Author: Emil Lazarian

AN ORGY OF INHUMANITY
by Joanna Bourke
New Statesman
June 19, 2006
On the evening of Sunday 30 October 1938, six million Americans sitting
around their wireless sets heard some terrifying news: humanity
was on the brink of annihilation. According to the CBS broadcast,
the vanguard of an invading army had landed in the farmlands of New
Jersey and was moving steadily across the continent.
More than one million Americans panicked. Friends and relatives were
telephoned and warned of the impending calamity. Bread, blankets
and babies were thrown into cars, which then sped westwards. Other
listeners were too stunned to move. Women and men fainted; children
and dogs howled. As one student admitted shortly afterwards: “I didn’t
have any idea exactly what I was fleeing from, and that made me all
the more afraid.” America was not being attacked by the Germans or
the Japanese. The invading hordes came from the planet Mars.
It was a hoax, of course, and the millions of terrified listeners
were furious at being fooled. They accused CBS of causing them
“grievous bodily or mental injury” and demanded compensation for their
pain. Orson Welles, the young broadcaster and actor responsible for
the radio play, was forced to issue an abject apology.
Welles’s play was an adaptation of H G Wells’s 1898 novel War of the
Worlds. He had simply modernised the story by moving the action to
the 1930s. No wonder listeners found it convincing. In that uncertain
decade, many Americans easily believed that aliens could destroy the
world as they knew it. Wasn’t there talk of an approaching world war?
Unemployment was rocketing. Only a few months earlier President
Roosevelt had warned: “Nothing is so much to be feared as fear
itself.” Welles’s radio adaptation of War of the Worlds scored a
direct hit on a seam of political alarm underpinning American culture
in the 1930s.
Niall Ferguson’s new book, The War of the World, also seeks to tap
into an underlying sense of apprehension. Why was the 20th century
marked by massacres, genocides and war on an unprecedented scale,
and how could the carnage have been avoided? Today, weapons of mass
destruction seem to be proliferating. Confidence in the ability of
politicians to exercise restraint has waned. Faith in human reason
is fading. What is going to prevent the 21st century descending into
worldwide war?
Ferguson provides a potted account of the way the west was torn apart
by tumultuous storms of hatred. As the west declined, the east was
on the rise, driven by economic robustness. Although Ferguson admits
that it is not difficult to imagine a future in which west and east
clash in war, he remains cautiously optimistic about the chances of
21st-century nation states avoiding full-scale conflict. He argues
that the unrivalled superiority of the US in the 1990s was a force
for good. Uncontested American supremacy enabled violence elsewhere in
the world to be contained. As a result, global warfare is now at its
lowest level since the late 1950s. Ferguson seems to believe in the
ability of strong nations (the US and, in the future, perhaps China)
to control the passions of more volatile ones.
Although Ferguson’s story is daunting in its detail (the book has
to be propped up against a table to be read comfortably), it does
not claim to be a history of the entire century. The focus is on the
years between 1904, when Japan became the first Asian power in modern
times to defeat a European power, and 1953, the year the Korean war
ended. Ferguson is most assured when dealing with the terrible years
between 1914 and 1918. It is important, he tells us, to remember that
the years before 1914 were relatively peaceful. In Europe, at least,
there were only 21 major wars in the hundred years up to this point.
In that context, the inability of many British elites to forecast the
start of hostilities in 1914 is understandable, especially when tied
to their (misplaced) confidence in Britain’s imperial might. Surely,
these elites believed, the world’s largest empire possessed sufficient
power to avert a global crisis.
They were proved wrong. Rather than preventing war, empires fuelled
them. To carry out the dirty task of slaughter, all major powers
were dependent on recruits, conscripts and forced labour drawn from
territories far from their national heartlands. In the end, the war
ground to a halt largely as a result of a dramatic slump in the morale
of German soldiers, who began surrendering in droves. By that stage,
however, a generation had been slaughtered.
Although the Great War casts a long shadow over the 20th century,
Ferguson acknowledges that the war which followed was even more
decisive. The Second World War propelled the notion of “total war”
to horrifying heights. Civi-lians became the victims-of-choice. While
only 5 per cent of deaths in the 1914-18 conflict were civilian,
in the 1939-45 war that figure was 66 per cent. Many more civilians
than military personnel were killed in Belgium, China, France,
Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, the Soviet Union
and Yugoslavia. Innocence was butchered.
According to Ferguson, peace brought only a “tainted victory”.
