The Upper Floor (Vernatun / Vernadoun)

Vahe H. Apelian

I post this picture courtesy of  Facebook group called Դիմատետրի Մտքի Բարեկամներ (Facebook Friends of the Mind), which is administered by George Ambardjian. The characters in the picture were identified there. The information I posted about each person depicted in the painting is mostly from the Wikipedia. I used either the Eastern or the Western Armenian phonetic transliteration. 

The painting is attributed to Dimitry Nalbandyan (Դմիտրի Նալբանդյան). He was a Soviet Armenian painter People’s Artist of the USSR, member of the USSR Academy of Arts, Hero of Socialist Labor, twice winner of Stalin Prize. He was born  on September 15, 1906 in Tibilisi, Geogia and died on July 2, 1933 in Moscow, Russia. 

The painting is titled Vernadoun (Վերնատուն), which literally means the upper floor.

The eminent man of letters Hovhannes Toumanian founded a literary club in 1899. The members of the club met in the Toumanyan’s apartment, which was located at 44 Behrutyan Street, Tbilisi (Georgia), on the fourth floor, whence the name of the gathering came to be known as Vernatun (Vernadoun). The term is still used to this day in reference to meeting by prominent persons for a cause be it literary or political.

The members of the get together met once or twice a week and socialized. During these meetings, these great men of letters read and discussed the works of new and classic authors of Armenian and world literature, as well as presented their own literary works for general criticism.

The Vernatun existed for the next seven to eight years and ceased to exist at the end of 1908. The gathering became the cornerstone of the "Caucasian Society of Armenian Writers", which was founded in 1922, with Hovhannes Toumanian as its president.

The painting is the artist’s rendering of some of the notables in Armenian history who met in Hovhannes Toumanyan’s house. Not all who attended the get together in the Toumanian’s upper floor apartment were always men of letters. It is claimed that General Antranig attended also whenever he was in Tbilisi. It is also said that he was a superb raconteur and mesmerized his audience.

The following are depicted in the painting.

1. ԱԼԵՔՍԱՆԴՐ ՍՊԵՆԴԻԱՐՅԱՆ (ALEXANDER SPENDIARYAN)

Born on November 1, 1871 in Kakhovka, Ukraine

Died on May 7, 1928 in Yerevan, Armenia

Alexander Afanasyevich Spendiaranov was a Russian and Soviet composer, conductor, founder of Armenian national symphonic music. 

2. ԱԼԵՔՍԱՆԴՐ ՇԻՐՎԱՆԶԱԴԵ (ALEXANDER SHIRVANZADE)

Born on April 18, 1858 in Sirvan, Azerbaijan

Died on August 7, 1936, Kislovodsk, Russia

Alexander Movsisian, better known by his pen name Alexander Shirvanzade, was  an Armenian playwright and novelist.

3. ԳևՈՐԳ ԲԱՇԻՆՋԱՂՅԱՆ (GEVORG PASHINJAGHIAN)

Born on  October 28, 1857 in Sighnaghi, Georgia

Died on October 4, 1925 in Tbilisi, Georgia

He was an Armenian painter who had a significant influence  on Armenian landscape painting.

4. ՎԱՀԱՆ ՏԵՐՅԱՆ (VAHAN TERIAN)

Born on January 28, 1885 in Tiflis Governorate

Died on January 7, 1920 in Orenburg, Russia

Was an Armenian poet, lyrist, and public activist. He is known for hos sorrowful, romantic poems, the most famous of which are still read and sung in their musical versions.

5. ՂԱԶԱՐՈՍ ԱՂԱՅԱՆ (GHAZAROS AGHAYAN) 

Born on  April 4, 1840 in Tiflis Governorate

Died on July 20, 1911 in Tbilisi, Georgia

He was an Armenian writer, educator, folklorist, historian, linguist and public figure.

6. ԴԵՐԵՆԻԿ ԴԵՄԻՐՃՅԱՆ (TERENIG DEMIRCHIAN) 

Born on February 6, 1877 in Tbilisi

Died on December 6, 1936 in Yerevan.

He was an Armenian writer, novelist, poet, translator, and playwright

7.ՊԵՏՐՈՍ ԱԴԱՄՅԱՆ (BEDROS ADAMIAN)

Born on 1849, Constantinople (Istanbul), Ottoman Empire

Died on June 3, 1891, Constantinople (Istanbul), Ottoman Empire

He was an outstanding Armenian actor, poet, artist and pubic figure. According to Russian critics his interpretation of Hamlet and Othello put Adamian’s name among the best tragedians of the world.

8. ՎԱՐԴԳԵՍ ՍՈՒՐԵՆՅԱՆՑ (VARTGES SURENIANTS)

Born on February 27, 1860 Akhaltsikhe, Georgia

Died on April 6, 1921, Yalta

He was an Armenian painter, sculptor, illustrator, translator, art critic , and theater artist. He is considered the founder of Armenian historical painting. His paintings feature scenes from Armenian fairy-tales and various historical events.

9. ՄԱՐՏԻՐՈՍ ՍԱՐՅԱՆ (MARDIROS SARIAN) 

Born on February 28, 1880 in Nakhichevan-on-Don, Russia

Died on May 5, 1972 in Yerevan, Armenia 

He was an Armenian painter, the founder of modern Armenian national school of painting.

10. ԵՂԻՇԵ ԹԱԴևՈՍՅԱՆ, (YEGHISH TATIOSSIAN)  (1870-1936)

Born on September 14, 1870, in Vagharshabad (Armenia) 

Died on January 27, 1936,  in Tblisi, Georgia 

He was a famous Armenian landscape painter. This year (1920) the Armenian government celebrated the 150the anniversary of his birth.

11. ԿՈՄԻՏԱՍ (KOMIDAS) 

Born on October 8 1869 in Kutahya, Turkey 

Died on October 22 , 1935 Villejuif, France

He was an Armenian priest, musicologist, composer, arranger, singer and choirmaster who is considered the founder of the Armenian national school of music. He is recognized as the one of the pioneers of the ethnomusicology.

12. ՍՏԵՓԱՆ ԼԻՍԻՑՅԱՆ (STEPAN LISITSYAN)

Born on October 4, 1865, Tbilisi, Georgia

Died on January 4, 1947, Yerevan, Armenia 

He was an Armenian historian, translator, pet an public figure.

13. Ավետիք Իսահակյան (AVETIK ISAHAKYAN) 

Born on October 30, 1875 in Gyumri, Armenia

Died on October 17, 1957 in Yerevan, Armenia

He was a prominent Armenian lyric poet, writer, and public activist.

14. ՀԱԿՈԲ ՀԱԿՈԲՅԱՆ (HAKOB HAKOBYAN)

He was born on May 29, 1866, in Tblisi

Died on December 13, 1937 in Tbilisi, Georgia

He was a poet, translator and an influential writer. 

15. ՀՈՎՀԱՆՆԵՍ ԹՈՒՄԱՆՅԱՆ (HOVHANNES TOUMANYAN) 

Born on February 10, 1869, Lori Province, Armenia

Died on March 23, 1928 in Moscow, Russia

He was an Armenian poet, writer, translator, and literary and public activist. He is the national poet of Armenia. Tumanyan wrote poems, quatrains, ballads, novels, fables, and critics and journalistic articles.

Note: I would like to thank Paris Erganian for noting my error and correcting the biographical information about Hagob Hagobyan/Hagop Hagopian), 10/21/2021.

The Possible Demise of a Promise

Vahe H. Apelian

 

The finest moment of my Armenian experience is the possibility of the promise Nikol Pachinyan led Velvet Revolution projected. It remains the high point of my Armenian life but it appears that it is on the verge of dying, not due to faults of its own. After all, the movement is still in its infancy to render such a judgement. It took seventy years for the Lenin led revolution to implode and fragment. While the forces the Velvet revolution unleashed in Armenia in way empowering the average citizen most likely will not die, or should not die, but its leader Nikol Pachinyan, the onetime imprisoned journalist who ascended to the apex of the political establishment in Armenia as its Prime Minister, is under pressure to resign from his post. His resignation surely will adversely affect the revolution or the movement he led.

Governments tend to resign after such catastrophic defeat Armenia experienced in its grossly asymmetrical war against Turkabaijan NATO trained and equipped forces after valiant and heroic resistance for 44 days. In 1967, President Nasser offered his resignation to a stunned, muted and subdued nation after the Egypt’s defeat in the 1967 Six Days war against Israel but the Egyptians overwhelmingly rejected his resignation. PM Pachinyan has not yet presented his and hence his government’s resignation but calls for his resignation came about almost right after the PM signed the dictates to end the war.

A coalition of 17 political parties led by ARF is demanding the resignation of the PM. Frankly speaking I was surprised to read that there are so many political parties in Armenia. After all, the 17 political parties do not represent all the political parties in Armenia.  As far as I know a political party in Armenia is an organization that has to meet some criteria to be recognized as a political party because it will be privileged to vie for power through election. Under the parliamentarian system, Armenians do not vote for individuals but vote for political parties and  their coalitions. I wondered if all these political parties are such legally privileged entities as a political party or some of which simply is an assembly of like-minded people with names such as “Apricot Country“ Party. 

