SHIRAK TOROSYAN: “TURKISH MILITARY CONTINGENT CAN BE DISPLACED TO AKHALKALAK”
Today, Azerbaijan
June 14 2006
“The withdrawal of the Russian military base from Akhalkalak has a
psychological motive for the Armenians of the region,” Shirak Torosyan,
head of “Javakhk” Public Association.
As APA reports, besides the loss of 4000 work places Armenians feel
unprotected. “The Russian military were the guarantors of security
and stability. The matter is who will replace them. If NATO troops
come Armenians fear it will be a Turkish contingent,” Torosyan said.
When commenting on the supposed repatriation of Akhiska Turks to
Akhalkalak, Georgia, Torosian remarked this step is targeted at
infringement of the right of Armenian inhabitants. Akhiska Turks used
to live in the villages of the Aspindz and Akhaltsikh regions. These
villages were long ago settled by Georgians and it would be pointless
to exile them. There are large uninhabited territories in Georgia
and the repatriates should settle down there.
The “Javakhk” leader said the Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki-Kars railway
is the result of the Georgian-Turkish relations.
“The project promises work places and consequently the way out of the
deadlock. However we are against the construction of this railway,
since it conflicts with the interests of Armenia,” he underscored.
URL:

TIME IS AGAINST YEREVAN
Ïðaâî Âûaîða, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
June 14 2006
Co-editor of International Export Control Observer and research worker
of the Center on Investigation of the Weapons of Mass Destruction
Problems at Monterey Institute of International Researches, Alexander
Melikishvili, responded the letter of some Ashot Vardanyan recently
published in American “Johnson’s Russia List”.
While earnestly denying Vardanyan’s “malicious and provocative
statements”, concerning present situation in Georgia and in South
Caucasus, A. Melikishvili proves groundlessness of idle conjectures
concerning dispute on some Armenian churches in Georgia, prohibition
concerning import of Georgian wine to Russia etc.
Following author, Vardanyan’s comparison of economic situation in
Armenia and Georgia is biased. As he stated improvement of economic
showings of Armenia is not so impressive if we take into account the
fact that almost half of population left the country because of the
absence of opportunities for economic activity. Moreover, it is known
that Armenian treasury is filled up owing to US financial support
and generous donation of numerous Armenian diaspora.
Concern of many Armenians about continuing isolation of their country
in the region is reflected in A. Vardanyan’s text, A. Melikishvili
underlined. First this concern was expressed after successful
completion of construction of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipe line. Today
it is strengthened due to upcoming completion of construction of gas
pipe line Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum and plans concerning construction of
railway Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku; Yerevan holds that triumvirate
of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia ousts it.
To choose Russia as a guarantor of national security for Armenia
is foreordained in many respects and it is of compulsory nature,
especially taking into account anxiety concerning re-start of military
operations against Azerbaijan because of Nagorni Garabagh conflict
and restless memory of genocide that darkens relation between Armenia
and its great neighbor – Turkey.
The fact that Armenia gave basic attributes of its sovereignty
to Russia is evident for everyone who flies to Yerevan: Russian
frontier guards meet guests at Zvartnoz airport. Moreover, Armenians
and Russians guards guard frontiers with Azerbaijan and Turkey. The
sad truth is that it will not be easy for Armenia to get rid of slave
status with respect to Russia. Because of debt amortization in exchange
for assets, today Russia controls many large enterprises and over 70%
of power supplies of Armenia.
A. Melikishvili said that he wouldn’t advice Armenians to kindle
separatist sentiments in Georgian region Javakheti: it would be
non-productive and would ricochet on Yerevan unexpectedly. At the same
time Baku now is impatient because of lack of progress concerning
Nagorni Garabagh negotiations. This enforcement of discontent is
connected with growing oil incomes due to which Azerbaijani government
fails to be patient and avoid temptation to return its territories
occupied by Armenia.
Didactic issues and demographic statements made Vardanyan forget
the most serious problem of Armenia – regulation of Nagorni Garabagh
conflict. Regulation of this conflict would contribute in ensuring
security and stability of the region and prevention of “separation
lines” in Caucasus.
While stressing it A. Melikishvili reminds that “next year Azerbaijani
GDP will surpass Armenian one by a factor of seven. I recommend
Mr. Vardanyan to think of consequences of such economic disparity
for Armenia. Time is against Yerevan. The sooner it is engaged with
regulation of Garabagh problem the better it would be”.
–Boundary_(ID_b1XGKAb4oWFRsyirCG8Y2w)- –

FRENCH MINISTER COMES FOR NUCLEAR PLANT AND HELICOPTER TENDER
By Ali Ihsan Aydin
Zaman Online, Turkey
June 14 2006
The French Foreign Trade minister is coming to Turkey to heal the
relations between two countries that were strained due to the so-called
Armenian Genocide bill.
The representatives of 25 of France’s biggest companies will also
accompany the minister.
Christine Lagarde is expected to discuss the nuclear plant, Marmaray
and the Turkish Armed Forces helicopter tenders.
Speaking to Zaman Daily, French Minister of Foreign Trade Lagarde
said that they would offer solid investments.
He also revealed that the two countries would sign a contract for the
encouragement of mutual investments: the first initiations of which
started on 2 September 1987.
Lagarde, one of the “most distinctive” ministers of the French
government, had moved to Paris in 2005 after resigning as the chair
of the board of directors at the American Baker&McKenzie, one of the
world’s leading international law firms.
The trade volume between Turkey and France is around $10 billion.
The 2005 figures revealed that France’s export figures totaled $5.9
billion, while import figures remained at $3.8 billion.
Around 300 French companies employ 40,000 people in Turkey.
“The Turkish market is very important for French investors. Last
year’s exports to Turkey grew by 11 percent.
This rate is double that of France’s general trade average. We
encourage our companies to invest in Turkey,” said Lagarde, noting
that Turkey was the fifth largest consumer of French products outside
the EU region.
To cite an example, the French minister drew attention to the
investments of giant international French companies like Carrefour,
BNP Parisbas, Renault, Areva and Alsom.
While France was placed to top the countries to enter direct foreign
capital to Turkey, it drew 7th place in the list despite the growing
interest of French companies.
Of the total volume of foreign capital in Turkey, the volume of total
French capital that has entered the country is in the vicinity of
six percent.
>>From a group of 150 countries that import French products, the
French Foreign Ministry singled out 25 countries, including Turkey,
for exclusive efforts to improve trade with, said Lagarde.
Fourteen French companies are being briefed on the Turkish sectors of
transportation and distribution by UBIFRANCE, a French association
established to help French companies to expand into international
markets.
The French minister considers UBIFRANCE as a major source of
assistance.
Several French companies have been cooperating with Turkish companies
and/or institutions, such as OYAK, the Armed Forces Pension Fund.
It is “military” contracts that make up $4 billion of the $14 billion
deal that the French companies are looking to sign with the Turkish
companies.
The opposition Socialist Party last month opened for discussion a
bill in the French Parliament that would penalize the refusal to
acknowledge the so-called Armenian genocide.
Efforts by the government worked at ending the discussion and passing
of this motion.
The government stands firm in its opposition to the motion, a sign
that any future reiterations will follow the same line of argument in
the government should the motion ever comes before the legislation,
said Lagarde.
‘We have a chance in the nuclear tender’
Adjournment of talks over the motion gave “temporary” relief to French
companies active in the Turkish market, along with Eurocopter-the
French company that stands out as most likely to be granted late
this week an exclusive right to provide attack helicopters for the
Turkish army.
Ms. Lagarde classified nuclear energy as one of the safest energy
sources to obtain, and added that a clear presentation of the nature
of nuclear energy will help gain public approval of the project.
There were, in the past, serious reactions from the French public
against the use of nuclear energy, said Lagarde, and emphasized, “Well
and clearly conducted communications,” as well as “intelligibility”
helped triumph over this reaction.
There is little doubt that Turkey’s non-government organizations will
act like their French counterparts in abandoning their opposition views
over the use of nuclear energy; and what is important is to convince
a large proportion of the public of the need for nuclear energy,
said the French minister when she emphasized the French experience
in overcoming public opposition.
France is one of the world’s leading countries actively involved in
the production of nuclear energy, said Ms. Lagarde, and classed the
kind of nuclear experiences that draws from specialization as unusual.

INTERNATIONAL WORKING GROUP FOR SEARCH OF MISSING TO VISIT NKR JUNE 18-20
DeFacto, Armenia
June 14 2006
June 18-20 the International Working Group /IWG/ for Search of Missing,
Captives and Release of POWs is arriving in the Nagorno Karabakh.
In the course of the visit the Working Group members are expected to
consider the possibilities of activating the search of the missing
and burial places, as well as work at the inquiries by the NKR, RA
and AR State Committees for Missing and Captives, the IWG Coordinator
in Nagorno Karabakh Albert Voskanyan told DE FACTO Agency.
The IWG representatives are to hold meetings at the NKR State Committee
for Missing and Captives, Stepanakert office of the International
Committee of the Red Cross and meet with the former POWs.

PAKISTANI ENVOY VISITS FRONTLINE REGION
AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
June 14 2006
Pakistan has no political or economic relations with Armenia due to
the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict, its ambassador in Baku Mohammad
Hafeez said during a visit to the western Tovuz region bordering on
Armenia on Thursday.
The ambassador told the press that this was his first visit to the
frontline areas and he would visit other borderline districts of the
country afterwards.
Although the Tovuz district is not part of Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh,
an Azeri region under Armenian occupation, civilians and residential
areas there are often subjected to shooting by Armenians.
During the visit, the Pakistani diplomat became familiar with the
living conditions of residents in the Alibayli village.
“I will share my impressions with ambassadors of other countries upon
returning to Baku. Let them come and see firsthand the suffering of
people living in the frontline territories,” the ambassador added.
Parliament member Ganira Pashayeva, who initiated the envoy’s visit,
said she was holding discussions to arrange trips by ambassadors of
Western countries to the country’s frontline regions.
“Most of them have pledged to visit these areas. For instance, British
ambassador Laurie Bristow decided to tour the countryside in July or
August,” she said.

PACE CALLS FOR AZERI-ARMENIAN CO-OP ON POWS
AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
June 14 2006
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) rapporteur
on migration, refugees and population has called on Azerbaijan and
Armenia to cooperate on prisoners of war, hostages and missing persons.
“Collaboration between relevant bodies of the two countries is pivotal
to solve the problem, in particular, in terms of simplifying the
exchange of information,” Leo Platvoet told a news conference at the CE
Information Office in Baku upon completion of his visit to the region.
The rapporteur said both countries had expressed readiness to forge
contacts to address the problems faced by these persons, and called
for stepping up efforts in this area. He said the key objective was
to arrange cooperation between the two countries.
“The fact that the sides are making such statements is evidence that
the idea of establishing a joint institution may soon come into being,”
he said, adding that this option has already been applied by the Red
Cross in the Balkans.
Platvoet said the entity could include representatives of Azerbaijan,
Armenia and both communities of Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh. He added,
however, that he had no discussions on the issue during his visit to
the two countries.
Platvoet said the goal of the visit was to prepare a report on captives
and missing persons in the South Caucasus based on his findings. The
document will mostly cover humanitarian issues and have no bearing
on politics, he stressed. “It will not touch on political aspects,
as this could compromise the work being done.”
The rapporteur said the report will be finalized in fall and further
submitted to PACE’s winter session for consideration.
“We have met with the family members of missing persons to study their
problems. These mainly concerned collection of information. We also
found out that their relatives are facing social problems. All these
developments will be reflected in the report,” Platvoet said.
The rapporteur met with members of the Azeri delegation at PACE.
Several proposals he made during the discussions were not accepted
by the MPs. He suggested that the Azerbaijani side collaborate with
the institutions and NGOs in Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh and send the
parents of the missing persons to Armenia to assist in searching for
them, which did not go down well with the Azerbaijani representatives.

ON B.S.
*************************************
In his book, ON BULLSHIT (Princeton University Press, 2005), the American philosopher Harry G. Frankfurt echoes Descartes’ words on common sense when he writes, “One of the most salient features of our culture is that there is so much bullshit. Everyone knows this.” If we don’t talk about it, he goes on, it may be because “most people are rather confident of their ability to recognize it and to avoid being taken in by it.” Further down: “The realm of advertising and public relations, and the nowadays closely related realm of politics, are replete with instances of bullshit so unmitigated that they can serve among the most indisputable and classic paradigms of the concept.”
*
Among the synonyms of bullshit, Frankfurt cites: “humbug, balderdash, claptrap, hokum, drivel, buncombe, imposture, and quackery.” For some reason he fails to include baloney and propaganda.
*
In her book THE MIGHTY AND THE ALMIGHTY: REFLECTIONS ON AMERICA, GOD, AND WORLD AFFAIRS (New York, 2006), Madeleine Albright, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and, under Clinton, the first woman Secretary of State, writes that the central message of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism (“involved in most political upheavals today”) are “compassion and peace.” Leave it to the b.s. of sermonizers and speechifiers to pervert compassion to slaughter and peace to war.
*
The Romans used to say, “Si vis pacem para bellum” (if you want peace, prepare for war”). But the Romans were decent enough not to involve the Almighty in their imperial ambitions and bloodthirsty disposition.
*
George Orwell, himself an expert on b.s., went further when he coined the slogan, included in his science fiction novel, 1984, “PEACE IS WAR.”
*
B.s. is not a favorite topic of discussion among us perhaps because we are such gargantuan consumers of it. Instead, we prefer to focus and emphasize Turkish b.s., thus implying we are devoid of it.
*
Consider the content of our weekly one-hour TV programs: nothing but singing floozies and hoodlums, sermonizing bishops, and speechifying bosses (mostly about Comrade Panchoonie’s favorite subject: raising funds for this or that worthy cause). On the positive side, since the programs last only 45 minutes (60 minutes minus 15 minutes of commercials) the speeches and sermons are drastically edited.
*
The Romans had another saying: “Ride si sapis” (if you are wise, laugh).
#
Monday, June 12, 2006
*************************************
“Armenians survive by cannibalizing one another,” Zarian tells us; and I suspect they will go on cannibalizing until the day laboratory tests reveal they contain dangerous levels of carcinogens.
*
A nation that relies on propaganda digs its own grave.
*
To be a sermonizer or speechifier means to speak of immortality during the day and to work as a gravedigger under cover of darkness.
*
I am beginning to identify men not as members of this or that race, color and creed, but as either dupes or deceivers.
*
When tolerance allows deceivers to deceive and dupes to be duped, is it really tolerance or conspiracy?
*
A dogmatist is a failure who has been successful only in suppressing his own doubts.
*
Whenever you understand them better than they understand themselves, they say you don’t understand them.
*
To be insecure, or in Saroyan’s expression, “without foundation” (dabansez in Turkish), means to be eager and willing to swallow the most absurd propaganda line provided it flatters the ego.
*
We call wise the man who has acquired the skill to hide his foolishness.
*
I would have gone away, if only they had ignored me. By insulting me they challenged me to reiterate my position and to make a more convincing case.
*
We are taught to respect a man’s convictions or beliefs, provided he is sincere. But according to Harry G. Frankfurt in his book ON BULLSHIT: “Our natures are, indeed, elusively insubstantial – notoriously less stable and less inherent than the natures of other things. And insofar as this is the case, sincerity itself is bullshit.” Frankfurt is right: if sincerity were a reliable criterion, we would have to respect suicidal terrorists and fanatics.
#
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
***************************************
If I have not said this before I will say it now: I have been wrong most of my life and the chances are I am wrong today. I am certainly wrong in thinking that what I write matters and that it may even make a difference.
*
Illusions don’t die; they adapt and reappear under a different disguise. Once upon a time I thought I was the center of the world. Once upon a time I was also led to believe Armenians were God’s chosen people. The ancient Greeks would say that it is for this egocentric arrogance (hubris) that we were punished (Nemesis).
*
Why do I go on writing? I wish I knew. My only tentative explanation: writing has become a habit and habits are easier to keep than to give up.
*
In so far as I make assertions, I am very probably wrong. But in so far as I question the validity of the assertions in which I believed, I am very probably right.
*
Title of a poem by Francis Jammes (1868-1938), French poet and mystic: “Priere pour aller au Paradis avec les anes” (Prayer for going to Heaven with the donkeys”).
*
In Michel Houellebecq’s THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ISLAND (New York, 2005) I come across the following phrase: “…bullshit [is] the death of civilization.”
#
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
******************************************
Learning or understanding something you didn’t understand before means changing your mind about one or more things. Even animals learn. Only corpses don’t change their minds. Show me a man who has not changed his mind during the last ten or twenty years and I will show you a living corpse.
*
There is a type of imbecile who believes in his own assertions simply because he made them in the presence of witnesses.
*
A good friend of mine once said to me, “The reason why you are not popular is that you don’t write about sex and violence.” It is true, nothing I write is marketable. If anything, it’s the exact opposite, and I consider that sufficient reason to persevere.
*
Some very complex problems solve themselves; some easy problems resist all solutions; and some solutions create more problems. There are only three of the many perversities of life. Get used to them.
*
If he is a perennial underdog but speaks with the arrogance of a top dog, he must be an Armenian.
*
Some readers disagree with me because what I say does not apply to them. Perhaps I should subtitle everything I write, “If the shoe fits…”
#

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Government House # 2, Republic Square
Yerevan 0010, Republic of Armenia
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
12-06-2006
Minister Oskanian Receives Micheline Calmy-Rey,
Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation
On June 12, Minister Oskanian received a delegation led by Micheline
Calmy-Rey, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss
Confederation.
While welcoming Micheline Calmy-Rey’s first visit to Armenia, the Armenian
Minister noted that there exists an extensive and active dialogue between
Armenia and Switzerland.
During the meeting, Minister Oskanian broached the issue of intensifying
Armenia-Switzerland relations, particularly in the economic, cultural and
humanitarian spheres. He expressed his satisfaction with the invitation to
Armenian businessmen to participate in the Swiss Invest Forum launched in
Zurich on June 12.
The two focused on deepening cooperation in the framework of international
organizations, specifically given Switzerland’s capacity as full member of
the United Nations and a newly-elected member of the Human Rights Council of
the United Nations.
Minister Oskanian noted with appreciation Switzerland’s assistance to
Armenia in the process of development, particularly through the involvement
of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation in specific programs,
including a Tsakhkadzor development program. He also invited Switzerland to
consider its contribution in the initiative of the Republic of Armenia
targeted at developing Armenian’s rural areas.
The Swiss Minister assured their readiness to keep on launching and
implementing different programs in Armenia. This year, the Swiss State
Council has allocated 4 million Swiss francs to this end. About activating
bilateral economic relations, Minister Calmy-Rey expressed confidence that
the Convention for the avoidance of double taxation just signed between the
Swiss Confederation and the Republic of Armenia, will boost the business
contacts of the two countries.
On the guest’s request, Minister Oskanian briefed the delegation on the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process, the present status of
Armenia-Turkey relations, as well as the demolition of cross-stones
(khachkars) in the Armenian cemetery in Julfa, Azerbaijan, and Armenia’s
appeals to the international community, specifically to the Council of
Europe, OSCE and UNESCO.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Government House # 2, Republic Square
Yerevan 0010, Republic of Armenia
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
13-06-2006
Minister Oskanian Departs on Official Visits
On June 13, Minister Oskanian will depart for Paris to meet his Azeri
counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group will be
present at the meeting.
On June 14, the Minister will leave for Brussels to participate, together
with Serj Sarkissian, Defense Minister of Armenia, in the North Atlantic
Council – Armenia meeting (26+1 format). During the meeting, they will
discuss the implementation process of the NATO Individual Partnership Action
Plan (IPAP) with Armenia based on the interim assessment as of May 18 and
19, 2006, by the NATO International Staff.
On June 19, the Minister’s visit is scheduled to Kiev, where he will meet
with the President and Foreign Minister of Ukraine.
On June 20 and 21, he will be in Geneva to attend the opening meeting of the
Human Rights Council of the United Nations.
On June 27 – 28, Minister Oskanian will pay an official visit to Georgia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Community’s Museum: Art and History at the Ararat-Eskijian Museum
By Ramela Grigorian Abbamontian
Critics’ Forum
Visual Arts
6/10/06
Like many of the artifacts contained within, the Ararat-Eskijian
Museum (AEM) is a hidden treasure awaiting discovery. Nestled
quietly in Mission Hills on the campus of The Ararat Home of Los
Angeles, the museum is the physical manifestation of the dream of
one individual, genocide survivor Luther Eskijian, who created the
museum “to preserve our Armenian culture and historical treasures
for generations to come.”
In 1989, at the age of 78, genocide survivor Luther Eskijian
embarked on a quest to realize his 30-year-old dream of creating a
museum where his collection could be used to preserve the cultural
identity of the Armenians. “I have been a collector of historical
artifacts, coins, maps, art, documents and books since my early
childhood. I was drawn to collecting these items first for their
historical value, second, because of their beauty, and finally, to
preserve these collections for others to enjoy,” notes Eskijian in
the Founder’s Statement. Using his connection with the Ararat Home
(as its volunteer advisor of many years), he proposed adding a
museum and a sanctuary to the site. Working diligently as architect
and general contractor for about four years, Eskijian, at the age of
82, witnessed the fruits of his dream when the museum opened its
doors in 1993.
The mission of the museum is clearly articulated on its website
(): “The Ararat-Eskijian Museum ~E was
created to enrich, inspire and educate the community through the
display of artworks and exhibits, presentation of programs, and
collection of research materials featuring the history and cultural
heritage of the Armenian people.” A detailed list that follows
expounds how the museum aims to achieve this mission, including
collecting valuable items, accepting the community’s contributions
of artifacts, focusing on research and education, housing a library
(of primarily genocide-related materials), and offering cultural
programs. These are ambitious aims for a tiny museum, yet as a
review of its most recent activities will soon illustrate, the
museum appears to tirelessly strive for these goals. These efforts
fill a critical need because, as its mission statement reminds us,
the museum “serves the largest Armenian community in the Diaspora
and is the only Armenian museum on the west coast.”
In its 6,000 square feet~Vrelatively small exhibition space~Vthe
museum’s impressive and eclectic collections include antiquities,
decorative arts, drawings, historical documents, musical
instruments, paintings, prints, rugs, sculptures, stamps, coins, and
textiles. Considering the inspiring story of the museum’s founder,
its collections, its programming, its role as a site of remembrance,
and its close relationship with the community, we might conclude
that though young and still nascent, the museum is nonetheless an
important thread in the fabric of the community and a powerful
vehicle of its preservation.
Like most small museums, AEM is staffed primarily by volunteers and
a few paid employees. The powerhouse behind the museum’s operations
is Maggie Mangassarian-Goschin, who began volunteering at the museum
in 1998 and has since dedicated countless hours to making its
mission a reality. In fact, she can easily be considered the
museum’s unpaid director and~Vas most directors in small museums will
attest~Vwears a number of different hats, including programming,
staffing, curating, and even housecleaning and maintenance. Though
the small group of staff and volunteers are clearly dedicated to the
museum, more volunteers are always needed to achieve the large-scale
goals of the museum.
A key feature, though not the entire focus, of the museum is its
presentation of the 1915 Armenian Genocide. Visitors to the museum
are greeted by the “Mother Armenia Rising Out of the Ashes,” the
bronze sculpture flanking the entrance. Dedicated to the victims as
well as survivors of the 1915 Genocide, this living memorial has
elicited a myriad of reactions from viewers, most notably prayers,
tears, and flowers placed at her feet. Museum staff has often
glimpsed the elderly residents of the Ararat Home deep in thought
beside the woman and child figure. One wonders: what are they
thinking and remembering? What are their personal stories? And
more to the point, who preserves them? These critical questions
further reinforce the essential role of the museum in the community.
In another section of the small area dedicated to the Genocide,
artists Nora Nalbandian and Guilda Deirmendjian have painted “The
Der Zor Memorial Mural,” a tortured desert landscape pervaded by
light and vibrant colors from above, in what seems to represent the
hope of God. A box of human bones retrieved on a Der Zor mission by
some museum members sits in front of the mural, a reminder of the
unmarked graves of the victims. Initially, the alcove was intended
as a silent site of meditation. Yet as the number of non-Armenian
visitors increased, so did their questions. “What is this mural
about?” “Where are the bones from?” The museum has since
recognized the visitors’ concerns and has added extensive wall text
and photographic reproductions to tell the story of the Genocide.
Though the text at times almost overpowers the silent testimony of
memory, it is a necessary addition, since one of the museum’s goals,
as Goschin reiterated in a recent interview, is to introduce
Armenian culture and history to the non-Armenian public. Without
the labels, there is always the risk that visitors would admire the
objects simply for their beauty, instead of as emblems of historical
value.
The rest of the collection, as delineated earlier, is quite diverse~V
not uncommon among collectors like Eskijian, who amass an assortment
of objects through the years. That large collection of objects,
along with the museum’s small exhibition space, poses a challenge in
creating appropriate and cohesive displays. But surprisingly, the
varied selection also presents a more expansive view of Armenian
history, marking its origins (the oldest items date from 2500 years
ago to the Urartian and Hittite periods), its Christian faith, its
persecution, and its contributions to various neighboring countries.
Like its collection, the museum’s programs are also eclectic and
varied, and include film screenings, art exhibitions, lectures, and
musical performances. Its programming has burgeoned rapidly in the
last couple of years (a look at the website’s Events section will
confirm this), triggered~Vaccording to Goschin~Vby the exhibition
organized by three UCLA graduate students who temporarily adopted
the museum to curate a student art exhibition entitled “In
Celebration of Life: Armenian Identity and Culture of the Diaspora”
(April 2002).
The museum’s impressive list of programs features such prominent
scholars and artists as filmmaker Michael Hagopian, historian George
Bournoutian, art historian Levon Chookaszian, and genocide scholar
Vahakn Dadrian. (Audience numbers at these events number anywhere
from 50 to 100.) Another step in the right direction has been the
museum’s recent collaboration with other major Armenian
institutions, a move they intend to~Vand in fact, should~Vpursue, in
order to introduce the museum to new audiences and continue offering
quality programs. Notably, AEM has joined forced with NAASR
(National Association for Armenian Studies and Research) and
recently jointly hosted the lecture, “`Kiss My Children’s Eyes’: A
Search for Answers to the Armenian Genocide through One Remarkable
Photograph” (March 2006). The lecture featured Pulitzer-Prize
winning Boston Globe investigative journalist Stephen Kurkjian, who
discussed his quest to identify the group of Armenian men standing
under Turkish guard in front of a building in Gesaria (Caesarea) in
1915.
Currently, the museum is in the midst of preparing a teacher
workshop for the Fall to introduce teachers~Vfirst from Armenian
private schools and then from area public schools~Vto the collections
and the different ways of integrating the various items in the
collection into educational courses, including Social Studies,
History and English. Also in the works are a High School Volunteer
Program and the continuing development of relations with university
professors to help them encourage their students to visit the
museum. Another long-term goal of the museum is supporting local
artists. To that end, the museum recently curated “The Visual
Poetry of the Homeland: The Photographs of Vahé Peroomian and Ara
Meshkanbarian,” (September to October 2005). In the
accompanying “Dialogues with the Artists: Interview and Reception,”
the public was introduced more intimately to the artists’ motives
and inspirations. While the museum would like to do more in terms
of supporting local artists, it does not yet have the manpower,
time, or funding to organize exhibitions on a more consistent basis.
Founder Eskijian reminds the public on the museum’s website
that, “The Ararat-Eskijian Museum belongs to all Armenians.” And in
its mission statement, the museum “encourages the community to
contribute historical artifacts and actively participate in the
preservation of family histories and experiences.” In this way, the
museum has become a living repository, each donated item breathing
new life into its growing collection.
While the museum endeavors to be a place for the community, it also
desperately needs support. This need is especially critical for a
museum dedicated to a small ethnic community. Ideally, a reciprocal
relationship should exist between the two~Vthe museum preserving the
community’s culture and heritage and allowing it to take pride in
its accomplishments, with the community in turn allowing the museum
to thrive with its support. In Ron Chew’s article “In Praise of the
Small Museum” (Museum News, March/April 2002, p.38), Steve Olson (at
the time of the article, Assistant Director of the Museum of Church
History and Art) warns that “if you added up all the collections in
the country, numerically, most of the artifacts would be found in
small museums. If we don’t help the small museums, we’re literally
risking the fabric of our own heritage.”
Is the museum, then, solely for Armenians? Goschin and other museum
staff would reply that it is not, and like most Armenians, express
their desire to share their rich culture with others. But the
museum also inspires Armenian and non-Armenian visitors alike to
reflect on their own cultures and recognize similarities with those
of others by emphasizing the common need to preserve their stories
for future generations.
The museum is currently open only on Saturdays and Sundays, between
1 and 5 pm, as well as the first Tuesday of every month after the
Women’s Guild Luncheon at the Ararat Home. Admission to the museum
and to all events is free.
All Rights Reserved: Critics Forum, 2006
Ramela Grigorian Abbamontian is a PhD candidate in Art History at
UCLA. She has been with the Ararat-Eskijian Museum since 2001.
You can reach her or any of the other contributors to Critics’ Forum
at [email protected]. This and all other articles published
in this series are available online at To
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Critics’ Forum is a group created to
discuss issues relating to Armenian art and culture in the Diaspora.
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