The exodus from Artsakh – Part I

The attached is my aided translation of Tatul Hakopyan’s posting on his Facebook page today, September 24, 2025. His posting was titled: “Arrest and transfer of Arayik Harutyunyan to Baku: details from the Yevlakh meeting - Արայիկ Հարությունյանի ձերբակալությունը և տեղափոխումը Բաքու. մանրամասներ Եվլախի հանդիպումից;” (ANI Reseach Center, March 12, 2025).  I do not claim it to be an unbiased historical presentation. I have added my comments in red, to Tatul Hakobyan's posting. Vaհe H Apelian

“To fully understand the history of the Armenian exodus from Artsakh and the last days, it is necessary to be aware of the details of the Armenian-Azerbaijani meeting held in Yevlakh on September 21, 2023, and the subsequent contacts.

Deputy Secretary of the Security Council Sergey Martirosyan and MP David Melkumyan, who participated in the Yevlakh meeting from the Artsakh side, have not given any interviews or explanations to date. Only they and the last President of Artsakh Samvel Shahramanyan can fully present the reality, since they were the last negotiators.

Several areas of issues were discussed at the Yevlakh meeting, which can be conditionally divided into several groups: a/ military, b/ economic, and c/ political.

The dissolution of the Artsakh Defense Army was only a matter of time. After the September 19 attack and nine months of inhuman blockade, Artsakh could not resist the enemy's tenfold forces. In fact, Armenia, which for decades was the guarantor of Artsakh’s security, and Russia, as a peacekeeping force, were unable and unwilling to keep Artsakh Armenian.” (see my note)

Note: Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia, on November 9, 2020, signed a trilateral ceasefire statement that ended the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. The agreement went into effect on November 10, 2020, and sealed Azerbaijan's military victory and established a Russian peacekeeping presence in the region.

As a result, Armenian forces withdrew from the districts surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh by December 1, 2020, formalizing Azerbaijan's control over these areas and other territory gained during the 44-day war.

A Russian peacekeeping force was deployed to the region for a minimum of five years. Their mandate included monitoring the contact line and controlling the Lachin Corridor.

Karabakh, was placed under the control of Russian peacekeepers. Azerbaijan guaranteed the security of movement through the corridor.

When on September 19, 2023, Azerbaijan launched a major military offensive into Nagorno-Karabakh. Russian peacekeepers, distracted by the war in Ukraine, were unable or unwilling to intervene. Armenia, capitulated and its forces withdrawn, was in no position to act on behalf Artsaskh, which would have been an act of war, Armenia could not afford.

“Baku had also previously set an ultimatum-demand to disband the Artsakh Defense Army. After the Yevlakh meeting and subsequent contacts, Baku set the condition for the safe departure of Armenians from Artsakh to be the arrest of five Armenians, to which a positive response was given. These five Armenians were former presidents Bako Sahakyan and Arkady Ghukasyan, Minister of Defense Kamo Vardanyan, former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, and former Foreign Minister Davit Babayan.

Yevlakh is a city in Azerbaijan, 265 km west of the capital city of Baku

"As we can see, the name of Arayik Harutyunyan is not on the list. Moreover, the Deputy Director of the National Security Service of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Shidlinsky, who had moved and was working in Shushi, personally told Harutyunyan that he could leave to Armenia.

Harutyunyan, who had been in contact with Azerbaijanis from February 2021 until his arrest on October 3, 2023, told the Artsakh leadership that he could not leave the former presidents alone and that they should leave Stepanakert together.

The second set of issues discussed in Yevlakh concerned economic issues. The exodus of Armenians from Artsakh was already inevitable, and no one wanted to stay and live under the Azerbaijani flag. However, it turned out that there was not enough fuel in Artsakh for 120 thousand Armenians to leave Stepanakert. During the Yevlakh meeting, Azerbaijan promised 120 tons of gasoline, and later also three cars of first aid supplies for the victims of the Stepanakert explosion.

The third set of issues concerned the reintegration of Artsakh, which was unacceptable for the Armenians of Artsakh.

As we have noted in our previous publications in this series, since September 30, 2023, the Artsakh leadership has been transferred to the Stepanakert airport, to the hospital of the Russian peacekeeping mission.

