Author: Emma Nadirian

The correct answer to the questions
Editorial
Yerkir/arm
October 29, 2004
Periodically, the question of objective analysis of this or that issue
is brought up in our society. Each of the parties participating in the
discussion tends to present its approach and analysis as
objective. However, in reality no analysis can be objective
irrespective of whether we mean conscious or subconscious objectivity.
Analysis cannot be an end in itself. Any conscious analysis is
influenced by a certain ideology. Moreover, strange as it might seem,
ideologization of the analysis up to a certain level benefits the
quality of the analysis performed.
Consciously ideologized analysis allows for a vision of the future and
prognosis that can be realized not through calculation of objective
circumstances and facts but through the consideration of subjective
human factors incorporated in the prognosis such as will, desire,
confidence.
In this way analysis becomes not merely mathematical calculation but
planning and even set-up of the future. The prognosis becomes prophecy
with the probability level of its realization being dependent on the
will and confidence of the person making the prognosis.
Such analysis also becomes a means to impose one’s own ideological
will upon others, to explain one’s own vision of the future and
proximate this vision to the reality. The future depends not only on
objective circumstances and arbitraries of fate.
The future is shaped and realized through human perception, visions,
ideals and will. From many possible futures, the one that succeeds in
creating a stronger and more emotionally influential vision will
prevail. Out of two possible scenarios, the one in which its author
subjectively incorporated more confidence, more will and a greater
desire will be realized.
This is why the seemingly objective political analyses and prognoses
of the future are a tool for making one’s desirable vision of the
future dominant and imposing it upon others. It is interesting that
political analysis is more ideologized in countries that have a
stronger and better defined political line.
For instance in Russia especially in the 1990’s, policy analysts used
to present their analysis under the disguise of neutral and objective
scientific observations. They did this not so much with the purpose of
concealing their true interests but because they really suffered from
the objectivity syndrome and did not feel comfortable with being
ideologized.
As opposed to this, political analysis and ideology are extremely
interconnected in USA. And this interconnection is not
secret. Analysis andprognosis made by American sources are very often
not so much scientifically grounded prognoses as visions of future
based on specific ideological views.
The complexity of political and geopolitical problems facing the
country cannot be presented as a set of issues requiring merely
technical, expert solutions that can be developed by a group of
professionals.
The thing is that not all the problems have only one correct
solution. The` correct’ solution can be largely based on ideological,
value-derived, political and other choices and not objective `facts’.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Foreign minister says Muslim countries understand situation in Tak Bai
http, Thailand
29 Oct. 2004
BANGKOK, Oct 29 (TNA) – Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai
Friday told reporters that he received a positive response from his
counterparts in Muslim countries toward Tak Bai incident, in which
more than 80 Muslim men died while in the Thai army’s custody after
a crackdown on a mass demon stration in southern border Narathiwat
province on Monday.
Mr. Surakiart said he had earlier made phone calls to explain the
government action to crackdown on Tak Bai Muslim protesters to foreign
ministers of Indonesia, Morocco, Bahrain,and Dr. Abdelouzhed Belkeziz,
the secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Countries or
OIC which has 50 members.
He said Bahrain’s prime minister made a direct phone call to offer
his morale support to Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
”They appreciated that Thailand explained itself quickly to them about
what happened in Tak Bai. They said they understood Thai government’s
action well and promised to explain it to fellow countries. Bahrain
said it would support Thailand as it knew that we are peace and unity
loving people,” said Mr. Surakiart.
The OIC secretary general said he was pleased to hear an explanation
and that Thailand has investigated the deaths of the protesters while
in the army’s custody, he said, the OIC would also explain Thailand’s
decision to Muslim members countries.
He said Morocco would help by explaining Thailand’s situation to
Armenia, Tunisia, and Libya including other Muslim countries in the
middle east like Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.
Confident that Thailand has cleared its bad mark among international
communities, Mr. Surakiart, however, acknowledged to the mistake by
the security forces in handling the situation which unnecessarily
caused a lot of deaths.
”I want to stress that we did not want to hurt our Muslim brothers. We
are family. It is worrisome and dangerous if some people have developed
a wrong perception that Thailand are against its own Muslim citizens.”
he said.
Mr. Surakiart said the United States also expressed its satisfaction
over Thailand’s action to investigate into the deaths after it
previously criticized the kingdom for breaching human rights.
”Thailand has respected human rights and constitutional rights but
mistakes could happen. We will leave that to the investigation team
to show us the truth,” he said, adding that the government would
certainly compensate the deaths and would help their families.
Responding to a question, the Thai foreign minister said other Muslim
countries were not worried that the situation would escalate because
of the Tak Bai incident.
”I think Malaysia would understand us and there should be no affect,”
he said.
Several Malaysian tourists were killed in a bomb blast at a bar in
Sungai Kolok District of southern border Narathiwat province last
night.(TNA)-E110

ARKA News Agency
27 Oct. 2004
Round table on Social-economic and political situation in Javakhetia
after “Revolution of Roses” to be held in CMI on November 2
Armenia occupies the 83rd place in the rating of press freedom in the
world
A new Armenian village called Gohar is being built at the initiative of
“Kilikia” community in the environs of Aleppo
NKR Minister of Foreign Affairs meets the American co-Chairman of ISCE
Minsk Group
NKR Minister of Foreign Affairs speaks on the conference “Armenia and
South Caucasus: Challenges to Foreign Politics” in the Michigan
University of the USA
Citizens of Yerevan, participants of Bagration operation given jubilee
medals
A meeting organized by justice opposition bloc under the slogan “No
Terrorism!” held in Yerevan
RA President Robert Kocharyan receives the members of the joint mission
of the German Marshall Fund of the US-GMF and Project on Transitional
Democracies
***********************************************************************
ROUND TABLE ON SOCIAL-ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL SITUATION IN JAVAKHETIA
AFTER “REVOLUTION OF ROSES” TO BE HELD IN CMI ON NOVEMBER 2
YEREVAN, October 27. /ARKA/. Round table on “Social-economic and
political situation in Javakhetia after the “Revolution of Roses” will
be held in Caucasus Media Institute on November 2 in Yerevan. Artshes
Palanjyan from Social-economic development of Akhalkalaq region NGO
will present a report. In frames of the round table, issues of today’s
situation in Javakhetia, consequences of Revolution of Roses for
Armenians of the region and issues of social and economic strategies
used by the Georgian authorities with regard to Javakhetia will be
discussed. The participants will also take up the relations of Armenia
and Georgia given the existence of Armenian minority if Javakhetia and
how the Armenian-Georgian relations impact the life of Armenians in the
region. L.V.–0–
***********************************************************************
ARMENIA OCCUPIES THE 83RD PLACE IN THE RATING OF PRESS FREEDOM IN THE
WORLD
YEREVAN, October 27. /ARKA/. Armenia occupies the 83rd place in the
rating of press freedom in the world, according to DW-WORLD German wave
with reference to the annual rating of freedom of speech in the world,
published by “Reporters without Borders”. Among the countries of the
former USSR, the highest positions in the rating are occupied by Latvia
(10th place) and Estonia (11th place), Moldova – 78th, Georgia – 94th,
Tajikistan – 95th, Kyrgyzstan – 107th, Kazakhstan – 131st , Azerbaijan
– 136th , the Ukraine – 138th, Russia- 140th, Uzbekistan – 142nd ,
Belarus – 144th, Turkmenistan – 164th.