Western powers had allied themselves with Stalin, a “despot who
was every bit as brutal a tyrant as Hitler”. Unrestrained submarine
warfare and the terror-bombing of Dresden, Hamburg and Hiroshima (to
name just a few) had contaminated British and American honour. It is
alleged that when Winston Churchill heard the news about the death
sentences passed on the Nazi leaders at Nuremberg, he turned to his
chief of staff and commented: “Nuremberg shows that it’s supremely
important to win. You and I would be in a pretty pickle if we had not.”
The two world wars had reduced humanity to rubble; the Holocaust
had stripped even that rubble of meaning. It was followed by the
threat of nuclear annihilation. Humanity had fashioned a world of
suffering which dwarfed anything that went before. How could this
have happened? The subtitle to Ferguson’s book provides his answer:
the 20th century was an “age of hatred”. Throughout the world,
people turned on their neighbours with ferocity. De-humanisation
became common: the suddenness with which people could be cast as
“aliens” was alarming. During the Armenian genocide of 1912-13,
the Turks coined a description for the Armenians: “dog food”. When
Japanese soldiers entered Nanking in 1938, the 20,000 Chinese women
they raped were considered less than human. As one soldier explained:
“We felt no shame about it. No guilt.” Through the classi- fication
of the enemy as inhuman, they all became fair game.
This orgy of inhumanity is thoroughly probed by Ferguson. And when
he sticks to history, it is a credible account, even if it doesn’t
tell us much that is new. The problem is that he seems to have been
seduced by evolutionary psychology. He gives much analytical weight
to the concept of “hatred”, yet never really tells us what it is.
Instead, he relies on the vague idea that hatred is one of humanity’s
innate instincts. The “twin urge to rape and murder remains repressed
in a civilised society”, he argues, but it wreaks havoc when unleashed
upon the world. Economic volatility is one important trigger.
Ferguson’s thesis is most disturbingly addressed in the context of
sexualised violence. He suggests that the destructive instinct is
intrinsically tied to the sexual impulse. Sexual violence directed
against enemies was inspired by “erotic, albeit sadistic, fantasies
as much as by ‘eliminationist’ racism”, he asserts. Bloodlust and rape
went together. This just isn’t good enough. The simple logic and aura
of scientific certitude represented by the appeal to instincts mask
the fact that “instincts” don’t actually explain anything.
At best, all Ferguson is doing is sticking a label on complex
historical processes. To assume an inherent connection between hate and
love does nothing to clarify why some genocides (hate) have involved
rape (which Ferguson bizarrely wants to put in the “eros” category)
while others have not. Neither the “repression” of hatred nor its
“eruption” explains anything in historical terms. It is unclear, for
instance, how the “volatile ambivalence” of “aversion and attraction”
can help us understand the history of violence “which has for so long
characterised relations between white Americans and African Americans”.
By emphasising the primordial connection with our primate ancestors,
Ferguson reduces the complexity of human society and fails to account
for individual motivations or cultural trends in violence. It
is an unfortunate lapse. Ferguson should leave psychology to the
psychologists and stick to what he is really good at: writing history.
Joanna Bourke is professor of history at Birkbeck, University of
London, and the author of “Fear: a cultural history” (Virago, 2006).
She is currently writing a book about rapists.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DECODING OF THE BLACK BOXES OF THE CRASHED A-320 COMPLETED
ArmRadio.am
19.06.2006 14:32
Decoding of the parameter recorder of the crashed A-320 was completed
at the Interstate Aviation Committee. In the result it was confirmed
that “the plane did not crash in the air.” The fuel would suffice
to safely complete the flight. At the last minute of the flight the
autopilot was tuned off.
The Committee undertook the complex analysis of the means of objective
control recording, durimg which it is planned to “hold modellling of
the flight on the A-320 flight simulator.
In the result of analysis and investigation conclusions will be
drawn about the reason of the air-crash and instructions will be
given regarding the security of the flight. The Interstate aviation
Committee did not inform when the conclusion will be ready.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AMBASSADOR ASHOT HOVAKIMYAN TO REPLACE JIVAN TABIBYAN
ArmRadio.am
19.06.2006 15:32
According to RA President Robert Kocharyan’s decree of June 17, Jivan
Tabibyan was dismissed from the position of RA Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary to Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. RA
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Austria
Ashot Hovakimyan (seat in Vienna) was appointed to the position.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA SHOULD CONTINUE REFORMS IN FISCAL SECTOR
Noyan Tapan
Jun 16 2006
YEREVAn, JUNE 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Maintaing the current rates of poverty
reduction and economic growth in Armenia requires a continuous prudent
macroeconomic policy. The IMF Deputy Director for the Near East and
Central Asia Julian Berengaut stated this during the parliamentary
hearings “Armenia-IMF: Development through Cooperation” on June 16.
