafqaz University Security and Energy Researches Center. His teaching and research specialization comprises variety of topics such as Diplomatic History, International Organizations, Energy policy and Security, Ethnicity and Research Methods in Social Sciences. He takes active participation in the curriculum development activities through these processes he joined programs organized in the U.S and Hungary and as result of the programs he completed number of teaching materials. Within the frame of international scientific research programs Dr. Mahmudlu joined projects in Japan and U.S. He is an author of several scientific articles related to the topics such as regional security, conflicts and resolutions and ethnicity. Moreover, Dr Mahmudlu is actively involved number of EU founded education and research projects as participant and coordinator as well. E-mail: [email protected]
Irina NATCHKEBIA is the Head of the Department of Modern and Early Modern History of the Near East in G. Tsereteli Institute of Oriental Studies, Tbilisi, Georgia. From 1996 to present she collaborates with the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique – "Mondes iranien et indienne" UMR 7528 (National Center of the Scientific Research) in Paris. 2005 up to now – Associate member of "Mondes iranien et indienne" UMR 7528 (CNRS – National Center of the Scientific Research), Paris. In 1991-2000 she was a Professor at The Tbilisi Institute of Africa and Asia and at the Faculty of the Oriental Studies of Tbilisi State University. Her study topic is the political interest of Europe towards Persia, the Ottoman Empire, and the Caucasus at the late eighteenth and the first quarter of the nineteenth century. She published several articles and two books on this subject. E-mail: [email protected]
Nikoloz NAKHUTSRISHVILI is the Researcher at G.Tsereteli Institute of Oriental Studies of the Ilia State University. During 1994-99 and 2005-2013 worked at the Embassy of Georgia in Tehran as a consul and counselor. For several years had been teaching Persian language at the Tbilisi State University and Tbilisi Institute of Asia and Africa. His field of scientific interests: are Modern Iran, Iranian-Georgian relations, Persian language. He is the author of more than 20 articles. E-mail: [email protected]
Hossein RAZAVI BORQEI is an independent scholar. He is working on medieval and early modern Persian medical and historical sources. He has studied and published with commentaries several treatises of Hobeish-e Teflisi. E-mail: [email protected]
Babak (Bernard) REZVANI has studied Political Science (International Relations) (MA), Human Geography (Political and Cultural Geography) (MA), and Teaching Social Sciences (MSc) at the University of Amsterdam. He was admitted by the Hague Academy of International Law (Peace Palace) to follow its summer program in 2011. In 2005, he received a prestigious grant from the Netherlands’ Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) for his PhD project entitled: “Ethnic conflict in multi-ethnic and multi-religious regions: Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Fereydan (in Iran). He has been a member of board of governors of Ceres, the research school for the sources of development, form 2007 until 2011. In addition to his home University (Amsterdam), he has delivered guest lectures in universities such as Harvard and Montana. He is the chairman of “Association for the Study of EthnoGeoPolitics”, a professional scientific body for research and education about the International politics and ethnic conflict, especially in Central Eurasia. E- mail: [email protected] Solmaz RUSTAMOVA-TOHIDI is a Chief researcher of the Institute of Oriental Studies of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. She is the Author of 19 books, 65 articles and more than 100 scientific essays. her Scientific interests are: the history of the Caucasus and the Middle Eastern countries of the XIX-XX centuries, Comintern’s Eastern policy in Iran, Turkey and Caucasus, the history of Azerbaijan and the Eastern press, the history of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic period, the history of the Azerbaijani pogroms in 1918, the history of the Soviet Iranian and Turkic Studies, the history of political relations between Azerbaijan and the Central Asian republics etc. E-mail: [email protected]
George SANIKIDZE is a Professor of history at the Ilia State University and Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the same University. He has been working as a visiting scholar at Paris-Sorbonne-IV University, University of California - Berkeley, Universities of Hokkaido and Osaka, Japan. He is the head of the Regional branch of ‘the Association for the Study of Persianate Societies’ and member of several other research associations. His current research interests are: Problems of East-West relations, Medieval and Modern history of Islam, of the Caucasus and the Middle Eastern countries (especially Iran). His works are published in Georgia, USA, France, Hollande, Iran, Turkey, Japan, Russia. E-mail: [email protected]
Tea SHURGAIA is an Associate professor at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Department of Iranian Studies. Her Fields of interest are: Persian language and literature, Iranian Folklore, paremiology, literary translation, popular culture. her Publications incude: 1 monograph, over 35 articles (published in Georgia, IRI, USA, Poland, the Netherlands and Russia) and about 25 literary and scientific translations (among them 4 collections of Georgian translation of modern Iranian short stories and novels and 1 collection of Georgian proverbs translated into Persian). E-mail: [email protected]
Clément THERME is an Associate Fellow to the Centre d’Études Turques, Ottomanes, Balkaniques et Centrasiatiques (CETOBaC, UMR 8032) of EHESS. He is the author of Les relations entre Téhéran et Moscou depuis 1979 (PUF, 2012). E-mail: [email protected]
Rudik F. YARALYAN is a lecturer of the Department of Iranian Studies in Yerevan State University. In 2009 he heas been awarded the Degree of Doctor of History (subject: Kurdo-Jewish assossiations in 1948-2006). He speaks four languages – Armenian (native), Persian, English, Russian. He is the author of over ten scientific articles and participated in several international conferences. E-mail: [email protected]