Author: Kajoyan Gevork

VUE D’ENSEMBLE DE L’UNION DOUANIERE : QUELS SONT LES RISQUES / RECOMPENSES POUR L’ARMENIE ?

ARMENIE

L’adhesion a l’Union douanière met l’Armenie en profonde dependance de
” l’Empire russe “, tandis que la zone economique commune, disent les
experts, est un voile de Moscou pour resoudre ses problèmes propres,
principalement politiques.

Ancien chef de la Banque centrale d’Armenie Bagrat Asatryan a
dit l’adhesion de l’Armenie dans l’Union douanière (UD) est a 90
pour cent une question politique, et seulement 10 pour cent une
question economique, ce qui aura un impact important sur l’economie
de l’Armenie.

” Il est evident que Poutine a simplement dit :” pas plus de coup
autour, vous devez signer. Maintenant, mettons de côte la question de
savoir s’il [Serge Sarkissian] est un bon ou un mauvais president,
cette [adhesion a l’Union douanière] est un enjeu crucial pour
notre pays, je tiens donc a poser des questions : quelles mesures
seront prises, quel sera le processus, quel volume, les tâches et
les objectifs ? C’est comme ouvrir une fenetre et entrer dans le
brouillard, ne sachant meme pas s’il existe un terrain sous vos pieds,
ou s’il y a un pont, ou vous etes simplement en train de marcher
sur l’air, dans l’obscurite totale ” a declare Bagrat Asatryan
a ArmeniaNow.

Outre cette obscurite, dit-il, l’Armenie n’est pas prete a entrer dans
un tel cadre, car elle n’a pas de frontières communes avec l’un des
pays membres de l’UD, cependant, cela n’exclut pas ” des discussions
saines ” pour rendre cela un peu raisonnable.

” Si la Russie garantit que c’est le prix pour le chemin de fer
abkhaze, après avoir travaille sur ses problèmes avec la Georgie, alors
la situation serait modifie de facon significative et l’appartenance
a l’UD sera un problème de discussions sense. La prochaine grande
question est de savoir si nous entrons dans l’UD avec ou sans le
Karabagh. Si c’est sans, cela ne veut-il pas dire que nous renoncons
au Karabagh ? Et si les Russes ont promis qu’ils resoudront ce
problème mondial, alors, excusez-moi, mais je suis tout a fait pour
” explique l’economiste.

Est-ce que de rejoindre l’UD signifie que l’Armenie va se retrouver
plus tard une partie de la zone Rouble commune ? Un expert de la
gouvernance Harutyun Mesrobyan dit que ce serait apporter plus
de risques.

” En Europe, de nombreux pays ont renonce a leurs unites monetaires
nationales, et c’est alors que la crise a commence. Aucun de ces
pays, parmi lesquels la Grèce, le Portugal, l’Espagne, avaient leurs
leviers separes – leur propre unite monetaire, qui sont des outils
pour resister et lutter contre la crise economique ” a-t-il dit
a ArmeniaNow.

Pendant ce temps, Bagrat Asatryan croit qu’etre dans une zone monetaire
plus grand peut etre favorable aux petites entites economiques, il
s’agit d’une nouvelle qualite de developpement, et l’aspect emotionnel
de la question, typique des petites nations, devrait etre mis de côte.

” Le problème ici est different. Nous voulons entrer dans une zone
unique, que voulons-nous vivre avec les pauvres ou les riches ?

Naturellement, les riches. Mais la Russie est encore une entite
economique non viable, jusqu’a present elle reste un empire, et tous
les empires s’effondrent un jour. Il y a une vingtaine d’annees, cela
a ete l’Union sovietique et elle s’est effondree ; qui peut pretendre
que ces processus ne se reproduiront pas en Russie ? “a-t-il demande.

L’adhesion a l’UD implique que l’Armenie perd ses accords de
libre-echange. Plus tôt dans son interview a ArmNews TV, le
vice-ministre des Affaires etrangères Chavarch Kotcharian a declare
que l’adhesion a l’UD signifie ” perdre sa souverainete “.

” Nous avons un accord de libre-echange avec la Georgie, et dans ce
cas, la Georgie devrait signer un accord avec l’UD ” a-t-il dit.

L’Armenie se rapproche de la fin de son double jeu.

” Vous ne pouvez pas adopter un principe de l’union douanière et
un autre avec le reste du monde, vous n’etes plus independant dans
cette optique, vous vous engagez a respecter une politique unique ”
dit Bagrat Asatryan.

Par union douanière beaucoup comprennent retour a l’ancien Union
sovietique. Tandis que Bagrat Asatryan a dit, il s’agit plus d’une
politique consolidee par des moyens economiques, dont la source est
le prix international pour les vecteurs energetiques.

” Et si les prix du petrole baissent de 50 pour cent ? Si l’economie
russe est egale a celle de la Turquie. Cette union douanière est
temporaire, je vous assure, parce que la Russie a mis un assez grand
objectif politique – une zone economique commune, mais n’a ni les
ressources financières ni la volonte politique pour cela ” a dit
Bagrat Asatryan.

En rejoignant l’UD l’Armenie ne perdra pas le marche europeen, mais
sera privee de possibilites de developpement. Bagrat Asatryan dit
que le chemin vers l’Europe etait pave aussi de nombreux defis mais
au moins ” Nous savions où nous allions “.

” Et quelles sont les valeurs politiques de la Russie ? Corruption.

Et, si c’est rien d’autre, se debarrasser de cet element par lui-meme
aura-t-il valu la peine. La Russie n’est pas une entite viable
developpe pour devenir des partenaires a part entière ” dit-il. ”
Nous avons prepare cela par nous-memes par notre regime terriblement
deforme, des elections honteuses, des autorites faibles, et un etat
qui n’a pas de valeurs. Le truc, c’est que l’on doit etre un facteur,
et aujourd’hui nous sommes l’avant-poste de la Russie, et quand vous
etes petit, mais toujours un facteur cela est incontournable “.

Thomas de Waal, associe senior au Carnegie Endowment, qui se specialise
principalement dans la region du Caucase du Sud, a ecrit dans son
article publie sur le site Internet du Centre Carnegie de Moscou :
” Certains membres du gouvernement armenien se plaignent que l’UE
ne leur donne pas de marge de man~uvre, et il est vrai que la
bureaucratie de Bruxelles est une machine maladroite qui ne fait pas
bien la diplomatie. Mais vous pouvez aussi voir cela comme un accident
de voiture au ralenti pendant plusieurs annees. Tant l’administration
de Sarkissian que celle de Robert Kotcharian ont adopte une reprise
russe de l’economie, ce qui leur a laisse le contrôle politique et
ne pas les exposer a la concurrence de style europeen. Comme Serge
Sarkissian a commence (provisoirement) a avoir des doutes au sujet
de cette affaire, il s’est trouve mal a court d’options “.

Par Gayane Lazarian

ArmeniaNow

mardi 29 octobre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

GENEVE : “LES REVERBERES DE LA MEMOIRE” PRES DE L’ONU

Publie le : 29-10-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – Selon la Tribune de Genève,
le projet artistique en souvenir du genocide armenien, intitule “Les
Reverbères de la Memoire”, devrait finalement bien prendre place
dans le parc du Musee Ariana, près du siège de l’ONU a Genève. Il
resterait desormais a obtenir le permis de construire. Si la nouvelle
etait confirmee, elle ne pourrait que rejouir tous les defenseurs des
droits de l’homme qui sont trop souvent desarmes pour lutter contre le
lobbying forcene de l’Etat turc. Ankara a recemment fait pression sur
l’ONU, contraignant les representants des Nations-Unies a intervenir
auprès des services publics helvetiques pour empecher l’erection
de cette ~uvre de memoire a proximite du siège de l’organisation
internationale. 2015 verra la celebration du Centenaire du genocide
armenien qui s’est deroule dans l’actuelle Turquie au cours de la
Première Guerre mondiale.

Ce genocide – perpetre par le gouvernement Jeune-Turc a l’instigation
notamment de Talaat Pacha, ministre de l’Interieur – avait fait
1 500 000 victimes sur les 2,3 millions d’Armeniens, citoyens de
l’Empire ottoman. Il se perpetue depuis 1915 par sa negation a tous les
niveaux de l’Etat turc, ainsi que par la destruction ou le pillage des
richesses architecturales armeniennes. Tandis que les gouvernements
turcs successifs s’arcboutent sur une historiographie falsifiee,
vecteur de haine anti-armenienne inculquee dès l’ecole primaire,
un mouvement (certes encore très minoritaire) a vu le jour depuis
quelques annees au sein de la societe civile de Turquie pour reclamer
la reconnaissance du genocide armenien, voire meme des reparations.

Dans un pays où l’ultranationalisme est une vertu, ces femmes et
ces hommes courageux sont regulièrement calomnies a outrance par les
medias et l’ombrageux Premier ministre turc.

A l’instar de ces militants turcs des droits de l’homme, la diplomatie
occidentale se doit de ne pas plier devant le chantage et les menaces
du gouvernement de Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Ces “reverbères de la memoire” eclaireraient la route que la Turquie
doit emprunter pour accepter enfin son passe.

Quant a leur emplacement près du siège de l’ONU, il representerait une
piqûre de rappel salvatrice a destination de tous les hommes d’Etat
qui oublient trop souvent les valeurs qu’ils sont supposes defendre.

Collectif VAN

Lire l’article “Les reverbères de la memoire” sera dans le parc
de l’Ariana””

Lire aussi :

L’ONU s’oppose au memorial armenien prevu a Genève

Retour a la rubrique

TURQUIE: LA MORALE PERTURBEE PAR LA MEMOIRE

Publie le : 29-10-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – Le journaliste et politicien
armenien de Turquie, Raffi A.Hermonn, repond a l’article d’Ahmet Ýnsel,
universitaire turc a la retraite, paru sur le site Repair Future. Le
Collectif VAN vous propose la traduction de cet article en turc,
paru sur le site t24.com, le 18 octobre 2013.

Cet article est une reponse a l’article “L’Europe peut-elle avoir une
influence sur la question armenienne?” d’Ahmet Ýnsel qui se presente
comme economiste, professeur a Paris 1 et Galatasaray. Directeur
de la maison d’edition Iletisim et chroniqueur au journal Radikal
[Nota CVAN : selon nos informations, Ahmet Insel n’enseigne plus,
ni a Paris 1 ni a Galatasaray] :

L’Europe peut-elle avoir une influence sur la question armenienne ?

Que notre morale politique ne soit pas perturbee a cause de notre
memoire… Jamais!

Raffi A.Hermonn

t24.com

18 octobre 2013

Mon cher >, mon ami, ce cher Ahmet Ýnsel, a fait une analyse
resumant les relations entre la Turquie, l’Armenie et l’U.E sur le site
Repair qui diffuse des informations en turc, en anglais et en francais.

Je l’ai lu attentivement…

Je l’ai lu une deuxième fois…

Et…

J’ai termine l’article que j’avais commence a lire avec interet,
en prenant sans cesse des notes…

Cela n’aurait pas dû etre ainsi mais c’est devenu une obligation et
voila : cet article est ne…

Entre 1994 et 2005, en tant que journaliste accredite et representant
du peuple, j’en avais assez de repeter sans arret les memes choses
lors de nos evènements du CRDA [Nota CVAN : Centre de Recherches sur
la Diaspora Armenienne] a Paris et a Strasbourg (avec Jean-Claude
Kebabdjian et Ragýp Zarakolu, editeur et militant des droits de
l’homme), et dans mes articles rediges en francais, en turc et en
armenien.

Nous disions que la decision du Parlement europeen, concernant la
reconnaissance du genocide armenien le 18 juin 1987, n’obligeait pas
la Turquie a le reconnaitre pour pouvoir entrer dans l’U.E. Cependant,
d’une part cette decision avait le but de calmer la tension contre
la Turquie qui montait en France et dans les autres pays europeens,
et d’autre part, elle disait a la Turquie de se taire car rien
n’etait grave.

Le ministre turc des Affaires etrangères, conscient de cela, ne
contredisait pas la presse turque, sous-entendu les journaux, en
disant >.

La Turquie des annees 1990 etait preoccupee en interne au niveau
de la securite par la resolution du problème kurde. Pour ce faire,
elle avait besoin de devenir un seul corps face a ce problème en
s’inventant un ennemi commun. Cet ennemi commun (l’Armenien) pouvait
servir a ce stade a ecarter l’attention.

Les ecrans de tele, les frequences radio, les journaux publies des
centaines de milliers de fois, mentaient officiellement. Etienne
Manach, le conseiller special du President Francois Mitterrand,
responsable des relations avec la Turquie, s’est senti oblige de se
rendre a Ankara pour s’exprimer evidemment en termes diplomatiques:
>

Et Ankara a dit en souriant : > N’est-ce pas bien ?

En 2013, c’est evidemment bien d’ecrire la verite… Nous aimerions
que l’article soit paru dans Radikal… Nous savons que Repair n’est
pas un organe de presse lu par tout le monde… Mais…

En ce qui concerne les raisons pour lesquelles les protocoles entre
la Turquie et l’Armenie sont morts-nes, Insel a ecrit :

Grottaglie in rete, Italia
21 ott 2013

L’ANIMA ARMENA IN UN POETA DEL NOVECENTO VISSUTO IN ITALIA: HRAND NAZARIANTZ

[The soul of a 20th century Armenian poet who lived in Italy: Hrand Nazariantz]

Di Pierfranco Bruni

Tra l’Armenia e l’Italia la cultura Occidentale si intreccia con la
tradizione Armena e trova nella letteratura un punto di raccordo
fondamentale. Si è portato l’Armenia nel sangue. Un poeta cifra le
parole sempre con il cuore. Le terre desolate o lontane. Le terre
deserte o richiamanti nostalgie.

La sua Armenia ha le ferite mai cucite. Ferite che diventano
strozzature di cui la storia testimonia le rughe. E in questa sua
Armenia cristiana che è stata devastata dai Turchi e dai comunisti ci
sono anche i segni di una cultura che rimanda alla civiltà italiana.
Un poeta, dunque. Hrand Nazariantz. Nato a Costantinopoli l’8 gennaio
del 1866 e morto il 25 gennaio del 1962 a Conversano (Bari). Giunge a
Bari grazie alla cantante e ballerina Lena, ovvero, Maddalena De
Cosmis di Casamassima, diventata sua sposa nel Consolato italiano di
Costantinopoli nel 1913.

Dopo il matrimonio arriva, come esule, a Bari. Comunque il suo
interesse per la cultura letteraria italiana era nato in Armenia.
Studioso di Futurismo e di quella letteratura italiana che porta i
nomi di Marinetti, Govoni, Lucini, Verga, Pirandello.

Traduce in lingua armena Libero Altomare, Enrico Cardile, Torquato
Tasso. Significativo resta il suo rapporto con Filippo Tommaso
Martinetti. Con Marinetti intrattiene un rapporto epistolare a
cominciare dal 1911 e la sua amicizia con Marinetti lo porta a
scrivere un importante saggio dal titolo: `F.T. Marinetti e il
futurismo’. Un saggio che resta un punto centrale nella storia critica
del Futurismo e da Bari Nazariantz costituisce un punto di grande
rilevanza in una lettura innovativa dei rapporti letterari tra
l’Oriente e l’Occidente.

Le radici di Marinetti, la sua nascita ad Alessandria d’Egitto, sono
dati di iniziale riflessione nel poeta armeno tanto che lo portano a
studiare i legami mediterranei tra la letteratura armena e quella
italiana in uno scavo che toccherà autori che segneranno il Novecento
europeo come Ungaretti (nato anch’egli ad Alessandria d’Egitto), Ada
Negri, Lionello Fiumi. Poeti con i quali intaglia una relazione
metafisica tra il suo scrivere e la parola vissuta di un
esistenzialismo tagliato tra le corde di una testimonianza
linguisticamente dentro l’Ermetismo.

Ma il `suo’ Futurismo ha radici nella cultura certamente occidentale
ma si filtra con l’esperienza di autori e di testi che si sono spesso
confrontati con il Mediterraneo. Lo stesso suo saggio su Marinetti ha
delle coordinate che rimandano ad una filosofia che trae la sua
spirale dalla vita vissuta come avanguardia, ovvero come costante
messa in discussione di quella tradizione che resta nell’espressione
problematica ma si decifra nei linguaggi.

D’altronde la serata Futurista al Teatro Piccinni di Bari del 26
settembre del 1922 porta sulla scena la parola come azione partendo da
una con testualità che è quella del `riflesso’ dentro lo specchio
parlante dei linguaggi. Ma Nazariantz sembra dividere le vie della
letteratura proprio sul pianto strutturale o contestuale. Da una parte
la nostalgia che diviene `dono espressivo’ dall’altro il peso della
parola che vive di rivoluzioni nella (e della) lingua.

Il suo intervento critico è dentro la letteratura e il più delle volte
diventa un manifesto di poesia. La sua raccolta di versi del 1952 `Il
ritorno dei poeti’ va verso questo indirizzo che si apre al
superamento di una splendida intuizione che si legge in due titoli che
mostrano tutta la loro eleganza: `Paradiso delle Ombre’ e `Aurora
anima di bellezza’. Certo, la sua Armenia è un cammino nella diaspora,
nella nostalgia e nel sangue. Ma la sua poesia che vive di questi
incroci trova nella meditazione dei `crocifissi’, ovvero nell’aurora
della cristianità, la metafora più marcata di un intero viaggio umano
e letterario.

Ma l’Oriente resta il suo viaggio interiore. Vi rimane e permane anche
quando la sua rivista `Graal’ pone a confronto il senso cosmico e la
tragedia come costante quotidianità del vivere. È, comunque, il
paradiso metaforizzato dei fiori e del deserto che tocca i labirinti
del suo esistere dentro la parola e dentro la poesia che è linguaggio
dell’anima. La sua Armenia è diaspora ma anche favola e leggenda. È il
canto dell’arte trascinato nel dolore e nell’esilio. L’esilio non si
consumerà e non si ritornerà dall’esilio. Chi l’esilio lo ha vissuto
resterà sempre un viandante disperso e ritrovato e il poeta Nazariantz
vive l’esilio come la sua vera `abitazione’.

Il suo canto armeno è il canto di una Armenia solcata tra le strade
dell’Occidente cristiano che non può fare a meno di confrontarsi con
una storia ferita e con la nostalgia scavata nell’anima e nel
pensiero. L’esilio di Nazariantz ha il taglio: `Tu sapessi, fratello,
come è triste/l’essere al mondo,/soli vivere e senza focolare,/non
sapere ove poggiar la testa/e volgere la propria tristezza/verso I
silenzi di Dio, camminare/stancamente senza posa, ovunque estranei…’.
Il sentirsi estranei o stranieri è un sentimento che nella diaspora
del viandante Nazariantz è una dimensione ontologica in cui il
concetto di esilio è metafisica dell’anima in un sapere che
costantemente si ripete: `…ovunque esiliati,/sapendo vana ogni
ribellione/e vana ogni preghiera…’.

Versi che vivono nel sacrificio della Croce. Nazariantz ha nella sua
segnatura cristiana il rapporto dialogico tra la `terra e le `stele’
in una sospensione che è religiosità verso l’aurora. Nella sua
diaspora il poeta trova l’aurora superando il supplizio del buio. Così
l’Oriente e l’Occidente si ritrovano nella loro archeologia della
conoscenza, in quel sapere dell’anima che vive la libertà e il sogno.

Ma la poesia è religione. Nel pensare di Nazariantz sono
incancellabili queste chiose: `Chi crea per l’effimero soggiace
all’effimero. Il vero Poeta si distingue perché la sua vita è il
migliore dei suoi poemi’. Alla ricerca di un ulissismo mai vissuto e
mai volutamente cercato, senza il lascito di profezie altre,
Nazariantz, pur nella sua diaspora e nel suo abitare l’esilio
(zambraniano), non smette di viversi dentro la luce della spera e
dell’attesa e con le rughe di una ironia che solcano i suoi passi.

La sua poesia è un misterioso incanto che si incastra nella storia di
un uomo che ha vissuto l’Occidente negli scavi di un Oriente che è
rimasta sempre il suo paese e la sua appartenenza. Ha portato con sé i
fiori del deserto, la libertà della tradizione, la rivoluzione
dell’arte come nostalgia e come gioco consapevole che l’arte vive
sempre nel silenzio, nella solitudine e nella pazienza dell’anima
grande che fa i poeti e gli uomini unici. Un poeta dell’anima tra i
silenzi custoditi e le voci raccolte. Un poeta metafisico che ha
interpretato il futurismo con le alchimie della memoria.

Ma è tutta l’anima Armena che vive nel linguaggio di Nazariantz: lo
strazio, la diaspora la religiosità, l’incontro. Un viaggio in una
identità mai perduta.

Letteratu.it, Italia
21 ott 2013

Avetik Isahakyan, l’orgoglio e la voce del popolo armeno nel panorama
letterario mondiale.

[Avetik Isahakyan, the pride and voice of the Armenian people in the
world literary scene]

Se oggi nel mondo il BRICS (Brasile, Russia, India, Cina,Sud Africa)
domina la scena economica mondiale, il vecchio Continente può vantare
il glorioso primato di essere ancora il luogo in cui è nata la
civiltà umana. La storia ha lasciato in molti casi una pesante eredità
che mai scalfirà del tutto tensioni diplomatiche e rancori
sociopolitici. E’ il caso dell’Eurasia, di quel vasto territorio che è
ancora oggi luogo di frontiera tra Occidente ed Oriente. Sormontato
dalla catena montuosa del Caucaso ed incorniciato dal Mar Caspio, in
questo lembo di terra martoriato dalle lotte degli uomini e dalle
afflizioni della natura, vibrante di cultura e vita, è nata
l’Armenia. Fonti storiche scientificamente comprovate fissano le
origini della civiltà armena in un periodo che parte dal 9000 A.C.
dopo la scoperta di alcune tombe che denotano la presenza di una
comunità estremamente organizzata. Il territorio armeno è stato
palcoscenico di guerre intestine,che hanno visto combattere tra gli
altri Gengis Khan, il grande emiro Tamerlano e Maometto II ma ha
conosciuto anche i fasti di regni mitici ed aurei. Nel 301 l’Armenia,
che si estendeva dal Mar Nero al Mar Caspio sino alle coste del Mar
Egeo, diventa il primo Regno cristiano del Mondo. Anticipò in tal
senso il popolo romano che decreterà in meno di un secolo il suo
scisma dalla Chiesa Cattolica Romana con il Concilio di Calcedonia.
Siamo nel 451.

Da allora la storia dell’Armenia è anche la storia della Chiesa
Apostolica Armena che farà per sempre i conti con i fratelli della
vicina Europa e degli imperi asiatici sino a riempire tra il XIX e XX
secolo le pagine più fosche della Storia. Furono gli ottomani i primi
a riconoscere l’enorme potenzialità e ricchezza del popolo armeno che,
vittima della sua stessa religione, fu perseguitato senza sosta sino
ad essere il primo popolo al Mondo oggetto di una operazione di
pulizia etnica; sono gli anni dal 1915 al 1923.

Prima ancora di questo terribile e mai dimenticato massacro, la Russia
si spartì con i Turchi gran parte del territorio armeno ormai
strozzato tra Turchia a sud, Russia a nord e ad est, dividendo la
popolazione in armeni ottomani ed armeni russi.

Questi eventi, sinteticamente riportati, rappresentano il background
storico-culturale dello scrittore, poeta, saggista Avetik Sahak
Isahakyan ancora oggi considerato l’emblema della storia contemporanea
Armena. Conosciuto e studiato in Russia ed in Azerbaijan (paese che
oggi è in perenne crisi diplomatica con la Repubblica Armena),
Isahakyan vede i natali ad Alessandropoli (oggi Giumri) nel mese di
Ottobre del 1875. Come membro di una famiglia colta e borghese compì i
suoi studi classici in Germania, a Lipsia, dove iniziò adolescente ad
interessarsi di politica.

Rientrato in patria nel 1895 a soli 20 anni entrò a far parte della
neo costituita Federazione Rivoluzionaria Armena. Le esperienze di
quegli anni ricordano per similitudine l’umana vicenda di Silvio
Pellico. Come lo scrittore italiano, fu anche lui imprigionato per
lunghi mesi perché fedele ai moti contro gli invasori, nel suo caso
gli ottomani. Al termine di questa esperienza scrisse pagine di grande
impegno civile di puro lirismo pubblicando nel 1897 la raccolta di
poesie `Canti e ferite’ che ebbe notevole eco tra la popolazione ed
ancora oggi rigano di lacrime il volto di chi le legge. Gran parte
della sua produzione letteraria ,che vanta anche la traduzione di
importanti opere della cultura letteraria italiana come la Cantica
del Purgatorio di Dante, è costituita dalla malinconia e dallo
struggente amore per la propria patria,madre addolorata e contesa.

Ancora giovane, si recò nuovamente in Europa, in Svizzera, dove compì
gli studi di Letteratura e Filosofia. Il ritorno in patria nel 1902
inaugurò una fase di impegno politico e letterario intervallato da
arresti. Risale al 1906 l’uscita delle `Canzoni ai duchi’, una
raccolta di poesie che ancora oggi fa parte della tradizione classica
armena e due anni dopo fu arrestato con altri 158 intellettuali e
rinchiuso nelle prigioni di Tiblisi (nell’attuale Georgia). L’Armenia
occidentale in quegli anni era un governo autonomo sotto protettorato
turco e per questo la libertà di cui godeva era solo sulla carta. Con
altri intellettuali, quando poté lasciare il carcere, il nostro non
smise di raccontare e mettere in guardia il suo popolo dalla minaccia
di un piano persecutorio e vile che avrebbe portato ad una imminente
tragedia. Si recò a Berlino dove con un gruppo di connazionali ed
intellettuali tedeschi fondò l’associazione Mesrop, dal nome del
sacrdote Mesrop Mashtots che ha la paternità dell’alfabeto armeno, da
lui inventato nel 400 D.C.. La prima guerra mondiale portò i suoi
lutti e svelò le orribili intenzioni dei Turchi che costrinsero ad
un esodo forzato fuori dalla loro patria circa 1 milione di armeni,
assassinandone con spietatezza almeno tre milioni. Isahakyan aveva
profetizzato il genocidio della sua gente e da allora la sua missione
è stata raccontare il dolore da una parte e l’eroica lotta per la
libertà dall’altra. `Sulla cima invecchiata dell’ Ararat è venuto il
secolo che è passato come un secondo ,le generazioni che ne hanno
visto la cima sono andate via,adesso tocca a te : per un istante
fermati e guarda la sua vecchia fronte, e vai…’ In questi versi,
tratti dal `Il mio cuore sopra le montagne’ del 1941 c’è l’elemento
patriottico della produzione di questo scrittore ed intellettuale
che continuamente mette in guardia la sua gente dalle promesse
politiche di vecchi e nuovi conquistatori. Negli anni `30 continuò i
suoi viaggi all’estero, toccando anche Venezia, in qualità di
ricercatore ed `amico’ dell’Unione Sovietica mai pago di raccontare
il genocidio del suo popolo.

Scrisse in quegli anni `Per l’Armenia’ e l’opera rimasta incompiuta
fino alla sua morte `Usta Karon’ (Caro maestro) di cui disse : ` Usta
Karon sarà completato quando sarà risolta la questione armena’.
L’afflato intellettuale e l’amore malinconico per un mondo disgregato
lo hanno reso un mito che ancora oggi è apprezzato dalle giovani
generazioni armene che sognano un giorno di vedersi restituito tra le
altre cose, quel mare che prima faceva parte del loro territorio. Ha
lasciato in eredità alla sua gente ma al mondo intero, una
testimonianza di dolore ed il monito ad imparare dagli errori della
storia.Paragonandola a `Alle Fronde dei Salici’ del nostro Salvatore
Quasimodo, la poesia `La mia patria’ contiene versi di grande pathos
ed amore patriottico. Vale la pena leggerla integralmente:

Hey, mia patria, come sei bella !
I monti persi nell’azzurro delle nuvole
le acque buone, i venti sottili,
Solo i figli nel mare di sangue.

Morirei sulla tua terra , patria preziosa
Ma e’ poco morire con una vita
Me beato se avessi mille e una vita
tutte mille sacrificherei con il cuore per te.

E con mille vite morirò per il tuo dolore
Morirei per i tuoi figli , per tuo amore
Ma lasciami una vita sola
Per lodarti e incantarti

Come allodola volerei su e giù
all’inizio di un nuovo giorno, patria cara
e canterò dolcemente , loderò il tuo dolce
sole verde , patria libera !

Negli ultimi anni della sua vita ricevette onorificenze e premi per il
suo impegno politico e le sue opere furono tradotte in molti
paesi,specialmente in Russia. Il 15 Ottobre del 1957 morì nella sua
Yerevan, la Capitale dello Stato Armeno.

Il suo ricordo è impresso oltre che in molte Piazze e Strade, sulle
banconote da 10 mila Dram, la moneta armena.

Si ringrazia per la cortese e preziosa consulenza storico-
linguistica la Dottoressa Armine Balayan, interprete e traduttrice
armena.

Per approfondimenti si veda anche

The FA, UK
Oct 26 2013

Eight in Armenia
.Saturday, 26 October, 2013

England U17s fire eight goals past Gibraltar including two stunners
from Armstrong
Gibraltar 0-8 England U17s
UEFA European U17 Championship
First Qualifying Round
3pm (local time), Saturday 26 October
FFA Academy
By Gary Stonehouse in Yeravan, Armenia

England U17s continued their 100% record in Armenia with a resounding
8-0 victory over Gibraltar.

On a day that Head Coach John Peacock had earlier described as
`momentous’, his side kicked-off The FA 150 celebrations in great
fashion in their first ever meeting against the Gibraltans.

As expected, England started on the front foot and dominated
possession, with Newcastle striker Adam Armstrong causing all sorts of
problems for the defence. On nine minutes he found himself on the left
side of the area and he smashed the outside of the upright.

Armstrong was in the thick of it, coming deep to collect the ball and
dragging the opposition defence all over the pitch. He turned and
struck a shot from 20 yards towards the top corner which the keeper
managed to palm away, and the upright was to thwart him again from a
similar position on the left.

The Young Lions thought they had finally broken the deadlock on the 15
minute mark, Josh Onomah setting off on a mazy run down the left
flank, jinking past three defenders to the byline before cutting the
ball back and finishing past the keeper, but a defender was on hand to
clear at the death on the line.

Gibraltar seemed happy to sit with 10 men deep inside their own half,
and their tactics looked to be working as time wore on, and they could
even have found themselves taking an unlikely lead.

Andrew Mernandez found himself in possession inside the centre-circle
and lofted a ball forward between Jonjoe Kenny and Tom Brewitt, and
striker George Wink raced onto it, holding off both defenders, and
headed towards the goal.

Ryan Huddart was quick off his line, and he did enough for Wink to
stop in his tracks, and the striker cut the ball back for the
onrushing Mernandez on the edge of the area, but the midfielder blazed
over from 18 yards.

That was to be the only let-off for England, and it was only going to
be a matter of time before their pressure told, even if they were
finding it hard to break through the banks of red shirts, and the
breakthrough arrived just before the half hour mark.

Once again Armstrong had dropped deep to pick up the ball, and perhaps
with the frustration of his earlier efforts built up inside him, he
slammed an unstoppable shot from 30 yards straight into the top
corner.

Five minutes later Armstrong was at it again, only this time he was 10
yards closer, curling the ball past the keeper with the inside of his
right foot.

The wind was well and truly out of Gibraltar’s sails as Dominic
Solanke cut through them and cut the ball back for Seyi Ojo to finish
on 35 minutes to give England a 3-0 lead at the half-time break.

The second-half was to be nothing more than an onslaught as the
English defence ran riot against a bewildered and tired defence.

Two minutes into the half Solanke got himself on the scoresheet before
Tom Brewitt stabbed home a fifth and substitute Issy Brown quickly
made in 6-0 on 53 minutes.

Brown then turned provider, playing a lofted ball through for fellow
sub Patrick Roberts to latch on to, and after calmly controlling it
with his chest he slotted it past the keeper with 18 minutes still to
play.

Not to be outdone by team-mate Armstrong’s double salvo earlier,
Dominic Solanke then sealed a brace for himself with six minutes
remaining to secure a 8-0 victory for the Young Lions.

They face Republic of Ireland in their final First Round qualifier at
the Republican Stadium on Tuesday.

Gibraltar: 1 Bradley Bandai, 3 Leon Payas, 5 Ethan Jolley (C), 6
Andrew Mernandez, 7 Leon Clinton, 9 George Wink, 10 Jayce Consigliero
(4 Leone Seatorv 53 mins), 15 Liam Thorne, 16 Kevagn Rongco, 17 Joseph
Enriles (2 Daniel Sanchez 63 mins), 18 Luke Buxton

Subs not used: 13 Aydem Vinales, 8 Keiron Gallardo, 11 Jules Origo, 12
Jayce Mascarenhas-Olivero, 14 Byron Espinose

Bookings: Luke Buxton (51 minutes)

Head Coach: Stephen Head

England: 13 Ryan Huddart, 12 Mandela Egbo, 2 Jonjoe Kenny (4 Ryan
Ledson 53 mins), 6 Tom Brewitt, 14 Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, 15
Callum Cooke (C), 18 Isaac Christie Davies, 10 Josh Onomah (7 Patrick
Roberts 53 mins), 17 Dominic Solanke, 11 Seyi Ojo, 16 Adam Armstrong
(9 Issy Brown 40 mins)

Subs not used: 1 Dean Henderson, 8 Jordan Rossiter, 3 Max Lowe, 5 Joseph Gomez

Goals: Adam Armstrong 29, 34, Seyi Ojo 35, Dominic Solanke 42, 74, Tom
Brewitt 48, Issy Brown 53, Patrick Roberts 72
Bookings: Jonjoe Kenny (22 mins)

Head Coach: John Peacock

Kuwait News Agency
Oct 26 2013

Austria aids Syrian refugees in Armenia
26/10/2013 | 05:04 PM | World News

VIENNA, Oct 26 (KUNA) — Austria declared on Saturday offering euro
600,000 to Armenian Syrian refugees who fled the violence at home to
Armenia.

Repercussions of the Syrian crisis have reached as far as Armenia,
where some 9,000 Syrians have taken up refuge, Austrian Foreign
Minister Michael Spindelegger said in a statement. Half of the Syrian
refugees in Austria are children suffering from malnutrition, he
added.

Armenian Government has asked Austria to help it secure housing, in
addition to other forms of aid, for the Syrian Armenian families that
fled their country, Spindelegger added.
Austria has so far aided the Syrian refugees with a total of euro 7.4 million.

Number of Armenians in Syria was estimated at 100,000 at start of the
crisis. (end)

Interfax, Russia
Oct 25 2013

Shuvalov: roadmap for Armenian entry into Customs Union to be
discussed in December

MINSK. Oct 25

A roadmap for the Armenian accession to the Customs Union and the
Common Economic Space shall be drawn up by the Moscow summit of the
Supreme Eurasian Economic Council due this December, Russian First
Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said.

“A concrete decision has been made with regard to Armenia: the working
party will get down to business and the roadmap and the first outcomes
will be presented to the next session of the Council in Moscow in
December,” Shuvalov told reporters on Friday, following the Minsk
summit of the Eurasian Economic Council.

He said Armenia pledged to endorse the normative legal acts required
for its entry into the Customs Union within several months.

“The Armenian president asked the presidents of Customs Union states
for an opportunity of the soonest possible ratification of these
agreements,” Shuvalov said. He added that Yerevan was prepared to join
the Union regulations without any exceptions or limitations.

Shuvalov did not rule out that Armenia might joint the integration
union in two steps, the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space.

Te cm

`Armenia is a small tool that was once used against the EU and the Ukraine.’

October 26 2013

Hovhannes Igityan about the role and place in Armenia in CU `Perhaps,
this question should be addressed to those Republican party MPs, who
once were saying how we can sign the agreement on establishment of a
Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, if we do not know what it is.
Now, it can be assumed that they do not know what they are saying, or
do not know at all what is going on even in the Customs Union,’ said
the former President on RA NA Foreign Affairs Hovhannes Igityan in the
interview with `Aravot’ in response to our question, yesterday,
regarding the draft decision signed in Minsk, according to which
Armenia will join the Customs Union and the Common Economic Area. To
the point, on this issue, Republican faction leader Galust Sahakyan
stated at the parliamentary briefing that he is not well informed as
to especially what provisions are there in this document, the
President will return and give them the information, at the same time
adding, `There is a road map that must be considered to ensure our
interests during the process of joining as well. With respect to the
Customs Union, we need to work properly to create favorable conditions
for us.’ Also, this, another expression of ignorance by Galust
Sahakyan, according to Hovhannes Igityan, shows that before going to
somewhere Serzh Sargsyan’s politically close team does not know what
he was going to sign there. `I guess it will always be so with the
Customs Union. Any representative, be it Serzh Sargsyan or lower, will
be going and a paper will be `put forward’, which they must sign. And
they will sign. I can not think of any government official that will
not sign the paper `put forward’ by Moscow,’ said Hovhannes Igityan,
adding that from now on after Serzh Sargsyan’s each step, the team
will begin to justify it. In fact, later, `Liberty’ radio station
announced that the document signed in Minsk pledged Armenia to refrain
from any statement or action contrary to the interests of the Customs
Union. Given Armenia’s desire to join the Customs Union and the legal
contractual base of the Common Economic Area and later to become a
full member of the Eurasian Economic Union, the parties reached a
number of mutual agreements. This document entitles Armenia to obtain
the documents adopted by the supreme body of the Eurasian Economic
Union, except for documents that contain confidential information.
Hovhannes Igityan also draws attention to the statements of Presidents
of the CU member states that follow each other in recent days,
according to which Armenia will have to go through the whole process,
and should not be easy to enter the Union. But interestingly that no
one knows what it means, because it’s not that the rest of the
countries have gone through some process. Igityan implies that the
matter refers to all documents adopted by the Eurasian Commission,
which Armenia must adopt unconditionally, with no exceptions. No less
significant are recent statements of the CU expansion, which,
according to Igityan, clearly shows that the expansion is political,
no one is talking about economic issues, and even it was loudly voiced
that they would show the world that the Eurasian Union is not the
former USSR, hence, they are talking about membership of Turkey and
India. `I do not know whether Turkey or India has applied. Is it good
or bad for Armenia? In general, it is very difficult to look at the
economically virtual organization from the prospective of economy,
where everyone is distinctly saying that it is political. It is not
clear what problem the body solves, and what Armenia’s role is over
there, in general, and why it is going. My point of view is that Putin
put pressure or a request (Putin’s request is already a pressure) on
Armenia not to go to Europe and to weaken the position of Ukraine in
terms of the European integration. I think this is the main target,
and it is apparent,’ opines Hovhannes Igityan. To the point, our
interlocutor has recently been in Ukraine and still believes that
there are quite interesting processes are going on there. `I think
that RF went beyond all bounds that, with regard to the
Euro-integration process, even the ones who consider themselves
pro-Russian forces are now united around President Yanukovych. I’ve
felt the process of joining in Ukraine, and if it continues, Ukraine
should be grateful to Putin that through pressures it contributed to
elimination of differences between the eastern and western parts and
to the process. The most important thing in all this is that merging
is going on not around the person but the values. The anti-government
forces state everywhere, post flyers that they support the President
Yanukovich in the process of European integration.’ Hovhannes Igityan
highlights the active processes directed to public awareness in
Ukraine, both in economic and political, and social aspects on the way
to joining the EU and CU, and they are generally held through open
debates. `RF’s pressure is felt, many producers appeared in bad shape
due to famous `roadway gate’ opening – closing Gennady Onishchenko,
who one day suddenly decides that the Ukrainian milk, chocolate or
charcoal are harmful, and so on. It is apparently seen, and the people
realize it very well that Soviet bureaucratic, official manner of work
will be functioning in the CU, which will bring no benefit to anyone,’
concludes Hovhannes Igityan. In this context, our interlocutor does
not feel the presence of the political or economic team, which will
constantly discuss and give advice to Serzh Sargsyan on what Armenia
should do even in the CU. The political team that was formed in the EU
negotiations, today, according to our interlocutor, is in hesitation
because of the responsibility placed on them to change the position
and introduce economic grounds regarding a body, which is absolutely
not economical. `In other words, the team has to be changed. This team
functioning by economic criteria has nothing to do in the CU
discussions. But, the chance that we had before September three, is no
more available. Armenia has lost the trust, but it is not that it
gained new confidence by the CU member countries. The tone and
formulations that the officials of countries who consider themselves
founders of the CU allow towards Armenia, is already clear that
Armenia will never have an equal partner there. Armenia is a small
tool that was once used against the EU and Ukraine. It is clear that
Armenia will be an element over there constantly disturbing under the
feet, especially when they talk that the interests of Azerbaijan
should be considered in Armenia’s joining process. They are talking
about Turkey. In this situation, Armenia has no future there.’
Recently, the European Parliament, in a resolution adopted regarding
Armenia, has addressed to the Karabakh issue, where there was a
reference to the four resolutions adopted by UN Security Council in
1993. Regardless of what they are talking that there have been
breaches of the voting process, that pro-Azerbaijani Italian MPs
forged the votes, and there should be reviewing, however, there is the
fact. To note that during these years Azerbaijan has always tried to
involve these decisions in the European resolutions, but it failed. In
response to our question whether it is a coincidence, Mr. Igityan said
that there are no random questions in the international diplomacy.
`This is not a casino, a roulette, it is a serious process in which
Armenia is leading the process of losing its trust and reputation for
a long time. The peak, of course, was the final step of Armenia, where
it showed that Armenia is not only a reliable partner, but also has
nothing to do with European values. Under these circumstances, the
`debate’ between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the international arena
proceeds not in favor of Armenia. So far, the entire counterbalance of
statements on oil, lobbying, the Muslim League had been Armenia’s
being a bit more democratic to Azerbaijan, direction to European
standards. If we become equal with Azerbaijan in democracy, then, of
course, all the rest advantages of Azerbaijan are becoming more
practical. And, it is not accidental that today Azerbaijan managed to
bring the UN resolutions into the European resolutions. To the point,
these resolutions are not so bad, but unfortunately, Azerbaijan
managed to present them as a non-pro-Armenian. In fact, with these
resolution, Armenia was to use its influence on Nagorno-Karabakh to
cease the war, which happened in 1994, and we can say that from that
moment these resolutions lost their actuality. Now, these resolutions
are presented in a different way, and Armenia’s diplomacy, today, is
probably very busy with CU issues and is unable to avert it.’

Nelly Grigoryan
Read more at:

The Spokesman Review, WA
Oct 27 2013

Oriental rug business remains staple among Spokane retailers
Michael Guilfoil Correspondent

A century ago, three Armenian brothers – Megar, Arott and Onnig
Kirishian – worked in their father’s cottage industry, weaving rugs
for export to Europe and America.

When World War I broke out, the new Ottoman government in Istanbul
grew suspicious of Armenians and launched a genocide in 1915.

The young Kirishian brothers fled to America, and in 1920 moved to
Spokane, where they began selling Persian, Chinese and Turkish rugs in
a shop on the corner of First Avenue and Howard Street.

Onnig’s son, Richard, took over the business four decades ago at age
19 when his father died, and continues the family tradition at Richard
Kirishian Imported Rug Co., 220 E. Second Ave.

He discussed the rug trade and offered advice for maintaining Oriental
rugs during a recent interview.

S-R: What brought your father and his two brothers to Spokane in 1920?

Kirishian: They wanted to hunt and fish, and get away from the uncles
they worked for in Portland.

S-R: How was business?

Kirishian: Really good the first 10 years, because of the area’s
mining wealth. They filled a lot of big homes with rugs. Then the
Depression hit and the store couldn’t support three families. So
Arott, the youngest brother, moved to Seattle and started his own
business. In 1950, my dad broke away from the other brother and
started O.S. Kirishian Rugs on the corner of Second and Wall.

S-R: What’s your earliest recollection of the family business?

Kirishian: I know my mother brought me down to the store when I was a
baby, and I would sleep until it was time to go home on the bus.
Later, I remember playing in the rug bins. I must have been about 10
when I started sweeping floors and washing the sidewalk, and
eventually cleaning and repairing rugs.

S-R: What lessons did your dad teach you?

Kirishian: One was that when you get a beautiful antique rug, sell it
first and fall in love with it later, because once you fall in love
with a rug, it’s difficult to part with at any price.

S-R: Did you always assume you’d take over the business some day?

Kirishian: Not at all. I was in college, studying marketing. Running
the business didn’t occur to me until my dad died when I was 19. My
mother had to hold my hand until I got my footing, and I bought her
out when she retired.

S-R: Did you appreciate rugs from the start?

Kirishian: I thought they were intriguing. I remember crawling on our
living-room rug as a little boy, using the border lines as roadways
for my toy cars. And I would shoot marbles across the rug and try to
get them to stop in a certain area. But I didn’t become infatuated
with rugs until much later, when I developed an eye for quality.

S-R: How has the business evolved since you took over in 1973?

Kirishian: Production has shifted to different countries. China’s
economy, for the most part, has moved on to bigger things. Turkey’s
standard of living has risen to the point where its rugs are pricey.
India started producing rugs in the ’60s and is still very reliable.
Pakistan started making rugs about 25 years after India, and
Afghanistan has been making inroads in the past decade. Iran has stuck
with it the longest.

S-R: The U.S. has traditionally been a big importer of Iranian rugs
(also known as Persian rugs), but current sanctions prohibit their
import. What impact, if any, has that had?

Kirishian: Other countries have taken up the slack, so the embargo
hasn’t affected the price of Oriental rugs.

S-R: What does the phrase Oriental rug refer to?

Kirishian: Hand-knotted, hand-tied rugs that are 100 percent wool,
silk or camel hair. They don’t have to be from the Orient – they can
be from the Middle East.

S-R: Can a machine-made rug be considered an Oriental rug?

Kirishian: No, but it can be an Oriental-style rug.

S-R: Do you sell only Oriental rugs?

Kirishian: We sell them all – tufted, machine-made. But our forte is
hand-knotted.

S-R: Does an economy have to be somewhat Third World to support the
production of hand-knotted rugs?

Kirishian: Definitely. This is why we’ve seen the huge shift out of
China and Turkey, and we’ll see it out of India someday. Then the
supply will start to cave, because Pakistan and Afghanistan cannot
sustain enough production.

S-R: How long does it take someone to produce a 9- by 12-foot hand-knotted rug?

Kirishian: Anywhere from 237 to 508 days, depending on knots per square inch.

S-R: How much would the weaver earn?

Kirishian: Between $2 and $3 a day.

S-R: And how much would that rug sell for here?

Kirishian: Anywhere from $2,700 to $4,000.

S-R: Do you travel to buy rugs?

Kirishian: I go to India, Pakistan and Nepal once a year, and usually
bring back 200 to 400 rugs.

S-R: Is Spokane a good rug market?

Kirishian: It’s a fair rug market. We have the old homes that can
accommodate rugs, and fortunately there are some Seattle, California
and East Coast people moving here who know how to decorate and use
rugs well. The best thing for rug sales is when expensive new homes
are selling.

S-R: What sales trends have you seen during your career?

Kirishian: The introduction of wall-to-wall carpet in the 1960s really
hurt the rug business. The ’90s were unbelievably good, thanks to a
real-estate boom. The past 10 years have been fair.

S-R: Have tastes also changed?

Kirishian: Yes, especially during the past six to eight years. The
traditional rugs – the reds and blues – used to represent almost 100
percent of Oriental rug sales in this country. Now they’re down to 50
percent, and the other 50 percent are new colors and more modern,
linear, Frank Lloyd Wright kinds of designs. Customers over 45 tend to
want a piece of art. Younger shoppers buy rugs based on color, not
origin or whether they’re hand-made or machine-made. They just want
the look.

S-R: How has your competition changed over the years?

Kirishian: The disposable rug industry – tufted rugs – are gaining
market share. Tufted rugs last 10 years, give or take, until the glue
dries out, and then people replace them.

S-R: Do you sell rugs online?

Kirishian: Not really. Our website isn’t very user-friendly for
shoppers, although we do offer service work and free shipping online.
We may eventually cultivate more Internet sales, if I don’t retire
first.

S-R: When older people downsize, what happens to their rugs?

Kirishian: Either the kids get them or they try to sell them. I
occasionally take good rugs on consignment for 25 percent.

S-R: How can consumers distinguish between hand-knotted and machine-made rugs?

Kirishian: If it’s hand-knotted, the rug will be slightly irregular.
Machine-made rugs are very straight and even.

S-R: How long will each last?

Kirishian: A well-made machine rug will perform for 50 years, and a
hand-knotted rug maybe twice that long.

S-R: How much do you charge to clean rugs, and what’s involved?

Kirishian: We charge $3.75 a square foot, and it’s a weeklong,
six-step, water-immersion process.

S-R: What’s hard on rugs?

Kirishian: Sand and grit more than walking on it. South-facing summer
sun can also be hard on rugs. And pets – they’re our best friends.
About 50 percent of our rug spa work involves removing pet stains.

S-R: How important are mats?

Kirishian: They’re important for safety and comfort, and act as shock
absorbers to help the rug last 25 percent longer. The best natural
rubber pads run $1.50 to $2.15 a square foot, and last about 10 years.

S-R: What’s the best argument for buying an Oriental rug?

Kirishian: Life is short, and when you live with a beautiful Oriental
rug, you never grow tired of it. Every day you see something
different.