The situation was examined in 167 countries. As compared to the rating
of 2003, the situation was changed only in the middle of the list,
where more small countries appear, which treat the freedom of press
with respect, thus showing that weak economic development is by no way
a cause for limiting democratic freedom. The last places were occupied
by North Korea, Cuba and Burma. Most freedom is provided tpo press of
Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia
and Switzerland. The USa is on 22nd place, Germany – on 11th, France –
on 19th, Israel – on 36th, Italy and Spain – on 39th, Afghanistan – on
97th, Iran – on 158th, China – on 162nd. This rating was made up based
on surveys of collaborators of of NGOs, reporters, ombudsmen,
scientists and experts.
Based on conducted researches, Reporters without Borders arrived at a
conclusion that, persecution of reporters and mass media still persist
and it becomes harder to work for independent mass media. Although the
situation is improved in some countries, there are still a number of
countries which “contend for” the last positions in the rating. At
that, Cuba and China still occupy the leading positions concerning the
quantity of imprisoned reporters. In 2003, the number of mass media
collaborators perished in the world made 44. L.V.–0–
***********************************************************************
A NEW ARMENIAN VILLAGE CALLED GOHAR IS BEING BUILT AT THE INITIATIVE OF
“KILIKIA” COMMUNITY IN THE ENVIRONS OF ALEPPO
YEREVAN, October 27. /ARKA/. A new Armenian village called Gohar is
being built at the initiative of “Kilikia” community in the environs of
Aleppo. According to RA MFA Press Service Department, according to the
project, the village will initially have 100 comfortable cottages and
modern infrastructure. The members of “Kilikia” community are
Armenians.
On October 23, the ceremony of putting the fundament of the village
took place. The Minister of Urban Development of Syria Mohammad Nihad
Mushantat, the Governor of Aleppo Usame HAmid Adi, Council General of
Armenia to Aleppo Armen Melkonyan and other officials, representatives
of clergy and the public were present at the ceremony.
Century lasting Armenian-Syrian relations were touched upon and the
importance of the role of the Armenian community in the social-economic
life of Syria was emphasized. In the end of the ceremony Council
General of Armenia planted a tree in honor of the Republic of Armenia
near the fundament of the village. A.H. –0—
***********************************************************************
NKR MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS MEETS THE AMERICAN CO-CHAIRMAN OF ISCE
MINSK GROUP
YEREVAN, October 27. /ARKA/. NKR Minister of Foreign Affairs Ashot
Gulyan met the American co-Chairman of ISCE Minsk Group Steven Mann.
According to NKR MFA Press Service Department, in the course of the
meeting that took place in the resident representative office of NKR in
Washington, issues related to the perspectives of the conflict
settlement were discussed. Factors hindering the settlement of the
conflict were mentioned. In particular, continues bellicose statements
of the Azerbaijani side rising hatred to the Armenians people were
noted.
Gulyan noted the importance of using the potential of the societies
involved into the conflict, which is not used because of
non-constructive position of the Azerbaijani side. In his turn, Steven
Mann emphasized the necessity of the political will of the parties in
the conflict, as well as the favorable public opinion as important
constituents for the achievement of peace.
After the meeting Gulyan left for Chicago. A.H. –0–
***********************************************************************
NKR MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPEAKS ON THE CONFERENCE “ARMENIA AND
SOUTH CAUCASUS: CHALLENGES TO FOREIGN POLITICS” IN THE MICHIGAN
UNIVERSITY OF THE USA
STEPANAKERT, October 27. /ARKA/. NKR Minister of Foreign Affairs Ashot
Gulyan spoke on the conference “Armenia and South Caucasus: Challenges
to Foreign Politics” organized by Michigan University in the city of
Ann Arbor (the USA). One of the subjects of the conference, in which
the former mediators and representatives of the parties in the conflict
participated, was devoted to Karabakh conflict and the perspectives of
its settlement.
According to NKR MFA Press Service Department, in his speech Ashot
Gulyan introduced the prehistory of the conflict and the official
position of NKR on the conflict settlement. Also, he touched upon the
issues of regional security and NKR security and emphasized the
necessity of the involvement of the peoples in the conflict into the
processes of long-lasting peace making and achieving stability in the
region. A.H. –0–
***********************************************************************
CITIZENS OF YEREVAN, PARTICIPANTS OF BAGRATION OPERATION GIVEN JUBILEE
MEDALS
YEREVAN, October 27. /ARKA/. The citizens of Yerevan, who participated
in Bagration operation, were given jubilee medals devoted to the 60th
year of the liberation of Belarus Republic from German –Fascist
aggressors. As ARKA was told in the Embassy of the Belarus Republic in
Armenia, awards to veterans of the World War 2 who participated in the
operation and now live in Achapnyan and Shahumyan regions of Yerevan
were given by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
Belarus to Armenia Marina Dolgopolova on behalf of the President of
Belarus. According to the press-release, jubilee awards were given to
80 participants of battles for the liberation of Belarus. A.H.—0–
***********************************************************************
A MEETING ORGANIZED BY JUSTICE OPPOSITION BLOC UNDER THE SLOGAN “NO
TERRORISM!” HELD IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, October 27. /ARKA/. A meeting organized by Justice opposition
bloc under the slogan “No Terrorism!” was held in Yerevan. According to
the Leader of Respublika party, one of the Leaders of Justice
opposition bloc Albert Bazeyan, the meeting didn’t pursue any political
goals and was devoted to the victims of the terrorist act on October 27
in Armenia and other terrorist acts, including the one in Beslan. “Five
years have passed since the terrorist act in the Parliament on October
27, but we still haven’t overcome its consequences”, he said. According
to Bazeyan, the consequences on the one hand are the impoverishment of
the people, and on the other hand- the castles of oligarchs, violations
during elections, corruption and false struggle against it, and the
power of the President beyond control. According to the Secretary of
Justice bloc Victor Dallakyan, “we condemn any kind of terrorism and we
will not allow it to happen in our country”. At that Dallakyan
emphasized that RA Minister of Defense Serge Sargsyan and RA President
Robert Kocharyan “are personally responsible for the terrorist act on
October 27”.