According to him, the state should continue reforms in the fiscal
sector so that more revenues can be collected in an transparent
and fair way (the taxes/GDP ratio of 14.4% in Armenia in 2005 was
lower than in most CIS countries) and based on it, infrastructure
and social service development programs can be implemented without an
increase in the level of inflation. J. Berengaut said that tax reforms
should be especially aimed at abolishing the system of privileges for
foreign investors and reducing the shadow sector through improved
administration, which will promote development of the country’s
financial sector.
In the opinion of the IMF representative, the financial sector should
play a greater role in Armenia’s economy, accumulating the savings of
population and making investments in the economy, which is a guarantee
of higher economic growth.
Responding to questions of RA National Assembly deputies and the
event participants, he noted that the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA)
should follow suit of the countries whose central banks set both the
upper and lower limits of inflation. He expressed an opinion that the
CBA’s strategies of “floating” exchange rate and inflation targeting
are correct.
In his view, the Armenian government is successfully reducing the
budget defecit year after year, at the same time maintaining a high
economic growth, whereas in many Eastern European countries with
a lower rate of economic growth, a lot of effort is made to reduce
the deficit.
The RA National Assembly Speaker Tigran Torosian attached special
importance to cooperation with international financial structures,
particularly with the IMF, underlining that it has no mandatory
character and has been of great use for solution of the complex
macroeconomic problems facing Armenia. Since 2004, the IMF has
allocated 350 mln USD to Armenia. T. Torosian expressed a hope that
the RA National Assembly deputies and IMF representatives will have
regular meetings.
RA Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy Suren Gharayan and the CBA
Board member Vatche Gabrielian spoke about the positive experience
that Armenia has gained from cooperation with the IMF in developing
the tax budgetary and monetary credit sectors. S. Gharayan said that
IMF’s advisory assistance was conducive to the fact that in 2005,
the ratio of direct taxes to GDP grew by 39.6% compared with 2004,
while the ratio of total tax revenues to GDP grew by 10% in Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NA POLITICAL FORCES DEEPLY ANXIOUS ABOUT RECENT MURDERS OF ARMENIANS IN RUSSIA
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 16 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 16, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The political
forces of RA National Assembly are deeply anxious about the murders
of Armenians in Russia in the recent period. The head of the RPA,
ARF Dashnaktsutiun, Ardarutiun (Justice) and National Unity factions
informed about it at the June 16 press briefing. In the opinion of
RPA faction head Galust Sahakian, the incidents that happen in RF,
of course, give an occasion for thinking, but not only Armenians, but
foreigners in general are the target of nationalism in this country.
ARFD head Hrayr Karapetian said that the party representatives have
expressed their anxiety during the meeting held recently at the
Embassy of RF in RA. The MP is convinced that the respective Armenian
departments are also anxious about the issue and still have much to
do in this connection. “It is obvious that the incidents that happen
in Russia are in no way connected with the state interests and state
policy of that country,” the MP highlighted. According to Ardarutiun
faction head Stepan Demirchian, the formed situation “cannot be
tolerated” and an question about undertaking the respective steps
should be raised before RF authorities. According to National Unity
faction head Artashes Geghamian, the party being deeply anxious about
“the barbaric incidents committed recently in Russia,” nevertheless,
has not come up with any “serious” statement. The reason is the
complicated situation the party found itself in: it is difficult to
accuse Russia of murder of three Armenians in the recent period when
at least 1.5 mln Armenians have “run away” to Russia over the recent
years because of the policy carried on by the Armenian authorities
and 2396 Armenians have committed an attempted suicide and 1600 a
suicide over the past 5 years in Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

INTERNATIONAL WORKING GROUP HELD MEETINGS IN STEPANAKERT
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
June 19 2006
The International Working Group (IWG) on the Search for the Missing
People, Hostages and POWs in the Karabakh conflict zone arrived in
Nagorno Karabakh on a two-day working visit.
June 19 the IWG members met with the NKR Foreign Minister Georgy
Petrosyan, the leadership of the NKR State Committee on Missing People
and Hostages, heads of the Stepanakert Office of the International
Committee of the Red Cross, as well as with former hostages. In the
course of the meeting the issues referring to activation of search
for the missing and burial places were discussed. The requests of the
state commissions on missing persons and hostages of Nagorno Karabakh,
Armenia and Azerbaijan were considered as well.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ISLAM COUNTRIES TO DISPLAY BEST SOLIDARITY
Hurriyet, Turkey
June 19 2006
“Islam countries will display the best olidarity among themselves,”
Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said
on Sunday. Gul arrived in Baku, Azerbaijan to attend the 33rd meeting
of foreign ministers of Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).
Speaking to reporters, Gul said that Cyprus issue and Armenian
occupation of Azerbaijani territories were among the topics on the
agenda of the meeting.
“This is the first time such a wide-scale OIC meeting takes place in
Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev will deliver a speech
at the meeting and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov will chair the
meeting,” Gul said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HIGH-RANKING US OFFICIAL TO SUCCEED GARABAGH MEDIATOR
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Posted June 19 2006
Baku, June 16, AssA-Irada
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian
Affairs Matthew Bryza will succeed Steven Mann as the American co-chair
of the OSCE Minsk Group mediating settlement to the Armenia-Azerbaijan
Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict, says Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanian. He said the new appointment must be approved by the
OSCE Permanent Council at its meeting in Vienna next week.
Oskanian did not rule out that the diplomat will visit the region
after being approved for the post.
Touching on the latest meeting between Azeri and Armenian foreign
ministers in Paris, Oskanian said the discussions targeted seeking a
common approach to the issues that were not agreed during the prior
meeting between the two leaders in Bucharest. “I can’t say that we
achieved the goal. However, the meeting was beneficial and the talks
will be continued.”
The Armenian minister said it is premature to talk about the next
meeting of the two presidents, as it would be futile in the absence
of any rapprochement between the positions of the conflicting sides.
The latest talks between the two leaders in Bucharest and Rambouillet
did not produce any results.
Political analyst, director of the Center of Political Innovation
and Technologies, Mubariz Ahmadoglu, praised the new appointment. “As
I understand, Matthew Bryza knows the region just as well as Steven
Mann. He has repeatedly visited Azerbaijan and Armenia. His attitude
toward Azerbaijan could be considered objective,” he told AssA-Irada.
The expert said that greater hopes should be bound with Bryza than
his predecessor, considering his higher status.
“Mann used to come here and hold meetings and then report to the US
Department of State. These reports, along with others, then reached
Matthew Bryza. The latter, however, is able to keep in touch directly
with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.”
Ahmadoglu said that Russia and France will soon replace their co-chairs
with more high-ranking officials as well.
“It is very likely that co-chairing counties will set up a group of
low-profile diplomats. The taskforce will be permanently working in
the region,” the analyst added.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN LOBBY BOYCOTTS REGIONAL TRANSPORT PROJECTS
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Posted June 19 2006
Baku, June 16, AssA-Irada
The Armenian lobby continues its efforts to boycott large-scale
transport projects being implemented in the region.
The Armenian organizations operating in the United States have
achieved the adoption of legislation that prevents US companies from
participating in the Gars-Tbilisi-Baku railway project.
The decision passed by the committee on financial allocations of the
US House of Representatives bans US companies’ involvement in the
project. US financial support to the project is also ruled out.
Commenting on the issue, executive director of the Armenian National
Committee of America, Aram Gamparian, alleged that the Congress’s
decision is of great importance and makes it impossible to render US
financial aid under the plans aiming to leave Armenia out of major
regional projects.
Georgian State Minister Kakha Bendukidze, for his part, called
the decision inappropriate, saying it shows US Congressmen’s
misunderstanding of economic estimations.
“The Gars-Tbilisi-Baku railway is a very interesting and efficient
project that may bring considerable dividends to its parties in the
future. As for the US Congressmen’s decision, I believe they were not
comprehensively informed about the economic benefits of the project,”
he said.

MATTHEW BRYZA TO PAY VISIT TO KARABAKH CONFLICT REGION
PanARMENIAN.Net
19.06.2006 13:04 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Newly appointed U.S. Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk
Group will pay a visit to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict region,
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov stated. In his words,
June 22 in Vienna the Co-chairs will report to the OSCE Permanent
Council on the current stage of the settlement. “The Co-chairs
have already proposed to hold a new meeting at the level of FMs and
received my consent. In Vienna Matthew Bryza will officially assume
his duties. After this he will alone visit Baku and Yerevan,” the Azeri
FM said. “The U.S. government has not lost hope for progress. Matthew
Bryza is aware of the region and being well informed of the Karabakh
conflict he won’t need time to get familiarized with the problem,”
Elmar Mammadyarov said, reported Day.az.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress