Author: Tatoyan Vazgen

Date for Azeri, Armenian FMs’ meeting yet to be determined
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Nov 8 2004
The new date for the meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign
ministers has not been determined yet.
Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov told journalists on Friday that
the next meeting of the two ministers was scheduled for October 25.
However, it was postponed after the Armenian side requested time to
analyze the issued discussed at previous meetings.
Azerbaijan is expecting the OSCE MG co-chairs to set a new date for
the meeting.*

Why We Lost 17 Cities of Caucasia to Russia?
Persian Journal, Iran
Nov 8 2004
As soon as Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar established the Qajar dynasty,
he reasserted Iranian sovereignty over the former Iranian territories
in Georgia and the Caucasus in 1774.
Agha Mohammad Khan was assassinated in 1797 and was succeeded by his
nephew, Fath Ali Shah (1797 – 1834). Under Fath Ali Shah, Iran went
to war against Russia, which was expanding from the north into the
Caucasus Mountains, an area of historic Iranian interest and influence.
Iran suffered major military defeats during the war. Under the terms
of the Treaty of Golestan in 1813, Iran recognized Russia’s annexation
of Georgia and ceded to Russia most of the north Caucasus region.
A second war with Russia in the 1820s ended even more disastrously
for Iran, which in 1828 was forced to sign the Treaty of Turkmanchai
acknowledging Russian sovereignty over the entire area north of the
Aras River (territory comprising present-day Armenia and Republic
of Azerbaijan).
Fath Ali Shah was possibly too busy with the ladies of his Haram-Sara
reading poetry and having good times. Here is a story how he was doing
dring those days. May be that is why we lost 17 cities of Caucasia
to Rusia!

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Nov. 4, 2004
EU to prepare report on S Caucasus countries

The European Union intends to prepare a report on the South Caucasus
countries.
Based on the document to reflect the real situation in each regional
state, the organization will develop an action plan on its cooperation
with the three countries, the EU special envoy on South Caucasus Heikki
Talvitie told a news conference in Baku on Friday.

The report on Azerbaijan will be prepared by the European Commission
special envoy in Baku Antonias De Vris.
Talvitie, who was in Baku as part of his tour of the region, said his
visit to Azerbaijan was ‘very fruitful’.
He said the EU will be closely following the December 2004 municipal
and the 2005 parliamentary elections, and ‘hopes the elections will be
free and transparent’.

Speaking about his meeting with leaders of seven opposition parties,
the special envoy underlined that he believes that the opposition will
take part in the municipal election.
“By taking part in the elections the opposition will get a chance to
influence future policy-making.”
Touching upon the ruling on the seven opposition leaders recently
convicted in court, he said that it was necessary to ensure
independence of courts in all South Caucasus states.
“Some obstacles for this exist in Azerbaijan”, Talvitie said.
With regard to the European Union’s position on the Upper Garabagh
conflict, Talvitie said the EU is not involved in peace talks but
supports the OSCE Minsk Group in charge of the conflict resolution
process.
“If the sides reach an agreement, the EU will support it and assist in
the rehabilitation process,” he concluded.
Asked why the EU persistently refuses to recognize Armenia as
aggressor, Talvitie said that EU believes that making harsh statements
concerning one of the parties to the conflict does not promote
successful course of the talks and can even impede the settlement
process.
The EU special envoy also spoke of the problem of Azerbaijani refugees.
He said that refugees’ rights to repatriation must be protected.
“The peace agreement to be concluded between Azerbaijan and Armenia
must envision refugees’ rights to repatriation,” he underlined.
Refugees must be able to return home but this should not be mandatory,
Talvitie said.
“I was born in Vyborg. Prior to World War II, this town was a part of
Finland, and is currently a part of Russia. When the war started, I was
just a baby and was evacuated from there. Therefore, I am a refugee
too.”
While in Baku, the EU special envoy met with President Aliyev, Foreign
Minister Mammadyarov, Central Election Commission Chairman Panahov, as
well as leaders of major opposition parties and ambassadors of EU
member-states accredited in Baku.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1 Plus | 19:33:09 | 03-11-2004 | Politics |
DASHNAK RUSTAMYAN SPEAKING
On Wednesday, Dashnaktsutyun party board member Armen Rustamyan,
speaking at a news conference, said the party stated at its recent
caucus that the ruling coalition had failed to put into reality a
considerable part of its memorandum.
Dashnaktsutyun is one of Armenian ruling coalition parties.
At the same time, he noted with satisfaction political situation in
Armenia had been brought to normal and the country’s position in the
world strengthened.
It is very important, as there are many challenges coming from the
outside, Tustamyan said. In his words, these challenges can grow more
serious and dangerous. That is why Armenia’s political forces should
reach consolidation, he concluded.

RIA Novosti
November 02, 2004
RUSSIA TAKES SILVER AT CHESS OLYMPIAD
MOSCOW, November 2 (RIA Novosti Sports Observer Mikhail Smirnov) – The
36th Chess Olympiad in Calvia, Spain will go down to history as
something that was impossible for the last quarter of a century; the
Russian men’s team did not win and was surpassed by one of the
successors to the Soviet chess school, Ukraine. The Russian team, which
had the same score as the Armenian team, took second place by external
factors.
The last time the Soviet men’s team did not win the gold at the Chess
Olympiad was in 1978. At the time, the loss was explained by the
absence of Anatoly Karpov who at the time was engaged in the battle for
the crown with Viktor Korchnoy in Bagio.
Now, ironically there are similar reasons. Several players were not on
the Russian team because they were competing in individual chess
tournaments. Vladimir Kramnik, who would have been useful on Yevgeny
Bareevy’s team, defended his title as Classical World Chess Champion
against Peter Leko. Garry Kasparov, who has worked individually with
the Great K, Anatoly Karpov, for a long time was not on the team.
The three Alexanders (Morozevich, Grischuk, and Khalifman) were the
leaders of the team in their absence, losing at the most inopportune
moment to their main competitors-the Ukrainians and the Bulgarians. It
is likely that all of them saved their strength before the super final
of the Russian championship in Russia, which is expected to feature
Kasparov and Karpov.
However, maybe the uncertainty in the chess world played a part.
Kramnik, right in the middle of the Olympiad, reminded everyone that
chess had not become a professional sport, as had been promised in
Prague two years ago. The classical chess world champion and the
Association of Chess Professionals, which he supports, have come out in
favor for a fixed system for the world title with a compulsory match
against the reigning champion. Kramnik has challenged FIDE to adopt
these principles and Kaspartov, who has agreed to a match for the FIDE
crown with Rustem Kasymjanov with $1, 200,000 up for grabs.
The FIDE leadership is unlikely to meet Kramnik and his team halfway in
these conditions. This mean that the second Kasparov vs. Kramnik match
is unlikely to take place, even though chess fans around the world are
waiting for this encounter.
If this scenario in Russian and world chess, mean that the sensational
result of the 36th Chess Olympiad may become a routine event for
Russians?

Assa Irada, Azerbaijan
Nov. 2, 2004
UN discussions on conflict not to promote settlement – Russian Foreign
Ministry

The initiative to consider the Upper Garabagh conflict at the United
Nations General Assembly session will not have a positive influence on
peace talks, Russian Foreign Ministry information and press department
officials said.
The statement comes after the proposal to include a provision on the
`Situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan’ into the meeting
agenda.
`Russia abstained from voting, along with the other OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs. We believe that consideration of the issue at the UN General
Assembly session, along with the OSCE, is not likely to favorably
affect the negotiations process’, the same source said and added that
the results of the vote indicate that most of international community
adhere to the same position.*

Catholic News Service
Nov. 2, 2004
Syria’s Christian churches face political, religious challenges
By John Thavis
Catholic News Service
DAMASCUS, Syria (CNS) — The ancient Christian churches of Syria, small
in numbers but vibrant in faith, are facing new challenges brought by
political instability and religious extremism outside the country’s
borders.
The war in Iraq has unleashed violence and terrorism by groups claiming
to act in the name of Islam, sending tens of thousands of Iraqi
Christians — along with many Muslims — fleeing into Syria.
Although the Syrian government has steered a moderate course and
clamped down on any form of fanaticism, the percolation of Islamic
fundamentalism throughout the Middle East worries Christians in Syria.
Internally, the churches also face a major demographic problem, as many
of their younger members continue to emigrate to places of prosperity
and security abroad. Syria’s Christian community has shrunk in recent
years to about 10 percent of the population.
Despite these problems, most Syrian pastors and lay faithful speak
hopefully about their churches’ future in a country that has taken
pains to protect their religious rights.
“I think we can be optimistic. Christians have been here for many
centuries and are generally well seen by our Muslim brothers. There can
be no ‘clash of cultures’ because we share the same culture,” Armenian
Orthodox Bishop Shahan Sarkisian of Aleppo said in an interview in late
October.
Catholic leaders echoed that sentiment.
“When you look at the fundamentalism outside of Syria, I wonder if this
government could become a tool to help stop it. Perhaps Syria could
become a model for other countries,” said Melkite Archbishop
Jean-Clement Jeanbart of Aleppo.
Syrian Christians and Muslims categorically reject the accusation made
by the Bush administration that Syria supports terrorism. The topic
often provokes an animated response.
“I read that Syria is on the list of countries supporting terrorism.
Can you imagine such a thing? This is not true at all,” said Melkite
Patriarch Gregoire III Laham of Damascus.
Most Syrians say the terrorism accusation is simply U.S. politics. They
say Syria’s ruling Baath Party, which maintains total political
control, would never allow Islamic militancy to sprout here. And as one
Christian in Aleppo put it, the Syrian government is “too smart” to get
into a showdown with the United States.
But the arrival of so many Iraqi refugees is a daily reminder of how
quickly things can change. As in Syria, Iraq’s Baath regime ruled over
a secular state, and the Christian minority was well protected. Now,
many of them are fleeing for their lives from religious persecution in
Iraq.
“The Americans came and now the whole country has been opened up to
fighting. Every border is open, anyone can come in. Fundamentalist
Muslims are flowing into the country,” said one Iraqi Christian woman
who arrived with her family in Aleppo in October.
Syria’s Muslim leaders are among the most vigilant against extremist
manifestations of Islam.
Sheik Salah Kuftaro, who runs a highly influential Islamic foundation
and school in Damascus, said in an interview that Syrian society is
currently “free from the seeds of terrorism and extremism,” and he
predicted it would remain that way. His father, the late Syrian Grand
Mufti Ahmad Kuftaro, welcomed Pope John Paul II on his historic visit
to the Umayyad mosque in 2001.
The younger Kuftaro said one guarantee of continuing religious
tolerance in Syria is that his father trained hundreds of Islamic
teachers who will follow his example. One of them was recently named by
the government to head the Ministry of Religious Affairs, he said.
“So we have good hopes to be able to deal with any form of extremism
that may arise,” he said.
Syria’s bishops also make frequent speaking appearances at Islamic
meetings to preach tolerance and dialogue. Melkite Archbishop Isidore
Battikha of Damascus recently found himself cheered by a Muslim
audience when he declared that Christians must never be labeled
“infidels.”
“I see no serious clouds on our horizon. On the other hand, Syria is a
nation of young people, and young people are easily influenced. My
concern is that outside forces don’t end up influencing our Muslim
youth,” Archbishop Battikha said.
What appears to bother Syrian Christians much more than potential
problems with Muslims is that they feel somewhat forgotten in the West.
Media portrayals of Syria, they say, typically leave out the country’s
rich Christian heritage. Few Westerners would guess that Damascus is
the Arab capital with the largest number of Christians in the Middle
East, they say.
Syria was the land of the apostles, where St. Paul had his conversion,
where some of the first Christian writers and theologians lived and
where important monastic, liturgical and theological traditions grew
up.
That tradition survives in the 11 main church groupings, including the
Melkite, Syrian, Maronite, Chaldean, Armenian and Latin rites of the
Catholic Church, that form the Christian community in Syria today.
Church leaders and ordinary faithful cooperate ecumenically; two
“shared” Catholic-Orthodox churches have been built in recent years,
and it is not unusual for members of one church to attend Sunday
services of a different rite.
Weekly liturgical attendance in Syria is very high, according to all
the churches. Many young people return during the week for catechism,
charity clubs, Scouts or prayer meetings. One expert estimated that 60
percent of Syria’s Catholic youths belong to some kind of church
movement or group.
One is 25-year-old Nizar Matta in Damascus, a member of the Fraternity
of Holy Mary in his Damascus parish. He and about 100 other young
Catholics get together for activities that focus on prayer and service,
like helping the handicapped or city cleanup campaigns. There is no
strict agenda or regimen.
“We are just trying to live as Jesus taught,” Matta said.
At the same time, the evolving Syrian culture — complete with
Internet, cell phones and satellite TV — is changing the way young
people relate to the church and traditional values, several sources
said.
“Materialism and globalization are confusing young people and creating
a gap between faith and technology. More of their time is given to
pursuing material goods, and this is new,” said Ghassan Talab, an
Orthodox Christian in Damascus who heads the Syrian branch of an
international Catholic youth movement.
In a first-of-its-kind meeting in Syria, Catholic young people in
Aleppo organized a three-day Christian youth festival last summer. It
attracted some 5,000 people and was considered a huge success.
“I’ve had about 300 e-mails since then, thanking us and asking when the
next one will be held,” said Majd Maqdessi, a 24-year-old Catholic who
helped organize the event.
Emigration has taken away many young Christians, often the most
educated, and that is likely to continue for the foreseeable future,
church sources said. Most are seeking a better life in a more secure
part of the world, they said.
“If you ask young people, most of them would want to emigrate,” said
George Barnotty, a 30-year-old Christian agricultural engineer who is
trying to decide whether to go abroad. Housing and jobs are the biggest
problems in Syria, he said.
In Aleppo, the Melkite church has taken preventive action, offering
low-rent housing to some 300 Christian families. The archdiocese also
operates a small institute that trains young people for jobs in the
tourism industry, which some expect to grow rapidly if peace ever comes
to the region.
Increasingly, the churches of Syria are operating elementary and
secondary schools, too. Catholic schools were confiscated by the
government in 1967, but some exceptions have been granted in recent
years.
In an interview Oct. 27, Suleiman al-Khatib, a top official of the
Syrian Ministry of Education, said a recent law opens the door to
church-run schools, as long as they teach the government curriculum,
which includes some general religious education.
That news pleased Aleppo’s Archbishop Jeanbart, who has embarked on
major educational projects in his city. He is opening a new wing of the
Catholic high school this fall; it is financed largely by Catholic
donors living abroad.
The Pontifical Mission for Palestine, the operating agency in the
Middle East for the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, also helps
fund Syrian church projects, such as the new Catholic-Orthodox
“ecumenical church” in a suburb of Damascus.
Archbishop Battikha said the Pontifical Mission also has provided
significant funding in areas of catechetics, summer youth activities,
residences for priests and a new theological institute in Damascus.
In Aleppo, Archbishop Jeanbart said Catholic social and educational
institutions offer needed services to Christians and Muslims alike. One
unique example is the 65-bed St. Louis Hospital, where seven Sisters of
St. Joseph do double duty as administrators and nurses. Most of the
patients are Muslims.
Archbishop Jeanbart said it was important to keep expanding church
programs for two other reasons: They remind Muslims that the church is
a global institution with big resources, and they show local Christians
that the church is planning ahead.
“Communicating confidence in the future is one of the greatest things
we can do for our Christians here,” he said.

Genocide: A crime against humanity
Millions have died in unchecked crimes around the world
MICHAEL LAWSON, CP
2004-11-01 02:47:07
The London Free Press
Several thousand people died Sept. 11, 2001, in terrorist attacks on
the United States that instantly became global news. Shocking as it
was, that day of horror pales in comparison to what was then — and is
now — occurring regularly, occasionally beyond the scope of the
media’s eye. It’s somethingthat has come to be known as genocide.
Since the beginnings of recorded history, entire peoples have been
wiped into oblivion in a concerted effort at ethnic, religious or
political cleansing. Millions upon millions have perished in the 20th
century alone. Yet the international community has often been slow to
react — sometimes not reacting at all — and the atrocities persist.
Just as the Sept. 11 attacks gave rise to a new and now globally
recognized term, 9/11, the term genocide is relatively is relatively
recent, formulated by a Polish expert in international law, Raphael
Lemkin, in 1944 during the Holocaust perpetrated by Nazi
Germany. Derived from Greek and Latin roots, the word means the
eradication of a race. The United Nations has since expandedthe
definition to include the destruction of any national, ethnic, racial
or religious group.
The most extreme example in modern times, if only in terms of sheer
numbers, was the Holocaust, in which six million Jews were gassed,
shot, worked to death as slave labourers or subjected to inhumane
surgical and other so-called medical experimentation, often
fatal. Tens of thousands of Roma — or Gypsies — as well as
homosexuals and other “undesirables” were also victimized.
Most recently and still ongoing is the carnage in Darfur, the
westernmost region of the African country Sudan. An estimated one
million blacks have been uprooted from their land, whole masses raped
and massacred, their villages razed and their crops and livestock
plundered. As many as 200,000 have sought refuge in neighbouring Chad,
itself pressed for resources; many more Sudanese face death by
starvation or disease.
The Darfur crisis did not develop overnight. In a country impoverished
and drought-stricken, Arab herdsmen from the north moved into the
western region to reap what they could from the meagre natural
resources of Darfur — water and scrubby grasslands. In the face of
uprisings from the desperate locals, mounted Arab militias known as
Janjaweed moved in to conduct a campaign of slaughter and forced
relocation, the latter a virtual death sentence for many.
Humanitarian groups such as Medecins sans frontieres (Doctors Without
Borders), the United Nations children’s organization UNICEF and some
western governments have said the Sudanese government supports the
Janjaweed. The government denies it. The Bush administration in
Washington has, as of last month, declared the Darfur situation a
genocide.
Again in recent memory is the politically charged genocide in Rwanda,
also in Africa, in which opposing Hutu and minority Tutsi peoples
clashed at the cost of an estimated 500,000 lives, with many more
displaced. Most of those killed were Tutsis. The year was 1994; the
initial carnage occurred over mere months and then continued. It
wasn’t until 1996 that a Canadian-led international force moved in to
try to stem the bloody unrest.
This August, in a small-scale mirror image of the Rwandan infamy, 200
Tutsi men, women and children were shot or hacked to death in a UN
refugee camp in neighbouring Burundi. Hutu rebels justified the action
as a weeding-out of the opposing Burundi army and Congolese militia.
The grim reality of genocide has been most apparent since the advent
of modern media technology, which brings the horrors of the Third
World into western homes nightly. World leaders tune in to the same
thing. So why does it continue?
Politics and semantics are two factors. When the United Nations was
formed with scores of countries in 1945 after the horrors of the
Second World War,the multinational grouping combined diverse mind-sets
in the quest for peace, security and international co-operation. The
UN did adopt a covenant on genocide, but the term itself became a
focus of debate. Should, for instance, the extermination of a
political group be counted as genocide? Some UN members argued against
it.
Then there was the matter of sovereignty. One state’s right to govern
within its borders became — and remains — an issue. As recently as
August, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, on the question of
military intervention into the Darfur crisis, said: “This is not a
simple military solution. This is a matter for the Sudanese government
to handle.”
Political solutions take time, but time is a luxury the victims of
mass oppression can’t afford.
EXAMPLES OF GENOCIDE FROM THE LAST 100 YEARS
The stain on humanity that has come to be known as genocide has a long
history. Here are a few events from the last 100 years that have been
labelled genocides:
Ottoman Empire (1915)
More than one million Christian Armenians were forced from their homes
into the Syrian desert by the Muslim government of the then-Ottoman
empire, along the way to face slaughter and starvation. Decades later,
Third Reich dictator Adolf Hitler is said to have been inspired by the
events. He was quoted as saying: “Who, after all, speaks today of the
annihilation of the Armenians?”
Russian Revolution (1917-21)
Amid political upheaval that saw the fall of the czarist regime and
the rise of communism, organized mobs waged pogroms against Jewish
communities at the cost of more than 60,000 lives.
Stalinist Soviet Union (1931-33)
Under the banner of communism, lands and crops of prosperous Ukrainian
farmers were seized. Up to 10 million in Ukraine were driven out to
starve to death.
Nazi Germany (1939-45)
Hitler’s “Final Solution” in the quest for a pure Aryan nation
accounted for the deaths of six million Jews and tens of thousands of
other “undesirables.” Many were gassed and then incinerated in death
camp furnaces.
Cambodia (1975-79)
The Khmer Rouge Communist party was responsible for the deaths of more
than 1.5 million Cambodians through execution, slave labour and
starvation. The country recently agreed to a UN-supported plan to
bring surviving leaders to trial.
Bosnia (1992-95)
Attempts by Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina to
gain independence from Yugoslavia brought the wrath of the Serbian
government, leading to widespread exterminations. About 18,000 victims
have been found in mass graves. Former Serb president Slobodan
Milosevic is before an international war-crimes tribunal on charges
including genocide. Other military aides have been indicted.
Rwanda (1994)
About 500,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered by Hutu
extremists in political strife. More Tutsis were massacred this summer
in a UN refugee camp in neighbouring Burundi.
Sudan (current)
An estimated 300,000 people will die by year’s end as residents of
western Darfur region are forced from their lands. Many have been
slaughtered; manymore face starvation and disease. The Arab-led
central government has been blamed for supporting the genocide.

We need more determination
Interview by Karine Mangasarian
Yerkir/arm
October 29, 2004
The options for resolution of Nagorno-Karabagh conflict are regularly
discussed by the Armenian political circles. However, a certain
deficit of proposals exists among our political leaders and
analysts. What do our politicians think about the options of
resolution of Nagorno Karabagh conflict?
We asked some of our political leaders the following questions:
1. The status quo is preserved and the negotiations do not seem to
yield any tangible results. What should Armenia do in this context?
2. In case the negotiations result in a consensus and some of the
liberated territories are required in return for Karabagh’s
self-determination, what should Armenia’s response be to this
situation?
3. What if the negotiations end in a deadlock and peace is threatened?
If Azerbaijan starts a war what should Armenia do both at the external
front and in terms of its domestic policies?
We interviewed leader of Republican Party’s parliamentary faction
Galust Sahakian.
1. There can be different ways of resolution of Nagorno Karabagh
conflict. If all our political forces show determination and offer one
solution, then it will be favorable for Armenia. The option we support
is a package solution with a stress on Karabagh’s status. This will
contribute to the speedy resolution of the conflict and establishment
of favorable economic environment in the Caucasus.
After the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline is put into exploitation,
Azerbaijan will have significant profits. In this context ensuring
economic equilibrium and security in the region will be connected with
the settlement of the Karabagh conflict, and this will be favorable
for Armenia. We prioritize the determination of our domestic political
forces regarding the Karabagh conflict.
Some political forces completely ignore the Karabagh issue, others
support a stage-by-stage approach as opposed to the package option,
which we cannot accept. This is why I believe our internal unanimity
and determination are so important. Karabagh has never been a part of
Azerbaijan and can never become one.
2. We cannot accept this option and this is why we stress the
importance of Karabagh’s status. The rest of the issues can be settled
through open negotiations. Whenever we speak about mutual concessions,
especially when we speak about them domestically, any such statements
create certain opinions with the international community.
And these opinions hold that concessions can be made connected with
the liberated territories or better say the territories that ensure
Nagorno Karabagh’s security. Well, this might be an option, but I
think concessions can only be made once Karabagh’s status is
specified. We can negotiate on issues like economic relations between
Armenia and Azerbaijan, clarification of customs regimes, use of
roads, etc. But Karabagh’s status is a non-negotiable issue.
As to the question that Armenia must necessarily give up some
territories, first of all, no such proposals have ever been made. This
is an option supported by some forces in Azerbaijan and this is what
confuses some of our political forces. I think the continuous
circulation of this idea in Armenia is very dangerous.
3. There are no reasons for starting another war now because the
Karabagh conflict cannot be solved militarily. No wars can solve
conflicts: in any case, the warring sides end up sitting at the
negotiation table.
War can have unpredictable consequences. It will be disastrous for the
entire Caucasus region. Moreover, none of the states interested in the
Caucasus will accept the option of war. It’s just a theoretical
contemplation. Asto the militaristic statements periodically made by
Azerbaijan, that’s merely Aliyev’s attempt to consolidate his power
domestically.
4. Only determination can contribute to achieving a solution of the
Karabagh conflict that will be favorable for us. De facto, the
Karabagh conflict has been resolved. All we need now is
determination. Some political forces in Armenia do have that
determination. I think the most important thing is that people have
the necessary determination. As to the economic development of the
country, we are experiencing steady economic growth.
By the way, even if Azerbaijan’s budget is larger, I think we, withour
small budget but given the mentality of our people will be in a more
favorable economic situation than Azerbaijan. The international
community, including the European Union, is increasingly concerned
with ensuring economic balance throughout the world. This concern will
contribute to a favorable solution for Nagorno Karabagh conflict.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenia Now
Oct 29, 2004
Through the Brushes of Futurists: Children’s paintings reveal an ideal Armenia
By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow Reporter
When the think-tank Armenia 2020 released a book of “scenarios” with
political scientists, journalists, and others speculating on Armenia’s
future, its publication also included paintings, done by children who have
already seen the future, and put it on canvas.
>>From 130 paintings submitted by three different painting clubs, 24 pieces
were selected.
“Very many serious people and mighty organizations often turn to children,
expecting a fresh look, a frank or an imaginary answer the grown-ups usually
lose the ability to find,” said Artashes Ghazakhetyan, Armenia 2020 program
manager. “Besides, the creators of the paintings are themselves the carriers
of that future and it was necessary to know also their opinion and, why not,
to reckon with them, too.”
At first the children were offered several topics: “Myself in the Future”,
“My Future President”, “My Thoughts in the Future,” “My Feelings in the
Future”, “My Country in the Future” and “Armenia in 2020”. The topics were
discussed in all of the clubs but as Sona Banoyan, head of the Gobelin and
Painting Club of the National Aesthetic Center, points it out, the children
were not guided by grown-ups; they have expressed only their own thoughts
and ideas.
During a number of lessons these ideas found their expression in color and
image. Children’s boundless imagination with unique manifestations was
possible to perceive only through the prism of their interpretation.
“I thought long what I would like to see in future, and I found out that the
most indispensable thing is a tree curing of all diseases,” says 13 year old
Aramazd Khababyan.
Aramazd’s picture portrays a magnificent tree burdened with fancy fruits,
each of which, according to the painter, cures a specific disease.
“This flower with red fruits is the most important one – it cures cancer,
and these are like thermometers, so they are fight colds, high temperature.
The main sense of my idea is that the curing fruits of my tree will be
distributed absolutely for free and only to kind people,” interprets
Aramazd.
Along with the optimistic ideas of this boy’s dream tree, Anush Ayvazyan,
14, has raised another global issue that touches her greatly. By her
painting, she says she expresses her protest against human cloning.
“You shouldn’t think I watch the ‘Clone’ soap opera and have chosen this
topic under its influence. No, I’ve been concerned with this problem for a
long time and I don’t want people to be cloned in the future,” sys Anush.
Anushik has built several grounds for her painting. In the first one she has
painted a woman carrying a kid in her arms in the traditional position of
Blessed Virgin. Behind her there are numerous lilac silhouettes, and the
farthest of them are crooked and deformed.
“I portrayed the clones in lilac as it is a kind of mad color for myself.
For instance, if one happens to live in a room painted lilac, one may one
day go crazy. The same will happen to people if every day they see copied
faces that are not born in a normal, divine way but are produced as a result
of some experiments,” says Anushik.
She interprets that the last row of cloned peopled is crooked and
disfigured, which symbolizes the idea of cloning doomed to failure.
In the second ground, Anush portrays another four cloned people who, she
says, look into water and see their distorted reflection. In the final
ground of the picture the teenage girl has touched upon another important
problem by painting the ozone layer with numerous darns that hardly bear the
pressure of the earth pollution.
Nine year old Hayk Hovsepyan has found a very beautiful reply to his older
friend Anushik’s concerns and has portrayed his future Armenia outside the
planet Earth and its problems, on another planet. Hayk’s “New Planet”
pictures a beautiful city with tall buildings, blooming and blossoming
gardens and broad streets. And the planet Earth heaves on the sight.
“I imagine that in 2020 there will be so many of us we’ll grow so mighty
that we’ll create a new Armenia on another more beautiful and wealthy
planet,” the little artist explains. “See, the technology has developed so
much that the cars move without petrol and can fly in the air so that there
is no traffic jam. They fly to the planet Earth any time they like and come
back.”
Emma Ter-Avetisyan’s “President of the Future” is well appropriate for the
new Armenia created by Hayk.
“I painted documents, a computer in the head of my dream president, so that
I can show how smart he should be,” says 12-year old Emma. “I painted the
map of Armenia in one of the eyes, and the world map in the other. That is
to say, he should see Armenia as a part of the world and cooperate with all.
And, the most important, I placed not only people in his heart but also the
flora and fauna so that he takes care of nature, too.”
At age eight, Emma made up her mind to become an architect. But she says her
greater dream is that these children’s paintings become a reality, so that
the flying cars, the curing tree and many other wonderful ideas do not
simply remain on canvas.
To see all the works and read the scenarios, visit