edward demian

In Romania ther are about 8000 Armenians left from the last great migration of 1915 through 1923. There used to be 300,000 but they were driven out during the Communist times. There are about 300,000 Romanians of Armenian descent in nothern Romanian Moldova which are descendants of Ani, Krimea, Poland migration from about 1000 years ago. They mostly live around Hach Gadar Armenian monestary. They all used to be in Romania but because of border changes, some of them are in Ukraine now. Otherwise there are some small pockets of Armenians in Transylvania. They tend to be Catholic and are under pressure from the Hungarion minority to become Hungarian. Small trading Danubian towns like Galati and Constanta on the Black Sea had large Armenian Communities. Galati used to have 11,000 now less than a dozen. Constanta has about 600. I'd like to say that there is a Hayastantzi element arriving and staying. I also noticed Iraqui refugees in Bucharest. We have a national reprezentatine in the legislature. There are documents at the muzeum covering treaties between the Armenian comunity and the Romanian King about 500 years ago. It gave us the right to worship in our own fashion, to have schools and monestaries and to live under our own laws. The face of an Armenian Nicolae Yorga is on the most popular Romanian currency, as the dynamo behind the signing of the declaration of independance from Turkey in 1877. The face of the Romanian most popular Poet on another monetary denomination is Mihai Eminescu. A Romanian of Armenian descent from the earlier migration. I would like to say that the Romanians have been and are very kind to the Armenians. I hope this helps.

Why are we negotiating hat in hand and on our knees? We hold the aces. Recent events proved to everyone that only in Armenia can the pipeline be safe. Also, how easily the pipeline can be disrupted. Armenia should go into the negociatios , demanding the greater Ngorno Karabagh/Artsack territory. As a sign of good will, the present terirorry, including the buffer regions will be sufficient for a peace treaty. We have the Iranians and the Georgians as passage routes. Soon we expect to have opened all the North / South railways between Russia Armenia and Iran. Armenia does not need to have cheap Turkish goods underselling Armenian goods. It does not need to be overrun with desperate muslim labor. We need to be the Switzerland of the Caucassus and not just another banana republic. We need to manufacture high priced goods, high dollar return merchandise such as the diamond cutting industry. Electronics, Banking, Mobile road building equipment, infrastructure building equipment. These plants would bring a high rate of returm per item. 200 machines @ $200,000 each is $ 40,000,000.00 That is nothing to sneaze at. There should be many manufacturing enterprizes such as this which would be able to pay good wages to its workers. And instead of opening our borders to cheap muslim labor, the Armenian government should offer jobs through diaspora churches enticing Armenians back to good wages and easely affordable housing. No matter how patriotic, people will leave their nest only for a better life for themselves and their families. We are not all selfeless idealists.

Are there public coin operated laundermats in Armenia? How much would the economy support as per wash load? Here it is about $1.25 per wash load and about 50 cents per dry load. Any opinins?

The biggest problem Armenia has is lack of sufficient jobs. I am presently seeking a $34,000,000 loan guarantee from OPIC (Overseas private insurance corporation) a US semi government agency that makes loans to US companies to start new businesses overseas. I am working on this but my focus is in Romania because I could not even find a chamber of commerce in Armenia that would answer the phones. But in Romania I allready have a 32,000 sq. ft . ( 3000 m2) facility on the Danube river with rail and shipyard access. If you want to know what I sell look up www.vulcanequipment.com Presently I purchase these machines from Europe and sell them in the US for a profit. They cost about 175 to $ 275,000 ea. for the screeners and between $ 600 to $ 950,000 for the crushers. I saw the opportunity for this for Armenia where I could set up an assembly line to connect the partially assembled parts and finish the machines. In time, Local machine shops and manufacturers could start making the various components and thus the Armenian economy could benefit. Last year, Hartl Powercrusher sold 40 of these machines in Russia. So with the $ 10,000,000 you talked about, that would be the seed money to reverse engineer these German machines and start a manufacturing company that would be of great benefit fo the nation. Its a short jump from assembling my machines to tanks and armored personnel carriers. If you catch my drift.

Too many war criminals have gotten away with murder. I'm not impressed with his war medals. What were they for? Torturing people? Raping women on their way to Germany? Shooting soldiers retreating after they ran out of ammunition on the front? Exiling inoccent people to Siberia just because the communists neede housing for their cadre. What about the NERKAGHT. 40,000 Armenians heeded Stalin's call to return from Romania, Bulgaria and other Countries. Most of them were sent to certain death to Siberia because the KGB did not have time to run background checks, so they sent every other train wagon to Siberia. Ask the survivors from Romanakan in Armenia how it was. And when are we going to show some spine and prosecute the Armenian hamainavars for collaborating with the Russian KGB? God have mercy on their souls, because I will never forget or forgive them.

As I wach these beautiful Hamshetzis dance and sing I admire and feel kinship. They are muslim because they were intimidated or worse into Islam. And since then, not much has happened to them. I look to religion as something personal in these days. One can be an atheist and still be Armenian. One can be Armenian and be a "daghmar" too. We should set up a school in Armenia for children of Hamshetzis from Turkey. Free Armenian Education from one through university. Fire them up with ethnic pride and send them back to their villages like peace corps volunteers.

It does not surprise me. The Oregonians resent the Californians visiting or resettling. How ridiculous are the small minds.

There is much to the irony that you highlighted. I appreciate irony. The world is ironic. However, I don't feel frustrated, I feel vindicated. Anti communisn has prevailled just as anti fascism. China turning more and mor capitalistic is great. In a generation or two, Communism in China even if it survives will be unrecognizable. North Korea will simply implode. Decades ago, before the advent of computers and modern communication, in the days of radio jamming, I was listening to a young man on the radio profesizing that the advent of free information would spell the end of Communism in Russia. I simpathized, but it was too much to hope for. Gues what! He was right.

What worries me most is the lack of population in Armenia and Artsach. A small population can do only so much. We need to start a program of ressetlement from all corners of the world. Even if we start with pensioners. You would say, what good are old people? Well, they are consumers too. Some would bring their savings with them. Imagine 100,000 families, each bringing $ 50,000!!! Those of you with any training in economics should be able to realize the impact of $ 5,000,000,000 imfusion in the Armenian economy. The 5 billion would not have to be paid back. An economy spinning that fast would attract the young families too. Why do you think Israel is doing so well. Because it actively promotes immigration from the Soviet Union , Africa etc. In the new world order, economics is everything. All else is salad dressing. I agree with the other post that open borders woul be potentially an achilles heel to Armenia. Because turkey could easily motivate 10 million of their muslim poor to immigrate to Armenia. They could do that, overwhelm us without firing a shot. Another thing that would be easier to achieve than obtaining our lands back is to demand equality and civil rights to Armenians, Assyrians, etc. As it is, we cannot even return a buy a house in the same town we originate from, or anywhere else. If we were to enjoy equal civil rights, we could easily purchase a village in Ani or Aghtamar and settle 100 families there from Iraq or Romania, or Bulgaria or Syria. Lebanon etc. etc. We strive to get regognishion of the Genocide from everyone. Big deal if it happens. We need to embarrass the Turkish government into abolishing the restrictions againt Armenians returning and settling. With economic clout and population on the ground, we stand a better chance. It would be a far easier goal to embarrass Turkey into lifting those restrictions against us then to get them to admit to the Genocide. Its all about reparations.

How cruel. For a brief second I experienced a child like state of joy and disbelief. It was my hope of a slight glimmer of humanity in the world. Once again I remain dissapointed. But then, I remember my fathers last words as he died: "At least I lived to see Armenian independence and the end of communism". Who would have thought? I suppose anything can happen.

Not Armenian enough for you? Pavagan Hay chem kez hamar? Anunas Edward Demiraiakian e, Mihran Demiraiakianin Zavaga, Yev Hajgi Margaros Demiraiakianin torniga. Im medz hairas Giligiain French Foreign Legionin hed garvetav Turkerun tem yev hairas Romanagan panagin hed Rus Comunistnerun tem garvetav Yegrort baderazmin aden Yev yes Vietnam garvetza Comunisterun tem. Jist e vor im indanicas hazar dary iver hayastan ce desadz, pitz ter hyeren, hosil carel u gartal kidem. Tun inces?

OK it seems inplausable. Since we are all dreaming here; may I too dream a little? The only way my suggestion would work, would be if we win the next war, and dictate from a position of strength. Because, even if we win the next war, the world (ie. us, the west) would never let us keep those gains. My suggested solution would be acceptable to the west because it would guarantee the west continued supplies of oil and gas, and present a genaral consensus. The Georgians would fall in line to get a piece of the oil pie. Did you not agree with my assesment of the ethnologigal make up of Axerbaijan? Our only way to weaken Azerbaijan is to play the various ethnic groups against each other. The Tatars dominate the government and the country but they are not a majority. Isolate the Tatars and we won. Sure I would like them to replicate the exodus of the pro American Vietnamese at the fall of Saigon and hope that their boats all sink in a storm. But thats too much to hope for.