After the meeting was over, 50 people who received official permission,
put wreaths on the memorial to the victims of the terrorist act of
October 27 in the RA NA. The rest of the participants of the meeting
(about 2 thsd. people) put flowers near the wall of the RA NA.
On October 27, 1999, a terrorist act was committed in the RA
Parliament. As a result of it, RA Prime Minister of the country Vazgen
Sargsyan, RA NA Speaker Karen Demirchyan, both Vice-Speakers Yuri
Bakhshyan and Rouben Miroyan, the Minister of Operative Issues Leonard
Petrosyan and three Deputies: Michael Kotanyan, Armenak Armenakyan and
Henrikh Abrahamyan died. A.H.–0–
***********************************************************************
RA PRESIDENT ROBERT KOCHARYAN RECEIVES THE MEMBERS OF THE JOINT MISSION
OF THE GERMAN MARSHALL FUND OF THE US-GMF AND PROJECT ON TRANSITIONAL
DEMOCRACIES
YEREVAN, October 27. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharyan received the
members of the joint mission of the German Marshall Fund of the US-GMF
and Project on Transitional Democracies (PTD). According to the RA
President’s Press Service Department, in the course of the meeting
Kocharyan attached importance to the fact that problems of the world
and stability in the South Caucasus are in the center of the attention
of the international community, and the interest of GMF and PTD in the
region testifies to it.
Speaking of high importance of Karabakh problem not only for Armenia
but also for the whole region, Kocharyan noted that it’s very important
that the problem is paid attention by various centers and individuals
at the expert level and that it causes interest to be studied in
details on the spot. Kocharyan introduced the history of the conflict
to the guests as well as the present state of its settlement. Besides,
the parties touched upon the issues related to foreign politics of
Armenia, its relations with neighbor countries and the economic
development of the country. A.H.—0–
***********************************************************************
–Boundary_(ID_BR9wYYtsnVIS4vptnIAB4g)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Institute for War & Peace Reporting (IWPR)
Sept 23 2004
Last Days of the Georgian Dukhobors

Squeezed out by their neighbours in southern Georgia, the religious
sect is returning to the land of its forefathers.
By Mark Grigorian in Gorelovka, Georgia (Photographs by Ruben
Mangasarian) (CRS No. 254, 23-Sep-04)
A large loaf of white bread, which our hostess had just pulled out of
the old Russian stove, was lying on the table surrounded by cheese,
tomatoes and sour cream. Suddenly a bottle of `samogon’, strong
Russian homemade alcoholic brew, appeared from nowhere as if by
magic.
`Oh no, don’t pour me any,’ 75-year-old Aunt Niura protested in
embarrassment but took the glass and immediately pronounced a toast.
`To your health! If your health is strong, then everything else will
follow. But if not…’
She was interrupted by her neighbour Nastya, `I just wish that God
keeps at least a handful of people here. Because if everyone leaves,
what will become of all of this?’
`Let’s drink to our dear little corner, to our mountains…’
That little corner is the village of Gorelovka in the mountains of
southern Georgia, home to some of the last members of the Dukhobor
sect to remain in the country. Sadly, they may not last long. Almost
all have close relatives in Russia and almost all are planning to
emigrate.
Only fifteen years ago Dukhobors inhabited eight villages, but today
the community, which once boasted some 7,000 people, shrank to less
than 700.
Dukhobors (the Russian word means `spirit wrestlers’) are ethnic
Russians, representatives of a rare Christian Orthodox sect expelled
to the Caucasus in the mid-nineteenth century.
They do not recognise the church or priests, but believe that each
man’s soul is a temple. Dukhobors do not worship the cross or icons
and they reject the church sacraments. They believe that Jesus Christ
transmigrated into God’s chosen people – the Dukhobors. The life of
every Dukhobor should serve as an example for others because love and
joy, peacefulness and patience, faith, humility and abstinence, reign
in each believer.
In the late 19th century, having become acquainted with the ideas of
the great writer and pacifist Leo Tolstoy, the Dukhobors refused to
serve in the Russian Tsar’s army. And in 1895 they famously collected
together all their weaponry and set fire to it.
`The Dukhobors put all the weapons into one big pile and lit it up,’
said Tatyana Chuchmayeva, leader of the Dukhobor community in
Georgia. `When the government called in the Cossacks, they stood
around the fire holding each other’s hands and sang psalms and
peaceful songs. All the time the Cossacks were flogging them with
whips.’
Many of those who burned the weapons were punished and around 500
families were exiled to Siberia. However, Tolstoy managed, with the
help of English Quakers, to organise the resettlement of Dukhobors to
Canada where they were spared military service.
Many others stayed in Georgia and survived all the tribulations of
the 20th century.
However, life under independent Georgia has proved the biggest test.
Two censuses conducted in 1989 and 2002 show that of 340,000 Russians
that lived in Georgia in 1989 less than ten per cent – about 32,500
people – remained there thirteen years later. Other ethnic minorities
also left.
Fyodor Goncharov, chairman of the Gorelovka village council, said
that the first wave of emigration occurred in 1989-1991 when the
extreme nationalist Zviad Gamsakhurdia was leader of Georgia. About
half of the Dukhobor population left the region.
In the late 1980s, the Merab Kostava Foundation was set up in Tbilisi
with the stated aim of making Georgians the dominant ethnic group.
They focussed strong attention on the southern province of
Samtskhe-Javakheti, where over 90 per cent were ethnic-Armenians and
the rest, with few exceptions, were Russian Dukhobors.
The Merab Kostava Foundation bought about 200 of the Dukhobors’
houses and gave these to Georgians. Clothes and funds were provided
to the new arrivals.
However, the experiment failed. `They could not endure our living
conditions and ran away from here after one year,’ said Konstantin
Vardanian, a journalist from the local town of Ninotsminda. `During
the first winter they heated their houses with coal and firewood that
the foundation had left for them. Then, after they ran out of coal,
they lived in one room of the house and pulled up floors in the other
rooms and burnt them in stoves. When spring came they all left.’
Local Armenians were alarmed by the Merab Kostava project and one
result was that the Armenian Javakh Committee, founded to fight for
Armenian rights in Javakheti, also began to buy houses from Dukhobors
– just to keep them out of Georgian hands. `It was some sort of
competition, really,’ Vardanian said, with Armenians and Georgians
vying for the same houses in Dukhobor villages.
At first, Armenians enjoyed being neighbours to the Dukhobors.
`Akhalkalaki people always preferred to buy butter, cheese, curd
cheese and other dairy products from Dukhobors,’ remembers Karine
Khodikian, a well-known Armenian writer originally from the local
town of Akhalkalaki. `It was a sign of respect for them, their
cleanliness and tidiness.’
But after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Armenians got envious of
the Dukhobors and their apparently orderly, calm lives. `Armenians
saw that the Dukhobor community in Gorelovka was self-sustaining,
they said that Canadians Dukhobors helped it,’ Vardanian said.
Armenians from mountain villages, where living conditions were much
worse than in Gorelovka, began to move into the houses purchased by
the Javakhk Committee and to buy land. They were joined by immigrants
from Armenia who used to live in the city of Gumri and its
neighbouring villages – a region almost entirely demolished by the
1988 earthquake. Relations between the Dukhobors and these newcomers
was far worse than with their old neighbours.
Enterprising Armenians opened small shops and started producing sour
cream, butter and cheese, traditional Dukhobor products. They
purchase milk from the Dukhobors, but the latter are very unhappy
with the buying prices.
`Armenians buy milk in our village,’ said Goncharov. `Then they make
cheese out of it, take it to Tbilisi and sell it. They pay us only 30
tetri for a litre (about 15 cents), while we have to pay 70 or 80
tetri just for one litre of fuel.’
Dukhobor villager Sveta Gonachrova said that her neighbours were
frightened by the incoming Armenians, `You step outside and get
punched in the face.’
Vardanian believes that antipathy between the Dukhobors and Armenians
is not the only reason Dukhobors are leaving, but `it contributed’.
This new wave of emigration has found help from the Russian
authorities.
In December 1998, Russia’s then-prime minister Yevgeny Primakov
signed a decree on assistance to the Georgian Dukhobors and the
Russian parliament, the State Duma passed a special resolution on the
group. The International Organisation for Migration helped with the
resettlement, while Georgia’s emergencies ministry provided buses.
In January 1999, community leader Lyuba Goncharova led a large number
of her community on a journey whose final point of destination was
the Bryansk region of Russia. Many of those left behind are now
seeking help from the Russian embassy in Tbilisi to go and join them.
The remaining Dukhobors say they are worried by Georgia’s new
president, Mikheil Saakashvili, whom they see as a Georgian
nationalist. There are also rumours in the community – denied by
Georgian officials – that all non-Georgian schools will be closed.
`Saakashvili’s rise to power scares everyone,’ said Chuchmayeva.
`Everyone is panic-stricken. People see what is happening in (South)
Ossetia and feel scared,’ she added in a reference to Saakashvili’s
attempts to restore central authority to that breakaway region.
`Now they are talking about making all schools switch to the Georgian
language… And that scares people. They are terrified that main
subjects in schools will be taught in Georgian from 2006 and our
children will not be able to study.’
Georgia’s minister for refugees and migration, Eter Astemirova, told
IWPR that `the main reason they are leaving, as far as I know, is due
to problems with the local Armenian population. There is no basis to
their worries about the Georgian language or schools’.
Astemirova said the Georgian state was entirely neutral in the
affair. Dukhobors are not helped `to leave or to stay’, she said. `If
there is a problem, we will try to address it. … So far, I don’t
know, because we have no information about Dukhobors.’
The cultural attaché of the Russian embassy in Tbilisi, Vasily
Korchmar, said another reason for the Dukhobors’ desire to leave is
the difficult economic situation in Georgia and its tense
relationship with Russia.
Gonachrova agreed that tradition counted for nothing as this
community made up its mind. For young people in particular life is
better in Russia than in Gorelovka, `We are sorry to leave, but what
can one do? There are [proper] conditions for young people in Russia.
Discos and all sorts of amusement. We have nothing.’
Mark Grigorian is a producer with the Central Asian and Caucasus
Service of the BBC World Service in London.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TRADE OBJECTS OF ARMENIANS AND AZERBAIJANIS DESTROYED IN YEKATERINBURG
BAKU, SEPTEMBER 10. ARMINFO-TURAN. Four cafes belonging to the
Armenians and Azerbaijanis were destroyed in Ekaterinburg and in its
suburb Verkhnaya Pishma on September 9 at night. One man is killed,
the Moscow newspaper “Commersant” reports. An action was brought on
the Article “Hooliganism” on the facts. The owners of the destroyed
objects believe that the attacks express their intolerance to the
origins from Caucasus.
The first attack was made at 1:50 on cafe “Oasis plus”, 20 people
run into the cafe with sticks and lashes. For several minutes they
beat the people and broke furniture and then hid away. As a result
four Armenians were injured and two of them were hospitalized with
trauma in their brains.
In an hour the case “Caspian” in the Proyezaya street was attacked. The
attackers destroyed all they could and then threw bottles with burning
substances into the cafe. The cafe burnt out. As a result of fire the
relative of the owner of cafe 52 years old Safarov died. Half an hour
later the bandits threw several bottles with burning substances into
the snack- bar “Shartash”.
The same day the attackers threw several bottles with burning
substance into the window of the accounting office of the restaurant
“David’s”. The eye-witnesses tell that the bandits were in masks. The
militia detained 8 people. The owners of the destroyed cafes suppose
that the attacks on their objects is a result of the intolerance
to people coming Caucasus after the latest acts of terrorism in the
planes, in Moscow and in Beslan.
However, militia states that the attackers are the “criminal
clarifications”. It is not the first case of attack on the origins
from Caucasus over the last days. Thus, at night on September 6
two strangers shoot from sub-machine gun the visitors of the cafe
“Snezinka” . Then four people died and five were wounded. Among the
suffered are the people from Azerbaijan and Daghestan.
Two days ago in Moscow two militiamen beat the former secretary of
the security Council of Daghestan Magomed Tolboyev.–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

For Troy man in need, community is real MVP
By: Robert Cristo , The Record 09/10/2004
Troy Record, NY
Sept 10 2004
TROY – A city man has taken the first step toward receiving
a multiple organ transplant and a new lease on life now that his
family’s health insurance plan approved the surgery after denying it
the first time around.
Setrak Nalbandian, 41, is on the path to receiving a life-saving
liver and intestine transplant, thanks in part to an outpouring of
support from friends, family and parishioners of St. Peter Armenian
Apostolic Church in Watervliet, who rallied to get the MVP health
plan to reverse its initial decision to deny the request.
“We couldn’t have done this without all the people who gave us
strength, encouragement and helped us to make this first big step in
my husband’s road to recovery,” said Talin Nalbandian, 36, who lives
on Highland Avenue. “There are no words to express how wonderful
they’ve all been.”
After a nearly 12-week, nerve-wracking wait, Nalbandian, his wife
and their 7-year-old triplets can now take a deep breath knowing he
has a fighting chance to survive.
