On This Beautiful New England Day, A Virtual Chaos

“It is increasingly obvious that social networks and cyber tools are making efficient autocrats, like China, even more efficient. But they seem to be making soft authoritarians, like Jordan more fragile, and they are making Western democracies increasingly ungovernable.” Thomas Friedman.

 

It is a good morning on this Saturday April 10, 2021. It is a gorgeous New England day. It is sunny. On the outside the weather is reported to be a pleasant 68 degrees Fahrenheit. It is neither hot nor cold but just the right temperature to be outside in the blossoming and budding New England nature. But I became reflective as an utter chaos percolates in the world that is Armenian. It is world that crosses boundaries and spreads across oceans and continents and is reflected in the Armenian social networks characterized by intolerance, more than anything else. But, I admit to that. It is where I draw most of my information as to what is transpiring in the world that is Armenia.

A friend of mine had posted the screen shot of the Google map posted above. The caption states that Azeri hackers have changed some of the names of the streets of Yerevan and named them after Azeris. The original source may be a fake but the reality is that war is being waged both by hardware and software. We just recently experienced the catastrophic results of a hardware war that was unleashed against us from the land and from the air by TurkaBaijan forces. And after the catastrophic war that led to the capitulation of Armenia, we are now continuing to loose the soft war, that is to say the information war and loose it big time. At this rate, it is not far fetched that in a generation the word Armenia will be erased from the occupied Artsakh and a people called Albanians, who are being projected as native Azeris, will be revived and who will be presented as the builders of the churches, cathedrals and other historical monument we left behind. 

I still cannot dismiss the notion that the war we lost was the doing of 30 years of mismanagement and falsehood we believed in and not because of an utter incompetence of the government that came onto power in Armenia in 2018 because of the revolution lead by Nikol Pachinyan.   Jirair Tutunjian makes a compelling case of our false understanding that gave us a false comfort. I quote him “Two years ago, the Global Militarization Index of the Bonn International Centre for Conversion (BICC) reported that Armenia was the third-most militarized (after Israel and Singapore) country in the world. Azerbaijan was 12th while Turkey was 23rd. The BICC statistics might have given false comfort to some Armenians who might have misunderstood what “most militarized means” in this context. It means these countries allocate high levels of resources to their military in comparison to other areas of society. The United States, which has the biggest defense budget in the world, was 29th. The United Kingdom was 64th and Canada 94th.”

We took comfort and projected a false sense of security reading that Armenia was the “third-most militarized” country in the world when in fact we did not understand what that really meant. Did we also not miss other important cues as well? A chess player knows that its greatest challenge is not to see on the playing board, what its mind instinctively tells him or her to see, but to see well beyond it. So, I can surmise is in realpolitik. But in order to do that, a person, or for that matter the people as a whole, needs to engage in civil debates and dialogues and not in innuendos and name callings hurled right and left.

 I just cannot help. I look back as I become reflective and I realize that the most productive and lasting years of security, and advancement in culture and in science happened in Armenia during the past 70 years of communism rule to which I was blindly opposed, contrary to my maternal uncle Antranig Chalabian who stood with Soviet Armenia when all around our circle of friends chastised him for his stand. He understood and knew what the rest of us did not. Could it be that, for whatever reasons, we are not capable of governing ourselves by ourselves, although we register remarkable personal achievements? The fact of the matter is that thirty years of post Soviet rule brought nothing of tangible value to Armenia in way of furthering fair governance, we faulted Soviet rule to begin with.  The fact of the matter is that after thirty years of independence from Soviet rule, a good segment of the Armenians left Armenia because they had lost hope for a better future there and continues to do so. 

Rightly or wrongly I am remainded of Doris Days’ popular song “Que Sera Sera”. My mother used to sing it during my childhood years and would take time to explain to me what the lyrics meant when it noted: “the future is not for us to see, whatever will be, wiill be.” Let us hope for the best but not dismiss preparing ourselves for the worst that may come due to faults of our own and no one else.

 

SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND, THEN BE UNDERSTOOD

Vahe H. Apelian

A decade or so ago, Stephen Covey’s book “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” became a holy grail of sorts in the business world. Companies had their employees attend classes to learn these seven basic habits ostensibly people who are effective and can get things done, use. I admit that there were useful instructions that people could learn from and use in their daily dealings with each other. Those who are interested may search and read in the Internet what those seven habits are. Stephen Covey passed away in 2012.

The 5^th habit, among the 7 habits he had listed, reads as follows: “Seek First To Understand, Then Be Understood”. I was reminded of the fifth habit Steven Covey proposed because of the commentaries and postings that have been going on the Armenian social media stemming from Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazian’s foreign policy declaration in the National Assembly of Armenia on February 11, 2021. Although almost seven weeks have passed since the FM’s declaration, but it appeared it caught the attention of the public and the PM Pachinyan’s opposition lately because of upcoming snap election.

What did FM say on February 11, 2021? TASS reported that FM said the following: "Turkey should gradually resume normal processes under the international community’s pressure. I mean that there are no more reasons to keep its border with Armenia closed. As you know, the border closure stemmed from the status quo in Artsakh [the name used by ethnic Armenians for the internationally unrecognized self-proclaimed republic of Nagorno-Karabakh], which was changed by force. Turkey has no more reasons to keep the border with Armenia closed,”

A few days ago Nikol Pachinyan declared that he will resign from his post as the PM of Armenia on April 24,2021 to make room for the upcoming snap elections scheduled to take place 8 weeks after his resignation, on June 20, 2021. It is obvious that Nikol Pachinyan has already started campaigning and during his campaign trail he has made announcements that are conciliatory towards Turkey and are in line with what the FM of Armenia is seeking, opening the border between Armenia and Turkey.

Opening the Turkish Armenian border appears to resonate with some segments of the Armenian citizens as well. Naturally what they think matter. After all, they are the ones who can vote and will participate in the upcoming election and will be casting their votes in favor or against PM’s MY STEP movement as such or in coalition with others. 

I virtually attended Armenian career journalist and researcher Tatul Hagopian’s presentation in the St. Leon Armenian Apostolic church hall on Saturday March 27, 2021.  Tatul Hagopian advocated that the sovereign state of Armenia should establish relations with Turkey, however hard such a bi-lateral relations is to the Armenians, he claimed, simply because Armenia has no other choice and that in the long run Armenia will have to deal with Turkey, Tatul claimed.

I do not know yet what relations with Turkey will entail. I also do not know if Turkish officials have in any way voiced in favor of opening their border with Armenia, and if they have, under what conditions are they willing to establish relations with Armenia. Surely the relations with Turkey will come at a price. But have we not knowingly paying that price? No government in Armenia since September 21, 1991 has understandably laid claims of Western Armenia, which will amount to the Armenian government laying a territorial claim.

While I do not know what relations with Turkey will entail, but I surmise the following is well understood.

1. The FM’s February 11, 2021 declaration pertained Turkey. The FM did not mention Azerbaijan or relations with Azerbaijan.

2. The FM’s declaration was for bi-lateral relations between two SOVEREIGN STATES, Armenia and Turkey.

3. Relation with Turkey is not meant for us to forgo our history. Any comments that the FM or the PM was hinting Armenian to forgo genocide is false. The Genocide monument in Armenia is going nowhere. April 24 will continue to be a national holiday where citizens will be exempted from work to attend commemorating the genocide, which will continue to be taught in our schools

And so forth…

In short, I am not sufficiently informed to fully grasp or have a fuller understanding  the ramifications of FM’s February 11, 2021 declaration to side in favor of the policy or not. But, during his talk in St. Leon Church hall what Tatul Hagopian noted remained etched in my memory. Understandably different mindsets prevail between the Diaspora and Armenia. After all its the citizens of Armenia who bear the brunt of the blockade but not the Diaspora Armenians.  At one point, addressing the audience that was understandably cool to his claim of relations with Turkey, said and then asked the following, “I am from Armenia. If I am wrong, tell me what (viable) options do we have in Armenia?” Surely it is a heart-wrenching question that grinds us to our cores. Will isolationism assure the long term viability of Armenia as a self sufficient country? What about opening the border with Turkey, will it contribute to the long term viability of Armenia as a sovereign state? We all unmistakably know Turkey. Let our differing views on this existential matter, at no time question the other's appreciation of our history and the understanding with who we are to deal with, namely the Turks.

The other statement he made was the following: “ I expected the defeat will result in greater self-examination”. That sure has not happened, at least not yet. What has transpired thus far is a search for that ultimate traitor akin to the Vasak Syuini of the Vartanants War. Simply said a veritable cacophony of voices prevail for now in the world that is Armenia, instead of a full fledge debate and soul searching as to the cause of this catastrophic defeat and about relations with our bordering hostile neighbors.

Lebanon Towards Where?

By Dikran Jinbashian

The article I translated appeared in Aztag Daily on March 29, 2021. 

 

Last Monday, we earnestly waited the designated Prime Minister visit the presidential palace. 

Mr. Saad Hariri visited the President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, and the mountain bore…. a mouse (an Armenian expression). We were expecting a fruitful dialoque between the two officials that would result in the formaton of a government right there, on the spot, or, in the worst case, in the next few days. We were mistaken once again, because Mr. Hariri, after a brief conversation with the President of the Republic, read a pre-prepared statement that broke the news of the impossibility for forming a government.

The consequences did not let us wait for long. The Lebanese state is on the verge of collapse. The Lebanese currency continues to depreciate. The banks hardly operate. The prices of all kinds of goods continue to rise. Fuel is on the verge of running out. Medicines are getting harder to get. A series of other misfortunes continue. Widespread poverty is plaguing Lebanon.

In this chaotic situation, what prevents the search for sensible solutions for the implementing the so-called Lebanese democracy? Is it really that important to have one more or less a minister to one side or the other at the cost of forming a governemnt? It is impossible to believe the shaddy explanations given, which obviously serve only to conceal the real reasons for the mutual denials.

Doesn't the citizen have the right to be aware of the root causes of this situation, which is impoverishing the citizen a little more every day? Are these reasons only internal or, on the contrary, more external? What do the forces who want to maintain a foothold in the Middle East want form Lebanon? What is the place and role of the small Lebanon in the greater  geopolitical struggle, to which the external forces are so firmly comitted even at the cost of destroying it?

And where are the Lebanese political leaders? What are they doing? Shouldn't the political elite put the interests of Lebanon and the Lebanese above all else and not allow Lebanon to be the stage for the struggle of others?

Rightly or wrongly acquired priviledges, wealth and the opportunity to get even richer have become central for the statesmen and communities. Sponsored by the dark forces, the people who pretend leading the state have forgotten that the duty of a head of state and a high-ranking official is to serve the country and the people. Yes, they are first and foremost servants of the country and the people, the providers for their security needs, the guarantors of their peaceful and happy life.

Power without service is void. The Lebanese state elite wants power, but refuses to serve. The Lebanese people do not deserve such a state elite.

Aztag Daily

March 29, 2021

 

 

ՏԻԳՐԱՆ ՃԻՆՊԱՇԵԱՆ

Անցեալ երկուշաբթի օր անձկութեամբ կը սպասէինք նշանակեալ վարչապետին այցին նախագահական ապարանք:

Պրն. Սաատ Հարիրի այցելեց հանրապետութեան նախագահ զօրավար Միշել Աունին եւ լեռը… մուկ ծնաւ: Կը սպասէինք երկու նախագահներուն միջեւ արդիւնաւոր խօսակցութիւն, որ պիտի յանգէր կառավարութեան կազմութեան տեղւոյն վրայ կամ, վատագոյն պարագային, յառաջիկայ քանի մը օրերու ընթացքին: Սխալեցանք անգամ մը եւս, որովհետեւ պրն. Հարիրի, հանրապետութեան նախագահին հետ կարճատեւ զրոյցէ մը ետք, կարդաց նախապէս պատրաստուած յայտարարութիւն մը, որ կը գուժէր կառավարութեան կազմութեան անկարելիութիւնը:

Հետեւանքները սպասցնել չտուին: Լիբանանեան պետութիւնը կազմաքանդման եզրին է: Լիբանանեան թղթոսկին կ՛արժեզրկուի, դրամատուները գրեթէ չեն գործեր, ամէն տեսակի ապրանքներու գիները կը բարձրանան, վառելանիւթը կը սպառի, դեղերը դժուար կը ճարուին եւ կարելի է շարունակել դժբախտութիւններու շարքը, անդադրում շարունակել: Համատարած աղքատութիւնը կը բախէ Լիբանանին:

Բայց քաոսային այս վիճակին մէջ ի՞նչն է, որ կ՛արգելակէ խելամիտ լուծումներու որոնումը, համախոհական կոչուած լիբանանեան ժողովրդավարութեան կիրարկումը: Իսկապէ՞ս առաւել կամ պակաս նախարարի մը վերագրումը այս կամ այն կողմին այնքան էական է, որ կրնայ ամբողջ երկիր մը մատնել անիշխանութեան: Անկարելի է հաւատալ տրուած ճղճիմ բացատրութիւններուն, որոնք յայտնապէս կը ծառայեն միայն քողարկելու փոխադարձ մերժումներուն իսկական պատճառները:

Քաղաքացին իրաւունք չունի՞ իրազեկ դառնալու զինք ամէն օր քիչ մը աւելի աղքատացնող այս երեւոյթին խորքային պատճառներուն: Այդ պատճառները միայն ներքի՞ն են, թէ՞ ընդհակառակն` աւելի շատ արտաքին: Մերձաւոր Արեւելքի մէջ իրենց ազդեցութեան գօտիները պահպանել աշխատող ուժերը ի՞նչ կ՛ուզեն Լիբանանէն: Աշխարհաքաղաքական պայքարին մէջ ի՞նչ է տեղն ու դերը փոքրիկ Լիբանանին, որուն այսքան ամուր կառչած են արտաքին ուժերը, նոյնիսկ զայն խորտակելու գնով:

Իսկ ո՞ւր են Լիբանանի քաղաքական ղեկավարները: Ի՞նչ կը բանին: Պէտք չէ՞ր, որ քաղաքական ղեկավար ընտրանին, ինչ համակրանք կամ հակակրանք ալ ունենար, պէտք չէ՞ր, որ Լիբանանի ու լիբանանցիին շահերը ամէն բանէ վեր դասէր ու թոյլ չտար Լիբանանը ուրիշներու պայքարին թատերաբեմ դարձնել:

Արդարօրէն թէ անարդարօրէն ձեռք բերուած իրաւունքները, հարստութիւնը եւ հարստանալու հնարաւորութիւնը պետական այրերու եւ համայնքներու գործունէութեան առանցքին վերածուած են: Հովանաւորուած մութ ուժերու կողմէ, պետութիւնը ղեկավարելու յաւակնութեամբ հրապարակը նուաճած մարդերը մոռցած են, որ պետական ղեկավարի ու բարձր պաշտօնատարի սեպուհ պարտաւորութիւնը ծառայելն է երկրին ու ժողովուրդին: Այո՛, պետական ղեկավարը նախ սպասաւորն է երկրին ու ժողովուրդին, անոնց  ապահովութեան հսկիչ կարիքներուն մատակարարը, խաղաղ ու երջանիկ կեանքին երաշխաւորը:

Իշխանութիւնը առանց սպասաւորութեան փուճ է: Լիբանանեան պետական վերնախաւը իշխանութիւն կ՛ուզէ, բայց կը հրաժարի սպասաւորութենէ: Լիբանանի ժողովուրդը արժանի չէ նման պետական վերնախաւի:

 

 

 

 

Perils of Being a Medical Doctor

Ohan Tabakian, M.D.

Ohan Tabakian, M.D., currently resides in Montreal, Canada. In 1962, he taught chemistry to our graduating class from Sourp Nshan Armenian middle school. He was a student at the St. Joseph University Medical School in Lebanon (French: Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth). The attached is my abridged translation of a segment from his book titled “Moments Lived in a Doctor’s Life - «Բժիշկին Կեանքէն Ապրուած Պահեր».

1962 Sourp Nshan Graduating Class. Starred Dr. Ohan Tabakian and I.

I received my medical diploma in 1964 from the French University of Beirut. But it became impossible for me to find employment as a medical doctor in Lebanon because I was a Syrian national.  I had two options, either to find a way for securing a Lebanese citizenship or emigrating elsewhere.

I was in the midst of contemplating my choice when, to my great surprise and joy, the medical director of the Islamic charitable Al Makased Hospital made an exception and offered me a staff position as a medical doctor. During the years I had forged a special friendship with him. Every week we used to play backgamon in his house.

It was almost impossible to secure a Lebanese citizenship then. Two months after my employment a new government came about and my friend was appointed the internal minister of the country while continuing to retain his position as the medical director of the Al Makassed General Hospital.

One morning, the two of us were taking a leisure walk in the hospital’s garden. He was in a very jubilant mood that day. Suddenly, out of nowhere, he asked me: “Ohan, what do you desire the most?” Immediately I asked him if he could secure a Lebanese citizenship for me. He thought for a moment and told me that he was having a meeting that evening with the speaker of the parliament and he would raise the issue with him and will let me know the prospects for granting me a Lebanese citizenship.

The next morning he called me to his office and asked me to immediately provide him two passport size pictures. When I asked him why? He said in a few days you would become a Lebanese. My joy knew no bound. I was being offered a rescue raft I desperately needed. I state without hesitation that I truly started practicing my profession the day I received my Lebanese citizenship because I did not have to work under the supervision of another doctor any longer as I could legally render on record my medical diagnosis as a Lebanese practicing physician. Much like the rest of the medical doctors henceforth I took regular turns to be in charge of admissions and emergency medical care. But, it turned out that I was not sufficiently familiar with the prevailing social norms of those who attended the charitable medical center. Naturally I knew that middle easterners tend to be more emotional than westerners, but I had not realized that aspect could be so much pronounced in some.

One evening I was in charge in the hospital and was by myself. The head nurse came and asked me to accompany her to a room and officiate the death of one of the cancer patients who had just died. A day before the patient had undergone surgery. The deceased patient’s brother was at the door. He appeared to be around 50 years old and was wearing the customary robe of a Bedouin Arab with turban headwear. As soon as I entered the room the head nurse left. After ruling on his death, I approached the brother who was anxiously waiting to hear the status of his brother. His brother’s young son was next to him. With a sympathetic voice I attempted to explain to him that the cancer was too advanced and every effort was made to save his brother’s life but it was of no avail...

- “You mean to tell me that my brother died?” He asked.

I had hardly nodded in affirmation when I received a hard blow to my face that shattered my eyeglasses into many pieces. The bluish bruises and the swelling around my eyes remained for the next several weeks. Fortunately my eyes were spared. It was obvious that the experienced head nurse had left the room immediately to avoid the possibility. She later told me that it was customary to keep a safe distance whenever breaking such news to the family members of the patients.

The ever emotional middle easterners, who may engage in such acts at moments of high distress, also possesses a tender and a forgiving heart, gentleness and modesty. Two days after the incident the deceased patient’s brother, wearing the same dress, and the same turban headwear brought me a large box of sweets and apologized almost in tears. We sat at a table in the dining area. He told me that he was separated from his wife and had ruled out marrying again. Instead he had adopted his ailing brother’s family as his own and that he loved his nephew like a son. He then placed a golden medal necklace on my neck. When I told him that was not necessary, he seemed to be offended by my objection. I could not insist on my refusal,  “I will always remember my brother”, he said, as he took leave from me;  “ for me his death is merely an absence", he said. He apologized again and left like a person who has made amends for the wrong he had done and feels relieved.

Hardly a month had passed since that incident, I was tasked again to break the news of the death of one of our patients to his son. This time around I kept myself an arm’s length away as I broke the news to him. The young man was standing close to the window. As soon as he heard the news, he punched the window not only shattering the glass but also seriously injuring his hand we had to take him to the emergency room and take care of his wounds.

One day I was in charge of the emergency room when suddenly we heard shouting at the door and saw a man carrying his wife, who appeared to be lifeless, rushing into the emergency room and all the while cursing the Armenians. It turned out that his wife had reacted to a penicillin shot that was administered to her by the neighborhood pharmacist who was an Armenian. Upon the injection the lady had experienced an anaphylactic shock and had fallen on the ground senseless. The man was crying as he was recounting the happening while also continuing to curse the Armenians. Immediately I internvened and fortunately for all, and especially to me, I started detecting her pulse and her blood pressure started increasing and gradually she opened her eyes and started moving. Her husband obviously was ecstatic, but I also was happy no less. He was constantly thanking me, while continuing to curse the Armenians, when one of the nurses appeared to have murmured to his ear that the doctor who saved his wife’s life is an Armenian. Suddenly the cursing stopped and he started apologizing to me for his anti Armenian rancor and approached me and kissed my forehead. He was a different person now. He appeared to look for words and gestures to make amends for his anti-Armenian rancor. When the time came to discharge her, I told him that it was not the fault of the pharmacist who had administered the injection at the dictate of the doctor’s prescription. The doctor should have been attentive and should have ascertained that the patient was not allergic to penicillin injection.

Such is life. At times, reason gives way to emotion during periods of grief and distress. Tragic moments erase, in otherwise reasonable and good-natured people, the power to reason and they vent their anger on those who are around them, but often realizing their misplaced anger and they revert to their affable, communicative, gentle selves.

My parents celebrating my graduation. Starred Dr. Ohan Tabakian

 

 

Zvart Apelian: Excerpts on Teaching

Translated by Vahe H. Apelian

 

The attached translated quotes are from Zvart Apelian’s book titled “I and the Teaching” (note, I have used “he” in its genderless sense as article “he” and “she” are absent from the Armenian language). Mrs. Apelian, her students addressed her such, taught in Armenian schools, mostly in Armenian Evangelical Schools for over five decades. The Catholicos of All Armenians of blessed memory, Karekin I Sarkissian, bestowed upon her the order of Saint Mesrob Masdhots commenting in his encyclical order that Mrs. Zvart Apelian transmitted the Armenian language pristine to generations of students.

 

“I and the teaching met each other in my early youth, during my adolescent years and we fell in love with each other. Nothing else replaced that ideal love. We remained true to each other with an unbelievable faithfulness.”

*****

“It is not I who decided to be a teacher. I was born to be a teacher. I was born in the tranquil setting of my village (note: Keurkune, Kessab). I was hardly 12 years old when I organized summer schooling for the children of our village and kept them occupied for a few weeks. A little bit later, when I was a 14 years old teenager, I would organize plays to assist our village church. I would be the prompter whispering from the behind the curtain the cues for the kids on the stage and whenever anyone would be absent, I would assume the role. We mostly practiced our plays on the church alter and at times in our house, which was situated just across the church”.

*****

 “The essence of teaching is to be able to relate to students in a positive way. Students and teachers complement each other. If there are no students, there cannot be teachers.

Students have a tendency to shield their true selves from the teacher. Their knottiness is mostly meant to shield the student from the teacher, often times rendering the teacher incapable to realize his or her calling to cultivate in the student tomorrow’s exemplary Armenian person, be it the virtuous woman, the great scientist or the decent tradesperson.

At times the teacher has to amend himself to the whims of the student’s capriciousness to create the opportunity to get to know the student. Usually the student is not problematic but misbehaves towards those who have not been capable of truly understanding him, be it the student’s teacher, or the classmates and even the student’s parents. A student, whether excelling in class or not, looks forward to be a center in the teacher’s attention. The fact of the matter is that students have honored their teachers more than teachers have honored their students.

Teachers should not be inaccessible to students. On the contrary, the teacher should create an atmosphere for the students to approach the teacher knowing that the student is accepted respectfully and lovingly.

The student is a very observant creature. He observes keenly and digs further and is the greatest judge. The student recognizes a teacher fast and renders his judgment quickly. A teacher needs to be very mindful of his behavior and communication and needs to present himself attractively to the preschoolers by dressing simply but neatly and attractively. But for the older students, the teacher needs to prepare the students not to render judgment by outward appearances but by appreciating the person. Last but not the least, a teacher should succeed in having the students look forward for the teacher’s arrival to the classroom and not be content with the teacher’s absence. 

Teaching is a very difficult trade. Whoever has resorted to teaching accidentally has, sooner or later, failed. The successful teacher is the one who has been patient, has taken matter pertaining to teaching to heart, has viewed himself from the students’ perspectives and has strived to be a better himself as a person by self evaluating his manners and his thoughts

Finally, a true teacher is the outcome of students and the teacher cooperating to better their selves.”

Painting by her niece, Annie Hoglind

With Ms. Hranoush Hagopian

Travel: When Your Bag is not What You Declared.

Armenag Yeghiayan 

Translated: Vahe H. Apelian.

         

The attached is my translation of the travel experiences Armenag Yeghiayan had been sharing with his readers. This piece is the most recent and titled “Remembrances No. 10” (Հայրենի Յուշեր-10). 

Sometime in November 1971, I happened to meet Ara Krikorian, one of my old friends and also a onetime my classmate. Ara was better known as Ara Travel. During our conversation he told that that he has in possession travel tickets to Paris reserved for students that are far more affordable than regular tickets.

- “If you are interested, let me know”, he said casually.

- “But i am not a student anymore. I graduated six months ago and I have started working”, I said and noted that  my age is well past a student’s age.

-“Leave that up to me, I can arrange something, Asdouatz Metz eh (God is great).” He said.

True to his “arranging something”, for 300 Lebanese Liras, less than 100$ then, I had in my possession a flight ticket to and from Paris for a seven days long stay during the second half of the month. 

So it was, in all likelihood, on the 22nd or 23th of the month that I flew to Paris on a night flight that took off around  at 7 o’clock in the evening.

*   *   *

I had a flight experience in 1965, when on my return from Armenia, where I had embarked my journey by boat and then by land, I had to return via Moscow with a stop over in Europe on our way to Lebanon. I had chosen Moscow-Vienna-Beirut route. 

My flight experience should have been enough to change something in my innate fear of flght. Withstanding my previous flight experience, as soon as the airplane detached itself from the land and took off in the air, my old disposition towards flight took full possession of me and overwhelmed me, especially that this time around I was travelling without a friend to whom I could confide my predicament. Consequently, I put myself in a fetal position and futily attempted to take heart that everythingn is ok, and that the airplane is simply carrying us safe and sound to our destination at night. But the pitch darkness outside appeared to shield us from the impeding visible dangers. Even the robust and smooth flight offered no comfort. 

The passangers, even though they were few, started dwindeling in number as they exited the plane when we landed in the two stop overs to our destination. I did not see new passengers enter the plane. It could be that, immersed in my thoughts, I did not notice if there were some. In any event I took comfort seeing fewer passngers remaining. They sure lightened the load of the plane and lessened the possibily of a danger.

It was 11 o’clock midmight when the captain announed that we had  reached the vicinty of the Paris airport and that we had to buckle up and get ready to disembark. That is what we did and below us appeared the City of Lights. It was the first time I saw the illuninated city in the dark from above. But what a city it was, with so much light ! And how spread out Paris was ! I had not realized it  during my previous visit, when I roamed the streets either by foot or by car. 

I was happy because we had arrived without a disaster. 

But I soon realized that the landing was not happening. The plane was keeping its altitude remaining over the city but circling around it not once, but twice, thrice, and even more

 I realized that a cold sweat covered my face and my forehead, my respirtion rate was increasing and my heart was beating so hard that it looked as if it sought to flee from my chest.

I started staring right and left looking for sympathizers or should I say for partners in sorrow. The few passangers who had remaiend showed no sign of agitation, no sighed of anxiety. Everything seemed to proceed safe and sound for them, surely thanks to their ignorance. They simply did not realize, or pretended not to relize that we all were facing the same peril. 

A few days ago, coincidentally I had read somewhere that should it happen that an airplane cannot lower its landing wheels, it continues to circle around to exhaust all its fuel and then land on the tarmac on the belly of its fusilage “à sec”, that is to say dry. 

Obviously this was the case.

That is why now the airplane was continuing its flight going no where but continuing to circle.

This was exactly what the rest of the passangers were ignoring.

I realized that there were thorns underneath me that were preventing me sitting in any comfort.

*   *   *

I saw a hostess sitting a few seat away from me and looked entirely indeifferent. I signaled her to approach me. She politely obliged with a lovely smile. I explained to her my assessement of the situtation we are in and let her know of my concerns.

My companion suddenly exhibited an unbound urge to giggle but in order not to draw the attention of the other passangers to her, covered her face with the palms of her hands and headed towards the back of the plane where there was a steward. I imagine that she told him what I told her and both headed towards me.

The young man politely and with  a smile told me that that the  stuff in the airport had suddenly declared a strike.  Without hesitation, he continued saying: “such things are commonplace, you should know that the Frech workers have an affinity towards strikes”.

True to his explantion, the captain announced that in few minutes we will land in the Orly Airport. 

Everyone was happy, so was I. But, it did not occur to me that a mishap awaited me on the ground. If ever there was a mishap, it never missed me. 

*   *   *

That year a new travel bag had become fashionable. It was made with sturdy canvas with a colored square patchwork design. It was known as Scotch. A neighberhood fellow had become an expert in fabricating such travel bags. He had the old Azirian communithy center turned into a factory producing these kinds of travel bage. I purchased my travel bag from him especially that the price was very reasonable. They had one drawback that never occured to me to be of any concern. The key could open any such bag. 

After we landed I headed towards the baggage claim and took my baggage and headed towards the exit with two passages. One passage read “Declaration” and the other’s sign was “Nothing to Declare”.  I headed towards the latter as I had nothing to declare. All I carried were my wears and under wears for my long week stay. I  was carryign a smal carton box. 

There was an officer who almost did nothing. He did not question a passanger’s choice but seeing me, he approached me and asked with a stern voice his facial expressions did not reveal in any way, “what do have in that box?”

 --“Oriental sweets”, became my answer.

-  “Please open”, he said. I undid the knot that held the box.

 He examined it, smelled it and looked at my face, smelled it over again and with the same expressionless smile he ordered that I remove it.

I offered him to taste it. He categorically refused.

I was getting ready to move, when he asked me what did I have in my bag. 

- “Nothing to declare” I said, “its my wears for my week long stay”.

He ordered that I open it.

There was a round table with an approximately two meters long diameter, sitting on approximatley  one and half meter long legs. I placed my bag on the table and opened it........

More than the officer, I started looking bewildered at the content of my bag. Its content did not correspond to my declaration for a few change of wears and underwears. Instead it was full of women’s dresses and underwears, perfumes and the like. In short women’s needs

- “How do you explain these changes of wear ? ”, sarcastically asked the officer pointing to the contents of my bag and moving them around with his baton

- “I do not know”, I answered but soon realized that I had picked someone else’s bag and I apologized.

He checked the tag on my bag and found that it did not correspond to the one pasted on my ticket.

I took s sigh of relief and return to the baggage claim and picked my bag after assuring that the tag on the bag corresponded to the tag pasted on my ticket. I reported back to the officer who after checkign the tag numbers let me in without opening my bag.

 

Decades have passed since the incident but I have never ceased questioning what would have happened had the officer not checked my bag. After arriving to the hotel in the middle of the night, I would ahve left my bag on the floor and would have taken a shower and opened my bag for change of wear......

How could i dismiss from my mind my bag? The lady would also have resorted to change her wear....... 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

An Armenian Brand Bloodless Revolution

Vahe H. Apelian 

 

The 40 days that span from March 31, 2018 to May 8, 2018, with both dates inclusive. During that period a fundamental change took place in the governance of Republic of Armenia.  The revolution came to be known as the Velvet Revolution. It was an Armenian brand, bloodless, bloodless. It may very well be, next to the declaration of the free and independent Armenia on May 28, 1928,  the most consequential event in Armenia's modern history

Recently I read  «Հայկական Թավշյա Հեղափոխություն»- “The Armenian Velvet Revolution”, to learn the course of the revolution. . It appears that the original text of the book was not in Armenian as it acknowledges Loucine’ Sargsyan (Լուսինէ Սարգսյան) as its translator and lists Galya Hovhannisyan (Գալյա Յովհաննիսեան), as the publishing editor, Heghine’ Peloyan (Հեղինէ Փիլոյան), as the typesetter, and Arapo Sargsyan (Արաբո Սարգսյան) as the formatter. 

Stepan Grigoryan (Ստեփան Գրիգորյան), who is a physicist by educational training, has authored the book. He was born in Tbilisi on September 24, 1953. From 1975 to 1983 he was affiliated with the prestigious A. Alikhanian Yerevan Institute of Physics in Yerevan. He has authored many scientific as well as social or political papers. He has also assumed different positions in the government and in the private sector.  He is married and they are parents to a son a daughter.

The book  book is in a soft cover and was published on March 16, 2019 by Edit Print publisher. It measures 6x8 inches. It is 183 pages long including the foreword, table of contents, acknowledgments and the listing of the photographs in the book and their photographers and the author’s closing statment. On a front cover inside flip, the biogrpaphy of Nikol Pashinyan is listed and on the back cover inside flip the biography of the author is listed. It is in an easy to read script size on white glossy paper and contains many colored pictures depicting the historic event.

The Barnes and Nobles overview of the book accurately notes the following: “The book discussed the political situation in Armenia in recent years and presents a chronology and analysis of the political processes in the country from March 31, 2018, when the opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan and his allies started a march from Vardanants, the center square in Gyumri, to Yerevan until May 8, 2018, when the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia elected Nikol Pashinyan prime minister of the country in a special session.”

The content of the books is divided into two sectors. The first contains 7 sections. This section jump starts with the historic meeting between the opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan and PM Serzh Sargsyan in the Marriott Hotel reception hall in downtown Yerevan that ended with the PM holding Nikol Pashinyan accountable for the turmoil in the country and reminding him of the March 1, 2008 incident. From there the author takes the readers through grievances people harbored regarding the Serzh Sargsyan rule, the prevailing corruption and to the constitutional change from a presidential form republic to a parliamentarian form. To make his point that the people were caught in a dilemma he cites the example of an incident that had nothing to do with the turmoil in the country but in his estimation presented a graphical picture of the dilemma the people were facing. On May 3, a police captain attacked a bank but it was the people who intervened to take control of the situation and resolve the issue, blurring the responsibility for keeping law and order in the country. This section analyzes grievances and is the shorter of the two sectors of the book and extends from page 12 to page 54.

The second sector is the longest and gives a detailed chronology of the events that transpired from the day Nikol Pashinyan took his first step, of what came to be known as "My Step" movment, on March 31, 2018 from downtown Gyumri to his arrival to Yerevan on April 13, and from there to his election as the Prime Minister by a special session of the National Assembly of Armenia on May 8, 2018 in Yerevan.

This sector contains 5 sections and is detailed in chronology not only by day but also at times by the hour. It starts from page 58 and ends on page 179.

The five sections are as follow:

The first section starts from March 31 and end on April 12 (pages 62 to 63). It covers the start of the “My Step” march headed by Nikol Pashinyan from Vardanants center in Gyumri to Yerevan that lasted until April 12. 

The second section starts from April 13 and ends April 15 (pages 64 to 69). It covers the opposition starting its demonstrations in Yerevan

The third section starts from April 16 and end on 18 (pages 70-89). It covers the spread of the public demonstrations in many parts of the country while on April 17 in a snap session the National Assembly of Armenia elected Serzh Sargsyan as its Prime Minister. 

The fourth section starts from April 19 and ends on 24 (pages 90 to 128). It covers the continued spread of public demonstrations and acts of public civic disobedience and PM Sargsyan’s call on April 21 for negotiating with Nikol Pashinyan for a common ground. The call, the author noted, was wholeheartedly endorsed by the ARF. However, on April 22, the two negotiators had diametrically opposing stands. While PM Sargsyan had presented itself for negotiating, Nikol Pashinyan stated that he had come to meet the PM to discuss the terms of his resignation. The author had already alluded about that historic meeting earlier in his book. The following day, on April 23 afternoon, the PM Serzh Sargsyan announced his resignation with his famous statement that will reverberate into history, that he was wrong and Nikol Pachinyan was right. 

The fifth section is the last section. It  starts on April 25 and ends on May 8 (pages 129 to 178). It starts with Nikol Pashinyan ruling that the resignation of the PM Sargsyan was in effect but no one from the ruling Republican Party of Armenia could assume the premiership. On May 1, Nikol Pashinyan conveyed his vision to the National Assembly of Armenia as a candidate for Prime Minister and on May 8, he was elected the PM by a vote of 59 in favor to 42 opposing him. 53 votes were needed for his election. The author noted that ARF, which  broke rank with the Republican Party of Armenia, voted in favor of Nikol Pashinyan’s election as the PM. Without their votes, NP  would not have been elected as the PM of the third republic of Armenia, a parliamentarian form of a republic.

The book ends with the author’s closuring text analyzing the event giving his assessment of the historic Velvet Revolution of Armenia.

In my view it was a unique and an Armenian brand bloodless revolution and it differed from the revolutions I had read because all previous revolutions I have read that brought a change in governance were bloody and subverted the existing order in favor of tribunals and the revolution's vision. But they all failed. Russian communist revolution imploded into a quasi, unregulated capitalism. The Chinese revolution morphed into a one party rule again overseeing their brand of capitalism. Cuban revolution morphed into a dictatorship of sort. The Armenian Velvet Revolution was bloodless and it upheld the existing order but aimed to amend it and had the promise of a fundamental but lasting change. But there came upon the Covid-19 pandemics and the war and brought it at a crossroad where we are now as a nation.

This was the first book I read in modern Armenian language during the recent years. Modern Armenian (Arti Hayeren –Արդի . Հայերէն) is a term that is commonly referred to nowadays especially in the academic circles in Armenia. I have been an avid reader in Armenian and my mother, who was a teacher of Armenian language and literature, had ascribed my poor grammar to my reading in Soviet Armenian dictation, known as Apeghian dictation. Reading this book was also a realization that our language is also undergoing a seismic revolutionay change. I would not have been able to understand some of the words used in book had I not known English for they were Armenianized foreign words and their use is becoming common place. But that is an altogether a different matter.