After the second half of October 3, Russian peacekeepers deliver Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, and Davit Ishkhanyan from the airport to Karen Sargsyan’s private house and, thus, transfer them to the Azerbaijani special services, which were keeping the area under blockade.

During this time, Arayik Harutyunyan, along with two security officers of the Artsakh president, left for the brandy factory he owned, located on Tumanyan Street in Stepanakert, and called Jeyhun Shidlinsky. Harutyunyan informed that he wants to show the factory. Shidlinsky replied from Shushi that they will be at the factory soon. A short time later, Shidlinsky’s assistant arrived at the factory premises with representatives of the Azerbaijani special services and arrested Arayik Harutyunyan on the spot. He was transported directly from the brandy factory to Baku.

The views on Arayik Harutyunyan’s resignation from the post of Artsakh President are contradictory. The Armenian authorities and the media and influencers expressing their views claim that Harutyunyan resigned as a result of the coup in Artsakh. 

In fact, Harutyunyan had repeatedly expressed his desire to resign from the post of president in meetings with the military-political leadership of Artsakh. He first expressed this desire in Yerevan in March 2023 after the joint session of the Security Councils of Armenia and Artsakh.

That was the last joint session of the Security Councils of the two republics and took place amid accusations and scoldings by Nikol Pashinyan against the Artsakh authorities. We will write about all this on another convenient occasion”. (see my note)

It appeared that the PM was against Artsakh Armenians leaving Artsakh. It was reported that “The Armenian PM said that, while Armenia was prepared to accommodate those leaving Karabakh, they would not be under direct threat if they stayed put, under Azerbaijani rule.

 

Almost don't know what it means to have their own country

The attached quote is from an odar friend, who out of personal interest became expertly knowledgeable of Armenian history. I withheld his name.  Odar is an Armenian word. Its literal translation per Mesrob G. Kouyoumdjian, “A Comprehensive Dictionary Armenian-English”, dictionary, Beirut, Atlas Press (1970), is: Strange, foreign, unknown, remote, alien, distant, exotic, outlandish. It also is used to denote a person who is not an Armenian but is used as a deference to the person. Vaհe H Apelian 

To emulate the founder of the first republic, his namesake delegate Aram Manougian 
declares in the national assembly, Armenia is independent

The quote: "Today is the 30th anniversary of Armenia's independence from the Soviet Union, only the second time in modern history when Armenians had an independent country (after a brief 2.5 year period at the end of World War I). Three years ago I photographed the Armenian Independence Day celebrations in Yerevan, the Armenian capital. It was one of my greatest street photography experiences and I was so excited that I shared these photos with basically every Armenian I knew. Today's celebrations were very muted, as Armenians are still mourning their losses in the Second Karabakh War last fall. I have seen several Armenians suggest that forgoing a celebration was the right thing to do. It reminds me of an Armenian I know who is always saying that Armenians almost don't know what it means to have their own country. They would rather mourn their past losses and feel pride about their ability to survive future losses, than to celebrate what they have now and do whatever is necessary to build a stronger country (thereby reducing their chances of future losses). 

I post these celebratory photos in honor of the Armenians who worked hard for their independence and who are committed to building a prosperous, stronger, and peaceful Armenia that fully realizes its independence." September 21, 2021

                                                        *

My odor friend's remarks should give us pause to reflect and  appreciate  what we have achieved, a state of our own, a country of our own that we  need to safeguard at all cost.

On September 21, 1991, Armenia held an independence referendum in which its citizens voted to secede from the Soviet Union. The referendum saw a 95% turnout, with 99% of voters casting a "yes" ballot to leave the USSR. Based on the results, the Armenian parliament formally declared the country's independence on September 23, 1991.

This democratic vote marked the establishment of the modern Republic of Armenia after nearly 70 years of Soviet rule.

 The day, September 21, is now celebrated as Armenia's Independence Day.

Not coy, nor timid: Depicting Mount Ararat

Vaհe H Apelian 

Painted by my cousin Annie Hoglind

I do not think that there is an Armenian household that does not have a sentimental display of Armenian national symbols, such as the Armenian tricolor flag, or the Armenian Coat-of-Arms, or of course Mount Ararat. The attached picture depicts my maternal cousin Annie Chelebian Hoglind’s painting of Mount Ararat. She painted it for us and gifted it decades ago. 

But that is a sentimental display. The government of Armenia recently let it be known that it has designed a new entry stamp in which Mount Ararat will not be depicted. The government’s decision precipitated unusual backlash, laden with contradictions

First and foremost, those who vehemently oppose the removal of that Mount Ararat drawing from the Armenia entry stamp, tend to be those who vouch for the sanctity of the Declaration of Independence and oppose amending it. They are in fact, vouching to the argument that the PM Nikol Pashinyan is putting forth. The Armenian Declaration of Independence states that the Republic of Armenia is declaring the Soviet Socialist Republic of Armenia, that had long accepted that Mount Ararat is not part of it, independent. In fact, Nikol Pashinyan is dwelling on that very argument, that Mount Ararat is not part of Armenia and that it is his job to tend to the interest of the Republic, and not have anything to do or promote anything that is not part of the Republic.

But, let alone of our centuries old association with the mountain, depicting Mount Ararat is in the Armenian Constitution since its inception in 1995. However, Mount Ararat is depicted in the constitution with a caveat; with Noah’s Ark sitting on it  and not the mountain by itself. Section 21 of the constitution, in part, reads as follows – “The coat of arms of the Republic of Armenia shall depict, in the center on a shield, Mount Ararat with Noah’s ark and the coats of arms of the four kingdoms of historical Armenia...” Naturally, the wording in the constitution has come about to send the following message, that the depiction of Mount Ararat stands for its  ethnic symbolism. Our patriarch historian Movses Khorenatsi claims that the Armenians are descendents of Noah’s great grandson. Depicting Noah’s Ark on Mount Ararat, symbolizes the provervial lineage. Naturally depicting Noah's ark on Mount Ararat attests also for it being a biblical symbol. Armenians are the first to accept the Christian faith as its state religion.

Depicting Noah’s Ark on Mount Ararat makes for a weird drawing. Case in point the depiction of Mount Ararat with Noah’s Ark on Armenia’s Coat-of- Arms. There is nothing remotely Mount Ararat like on the coat-of-arms. The infantile drawing of Mount Ararat on the Armenia entry stamp did not depict Noah’s Ark on it, for good reason. It would have made for a weird, crowded drawing. But, as it stands, it is not a constitutional depiction. Simply said, depicting Mount Ararat by itself on state documents without a visible depiction of Noah’s Ark on the mountain, is simply unconstitutional.

At the cost of repeating myself, let us face it. depicting Noah’s ark on Mount Ararat makes for an awkward drawing. 

Best we relegate Ararat with its imposing appeal to our literature, art and remove it from official documents. For Mount Ararat, these arguments are a tempest in a tea pot. Avedik Isahakyan captured the essence of the old glory, when he wrote:

To the old peak of Ararat, 

centuries have come like a second, 

and passed away.

Countless flashing swords have been dulled

 by the diamond hard mountain, 

and left.

Generations at its brink, 

have gazed the light on its summit, 

and moved on.

It's your turn now, 

look for a moment at its furrowed forehead, 

and move on. 

(see the note below for the original text)

Yes, move on to create at the foot of the old glory Mount Ararat, an orderly, law abiding, flourishing, and prosperous state, in peace with its neighbors; for it is the peace of the brave and the enduring and not of the coy, or of the timid.

 

Բնգիրը՝

Արարատի ծեր կատարին

Դար է եկել, վայրկյանի պես ,

Ու անցել:

Անհուն թվով կայծակների

Սուրն է բեկվել ադամանդին,

Ու անցել:

Մահախուճապ սերունդների

Աչքն է դիպել լույս գագաթին,

Ու անցել:

Հերթը մի պահ քոնն է հիմա .