Over that time, Talin says it has been “frustrating,” because even
with surgeons stressing that her husband needed a double transplant,
MVP’s health professionals didn’t see it that way.
“I think my doctors who are dealing with my husband know better than
people (at MVP) who don’t,” she said. “But I’m just happy now to
finally see some light at the end of the tunnel after all these weeks.”
Talin says she realizes her husband still has to survive a high-risk
operation and a year-long recovery before he’s out of the woods.
“I leave it in God’s hands now and hope that he gives us all the
strength to get through this together,” said Talin, whose two sons
and daughter started classes this week at School 14 in Troy.
Nalbandian is currently resting at an apartment in Indianapolis, Ind.,
and is expecting to receive the transplant at the Indiana University
Medical Center within the next few days.
“He was beginning to give up hope for a while, but now his whole
morale has gone up and he’s very happy,” said his wife, who will
return to her husband’s side in a couple of days.
Up until Nalbandian’s health started to fail nearly four years ago,
he was a baker for Price Chopper who was forced to go on disability
after doctors discovered his dire condition when veins in his
esophagus ruptured.
Talin says her husband is looking forward to returning to normalcy.
“It’s hard to think about the future, because everything is so
day-to-day, but I know he plans on going back to work, doing things
with his kids and living a normal life,” she said. “I know that’s a
lot to aim for but we’re praying for the best.”
Talin also says that even though her children are young, they still
understand that their father is going through a tough time.
“They sense the tension and know their father is sick, but their
grandparents help out and make sure the kids are going on with their
normal lives,” she said.
And if the stress of their personal lives wasn’t enough, Talin also
recently lost her job as a supervisor at a local bank.
“It’s been a roller coaster ride filled with ups and downs for all
of us,” she said.
To help with some of the bills the family will incur in Indianapolis
over the next four months, the St. Peter Armenian Apostolic Church
will hold a fund-raiser beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Parishioners are also selling “faith bracelets” with all proceeds
going to fund Nalbandian’s recovery.

Border must be impregnable, says Ukrainian border official
Den, Kiev
11 Aug 04
Europe is helping Ukraine protect its border with Russia, but leaves
Kiev to keep up western borders, Maj-Gen Volodymyr Karas, the chief of
the Western regional directorate of the State Border Service, has
said. Speaking in an interview, he said travelling West has reached
the levels seen before the recent introduction of visa regime by
Ukraine’s western neighbours. Karas said funds allocated by the EU to
beef up Ukraine’s borders and curb illegal migration are being put to
good use, but added he hopes Europe will keep its promises to do
more. The following is the text of the interview with Karas by Iryna
Yehorova, published in the Ukrainian newspaper Den on 11 August under
the title “The border. Correction to Europe”; subheadings are as in
the original:
The last expansion of the European Union to the east came right up to
the borders of Ukraine. The topic of this interview with the chief of
the Western regional directorate of the State Border Service, Maj-Gen
Volodymyr Karas, was how the border is getting along with the EU.
Europe can help Ukraine protect the border with Russia
Yehorova General Karas, how has the change in the status of the
western border practically influenced the work of your directorate?
Karas The current situation developed under the influence of processes
of integration. Now there are visa regimes along practically the
entire western border. (The latest one was introduced in June by
Romania.) However, as we see, there is no commotion on the borders, we
have worked out all issues in concert with our neighbours in defending
state borders. If you look at the flow of passenger and cargo traffic,
we have practically reached the level we had before the visa regimes
took effect .
As far as foreign citizens crossing our borders, their overall volume
has unarguably increased. We are trying to work in a way that will
make for as little discomfort and complaint in crossing the state
border as possible. Of course, not everything is ideal, but I should
note the number of statements and complaints about the tactless
behaviour or illegal actions on the part of border troops has sharply
fallen. We are very strict with those people who do not want to carry
out their responsibilities. And we constantly rotate staff. This year,
we completely rotated staff at the Krakovets crossing point and about
50 per cent at Rava-Ruska. Similar work is being done at other
crossing points, significantly lowering the possibility of abuse of
service position and attempts to carry out corrupt activities.
Yehorova Is staff going to be cut within your department?
Karas The border troops department has just gone through the stage of
reform – on the basis of the border troops, the State Border Service
of Ukraine has been established. So the issue of cutting back staff is
not logical at this stage. According to the law of Ukraine “On the
State Border Service of Ukraine”, the limit on staffing from 1 January
2005 is 50,000 people, of them 42,000 are military servicemen. And
that is the maximum allowable number, while the real, that is factual,
number is less and it has not changed for practically the last five
years. We are placing special emphasis on reaching quality
indicators. We very carefully choose people to fill vacancies in top
posts, giving special attention to the level of their professional
preparation, competency, legal preparation, knowledge of foreign
languages and so on.
Overall, the increase in the number of border troops at the end of the
1990s is connected to building Ukraine’s eastern border. We are now
also expecting an increase in the number of border crossing points on
western borders shared with the EU.
The EU is paying great attention to its borders, investing large sums
into developing them… ellipsis as published I can relate the
following example: for one small segment – 97 km of border with
Slovakia – the EU allocated 50m euros for two years. There are
comparable programmes for developing the border in other EU
countries. Serious funding is being allocated for equipping the
borders with technical means. Everywhere there is night vision
equipment, something we, unfortunately, do not yet have.
The EU is helping our neighbours, but we are basically working by
ourselves. However, in most cases, Europe is aiding in strengthening
our eastern, northern and southern borders. Literally just days ago 90
pieces of equipment including vehicles, radio stations and office
equipment were purchased for the Sumy border patrol unit with funds
from the EU. The same help is expected for the Kharkiv, Luhansk and
Donetsk border patrols for securing the border with Russia. As far as
the western borders, almost everything is pinned on our own
abilities. Although, on the other hand, if the European Union is
helping secure our borders on the east, state funding is freed for
supporting the western borders. The main task the State Border
Service’s western directorate is to ensure that we are not worse than
our neighbours.
The minuses of a transit geography
Yehorova Are you handling it?
Karas Look at the results of our work. Units in the western regional
directorate have detained 3,386 people breaking the law on the state
border. Compared to last year 2003 , this indicator is up 22 per
cent. Eighty per cent of all illegal migrants detained by the State
Border Service are detained by us.
Most of the illegal migrants are from countries in south-east Asia
(China, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq). They account for 82
per cent. A significant portion (15 per cent) are from the countries
of the CIS (Chechnya, Armenia and Georgia). Compared to the same
period last year 2003 the number of CIS citizens detained is up 400
per cent.
Nearly 97 per cent of the illegal migrants detained were in organized
groups. The Ukrainian-Slovak section of the border is especially
“active”. This is explained by the attractiveness of Slovak
legislation on granting the status of refugee. A negative role is also
played by the easiness of staying in our border regions. After all,
most migrants coming from the Caucasus and Moldova are in Ukraine
officially, and then they freely move across our territory. Just six
months have passed and we already have detained over 1,000 people from
the Caucasus, 400 per cent more than in all of 2003.
Yehorova The European community has given its new members huge
resources to fight illegal migration. The EU does not want to see them
on its territory and that means someone has to catch them, and then
hold them for a time, feed them and pay to deport them… ellipsis as
published Until 1 May, that was done by Poland, Slovakia, the Czech
Republic and Romania. Now it turns out Ukraine has to do all that
dirty work?
Karas After our neighbours joined the EU, Europe has demanded we take
all detained illegal migrants, who have passed through us, and
determine their fate ourselves. Yes, we do have a certain agreement
from 1993 on accepting persons who pass through a common state
border. The main idea of all these agreements is that we have
responsibility for those who pass across a common border with Ukraine,
and not circumventing us. Today they are trying to give us all the
illegals caught in Poland and especially in Slovakia. However, there
has to be some proof, we cannot accept them all. That would be such a
burden for the country! So we try every time to insist on joint
investigations, joint questioning and often prove – that one is not
ours!
Sometimes, illegals are held in our country for up to six months. It
takes time after all to determine who they are. Their documents are
often taken by those who are involved in smuggling them. Such
“channels” are operating from Beijing to Berlin. It is a trial
sometimes waiting to know what language the interpreter needs to know
to talk with them.
Yehorova According to the State Committee on Nationalities and
Migration, the EU spends 10 per cent from its budget to combat illegal
migration, while Ukraine spends 90. Of course, this is not a question
for you really, but you also spend in the same way, giving people a
roof for a time, feeding them from your stores. On average over 1,000
dollars is spent to deport one migrant. And the money does not always
come out of the migrant’s pocket… ellipsis as published
Karas Two years ago Ukraine opened the first shelter for people
detained by the border guards. It belongs to the Transcarpathian
Region. Of course, it is not enough, such places for keeping illegal
migrants need to be set up in other regions. Funds are needed for
deportation. This year for the first time, the state has set aside
funds for this. Europe has promised a lot and there is hope it may
keep its promise. Migrants making it to Ukraine are only using it as a
place to transit. Their goal is more developed countries – Germany,
France, Luxembourg, Great Britain… ellipsis as published The
European community should understand that.
>From barbed wire to modern technology
Yehorova Civilized Europe will understand, but a grandmother living
near the border does not understand what harm she does the state by
letting illegal migrants sleep in her barn. It costs 50 dollars per
person per night there. And that reasoning (almost two monthly pension
allowances!) is stronger for her. How do border troops work in light
of this, do they find a common tongue with the local population?
Karas Of course we look for one. And we punish in accordance with the
law. Over six months of the current year, 1,786 people were brought
to administrative responsibility, fines were levied to a total amount
of 121,044 hryvnyas.
It is not easy to make the local population our helpers, but it is
possible. People should understand that this is their state and that
it will care of them and then they will take care of the state.
Now we are cooperate on this with the special services of Ukraine, the
Interior Ministry and the western regional customs service. We share
information and carry out joint search activities. By the way, we are
creating civil formations of our helpers – that is that positive
experience which we need to return t o.
Yehorova And what about citizens who do not break the law – why should
they suffer? Everyone knows about the agreement between Poland and
Ukraine on how many cars should be let through a day. Customs and
border services carry out joint inspections to decrease the time in
crossing the border. And still there are queues on the border. Today,
after I made a cursory count, about 100 cars were lined up… ellipsis
as published
Karas The main reason for the queues on the Polish-Ukrainian border is
the un-rhythmic nature of our neighbours’ work. In my opinion, the
intensity of the work of border services on the Polish side should be
higher. In particular, they do not want to recognize a “green line”,
that is, a simplified system of crossing the border, explaining that
those involved in contraband often use “green lines”. According to our
data, it is the other way around. They almost never use those
lines. They go in normal order. By the way, we are not catching crows
here, in the past six months Ukrainian border service units together
with customs agents have detained goods worth more than 22.1m
hryvnyas. That is 240 per cent more than in the same period last year
2003 . Still, we would like the differences in the way Poland and we
look at simplified systems for crossing the border to be eliminated.
There is one more very serious problem – the number of existing
crossing points is not enough. And so three more are planned to be
built in the coming years: Budomyzh-Hrushev, Nyzhankovychy and
Boberka. In order to start construction on these crossing points, a
decision is needed by the cabinet and diplomatic notes exchanged by
the Foreign Ministry. Certain agreements from the Polish side already
exist. And so it is just a matter of time.
Yehorova Please tell us – are there sections of the border where
Ukraine is separated from other states by barbed wire?
Karas Yes, there still are. In far removed places, in the
mountains. Does that bother someone? In time, everything will fall
down on its own, we can’t buy new barbed wire after all. We are moving
towards modern methods. For example, we check the authenticity of
people’s documents and find counterfeits with light of various
wavelengths and magnification to 30 times. Tiny video cameras have
been installed to monitor places that are hard to reach, technical
equipment is in place to find people in remote spaces. Seventeen
international points have been equipped with automated border control
devices which help in investigating persons and transport vehicles. In
just minutes all needed information is sent from the administration of
the State Border Service to the border crossing point. You can quickly
uncover documents that are no good, people denied entry to Ukraine,
criminals being searched for. This year an subsystem was put into use
that can automatically read license plates of transport vehicles at
the Rava-Ruska and Krakovets border crossings and a subsystem for
video monitoring. In the future there are prospects for putting such
systems into place at all international crossing points by 2006.
Our borders have always been tight and now they must become completely
impossible for transgressors to violate. That is what the EU demands
and moreover, our professional and civil duty.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Sun Star, Philippines
Aug 8 2004
Mercado: Neither here nor there for Pinoys
By Juan L. Mercado
What emerges when the hard facts and new data on our development is
stacked against those of other countries?
Human Development Report (HDR) 2004 brackets us between Armenia and
the miniscule Maldives Islands, in the Indian Ocean. It’s a `cold
dose of reality’ in this annual report, published yearly, by the
United Nations Development Prog-ramme (UNDP).
HDR reports track progress-or backsliding-of countries. Over the last
two decades, last year’s report, for example, noted: the Philippines,
and 80 other countries, ousted dictators and restored democratic
systems.
But pervasive poverty and inept governance since then caused some to
backslide to authoritarian rule, as Somalia. Others, like
Afghanistan, are failed states. Some are `in transition to nowhere.’
Does that include us?
HDRs go beyond traditional yardsticks like gross national product.
It’s innovative indicators factor in far more: from probability of
surviving to 60 years, TB incidence and cellular phones. What emerges
is ordinary citizens’ `quality of life,’ seen in an international
setting.
Thus, in overall human development, the Philippines ranked 83rd, out
of 177 countries studied. Norwegians, Swedes and Australian enjoy the
best quality of life. Danes were number 17. The worst was in Africa’s
Niger and Sierra Leone.
`Three basic decisions underpin Nordic success,’ explains Jeffrey
Sach’s of Columbia University’s Earth Institute. `First, it
prioritized education, study and science. Second, it decided it would
leave no countryman behind. Social insurance-pensions, health care,
education-became a shared commitment. And third, it built a vigorous
private sector.
How do we compare? `Oh, would some power the giftie give us / The
gift to see ourselves as others see us,’ Robert Burns fretted. HDR
does that and shows other Asian countries ensure basic human needs of
its citizens better. Singapore ranked number 25, HDR notes, and
Malaysia 59.
Life expectancy remains the most sensitive of gauges. Indeed, `life
is the threshold at which all other hopes begin.’
Filipinos today can hope to live to 69.8 years, almost on par with
Vietnamese. That’s more than a decade for `lower-drawer’ Asean
countries like Cambodia and Myanmar. But it is 78 for Greeks and
Singaporeans -a year longer than Americans, 77. For Japanese, it’s
almost 82.
`As a priest, one of my sad tasks is bless bodies of far too many
babies,’ a friend said over coffee. Rough-hewn tiny coffins,
shouldered by relatives on country roads, are so common, they pass
almost unnoticed, he added.
Nonetheless, infant mortality here has dropped: from 60 percent in
1970 to about 29 today. That’s a vast improvement. But far more can
be done. Infant deaths are down to four percent in Singapore, 17 in
Sri Lanka.
Of every 100,000 Fili-pinas who give birth, 200 die. Are these deaths
unavoidable? Sure, Laos has mortality rates at 650. But in China,
maternal fatalities are down to 56, and in Malaysia 41.
Is this stark record due, in part, to the stampede abroad of medical
personnel and lack of medicine?
Midwives, nurses or doctors assist at more than half (58 percent) of
births here, a fraction better than Vietnam’s 54. But South Korea and
even conflict-torn Bosnia provides universal coverage. It is 99 per
cent in Brunei.
All the ailing poor get, in many public clinics, is a prescription.
About 49, out of every 100 Filipinos lack `sustainable access to
affordable essential drugs,’ HDR notes. `Is there no balm in Gilead?’
was the ancient cry for drugs that offered relief. The plaint echoes
in countries on a par with us: Uruguay, Ukraine and Surinam.
But nine out of 10 Thais have access to those medicines. It is eight
in China and Indonesia and seven in Maldives.
Chronic hunger stalks many. One out of five Filipinos is
undernourished, like Khazakstanis and Indians. That problem affects
one out of 10 Indonesians. It is practically zero for Malaysians. En
tiempo de hambre, no hay mal pan, my mother – rest her soul – would
say. `In times of hunger, there’s no bad bread.’
Ill-fed mothers give birth to wizened infants who, in turn, bear
equally small babies. This appalling treadmill of marginalized
citizens spill across generations.
At birth, 20 out of every 100 infants are underweight. It is only
seven for Thais and Armenian. And three out of every 10 kids are
`under-height’ – stunted is the more brutal word – when they turn
five.
In Cebu, 41 percent of pre-schoolers (0 to 5 years old) are stunted,
the Fifth National Nutrition Survey found. And 51 percent were
Vitamin A deficient.
`Will the emerging generation be scrawnier, frailer and shorter than
their Singaporean or Taiwanese counterparts?’ worries Nutrition
Institute director Florentino Solon.
A new HDR indicator is: `Probability at Birth of Surviving to Age
65.’ Some dub this `Yeat’s yardstick’ – a reference to the poet
William Butler Yeats’ moving line on the early death of a loved one:
`We dreamed that he’d live to comb gray hair.’
Seven out of 10 Filipinas born today will probably see gray hair. It
is six for us males. But it is nine for Canadian, French and
Norwegian women – and, like Filipinos, a year shorter for the men.
`Human development is first and foremost about allowing people to
lead the kind of life they choose,’ UNDP’s Mark Malloch Brown writes
in HDR’s foreword. It is `providing them with the tools and
opportunities to make that choice.’
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HOMENETMEN CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
NORTHEAST GLENDALE, July 30 (Noyan Tapan). Homenetmen Glendale Ararat
Chapter held a 25th anniversary celebration 27 July at Glandale High
School. The event included live cultural music, dancing and sporting
events. It lasted from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and by midafternoon,
organizers said more than 1,000 people had walked through the
entrance.The event was for the community but it also was a chance to
bring past and current membership together to see how the organization
has grown. “We wanted to create an environment in which the membership
would see each other and create a momentum for the 25th anniversary
gala in October,” Glendale News Press LATimes.com quoted anniversary
celebration organizer Armen Abrahamian as saying. This year, the
anniversary has already included reunions of past members and
volunteers. The chapter, the largest of its kind in the Western United
States, is celebrating 25 years of providing a place for
Armenian-American boys and girls – many from south Glendale – to get
involved in scouting and athletic activities. Homenetmen, also known
as the Armenian General Athletic Union & Scouts, is a global
organization founded in 1918. The mission for the local chapter has
remained the same since it started 25 years ago, when it started out
of small homes and rented space in Glendale. “I think we’ve done a
good job with educating kids while being able to give them enough to
do to help them not get into trouble,” Abrahamian said. Many members
are now in their 50s, and mentoring a new generation at 3347 N. San
Fernando Road. “This place is a second home for us,” said Andre
Pashai, a longtime member who is now coaching the basketball team that
Homenetmen officials said will represent Glendale this year in the
Pan-Armenian Games in Armenia. “It is a great idea,” said Narek
Shahmoradian, 13, who plays tennis and basketball. “It will stop kids
from getting into spraying graffiti on walls and getting into gangs.
It makes the community better.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NewsCentralAsia, Asia
July 30 2004
Causus Belli: A Historical Lesson
Dr. Begench Karayev, Fulbright Scholar, Indiana University
It could be possible to attribute the contemporary global upheaval to
clashing civilizations and cultures but a very clear and present
danger actually emanates from the lofty ambitions and raging
arrogance of some power players and decision makers. Their
declaration to engage in a long war with the `enemies of
civilization’ falls very short of any real justification. Sometimes
it appears that the `enemy’ is a product of their paranoid
imagination. In any case, it is difficult to accept their identified
foes as `enemies of civilization.’
An impartial assessment would suggest that the authors of the Causus
Belli are probably themselves the enemies of civilization, the
civilization that they claim to defend.
History shows that justice may be a murky concept, arrogance never
goes unpunished, and sometimes the efforts to bring peace to hostile
communities may result in tragedy for peacemakers at the hands of
their own subjects or companions. Even some prudent emperors and
fearless warriors have fallen victim to this phenomenon.
Some war planners with their incomplete knowledge or incorrect
understanding of history may be expecting a peaceful Muslim Europe
and democratic Greater Middle Eastern region as a result of their
grandiose plans but they need to remember that war has a way of
getting out of hand and end result can usually be unexpected and
surprising.
We find an important lesson in the Christian-Muslim wars near the end
of eleventh century. The heroes of the epoch are well known to
historians although the politicians may not be quite familiar with
them. They were Alp Arslan and Romanus IV Diogenes, the first one a
Turkmen Seljuk emperor and the latter the Emperor of Byzantine.
In 1070, Alp Arslan invaded Armenia and captured the town of
Malazkirt, north of Lake Van. In the spring of 1071, he besieged and
took Aleppo, which was held by the independent Arab prince, Mahmood
ibn Mirdas, but the Sultan allowed him to remain in the city as his
vassal. At the same time the Emperor Romanus Diogenes crossed the
Euphrates and marched to Malazkirt where he divided his army, sending
Norman contingent under Crusader Roussel de Bailleul to hold the
fortress of Khilat.
According to historians, Alp Arslan first invited the emperor for
negotiations but Romanus replied haughtily that he would dictate
terms of peace in Rei. On Friday, 19th August, 1071, Alp Arslan
prepared for battle. As soon as he came in sight of the enemy, he
dismounted and implored God for victory. The Turkmens then fell upon
the Byzantines with all their fury. Romanus had drawn up his army in
line. The Turkmens, however, according to their usual tactics,
refused to close and remained at a short distance from the heavy
Byzantine formation, into which they poured continuous streams of
arrows.
Romanus, with the main body of the front line was surrounded. The
Turkmens closed in, still shooting. Eventually the Byzantines were
overrun and Romanus Diogenes was taken prisoner. Alp Arslan behaved
towards his defeated enemy with chivalrous courtesy. After a brief
period of detention, the emperor was released, weighed down by the
conqueror with valuable gifts.
While the ruthless Turkmens treated the unhappy Romanus with
courtesy, the action of his compatriots was less chivalrous. The
politicians of Constantinople were quick to seek their personal
interests from the national disaster. No sooner did the news of the
disaster reach Constantinople than the courtiers seized power by
raising to the purple the young son of the previous Emperor
Constantine Ducas. The new emperor assumed the title of Michael VII
Ducas.
When Romanus Diogenes returned to Byzantine territory, he found that
he had been deposed already. Endeavoring to raise an army, he was
defeated and carried as a prisoner to Constandnople, where his eyes
were torn out with such brutality that he died as a result of the
surgery.
But the young Emperor Michael Ducas in the face of threat from Norman
Crusader Roussel de Bailleul made a fateful decision. Afraid that
Roussel would attack Constantinople, the emperor appealed for help to
the Seljuks. While the chivalrous Alp Arslan had marched away to
Trans-Oxania after releasing Romanus, his nephew Sulaiman ibn
Qutlumish now concluded an agreement with Michael Ducas to come to
his assistance against Roussel. The Normans were overwhelmed by the
combined armies of the Byzantines and the Seljuks.
The indomitable Roussel, however, continued the struggle, repulsing
his pursuers. A new Byzantine commander, Alexius Comnenus, was sent
against him, working in close co-operation with the Turkmens. At
length Roussel was handed over to Alexius Comnenus. This incident, in
which Alexius Comnenus, who was later to be Byzantine emperor,
co-operated with Turkmens against Normans, should be borne in mind.
After some time sultan Alp Arslan marched to Trans-Oxiana. In the
fall of 1072 the sultan’s army crossed the Oxus on a bridge of boats.
A prisoner was brought before Alp Arslan for questioning, but
suddenly broke away from the guards and plunged a dagger into the
sultan’s breast before the escorts could intervene. In the context of
the historical situation of those times it seems that Alp Arslan fell
victim to a treacherous plot hatched by the participants who were
discontented with the results of his strategy regarding Byzantine.
Some reflections about it appear to coincide with another version of
the death of Alp Arslan. It is said that before he could cross the
Oxus with safety it was necessary to subdue certain fortresses, one
of which was for several days vigorously defended by the governor,
Yussuf Kothual, a Khorezmian. He was, however, obliged to surrender
and was brought as a prisoner before the Sultan, who condemned him to
cruel death. Yussuf, in desperation, drew his dagger and rushed upon
the sultan. Alp Arslan, the most skilful archer of his day, motioned
his guards not to interfere and drew his bow, but his foot slipped,
the arrow missed the target and he received the assassin’s dagger in
his breast. The wound proved mortal, and Alp Arslan expired a few
hours later, on the 1st of December 1072.
As he lay dying, Alp Arslan is alleged to have said to his intimates,
“I have never engaged an enemy without first begging God for victory
– but yesterday I rode to the top of a small hill, while the earth
shook beneath the boots of my troops. I felt myself swell with pride
and said to myself, `I am the king of the whole earth. No one can
stand up to me’. So God overthrew me by the weakest of his creatures,
a prisoner-of-war under escort. I beg God to forgive me for my sin of
arrogance’.
History continuously hammers home the lesson that arrogance does not
go a long way.
He died at the age of forty and was buried in Merv. The following
epitaph was inscribed on his tombstone:
“Thou hast seen Alp Arslan’s head
In pride exalted to the sky,
Come to Merv and see how lowly
In the dust that head doth lie”
In Turkmenistan calendar the month of August has been renamed as Alp
Arslan. It is a gesture of gratitude from the people of independent
Turkmen state of 21 century – Motherland of Great Seljuks to the
glorious Turkmen hero of the Middle Ages.
About the author: Dr. Begench Karayev is currently on Fulbright
Scholarship at Indiana University, Bloomington, USA. He holds a Ph.D.
from Moscow in political theory and is the author of monographs:
`Traditional and modern in political life of the contemporary Central
Asian society. Experience of political analysis’ (in Russian, 218p.,
Moscow, 1996) and `Policy analysis: problems of theory and
methodology. Experience of researches of contemporary Central Asian
society (in Russian, 176 p., Moscow, 1994). Before joining the
Fulbright Scholar Program Dr. Karayev served for more than seven
years as a senior diplomat in the Foreign Service of Turkmenistan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress