It’s War and the Nation an Army

 The attached is my translated text of Raffi Doudaklian recent posting on his Facebook page depicting the state of war in Armenia. He customarily reports from Armenia and asks interested reader to respond to him (rafdoud@aol.com). Vahe H. Apelian

  

It is impossible to describe with words the mood prevailing in Armenia.

It is war and the nation as a whole has turned into an army.

Young people on the streets of Yerevan solicit help towards the families in Artsakh affected by the war. Some bring bed covers, others food, many bring medicines  and then others flour or money. 

Young and old have gathered in front of the military recruiting offices and stand in line to volunteer and wait patiently until they are called in.

Individuals, business owners, companies donate as much as they can or want, to All Armenia Fund or  Military Insurance Fund .

Companies are very lenient and understandable towards their young employees who have volunteered to be dispatched to the front line.

It is a state of war in Armenia with the full sense of the word. Everyone, young and old, feel to the core of their being that it is a state of war that prevails in Armenia. It is war and the Armenian citizens have no other concern for now. It is war when they opened their eyes early in the morning and it may even continue in their sleep. Simply said,  the war has become part of the citizens’ being these days. 

The government has declared martial law and general mobilization. Thousands of individuals are waiting their call to serve the fatherland. Some even do not wait for the call from their commanding officer and present themselves without any hesitation with a full sense of appreciation of the responsibility that awaits them.

The mothers are sad and not as talkative. Sisters, wives,  fiancés are worrying and are emotional. Fathers and grandfathers cannot afford to show their anxiety and fear of losing a son or a brother. It is war and the men deny themselves the right to show emotion and concern. It is war. The men have to stay strong and ready for the ultimate sacrifice. This is the unwritten rule in Armenia.

The day begins with unending calls from the Diaspora. It is Zohrab from the United States. He is concerned, “how can we help?” He asks. Then it is Hagop who wants to send money from the America towards the needs of the Army.  Later, it is my “Tukenkian Foundation” colleague Houseg from Russia. “People have called us from Russia and the United States and want to donate”, he says. 

The day thus goes on, but throughout the day, the news on the television screen display the names of the martyrs.  The ever-present sorrow and pain come to dwell into newer Armenian families.  A bit later, it is the news of heroic deeds from our soldiers defending every inch of the homeland with a lion’s ferociousness. Your heart wants to burst with pride and joy. Thus, life and death; sorrow and joy merge to consume your Armenian ethos. 

The day has come to its end. I receive a call from Mehran Asadrian. He is  one of my  young and brave friends. “Tomorrow I am going to Artsakh”, he says. Calm and composed he explains that his friends will continue collecting donations for the soldiers and their families. He asks me to assist them. I promise him that I will,  but I realize how insignificant is my contribution when compared to the sacrifice he and his friends are making. It is not the time to say anything else to him but come to the point. A heartfelt “Good service and God speed” is what I say.

It is night. I open my computer. The war is continuing there.  Among the messages I noticed Mehran’s. It is a single word comment, “we departed…”.

The day is over but the war appears far from being over. I may dream about the war, but during the night, on the frontline, a real war will take place and firepower will rain in. Mothers will spend a sleepless night. The boys will respond to fire with fire for the sake of every inch of our native land. They will strike hard, confidently and without retreating to the last drop of their blood……

 

Նամակ երկրէն

ՊԱՏԵՐԱԶՄ Է ԵՒ ԱԶԳԸ՝ ԲԱՆԱԿ

Անկարելի է բառերով բացատրութիւնը տալ Հայաստանի մէջ տիրող մթնորոտին: Պատերազմ է եւ ազգը ամբողջութեամբ՝ դարձած է բանակ:

Երեւանի փողոցներուն վրայ երիտասարդներ Արցախի տուժած ընտանիքներունհամար օգնութիւն կը հաւաքեն, ոմանք ծածկոցներ կը բերեն, ուրիշներ՝ սննդեղէն, շատերդեղօրայք կը նուիրեն, ուրիշներ՝ ալիւր, կամ գումար:

Երիտասարդ ու նոյնիսկ տարեց քաղաքացիներ հաւաքուած ենզինկոմիսարիատներուն առջեւ եւ կամաւոր գրանցուելու համար հերթի կանգնած են ուհամբերութեամբ կը սպասեն, թէ երբ իրենց անունը պիտի կանչուի...

Անհատներ, գործարար մարդիկ, ընկերութիւններ, մանր ու միջին բիզնէսներնուիրատւութիւն կը կատարեն Համահայկական Հիմնադրամին եւ Զինուած Ուժերուկարիքներուն, իւրաքանչիւրը իր կարողութեան կամ սրտէն բխածին չափով: Ընկերութիւններհասկացողութեամբ եւ ըմբռնումով կը մօտենան կամաւոր ռազմաճակատ մեկնող պաշտօնեայերիտասարդներուն:

Ռազմական իրավիճակ է Հայաստանի մէջ բառին բուն եւ իսկական առումով: Ամէնմարդ, մեծով-փոքրով, իր մարմնին վրայ, իր հոգւոյն խորքը, իր գիտակցութեան ընդմէջէն կըզգայ ու կ'ապրի պատերազմական իրավիճակը: Պատերազմ է եւ հայաստանցին այսօր այլօրակարգ չունի, այլ մտահոգութիւն եւ այլ խնդիր չունի, պատերազմը կը սկսի երբ ան կըբանայ իր աչքերը, եւ կը շարունակուի իր գիշերային երազին մէջ: Պատերազմը, պարզապէս, իւրաքանչիւրի էութեան մաս կը կազմէ այս օրերուն:

Կառավարութիւնը ընդհանուր զօրակոչ յայտարարած է եւ հազարաւոր մարդիկ կըսպասեն, թէ երբ պիտի հնչէ հայրենիքին նուիրելու զանգը: Շատեր նոյնիսկ չեն սպասէրհրամանատարի կանչին եւ պատասխանատւութեան ամենաբարձր գիտակցութեամբ առանցտատամսելու կը ներկայանան զինկոմիսարիատ:

Մայրերը տխուր են ու... սակաւախօս: Քոյրեր, կիներ, ընկերուհիներ մտահոգ են եւյուզուած: Հայրերն ու Պապերը չեն կրնար ցոյց տալ իրենց անհանգստութիւնը, զաւակ կամեղբայր կորսնցնելու վախի առթած սարսափը: Պատերազմ է, եւ տղամարդիկ իրենք իրենց կըզրկեն յոյզ եւ տագնապ ցոյց տալու իրաւունքէն: Պատերազմ է, տղամարդիկ ուժեղ պիտի մնան, եւ պատրաստ պիտի ըլլան գերագոյն զոհողութեան: Սա՛ է Հայաստանի անգիր օրէնքը:

Օրս կը սկսի արտասահմանէն եկող անդադրում հեռախօսազանգերով: Զօհրապնէ, Ամերիկայէն, մտահոգ է եւ «ի՞նչպէս օգնենք», կը հարցնէ: Յետոյ Յակոբը՝ ԱՄԷ-էն, գումարկ'ուզէ փոխանցել բանակի կարիքներուն, քիչ ետք՝ «Թուֆէնքեան» հիմնադրամի գործընկերսէ, Յուսիկը, «Ռուսաստանից եւ ԱՄՆից մեր հետ են կապնուել, ուզում են գումար նուիրել», կ'ըսէ: Եւ այսպէս՝ շարունակ:

Եւ այս բոլորի ընթացքին՝ հեռուստացոյցի պաստառին վրայ լուրերը կը հաղորդենմեր նահատակներուն անունները: Վիշտն ու չմարող ցաւը նոր բոյներ կը գտնեն հայկականընտանիքներու մէջ... Քիչ յետոյ, հերոսական լուրեր՝ հայրենիքի իւրաքանչիւր թիզ հողըառիւծի կռիւով պաշտպանող մեր զինուորներու սխրանքներէն: Սիրտդ կ'ուզէ պայթիլհպարտութենէն եւ ուրախութենէն: Եւ այսպէս՝ մահն ու կեանքը կը բռնկին հայկականէութեանդ մէջ, վիշտն ու հրճուանքը զիրար գրկած, կրակի բոցերու նման կը ճաթրտին հոգիիդմէջ:

Օրս մօտեցած է իր աւարտին: Հեռախօսազանգ կը ստանամ: Միհրան Ասատրեաննէ, երիտասարդ, կտրիճ ընկերներէս մին: «Ես վաղը գնում եմ Արցախ», կ'ըսէսարնասրտութեամբ եւ կը բացատրէ, որ իր ընկերները կը շարունակեն օգնութիւններհաւաքելու աշխատանքը: Կը խնդրէ, որ օգտակար ըլլամ: Կը խոստանամ օգնել եւ կը զգամ, թէորքան քիչ է իմ ըրածս՝ իր նման տղոց նուիրումին բաղդատած: Աւելորդ խօսքեր ըսելուժամանակը չէ: «Բարի ծառայութիւն, Աստուած պահապան», կ'ըսեմ, կարճ, կտրուկ եւսրտաբուխ:

Գիշերը դիմատետր կը բանամ եւ պատերազմը կը շարունակուի այնտեղ: Լրահոսքին եւ գրառումներուն մէջ աչքիս կը զառնէ Միհրանի գրառումը: Միայն մէկ բառ՝«գնացինք»...

Օրը հասած է իր աւարտին, պատերազմը՝ աւարտելէ շատ հեռու կը թուի: Հիմաարդէն պիտի շարունակուի երազներուս մէջ: Իսկ գիշերը, Արցախի ճակատներուն վրայ, իրական պատերազմը կրակ պիտի տեղայ անձրեւի պէս: Մայրեր անքուն գիշերներ պիտիանցնեն, տղաքը կրակին պիտի պատասխանեն կրակով եւ հայրենի իւրաքանչիւր թիզ հողիհամար մինչեւ վերջին կաթիլ արիւն՝ կռիւ պիտի մղեն, ու պիտի հարուածեն ուժգին, ահարկու, վստահ, աննահանջ...

Րաֆֆի Տուտագլեան

Գրեցէ՛ք ինծի:

rafdoud@aol.com

 

 

Armenia in 2050: The PM's Vision

Vahe H. Apelian

 

Today, as Armenia celebrates its independence day, the PM Nikol Pachinyan presented to an audience consisting of the members of his government and young and upcoming students, his vision of Armenia in 2050.  He titled his presentation as "Armenia’s Transformation Strategy" (Հայաստանի Վերափոխման Ռազմաւարութիւն). He likened the past 30 years to a single day, he noted saying that it’s like waking up in the morning of September 21, 1991 and not knowing what to do for the rest of the day; he laid down his vision for the next thirty years on the 29^thanniversary of the Armenia regaining its independence.

In a power-point type presentation he laid down what he considered to be national values (Ազգային Արժեքներ) - statehood, education, the individual, and labor - and then cited sixteen aims, he considered them to be mega-aims or mega- goals (Մեգանպատակ) for the next 30 years. The presentation last one and a one and a half an hour. The presentation started against a background picture depicting Mount Ararat.

I painstakingly noted them down and while doing so I realized that our language I grew up with and was educated, is irreversibly evolving both in dictation and in vocabulary.  

The following were the mega-aims he presented.

1.                    Կիրթ եւ կարողունակ քաղաքացի, ժողովուրդ 

(Educated and capable citizen, people)

2.                    Պատշպանված Հայաստան

(Protected Armenia)

3.                    Արդիւնավեր եւ հաշվիտու կառաւարում

(Productive and accountable governance)

4.                    Առողջ եւ ապահով քաղաքացի

(Healthy and secure citizen)

5.                    Բազմազավակ եւ բարեկեցիկ ընտանիք

(Well-to-do families with many children)

6.                    Իրավական Հայաստան

(Just Armenia)

7.                    Մշակված արտադրանքի զանգվածային արտահանում

(Mass production of quality goods)

8.                    Մաքուր եւ կանաչ Հայաստան

(Clean and green Armenia)

9.                    Տարանձգային եւ խելամիտ զարգացում

(Planned expansion)

10.                Արտադրողական եւ պատասխանատու Ֆերմերութիւն

        (Productive and responsible firms)

11.                Մեծ Հայրենադարձութիւն եւ իտեգրում

        (Great repatriation and integration)

12.                Աշխարհի հետ կապված Հայաստան

        (Armenia connected to the rest of the world)

13.                Վերանգնվող եւ հանրամատչելի էներգեա

        (Renewable and affordable energy)

14.                Գործարարերի համար գրավիչ Հայաստան

        (Armenia attractive to business owners)

15.              Գետելիքահենք Հայաստան

        (Armenia leading in e-business)

16.              Ճանցված, հարգված եւ հիւրընկալ Հայաստան

        (Known, respected and hospitable Armenia).

 

It is known that PM Pachinyan is a pragmatist. In his vision of the My Step movement he led, he noted that he does not spouse any established ideology. I remember him citing communist China advocating aspects of capitalism and the capitalist United States espousing social programs. His vision, which is meant to transcend his administration, is also very pragmatic and  holds both the governor, that is to say the government; and the governed, that is to say the individual citizen, responsible for their welfare, and accountable. About the later he cited persons who abuse their health. 

Whether his vision of Armenia of 5 million strong, or for that matter if any of the outlined vision is doable or not, remains to be seen. However, he emphasized that it is important to have a vision citing the government officials, who report to work every day, have an understanding of the greater purpose of their tasks, well beyond being means for corruption that is being harshly dealt with and will not be tolerated.

The attending audience made it amply evident that the vision the PM Pachinyan cited is for an upcoming Armenia, for a newer generation who assumes and will continue to assume the leadership of the country. 

 

Dro in Aleppo (Part 1)

 The attached is an excerpt from Antranig Zarougian’s book “The Greats and the Others” (Մեծերը եւ Միւսները) chapter “Arshavir Shiragian and Trasdamad Ganayan (Dro)” where Antranig Zarougian reminisced Dro visiting the city in 1948.  The article also sheds further light on Dro and also the one-time Armenian community in Aleppo. Antranig Zarougian, born in 1931, was a 27 years old young man at the time.

e.  

Vahe H. Apelian

Dro visited Aleppo for the first time in late spring of 1948. It was not of course for sightseeing. Aleppo does not have scenic places save its historic castle and its famed covered market. He came to sort the sharp differences that existed within the party leadership. 

The Arab-Israeli war had started as an outcome of the establishment of the State of Israel. The city was in an unusual heightened mood.  The Arab “Hezb El Wattan” (The Party of the Fatherland), a nationalistic party with whom we had close ties,  had asked us to form a legion of 500 Armenian volunteer combatants and had promised that they will completely support it financially. There some among us who were eager to affirmatively respond to the request. There were others who opposed it. Dro was invited to render the judgement.

- “Pretend that I am not present and freely voice your opinions.” Was his opening remark.

He listed to the both sides. He even let the exchange of bitter words to the extent of hurting each other. Adour¹ (note: Kabakian), who acted as the liaison with the Arabs, along with Hratch²(note: Papazian), had already given his consent. Hratch repeated his stand saying:

- “I would sacrifice five hundred in order to guard the safety of the fifty thousand Armenian community”. ³

_ “As if we are at a poker game” sarcastically uttered (note: Mehran) Herartian⁴ to the attendees without looking towards Adour but in a veiled attempted alluding to Adour’s liking the card game.   

These two had opposite personalities and they could hardly tolerate each other. During a meeting if it was one them who spoke first on the issue, the other would keep silent and would not speak. Both of them were experienced and devoted nationalist activists and in a strange way, their opposing personalities complemented each one of them and gave voice to contradictory opinions that was vital for the functioning of the party.

Adour, with his mellowed personality, was liked by everyone and was even respected by his opposition. In close circles we had nicknamed him “the soft thorn”. Herartian with his sharp disposition and dry tact, hardly could be tolerated even by his friends. It remained for us the young to keep a complementary dealing with both. But during that meeting we were all “Herartians”. The only person who stood with the Adour-Hrach duo was Onneg (Meliksetian). If it were up them, we should have already started registering volunteer combatants and that the registration was postponed because of our opposition  and inviting Dro to come and render the verdict.

Dro let each camp to substantiate its stand. He listed to each with patience without interfering in any way. Concerned that Herartian with his firm stand may spoil the issue, I voiced my opinion in a conciliatory manner, saying:

- “The issue has two sides, ethical and pragmatic. I find its unbecoming for us to have volunteer combatants fight a  people who have suffered a similar fate as ours. Also, from practical considerations, our community numbers fifty thousand among the five hundred thousand city inhabitants. In order to have a fair proportional representation, ours would be fifty persons and not five hundred. If we are obligated to respond to the proposition, then I would recommend…..

Hratch cut me off.

- “See, Unger Dro, was I not telling you that our boy is a poet, editor, and an orator, and he has started becoming  a politician….”

- “It’s not a strategic issue, but simply accounting”, I said but I did not continue. Did he not say that he had talked about me to Dro? Surely he had spoken “positively” about me, as it was customary of him to do so. In situations such as this there should not be any consideration in hiding from Dro that we did not see each other eye to eye on this matter. So, I decided to speak forcefully letting Dro know that his consultation with Hratch could not have been impartial.

But Dro did not give me the opportunity to continue. He considered that he was sufficiently informed. He started talking.

“ The Unger is telling the truth,  Hratch. The strongest  Arabic force is that of the Jordanian army numbering ten thousand, organized by Glubb Pasha, (Leutenant General Sire John Bago Glubb, known as Glubb Pasha was a British soldier, scholar, and author who led and trained Transjordoan’s Arab legion between 1939-1956 – Wikipedia). I do not know about the Syrian Army; it could be twice as many but not of the same caliber. The Egyptian Army is superior in number but not militarily. This much about the armed forces. Regarding the Armenian volunteer combatants, the Armenians need not volunteer. Let the Syrian Government call for enlistment, the Armenian young men, along with the Arabs will stand side by side and will do their civic duties. When a country is at war, it is the responsibility of the government to recruit soldiers and it is not up to the political parties to take the lead, whether it is an Armenian  party or Arab. That is my opinion.”

Have you ever gulped a class of cold water when you were very thirsty? How delightful it is !. I felt the same way.

After that day I have been with Dro for many years, whether during meetings or tete-a tete-conversations. But in none of these occasions he has come across to me as sound as he was that day. On the contrary I have found Dro partial, biased and at times distracted and I have wondered “Is this mand the same or is he another?”

Regarding the volunteering issue, fortunately or unfortunately, the “Friday preceded the Saturday” and Israel won and nothing else was said afterwards about the request. It was only Herartian who every now then would say with a  smirk, 

- “Adour lost the card game.”

Notes:

1.    Adour Kabakian (1895Aintab-1972 Beirut) was a prominent ARF leader.

2.    Hratch Papazian (1892-1960) was a prominent ARF leader and an architect of the Operation Nemesis.

3.    “ With an official population of 4.6 million is 2010, Aleppo was the largest Syrian city before the Syrian civl war; however, it is now the second largest city in Syira, after the capital Damascus” (Wikipedia). The post Syrian civil war Armenian population in Aleppo is estimated to  between 10,000 to 15,000.

4.    Mehran Herartian (?? - ??) An ARF leader and one of the editors of “Arevelk” Daily published in Aleppo (1946-1963).