Դո´ւ էլ նայիր սեգ ճակատին,

Ու անցի´ր…

ԱՎԵՏԻՔ ԻՍԱՀԱԿՅԱՆ

 

 

Mount Ararat and its depiction on official documents

Vaհe H Apelian 

Painted by my cousin Annie Hoglind

I do not think that there is an Armenian household that does not have a sentimental display of Armenian national symbols, such as the Armenian tricolor flag, or the Armenian Coat-of-Arms, or of course Mount Ararat. The attached picture depicts my maternal cousin Annie Chelebian Hoglind’s painting of Mount Ararat. She painted it for us and gifted it decades ago. 

But that is a sentimental display. The government of Armenia recently let it be known that it has designed a new entry stamp in which Mount Ararat will not be depicted. The government’s decision precipitated unusual backlash, laden with contradictions

First and foremost, those who vehemently oppose the removal of that Mount Ararat drawing from the Armenia entry stamp, tend to be those who vouch for the sanctity of the Declaration of Independence and oppose amending it. They are in fact, vouching to the argument that the PM Nikol Pashinyan is putting forth. The Armenian Declaration of Independence states that the Republic of Armenia is declaring the Soviet Socialist Republic of Armenia, that had long accepted that Mount Ararat is not part of it, independent. In fact, Nikol Pashinyan is dwelling on that very argument, that Mount Ararat is not part of Armenia and that it is his job to tend to the interest of the Republic, and not have anything to do or promote anything that is not part of the Republic.

But, let alone of our centuries old association with the mountain, depicting Mount Ararat is in the Armenian Constitution since its inception in 1995. However, Mount Ararat is depicted in the constitution with a caveat; with Noah’s Ark sitting on it  and not the mountain by itself. Section 21 of the constitution, in part, reads as follows – “The coat of arms of the Republic of Armenia shall depict, in the center on a shield, Mount Ararat with Noah’s ark and the coats of arms of the four kingdoms of historical Armenia...” Naturally, the wording in the constitution has come about to send the following message, that the depiction of Mount Ararat stands for its  ethnic symbolism. Our patriarch historian Movses Khorenatsi claims that the Armenians are descendents of Noah’s great grandson. Depicting Noah’s Ark on Mount Ararat, symbolizes the provervial lineage. Naturally depicting Noah's ark on Mount Ararat attests also for it being a biblical symbol. Armenians are the first to accept the Christian faith as its state religion.

Depicting Noah’s Ark on Mount Ararat makes for a weird drawing. Case in point the depiction of Mount Ararat with Noah’s Ark on Armenia’s Coat-of- Arms. There is nothing remotely Mount Ararat like on the coat-of-arms. The infantile drawing of Mount Ararat on the Armenia entry stamp did not depict Noah’s Ark on it, for good reason. It would have made for a weird, crowded drawing. But, as it stands, it is not a constitutional depiction. Simply said, depicting Mount Ararat by itself on state documents without a visible depiction of Noah’s Ark on the mountain, is simply unconstitutional.

At the cost of repeating myself, let us face it. depicting Noah’s ark on Mount Ararat makes for an awkward drawing. 

Best we relegate Ararat with its imposing appeal to our literature, art and remove it from official documents. For Mount Ararat, these arguments are a tempest in a tea pot. Avedik Isahakyan captured the essence of the old glory, when he wrote:

To the old peak of Ararat, 

centuries have come like a second, 

and passed away.

Countless flashing swords have been dulled

 by the diamond hard mountain, 

and left.

Generations at its brink, 

have gazed the light on its summit, 

and moved on.

It's your turn now, 

look for a moment at its furrowed forehead, 

and move on. 

(see the note below for the original text)

Yes, move on to create at the foot of the old glory Mount Ararat, an orderly, law abiding, flourishing, and prosperous state, in peace with its neighbors; for it is the peace of the brave and the enduring and not of the coy, or of the timid.

 

Բնգիրը՝

Արարատի ծեր կատարին

Դար է եկել, վայրկյանի պես ,

Ու անցել:

Անհուն թվով կայծակների

Սուրն է բեկվել ադամանդին,

Ու անցել:

Մահախուճապ սերունդների

Աչքն է դիպել լույս գագաթին,

Ու անցել:

Հերթը մի պահ քոնն է հիմա .

Դո´ւ էլ նայիր սեգ ճակատին,

Ու անցի´ր…

ԱՎԵՏԻՔ ԻՍԱՀԱԿՅԱՆ

 

 

The ancient oak tree of Keurkune Cemetery

 Բնագիրը կցուած է ներքեւը։ Attached is my abridged translation of Hagop Tcholakian’s visit the Keurkune cemetery and his description of the ancient oak tree there. True to his words, in my youth, we too have inserted coin between the stones in the oak tree’s trunk and we also sacrificed rooster given to us by a villager as offering (madagh). Vaհe H Apelian

The trunk of the ancient Keurkune Cemetery oak tree
On the left Hovag Apelian,  courtesy Stepan Apelian
On the right courtesy Hagop Tcholakian

“Yesterday I visited the cemetery of the village of Keurkune, which is one of the oldest villages in the region. In a charter prepared by the Crusader Duke Renald of Antioch, we  meet a village named Corcona among other villages mentioned in region. The name also rhymes with the way the natives of the village sound the village in their native dialect,  Keurkyune, Kurkunu.

It is said that there was a small church at the site of ​​the current cemetery, called St. Stepanos. The Kessabi call a site where once a church stood, geghetsik (կիղիցիկ) . In all geghetsiks,  you will find an oak tree, which is sacred and is said to be protected  by the spiritual saint, geghetsik Baboug, whose spirit continues to  live at the site. No one thinks of cutting down this oak tree. No one cuts feed from it for livestock or for warming a tonir, the oven where the villagers baked bread.  Cutting from geghetsi oak tree is considered a sin. Such oak trees are revered, not only by the local native Armenians; but also by the Alevis.

One of the elders of Keurkune, Sirvart Apelian, born Chelebian, told (in 1980) that her great-grandfather’s father, was named Stepanos, and was a close friend of the last priest, Father Stepanos of the small chapel that stood there.  Father Stepanos had asked him to have him buried at the chapel’s door, “When I die, bury me at the chapel’s doo”,  Father Stepanos had said. He was considered a holy man. The legend that has passed down is that Father Stepanos disappeared. The villagers searched for him in vain for a long time. After the disappearance of Father Stepanos, the chapel had no other priest. It remained abandoned but did not loose its sanctity. It became a site for pilgrimage.  In time the building collapsed into a heap of stones. The village became predominantly evangelical and had a church built in 1899.

There still is a belief among the people of the village that the spirit of Father Stepanos continues to live there. Fearing livestock epidemics and other diseases, villagers drive their herds of goats to the pilgrimage site by the oak tree. The first animal that jumped over the threshold of the heap of stones,  at the site, would be sacrificed on the spot, to save the herd from diseases.

The Alevis and Turkmen also believed in the power of the sanctuary. They used to call the village Ziarat Köy (village of the sanctuary).

The thorny oak next to the altar is now a huge tree. As the three grew, stones from the chapel became part of the trunk of the oak tree. Some of the stones are half buried in its trunk and are still. Pilgrims place coins in the hollowed parts of the trunk under the embedded stones.  Offerings are still made under the oak tree by sacrificing a rooster."

Keurkune Cemetery oak tree Courtesy Stepan Apelian

Բնագիրը՝ ՓՇԱԿԱՂՆԻՆ

Երէկ այցելեցի այս ծառը, Քէօրքիւնէ գիւղ, գերեզմանատուն:

Քէօրքիւնէն շրջանին հնագոյն գիւղերէն մէկն է: Այդպէս մտածել կու տան գիւղացիներու հին զրոյցները եւ հայոց հետ կապուած գիւղի սրբատեղին: Անտիոքի խաչակիր Ռենալտ դուքսին կողմէ պատրաստուած պարգեւագրի մը մէջ, Անտիոքի հարաւը յիշուած այլ գիւղերու շարքին կը հանդիպինք նաեւ Corcona գիւղի մը: Անունը կը համընկնի նաեւ Քէօրքիւնէի բարբառային ձեւին` Քուրքունու: 

Այստեղ եղեր է Ս․ Ստեփանոս անուն փոքրիկ եկեղեցի, այժմու գերեզմանատան տարածքին մէջ: Քեսապցիք խոնարհած եկեղեցիներու վայրը կը կոչեն կիղիցիկ: Բոլոր կիղիցիկներուն մէջ դուք կը տեսնէք փշակաղնի ծառը: Կիղիցիկներուն մէջ երեւցող փշակաղնին անձեռմխելի է ու կը պաշտպանուի տարածքին մէջ ապրոց ոգեղէն սուրբի մը՝ Կիղիցիկ պապուկին կողմէ: Ոչ ոք այս ծառը հատել կը մտածէ, ոչ ոք անկէ ցախ կը կտրէ անասուններուն կամ թոնիրի համար: Մեղք ունի, պաշտելի է: Ի դէպ, սրբավայրերու մէջ երեւցող փշակաղնին անձեռնմխելի է ոչ միայն հայոց կողմէ․ ալեւիներն ալ իրենց սրբավայրերուն մէջ կը պահեն ու կը պահպանեն այդ ծառը։

Գիւղի տարեցներէն Սիրվարդ Աբէլեանը, ծնեալ Չէլէպեան, կը պատմէր (1980-ին), թէ իր մեծ հօր հայրը՝ Ստեփանոս անուն, եղած է մատռան վերջին եկեղեցականին՝ Տէր Ստեփանոսի մտերիմ բարեկամը։ Իբր Տէր Ստեփանոս կը ցաւի եղեր իր խեղճացած հօտին ու անշքացած եկեղեցւոյ համար։ Ան խնդրած է գիւղացի Ստեփանոսէն, թէ «երբ մեռնիմ, զիս եկեղեցւոյ դուռը թաղեցէք»։ Սուրբ մարդ նկատուած է Տէր Ստեփանոսը։ Ծերունի հոգեւորականը կ’անյայտանայ: Գիւղացիք ի զուր կը փնտռեն զինք երկար ժամանակ: Տէր Ստեփանոսէն ետք մատուռը ուրիշ եկեղեցական չ՛ունենար։ Կը լքուի, բայց իր սրբութիւնը չի կորսնցներ, ուխտատեղի կը դառնայ։ Շէնքը կը փլի։ Գիւղը մեծամասնութեամբ աւետարանական կը դառնայ․աւետարանական եկեղեցին կը կառուցուի 1899-ին։

Ժողովուրդին մէջ հաւատք կայ, թէ Ստեփանոս քահանան ոգեղինացած դեռ կ՛ապրի այդ սուրբ վայրին մէջ, ուր ոմանց կը յայտնուի քունի ընթացքին, կը ճանչցուի Կիղիցիկ Պապուկ անունով։ 

Անասուններու համաճարակէ ու այլ հիւանդութիւններէ վախցած գիւղացիք իրենց այծերու հօտերը կը քշէին ուխտատեղի։ Խորանին պատուանդանին վրայ ցատկող առաջին կենդանին մատաղցու կ՛ընտրէին ու տեղւոյն վրայ կը զենէին։ Ասիկա հօտը հիւանդութիւններէ կը փրկէր։

Սրբավայրի զօրութեան հաւատացած են նաեւ ալեւիներն ու թուրքմէնները։ Անոնք նախապէս գիւղին կու տային Զիարաթ Քէօյ (սրբավայրի գիւղ) անունը։

Խորանին կից գտնուող փշոտ կաղնին այժմ վիթխարի ծառ է, պատատուկը փաթթուեր է ցօղունին։ Աճման ընթացքին խորանի պատը հետզհետէ մնացած է ցօղունին մէջ։ Անոր մէջ կիսովին թաղուած քանի մը քարեր տակաւին կ՛երեւին։ Մէկուն տակ գոյացած խոռոչին մէջ ուխտաւորներ մետաղադրամներ կը դնեն, իսկ ծառին տակ ուխտի աքլորներ կը մորթեն։

Յակոբ Չոլաքեան

Keurkune Cemetery oak tree Courtesy Stepan Apelian

Remembering Varujan Pambukhchyan: Disillusioned at the rampant deforestation

Today Facebook alerted me that it is Varujan Pambukhchyan’s birthday. Regretfully, he unexpectedly passed away on January 15, 2022. I attached my abridged translation of his posting on his Facebook page a few years ago. Varujan was a native of Nor Yerznka village in the Ashtarak Municipality of the Aragatsotn Province/Marz in the western region of Armenia known for Mount Aragats, Armenia’s highest peak, and historical sites. He had his own distinctive narration and diction. No translation would do justice to his writing attempting to remain true to his distinct original text. That is why I attached the original text. I met and befriended Varujan on the social media and over the years I came to know him as a man who was whole-heartedly devoted to Armenia and disillusioned at the rampant illegal deforestation for profit by the ruling. I had posted this blog before titling it "Armenia is a country without forests" in direct transition of the original text: Բնագիրը՝ «Հայաստանն անտառազորկ յէրկիր է» կցուած է ներքեւը. Vaհe H. Apelian

Courtesy Raffi Doudaklian

Armenia is a country without forest 

Four years ago, I researched about the forests in Armenia. The sources of my research made it evident that from Soviet years the most valuable (native) trees such as Hajareni (see note 1), and Gaghni 2 (see note 2), growing in our forests, were being cut on a very large scale.

It is true that during the Soviet years extended forestation work was being done but even then the forests of Armenian were showing sign of being near to death. The thing is that the forest is a self-sustaining organism and everything is intimately tied together. From Soviet times, our forests already were losing their self-sustenance because, so to speak, the birthing and the dying process was forfeited in favor of the dying.

When the Artsakh movement started, the Baku-Tiflis-Yerevan railroad that brought to Armenia 75% of the goods from outside, was shut down. As an unavoidable outcome, the massive importation of timber from Russia ended.

When the Artsakh movement became Artsakh war and the encirclement became a reality, the real massacre, slaughter, butchery, and genocide (of the forests) started that continued to this day. 

As to how many Armenian sounding high placed officials from Akhalkalak, Lori, and Artsakh, at the expense of the day by day dying forests, became millionaires, multimillionaires (of course in dollar and euro), let that remain on their conscience because I am not convinced that they should be punished.  I would only advise these people that, at the expense of the annihilation of the country’s nature and filling up their coffers with money, not to give speeches about “selfless dedication”, of “United Armenia” and things like that. 

Sixty (60) years are needed to have a viable forest that is self-sustaining. For the country to be deemed to be a normal expanse, 50 (fifty) percent of the country must be forested. Our neighbor Georgia is 37% forested.

Of course, Prime Minister Pashinyan is right when he prevented the cutting down of the forests. Of course, those who raised their voices objecting were political partisans or were naïve…

Preventing (cutting down) is vital because according to official sources eight percent of our country is forested, as I said, it is devoid of being self-sustaining. However, before preventing (cutting trees), first and foremost, it is important to organize the importation of timber. Winter is ahead of us and many families warm their houses by burning wood.

According to an official document from the Armenian Tree Project Jeff Masarjian: “today (that is to say in 2008 V. B.) when only 8% of Armenia has remained covered with forest and every year around 5,000 hectares is being deforested”. And according to Dr. George Nersesyan (see note 3) (դոկտօր Ջօրջ ներսեսյանի) “if the deforestation continues for another twenty years, Armenia will become completely deforested”.  Dr. George Nesesyan is the coordinator of UNDP (United Nations Development Programme).

Ten years have passed since the declaration of Dr. George Nersesyan. It is entirely possible that there will not be forested covering in Armenia (in another 10 years). But already there is hardly any forest left in Armenia because a forest is a living entity; it is not only many trees. It is a living body that has already been dismembered and we are now dealing with the dismembered parts, not the organism itself.

p.s. According to various sources, during the reign of the "political prisoner" R. Kocharyan and the "non-political prisoner" S. Sargsyan, forest timber was exported from Armenia to Iran and Germany.

Varujan Pambukhchyan

August 8, 2019

Nor Yerznka 

Notes: 

1.Hajareni (Հաճարենի), (beech) is a deciduous native tree in Armenia. It grows 40 to 50 meters tall and 1.5 to 2 meters in trunk perimeter. It lives for more than 400 years. it is one of the trees that dominate the forestry in Armenia and is found mostly Lori, Tavush and rarely in Kotyak and Syunik. 

2. Gaghni (Կաղնի) (oak). There are many varieties in Armenia. It is found in Lori, Kotyak, Tavush, Gegharkunik, Vayots, Syunik and other districts. It grows 40 to 50 meters tall, ceasing to grow taller after its 80th year, henceforth its branches. it lives 500-600 years at a time over 1000 years. The tree has come to symbolize strength and longevity.

3. The only professional forester that worked with the Armenia Tree Project has been Dr. George Nercessian (from British Columbia). We worked together in 2002-2003. (Antoine S. Terjanian)

His report : George Nercesian History of forests in Armenia1

***

Բնագիրը՝ «Հայաստանն անտառազորկ յէրկիր է» կցուած է ներքեւը. 

Հայաստանն անտառազորկ յէրկիրէ...

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Ի հարկէ՛, ւարչապէտ Փաշինյանը իրաւացի էրյէրբ արգէլոմ էրանտառահատոմնէրը, իհարկ՛, այն մարդիկ, օւքէրձայնէրը գլոխնէրն էին գցէլ, կօղմնակալ էին կամ էլ միամիտ... Արգէլէլն անհրաժէշտ է, քանի ւօր, ըստ պաշտօնական աղբյորնէրի, անտառապատ է մէրյէրկրի տարածքի մօտ ոթ տօկօսը, ւօրն էլ, ինչպէս ասացի, ինքնաւէրարտադրոթյան կարօղոթյոնից հիմնականոմ զորկ է: Սակայն արգէլէլոց առաջ նախ պէտք էրկազմակէրպէլ ՌԴ-ից անտառափայտի նէրկրոմնէրը... Դէմը ձմէռ է, իսկ շատ ընտանիքնէրիրէնց տնէրը փայտօւ էն տաքացնոմ...
Ըստ <<Հայաստանի ծառատոնկ>> առաքէլոթյան տնօրէն Ջէֆ Մասարջյանի կօղմից 2008-ին տարածած մի փաստաթղթի <<Այսօր(այսինքն՝ 2008-ին-Վ. Փ.) , երբ Հայաստանի տարածքի միայն ութ տոկոսն է մնացէլ անտառածածկ, և յորաքանչյորտարի շորջ 5,000 հա անտառ է հատվոմ՚>>: Իսկ, դոկտօրՋօրջ ներսեսյանի կարծիքօւ <<Անտառահատոմը ևս 20 տարի շարոնակվելո դեպքոմ Հայաստանի անտառածածկոյթը գրեթե ամբողջովին կվերանա>> (տէս նոյն տեղոմ): ԴօկտօրՋօրջ Ներսեյանը ՄԱԿ-ի Զարգացման ծրագրի (UNDP)-համակարգօղն էր:
ԴօկտօրՆէրսէսյանի հայտարարոթյոնից հէտօ անցէլ է տաս տարի: Դէ՛ ինչ, բան չմնաց, մի տաս տարի հէտօ, լիօւին հնարաւօրէ, ւօրՀայաստանոմ անտառաԾԱԾԿՈՅԹ չլինի: Բայց արդէն այժմ Հայաստանոմ անտառնէրգրէթէ գօյոթյոն չոնէն, քանզի անտառը կէնդանի մարմին է յէւ սօսկ ծառէրի թւաքանակ չէ, կենդանի մարմին, ւօրն արդէն քառատւէլ է...

Հ. Գ. Քառատէլիս, նախ կտրոմ էն մարդո ձէռքը, հէտօ՝ ւօտքը, այնոհէտյէւ՝ գլոխը: Արդյոնքոմ ստացւոմ է 4 կտօր, այսինքն՝ այլյէւս օրգանիզմի հէտ գօրծ չոնէնք, այլ կան առանձին օրգաննէր...

Հ. Գ-2 Ի դէպ՝ ըստ ւօրօշ աղբյորնէրի <<քաղբանտարկյալ>> Ռ. Քօչարյանի յէւ առայժմ <<ւօչքաղբանտարկյալ>> Ս. Սարգսյանի օրօք Հայաստանից անտառափայտ էրարտահանւոմ Իրան ո Գէրմանիա:

Վ. Փ.
05.08.19
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