A national salvage front is expected to emerge to take over the governance. While the PM Pachinyan led government may resign but the My Step movement is  very much alive and has its supporters who would not want to be excluded from the deliberation for a national salvation leadership. The current 17 political parties that form the opposition  opposition are united in demanding the resignation of the PM but they have not expressed any unity as to who they will they choose to fill in the vacated seats in the government and what will their agenda be. Naturally shifting alliances will emerge and I would not be surprised to see the opposition break apart at its seams as the backdoor negotiations take place over the individuals who will be occupying the vacant seats. 

The best scenario I envision is to temper the current emotions by having the leaders of the opposition parties and government direct their members and the public at large to refrain from hurling adjectives to each other that enflame emotions further and serve no other purpose. The two catholicos may also intervene to quell the emotions.  Once emotions are in control and people feel safe and secure,  a national referendum  or a new election may take place to have the people choose between the current nationally elected government and a new salvation government that will take over governance and engage in coming to terms with the trileteral agreement signed by the representatives Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia to end the Artsakh war. Or, even reject it, if the salvation front government feels it is empowered to do so.

I would like to draw attention to another aspect that I find missing in the quest to have a new leadership emerge in Armenia and that is the Armenia and Diaspora relations. In my view the the Nikol Pachinyan led Velvet Revolution, or the Movement if you will, should anyone have a reservation calling the historical event as a revolution, brought a new and a fresh air  to the Armenia and Diaspora relations. Armenia Fund which was experiencing overt reservations found a revival. For the very first time I saw Armenia and Diaspora relations as well and as energized. It remains to be seen whether a new government in Armenia will be able to maintain the momentum or whether Nikol Pachinyan led government will, as post war stark realities sink in. I remain cautiously optimistic. 

"Traitor" and "Treason" In Abundance

 Vahe H. Apelian

 

More than fifty years have come and gone by since I started my Freshman classes in  the American University of Beirut. Surely much has changed in the curriculum. It was rather simple in my days when the students studied arts and sciences for the first two years.  That is how I ended up taking a course in psychology 101 and another course in sociology 101. The number 101 had also become a metaphor for being a beginner or a novice.

Two important social phenomena have stayed etched in my memory from my sociology class. One is the strange phenomenon of Stockholm Syndrome, of which I have written recalling my maternal grandmother’s favorable recollection of the Turkish gendarmes that accompanied their caravan from Kessab on route to their resettlement that never came. 

The other was the influence of language on social norms and perceptions.

The aftermath of the second world war brought much change in the deeply conservative and tradition bound Japanese society. Sociologists wanted to study the post war perceived social change. Two sets of questionnaires were prepared, one in Japanese and the other in English and were administered to two groups of Japanese college students who we were statistically similar in age and in gender. The outcome of the study indicated that the group of the students who had the test administered to them in English exhibited a more liberal social attitude and norms than their fellow student who had taken the test in Japanese. The latter revealed still holding on to traditional Japanese social norms. 

This and such studies indicated that language has a bearing on our societal perception. 

Is it not that obvious for us who are mostly bilingual that language plays such a definitive role ? I have often heard from our sons saying “Dad, I love you.” My father passed away over a decade ago. I could never tell him in Armenian, “Հայր, ես քեզ կը սիրեմ, Dad, I love you.” I bet he would have felt extremely unconfortable hearing it if, in the highly unlikely event, I would have verbalized to him the same in Armenian, “Hayr, yes kezi shad ge serem!!!”.  

Why do I bring this point? Lately postings in Armenian in social media are inundated with the words traitor and treason. It has become rather common place to read a posting referring to the PM Pachinyan as a traitor and his government engaged in treason. Somehow calling an Armenian traitor and characterizing an event  engaged by an Armenian treasonous seem to be rather easily said by Armenians; and it has escalated to a level that is beyond being bearable.

Is the PM Pachinyan a traitor and did his government engage in treason?  

In the end, the perception that the PM Pachinyan is a traitor and his government committed treason is in the eyes of the "beholder" and damned be the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in the courts of the law. 

Ձայներ Հնչեցին Երեւանէն

Դիմատետրին մէջ եղած տեղադրութիւններ ժամանակի ընթացքին շատ հաւանաբար պիտի կորսուին կամ ջնջուիմ։ Կցած եմ  Արցախեան պատերազի դադրեձումէն - 10.10. 2020 - անմիջապէս ետք՝ երեւանէն հնչած Կարգ մը ձայները։

 

Ռաֆֆի Տուտագլեան

ՀԵՐԻՔ Է, ԲՈԼՈՐԴ ԱԼ

«Ահաւոր է, ահաւոր է մեր երկրի քաղաքական բանավէճի մակարդակը: Հայաստանն ու Արցախը ծայր աստիճան բարդ խնդիրներու առջեւ են, հազարաւոր գաղթականներ, պատերազմէն կոտրտուած բանակ, տնտեսական դժուարութիւններ, կովիդի ահագնացող թիւեր, եւ այս բոլորին մէջ՝ մէյ մը դիտեցէք իշխանական եւ ընդդիմադիր շրջանակներու բանավէճի մակարդակը: Փողոցային հայհոյանքներէ, դաւաճանական փոխադարձ մեղադրանքներէ, սպառնալիքներէ եւ փոխադարձ ամբաստութիւններէ անդին չանցնիր... Ա՞յս եք դուք, հայ ժողովուրդի քաղաքական էլիտա կոչուածներ:

Ճգնաժամի ամէնէն սուր ժամերուն, ա՞յս է քաղաքական դիսկուրսի մակարդակը: Երկուստեք կիրքեր հրահրելով, սուտ եւ իրաւ լուրեր տարածելով որո՞ւն վստահութիւնը կը փորձէք շահիլ: Վերջ դրէք այս իրավիճակին եւ վենտեթայէն անդին անցնելով քաղաքական լուրջ քննարկումներու սկսեք:

Ձեր այս ընթացքով անտէր ժողովուրդին ցաւն ու յուսախաբութիւնը, անզօրութիւնն ու հիասթափութիւնը աւելի ու աւելի կը խորացնէք:

Շուտով ոչ թէ Արցախէն, այլ Հայաստանէն պիտի սկսին փախչիլ հայերը: Յոյս փնտռեցէք, կեանք փնտռեցէք: Փորձեցէք խաւարին մէջ մոմ մը վառել, լոյս սփռել: Կարողութիւնը չունի՞ք: Հեռացէք ձեր աթոռներէն եւ հրապարակէն, իշխանաւոր ըլլաք թէ ընդդիմադիր...»

ՀԵՐԻՔ Է, ԲՈԼՈՐԴ ԱԼ:

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Յակոբ Չոլաքեանէն

«ԾՈ, ԱՅՍ Ի՛ՆՉ ԺՈՂՈՎՈՒՐԴ ԵՂԱՆՔ ՄՆԱՑԻՆՔ ...

“Ես իմ ժողովուրդս կը փնտռեմ..., սա ամբո՞խն է, սա իմ անունովս խօսող մարդի՞կն են, ծո, ես ե՞ս եմ... Ո՞վ է դաւաճանը, հազար-հազար բերանէ իրարու հասցէին ՛՛դաւաճան՛՛ կը պոռանք , ակռայ կը սրենք, կը սպառնանք... Բոլո՛րս դաւաճան ենք, անամօ՛թ, անպատկա՛ռ.. Տակաւին անթաղ մնացած զոհերը որո՞ւնն են, այդ մեր անուշ-անուշ տղոց, մեր բոլոր սերունդներէն ամենալաւ սերունդին է՛ն աղուոր տղոց դիակները դեռ մէջտեղ են...ըսէք, որո՞ւնն են...: Աղէտ ապրեցանք, Աղէտ է, ինչո՞ւ դրօշները գոնէ մէկ շաբաթ չեն խոնարհիր, ինչո՞ւ իրարու մօտենալով չենք լար, չենք ապաշխարեր մեր զզուելի կեցուածքներուն համար, մայրերուն արցունքներուն առջեւ չենք վառիր, մրրկիր, մեղայի գար մեր տղոց շիրիմներուն վրայ , ներողութիւն խնդրեր իրարմէ, ցաւակցիր իրարու ու յետոյ՝ ելլել բան մը փրկելու համար: 

Ըսի՝ ՛՛Դեռ վարագոյրը չէ իջած. շարուակեցէք՛՛; 

Կա՛մ խելքի կու գանք, արդար ճիգով ոտքի կը կանգնինք՝ իրարու թեւ ու թիկունք եղած, որ արար մըն ալ դիմանանք ու վարագոյրը բաց պահենք յաջորդին համար, 

կա՛մ այսպէս անամօթաբար կը գզուըրտուինք, մինչեւ որ մեր ոտքի տակի այս պատառ մը հողն ալ սահի երթայ, ու վարագոյրը իջնէ այս ինքնասպանութեան պատմութեան վրայ:

Ծո, դուք անէծքին չէ՞ք հաւատար, անէծքը այսպէս չէ՝ հապա ինչպէ՞ս կ'ըլլայ...»

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Աբօ Պողիկեանէն

ԿԱՐԾԵՍ ՄՈՌՑԱԾ ԵՆՔ, ՈՐ ՊԱՏԵՐԱԶՄԸ ՎԵՐՋԱՑԱԾ ՉԷ,

« կը դատապարտեմ իշխանութիւնն ալ ընդդիմութիւնն ալ. մեր մերկութիւնը ցոյց կու տանք աշխարհին, մանաւանդ մեր թշնամիներուն. կարծես մոռցած ենք, որ պատերազմը վերջացած չէ, կարծես վստահած ենք ուրիշին, որ մեր սահմանները կը պաշտպանուին ու մենք կրնանք իշխանական կամ ընդդիմադիր խաղեր խաղալ։»

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Յակոբ Չօլաքեան

ԻՆՉՈ՞Ւ, ՉԷԻ՞Ք ԳԻՏԵՐ

«Ինչո՞ւ, չէի՞ք գիտեր, հարիւր տոկոսով, որ այսպէս պիտի ըլլայ, երբ թշնամին առիթը գտնէ, ու այդ ատեն՝ չէի՞ք գիտեր, որ մենք խուճապահար պիտի պարպենք մեր հայրենիքը, պիտի լքենք մեր տունն ու տեղը, մեր մշակութային հարաստութիւնները, ինչպէս պարպեցինք Վանը, Կարսը եւ մնացեալը...Մենք չստորագրեցի՞նք Պաթումի եւ Ալեքսանդրապոլի խայտառակութիւնները եւ հիմա՝ ասիկա...Մենք չէի՞ք գիտեր... Ինչո՞ւ, հիմա՞ գիտցանք, թէ ի՛նչ կ՛ըսէ թուրքը, խուլ ու կո՞յր ձեւացանք Թուրքիոյ մամուլին, հեռատեսիլին, պաշտօնական յայտարարութիւններուն հանդէպ...: Չարե՞նց պիտի ունենայինք գիտնալու համար, թէ ի՛նչ է մեր վիճակը եւ ի՛նչ պէտք է ընել...: Այո՛, ցեղասպանութիւն, բայց միթէ մենք նոյնքան ինքնասպանուող ազգ մը չդարձա՞նք 1890-ականներէն ի վեր...: Մեր պատմութենէն ու ներկայէն մէկ բան սորվեցանք, որուն այնքան հաւատարիմ ենք.- Յարատեւ կռիւ մենք մեզի դէմ : Դեռ վարագոյրը չէ իջած: Շարունակեցէ՛ք:»

 

 

 

 

Post November 10, 2020: What Does the Turkish Media Say?

The attached is my translation of Levon Sharoyan posting  on his Facebook page today, November 12, 2020. He titled it “ May I Ease Your Pain, Dear Artsakh” “Ձաւդ Տանեմ, Արցախ Սիրելի”. The original posting is embedded. Vahe H. Apelian  

 

"As a nation, we live in one of the saddest, most frustrating, and most dangerous periods of our history in the last hundred years. Artsakh is almost emptied of Armenians. It seems it has irreversibly become a foothold for Turks and Azeris. Already everyone knows that during the past weeks, perhaps months, a terrible conspiracy was “cooked” by the Baku-Ankara-Moscow trio and imposed on Armenia on November 10. Turkey and Azerbaijan are jubilant.

About an hour ago (November 12, 2020), the Arabic section of the Turkish state-run broadcaster covered the recent events in Karabakh. The three participants analyzed the situation and clarified Turkey's views, which clearly showed what a long and consistent diplomatic and military efforts Turkey had vested to “swallow” Artsakh. I present to my readers a bunch of confirmations made from the media.

- “Turkey's role in this victory was simply the key. We were the ones who trained the Azeri army. We were the ones who equipped it with modern equipment. We will no longer feel the need to keep this a secret.”

- “In this glorious victory by Azerbaijan, we can say that President Putin also stood by the Azeris. We are thankful for his fair role.”

- “According to the agreement on November 10, in a few days, the Armenian occupation forces will leave the Agdam region forever. Soon 150 thousand former residents of Agdam will return to their homes and thus the region will regain its native Azeri character.”

- “Nakhichevan will take a deep breath henceforth! From now on, Turkey will have a land connection and a bridge with its brother Azerbaijan from Kars and Nakhichevan. This vital corridor will open the way we longed for to reach to our Turkic-speaking countries of Central Asia.”

- “If Armenia tries not to implement the signed agreement, it will be hit very hard on the head with a joint Russian-Turkish fist. Let them have no doubt about this.”

- “Tomorrow, Friday, a large Russian military delegation will arrive in Ankara to discuss with us the details of the unwavering application of the November 10 agreement. Already yesterday, the defense ministers of our two friendly countries signed a memorandum (via an internet meeting), according to which Turkey is setting up a joint monitoring body with Russia to monitor the security situation in Karabakh. We will be allowed to have drones to curb possible illegal movements of the Armenians.” 

- "Pashinyan will most likely leave his seat. The new Armenian government must be a government "sponsored" by Turkey."

- “Karabakh must be rebuilt by Turkish businessmen. We have developed serious programs in this regard. Of course, Karabakh Armenians will also be allowed to come and live there as full citizens of Azerbaijan. They will see that under the auspices of the Azeri state, they will feel much calmer and happier than under the shadow of Yerevan.”

*****

I will not continue quoting anymore. Does the Armenian diplomacy or even the Armenian public have lessons to learn from all this, from all that has happened and will happen? »

L. SHAROYAN

 

 

ՑԱ՛ՒԴ ՏԱՆԵՄ, ԱՐՑԱ՛Խ ՍԻՐԵԼԻ…

Ազգովին կ՛ապրինք վերջին հարիւր տարիներու մեր պատմութեան ամէնէն տխուր, ամէնէն յուսալքիչ եւ գոյութենական իմաստով՝ ամէնէն վտանգաւոր մէկ շրջանը։

Արցախը հայաթափուած է գրեթէ, Արցախը ոտքի կոխան է թուրքին եւ ազերիին։ Ու կը թուի՝ անդառնալիօրէն։

Արդէն յայտնի է բոլորին, թէ ի՛նչ «ապուր» եփուեցաւ անցնող շաբաթներու (թերեւս՝ ամիսներու) երկայնքին՝ Պաքու-Անգարա-Մոսկուա եռանկիւնին վրայ՝ Նոյեմբեր 10-ի ահաւոր դաւադրութիւնը Հայաստանի պարտադրելու համար։

Թուրքիա եւ Ատրպէյճան ցնծութեան մէջ են։ 

Մօտ ժամ մը առաջ (12.11.2020), Թուրքիոյ պետական ԹԷ-ՐԷ-ԹԷ պատկերասփիւռի կայանին արաբերէն բաժնէն լայնօրէն անդրադարձ կատարուեցաւ Ղարաբաղի վերջին իրադարձութիւններուն։ Երեք մասնակիցներ վերլուծեցին իրավիճակը ու պարզեցին Թուրքիոյ տեսակէտները, որոնք յստակօրէն ցոյց կու տային, թէ դիւանագիտական եւ ռազմական ինչպիսի՜ երկարատեւ ու հետեւողական ճիգեր թափեր էր Թուրքիան՝ Արցախը կուլ տալու համար…։ Իմ ընթերցողներուն կը ներկայացնեմ պատկերասփիւռէն կատարուած հաստատումներէն փունջ մը.

-Այս յաղթանակին մէջ Թուրքիոյ դերը ուղղակի առանցքային եղաւ։ Մե՛նք է որ մարզեցինք ազերի բանակը, մե՛նք է որ արդի սարքերով զինեցինք զայն։ Ասիկա գաղտնի պահելու պէտքը չենք զգար այլեւս։

-Ատրպէյճանի տարած այս փառաւոր յաղթանակին մէջ՝ կրնանք ըսել որ ազերիներու կողքին կեցաւ նաեւ նախագահ Փութին։ Շնորհակալ ենք իր արդարամիտ կեցուածքին համար։

-Քանի մը օր ետք՝ Աղտամի շրջանէն ընդմիշտ պիտի հեռանան հայ գրաւեալ ուժերը, ըստ Նոյ. 10-ի համաձայնագրին։ Շուտով 150 հազար նախկին աղտամցիներ պիտի վերադառնան իրենց բնակավայրերը ու այդպիսով՝ շրջանը պիտի վերստանայ իր ազերիական հարազատ դիմագիծը։

-Նախիջեւանը այլեւս լա՜յն շունչ պիտի առնէ։ Թուրքիա Կարսի ու Նախիջեւանի վրայով այսուհետեւ ցամաքային կապ ու կամուրջ պիտի ունենայ եղբայր Ատրպէյճանի հետ։ Այս կենսական միջանցքով՝ մեր առջեւ բացուած պիտի ըլլայ Կեդրոնական Ասիոյ թրքացեղ երկիրներու կարօտի ճամբան… ։ 

 

-Եթէ Հայաստան փորձէ չգործադրել ստորագրուած համաձայնագիրը, շա՛տ ծանր հարուած մը պիտի տրուի անոր գլխուն՝ ռուս-թուրք միացեալ բռունցքով։ Այս մասին թող կասկած չունենան։

-Վաղը՝ Ուրբաթ օր, ռուս զինուորական բազմանդամ պատուիրակութիւն մը Անգարա պիտի ժամանէ՝ մեզի հետ միասնաբար քննարկելու համար Նոյ. 10-ի համաձայնագրին անշեղ գործադրութեան մանրամասնութիւնները։ Արդէն երէկ մեր երկու բարեկամ երկիրներու պաշտպանութեան նախարարները ստորագրեցին յուշագիր մը (համացանցային հանդիպումով), որով՝ Թուրքիա դիտորդական միացեալ մարմին մը կը կազմէ Ռուսիոյ հետ՝ Ղարաբաղի ապահովական կացութիւնը վերահսկելու համար։ Մեզի պիտի արտօնուի ունենալ անօդաչու օդանաւեր՝ հայերու ապօրինի հաւանական շարժումները սանձելու համար…։

-Փաշինեան ամենայն հաւանականութեամբ պիտի հեռանայ իր աթոռէն։ Հայկական նոր կառավարութիւնը պէտք է ըլլայ Թուրքիոյ կողմէ «հովանաւորեալ» իշխանութիւն մը…։

-Ղարաբաղը պիտի վերաշինուի թուրք գործարարներու կողմէ։ Լուրջ ծրագրեր մշակած ենք այս առնչութեամբ։ Ի հարկէ՝ ղարաբաղցի հայերո՛ւն ալ պիտի արտօնուի գալ ու ապրիլ այնտեղ՝ իբրեւ Ատրպէյճանի լիիրաւ քաղաքացի։ Անոնք պիտի տեսնեն, թէ ազերի պետութեան հովանիին տակ՝ շա՛տ աւելի հանգստաւէտ եւ ուրախ պիտի զգան իրենք զիրենք, քան Երեւանի շուքին տակ…։

*

Չեմ շարունակեր իմ մէջբերումները։ 

Հայկական դիւանագիտութիւնը կամ նոյնիսկ՝ հայ հանրութիւնը, դասեր ունի՞ քաղելիք այս բոլորէն, բոլո՛ր պատահածներէն ու բոլո՛ր պատահելիքներէն…։

Լ. ՇԱՌՈՅԵԱՆ

 

As Armenian History Unfolds

Vahe H. Apelian

Unbeknownst to me I happened to write this blog the day, 10/9/2020, the trilateral agreement was being signed by Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan ending the war on Artsakh.

 

It will be a historic understatement to claim that we are witnessing a monumental unfolding of the modern Armenian history. From reports emanating from Armenia, let alone international media, the Armenian historical town Shushi has fallen and Stepanakert is in endanger to fall. The short lived First Republic of Armenia’s fourth defense minister Drasdamad Ganayan (Dro) has famously said that whoever controls Shushi controls Artsakh. But it remains to be seen whether the Turkabaijan ground forces will be able to control the terrain. 

External events of such magnitude cause internal fissures. Already voices are being heard demanding that the PM Pachinyan resign. In fact, the PM Pachinyan government may collapse, whether there is a demand for his resignation or not. The country is not in a position to resort to democratic process and elect a new leader who will form a new government. PM Pachinyan’s replacement will then come about through back door horse trading between the many political parties who vie for power. 

A segment of the population who is under tremendous stress, may mistakenly think that a change in government would restore some normalcy having resigned to the reality. But the fact of the matter is that no Armenian PM, whoever that person is and no Armenian government have an influence on the seismic geo-political change that seems to be in the making in that part of the world. 

Most Armenians do not speak Turkish and hence do not follow Turkish media. But some do. Among them is the eminent man of letter Levon Sharoyan in Aleppo who has been following the many television stations in Turkey. He wrote “These stations invite, for hours on end, university professors, high-ranking former officers, retired diplomats, journalists, analysts, party and public figures, "specialists" on Armenian affairs, etc., etc.,  who respond with an astonishing unanimity and with an effortless consistency echo the official view of the Turkish state that  "Armenia is an occupier country and must return Karabakh to Azerbaijan." There is no deviation from this theme and no dissenting opinion” And among the many outrageous claims that are aired all over Turkey, is also the claim that “ “Zangezur” is Turkish land and that “it is necessary to take quick steps to have it as a land bridge between Nakhichevan and Azerbaijan.”

 Not only Artsakh but also the southern tip of Armenia, the famed Syunik region, or Zankezur is in danger of being annexed to Azerbaijan severing Armenia’s umbilical cord to Iran and completely isolating Armenia.

Turkey has made its intent very clear. Iran has declared lands “belonging” to Azerbaijan will have to be returned to Azerbaijan. Russia has made it known that Artsakh issue is between Armenia and Azerbaijan it is not Russia to resolve it and  that Russia’s commitment is for sovereignty of Armenia. However, even that is not assured. The U.S. of America  (Paul Goble initiative) has long ago entertained the notion of Armenia ceding Zankezur to Azerbaijan in return to Karabagh being incorporated into Armenia. Of course, Karabagh will also be hosting all Azeris who claim to have had property in Karabagh.

The three regional powers, Iran, Turkey and Russia not only have to contend with the Armenian issue, they also have the Syrian spoils to share among themselves. The trio has met more than once to discuss regional issues without inviting the Syrian President Asaad. Devout Muslim Shiite Islam Iran, the devout Muslin Sunni Turkey and the devout Christian Orthodox Russia have set their religious differences aside as they try to figure how best to share the spoils of Syria. Of course, I am not privy of those negations, but I imagine that Karabagh and Zankezur factor in settling things among the three regional powers.

It remains up to us Armenians to rally and support the two commanders in chief, PM Nikol Pachinyan and the President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan for us to prevail and until such time that new challengers come and are elected.

Furthermore, the premature collapse of the PM Pachinyan government has unprecedented consequences on the course Armenia and Armenia and Diaspora relations. PM Pachinyan enjoys the support of the overwhelming majority of the Diaspora Armenian who see no reason to position themselves from a distance  against the democratically elected leader in Armenia. Diaspora now mostly is third and fourth post genocide generation. They are now Americans, Europeans, Latinos of Armenian descent. Violent internal fissures in Armenia will alienate a good segment of the Diaspora, who will see no reason to entertain the political bigotry in Armenia as well, over what they are already facing in their own countries that directly impact their livelihoods. The premature collapse, most likely will also accelarate the depopulation of Armenia.

We are at a no return historic crossroad. May wisdom prevail.

Norayr Eblighatian: Diaspora and its Extensions

Norayr Eblighatian penned the attached on his Facebook page today, November 9, 2020 and titled it “Turkish Integrated Diaspora and its Extensions”. It behooves us to be cognizant of the new dynamics.

“Know your enemy and know yourself” Sun Tzu

Lately a day does not go by without hearing about attacks on demonstrators and ‘hunts’ for Armenians. It seems that we have not taken notice of a growing presence of the Turkish Diaspora.

* Traditionally, a Turkish presence in Europe is thought of as economic migrants leaving Anatolia and working in Western Europe, especially in Germany (after WWII). These numbers are rough estimates but are quite impressive:

- Germany: 6+ million (population 83 million) or approximately 7+% of the country.

- France: 1+ million (population 67 million) or approximately 1.5+% of the country.

- Netherlands: 0.5+ million (population 18 million) or approximately 2.8+% of the country.

- Austria: 0.5+ million (population 9 million) or approximately 5.5+% of the country.

Of course, these numbers are not reliable as Europeans can count Kurds as Turks, but nevertheless the numbers are there.

* Aside from economic migrants, there are also the remnants of the Ottoman Empire, especially in the Balkans and Turkey has made significant effort of reclaiming them as ‘Turks’ before they go native and are assimilated. In the Middle East, the example of the Turkmen during the Syrian civil war and the Turkish sentiment reawakening in Northern Lebanon (Tripoli) are well documented.

* The Turkish Diaspora is also organized and integrated with Turkey.

- One of the interesting tidbits of information is the latest attempt by France to scrap a 1977 agreement of imam (and teacher) exchange program. The date is significant as the West tried repeatedly to push Turkey and Moslems to fight against the Soviet Union. Afghanistan is a relatively newer example and one can go all the way back to the Korean War where a Turkish Army infantry brigade fought against North Korea in the early 1950s.

- Another indicator is the attempt to ban the ‘grey wolves’ organization in France and Germany. The Kurdish Diaspora has worked for years to ban the grey wolves, but has not been successful yet.

* Visualizing the Turkish Diaspora, one can see three concentric circles:

1. The Diaspora of Turks leaving Anatolia for economic reasons and the Diaspora left from the Ottoman Empire.

2. The ‘Turkic nations’ with the Ottomans or Turkey as the center or leader. PanTuranism has its roots in the ‘Great Game’ during the 19th and 20thcenturies. It was encouraged by the West in its confrontation with the Russian empire. While the Great Game is officially over, other variants still exist. But the crucial issue is that PanTuranism is not dead. It gets resurrected when the opportunity arises and is put to use.

3. Pan-Islamism with the Caliphate moving to Istanbul and being exploited by the Turks. The latest alliance of Turkey and Pakistan against Artsakh is an example of this.

* The key inference from all the above is that the Armenian Diaspora, which we consider a center of strength, is being challenged by another Diaspora.

- How are we going to reorganize and become more efficient in light of the war in Artsakh?

- How are we going to face the challenge of the Turkish Diaspora?

- How are we going to upgrade the interrelationship between the Republic of Armenia and the Diaspora. Clearly, it is beyond the setup of a ministry or the office of a High Commissioner. Nor is it an issue of personalities. Eventually it will encompass all the structures that our parents and previous generations erected in a cold war atmosphere.

* I will finish by a quote from Erdogan:

‘… (You) are our power outside the country […] For us you are not only emigrants, you are our strength in foreign countries… I would request you to make the best use of the power in your hands. I am expecting you to fill the ballots in Germany and in Europe to fill with your favor and determination.’

—Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan in a speech to German-Turkish citizens in the German city of Karlsruhe prior to the 2015 elections in Turkey.