29 replies to this topic

[MJ]

images/smiles/converted/icon_smile.gif

[bellthecat]

But it is mostly true for the pre-1917 period - or at least, almost everything (except pehaps the Church) was built on Russian foundations. It is true that most of Armenia's infrastructure was built during the Soviet period (but remember what surved in Leninakan after the earthquake - not buildings from the Soviet period, but those from the Russian empire!) However how much was Armenia as a NATION built during the Soviet period? And how much did things just stagnate for 70-odd years?

[MJ]

The Yerevan Brandy Factory (Shustov Coniak factory) was built by the Russians in the pre-1917 period.

The railroad, the other roads (whatever them may be) are probably also resulted from the capital investments of the Russian Government for the purpose of the movement of their military forces. But does it mean that if not for the Russians, no railroads would’ve been built in Armenia? Cannot we assume safely that they would’ve been built at least some 50 years later?

If this is going to be considered as built on Russian money, then we have to also take into consideration the taxes that the Armenian population has paid to the Russian Treasury, which have included taxes even on the wood that our villagers have used from the local Armenian forestry.

Obviously, I have no precise statistics on the size of the Russian investments in Armenia, and their net balance. But I can conclude that if they had significant net balance, they would’ve not easily moved their forces out in 1918, and propose the Finnish model for Armenia in 1919. And they were not very enthusiastic to take over Armenia even in 1920 – 1921.

I also don’t have statistics of what has survived in Leninakan. Perhaps others in the forum may be more qualified to speak on this subject. But I can attest to the following. The pre-Khroshchevian buildings in the entire Armenia have been of a pretty satisfactory quality. The quality of the buildings in Armenia, as well as in the entire USSR, have gone down in the Khrushchev era (so-called “khrushchobi” from the Russian word “trushchobi”), when under the slogan of providing everybody with public housing, and so that to make it possible, they have lowered the construction cost, while sacrificing the quality of the buildings. This has been of no consequence in non-seismic zones. I am aware of the insinuations regarding this topic, and have to claim that they are taken way out of proportions.

With all the continuing Russian influences, Armenia’s Nation building has been overwhelming in the Soviet era. In a way, Armenia has had the chance of filtering away the centuries old influences. Not completely, though.

The seventy years of Soviet Armenian history have been years of rapid and cinsistent development. The stagnation you are referring to has been of political character, and was attributable to the general Soviet political stagnation, which has started in 70s. It has picked up pace in Armenia with much more acceleration than in Russia.

The economic stagnation of Armenia has started in 1988, as a result of the lose of the contracts from the military-industrial complex of USSR (and the subsequent transportation blockade), which used to make the major chunk of overall Armenia economy.

According to the confession of the Soviet Central government, as published by the Moscow newspaper “Izvestia” in early 1988, Armenia and Azerbaijan have been the only two Soviet Republics (at least at the time), which have had net positive balance with the central economy of USSR.

[ April 15, 2001: Message edited by: MJ ]

[Berj]

MJ, I think there is truth in what Azat has said.

The re-creation of Armenian legal entity in Transcaucasus began after the conquest of Yerevan by general Paskevich in 1828. After the Turkmenchai treaty the Russians enforsed Persia to agree with the dislocation of a large number of Armenians from New Jougha to the territories near Yerevan. At that time the Armenian population of Yerevan was around 20.000. In 1849 they established the Yerevan Goubernia (we didn't have any territory we could legaly claim until that day).
In 1918 it was the Yerevan Goubernia that became the basis of creation of the Armenian Republic.

The numbers of dislocation of the Armenian population can be a result of Soviet propaganda, however the creation of the Armenian legal entity is a fact. But I don't think Russians did it beacuse of some feelings towards.

[ April 17, 2001: Message edited by: Berj ]

[MJ]

Berj,

I cannot question your facts. But how do they imply that Armenia was built by Russia?

[Berj]

MJ, I mixed the words "to create" and "to built". Well, Armenia, as well as any other country, was built by the people residing on its territory.

[MJ]

Well, Berj, I know what you mean. But Russia didn't want or plan to do it. It was just the natural development of history, I think.

[Berj]

Maybe MJ. I don't think anyone can be sure about this now. Some specialist on Tzarist archives would help.

[MosJan]

[MosJan]