Why doesn't any one ever suggest this alternative. The re establishment of the Trans Caucasian Republic with the following adjustment; along etnic lines. Some will say that the Azeris will predominate. If you study the ethnic patchwork that makes up Azerbaijian you will see that if you break up the countriy into Persian, Armenian, Kurdish, Talish, Laz, Georgian etc. etc. the actual Azeri (Tatar) component will be much smaller. That way, neither the Georgians nor the Armenians nor the Azeris will predominate. Everyones "territorial integrity" will be maintained. The Armenians will be free to move around and settle wherever they wanted. Just immagine what such a republic could accomplish. It would not need any aouside power for protection. Personnaly, I am not ready to trade Russian chains for US or Turkish ones. I don't want a chained Armenia, but a powerfull, free Caucasus doing business with everyone.

Vestiges of the Communist days when the stores had so little to offer that they (those behind the counter) were like kings. Competition is the only solution to that.

I'm more concerned with what the Iranian leader thinks of the Turks. I think that ultimately, the union of Turkish Islamic government with that of Irans Islamic government, holds far more danger for the Armenians. The Turks are far more successful at getting their ways diplomatically.

My son bought the Duduk an he masterred it's function in about two hours. Now he would like to progress but there isn't any sheet music. Can anyone help?

As a late learner of Armenian I could offer you the benefit of my experience. I learned Armenian in an Armenian Seminary where no one spoke any language that I spoke. I was 11-12years old. I ca't duplicate that even for my own chilldren. My parents and grandparents did not know Armenian. Having said that, Western Armenian otherwise refferred to as Turkish Armenian or Lebanese Armenian or French Armenian etc. is the most desirable to learn. It is closer to classical Armenian and is a far richer language. The greatest and the more numerous literary works are in western Armenian and it is the accepted Lingua Franca everywhere outside Hayastan and Iran. All schools outside these two countries teach in Western Armenian. Once you learn it you will understand Eastern Armenian as well. For centuries Eastern Armenian was a remote regional mountain dialect. It matured as a spoken language and with soviet tinkering became even more confusing. It's literary works go back not much more than 150 years and mostly Communist Rubbish. Eastern Armenians will not as easily open up to outsiders. Unles you marry one. They are very provincial and have had 80 years of suspicion bred into them to breed out of their system. Western Armenian is the diaspora Language of my choice.

I'm impresed with the effort and I hope it's some candy dispenser with a home made label. I would have[really] been impressed if the same people that went to all that trouble would have successfully marketed an Ararat motiff and a hystorical scene on the back that would have circulated the world and made money for the developers and fomented a bit of extra interest in any of our causes.

I don't know where you guys go to church but I hapen to be Armenian Catholic that has been elected to various Arm. Orthodox Church councils in 3 different cities. The council I serve in currently also has at least another Protestant member. I would say that the majority of the membership is not baptized in the Lusavorchagan Church. That is the makeup of the American Armenian church. The Armenians are bringing in their odar wives and husbands to church. Part of the Sermon and the Reciting of the Nicean creed is done in English. Only in the inner citiies where there are a lot of recent immigrants that all the jingoism occurs. Yes there is a lot of intermarriage, but if we could welcome the new Armenians into the church instead of banishing them and their Armenian spouses we would be ahead. Our birth rate is too low to sustain the National Character. The point is that most Armenian churches are empty and if there was away to attract the near armenian, no one would oppose it. Voghortmia Der mer Hayotz Astvadz.

Come on now. The American government is the most responsive government yet devised. All you have to do is study the Jewish Lobby influence in the US and you will agree. So if you want more, than you have to invest more. When the Armenians start electing their own or financing politicians, than they will have a place at the table like the Jews. So, run for office if you want to change things. We have a good thing going. Just get with the program.

The only effective charity is direct one. What i do is: I ask all my fat wealthy and vain friends to bring me their unneeded clothing. Shoes that are out of style, pants that won't stretch , brasiers that are no longer appropriate etc., etc.. I send about 4 to 6 boxes[u-haul movung boxes.] about twice a year to my relatives directly. Then they sell or exchange the contents of my boxes with others. It makes a difference. You want to help. Just send anything you can get your hands on. The clothing should be clean. Not cat smell, no tabbacco or mildew smell, no stains or ripps. So I often have to wash the stuff I send. Washing there is a problem. I pay a fellow shipper here about 50 cents per Lbs. A pair of $300 shoes that weighs three lbs will cost me $1.50 to send there, but she may be able so sell or trade them for $5.00 which is half of a monthly pension . You can get together and send a whole Container load to Armenia for about $3000.00 However, there never is anyone trusworthy. Anyone you send the stuff to, will cherry pick the boxes and leave only what they don't like. Even among close relatives. So you have to have names. You can ask for lists of refugee families living in those steel containers and send a care pckage to each in the container. Then they will trade and exchange articles among themselves. Good Luck.

That pipeline is like a bottle of good wine sitting in the sun. Eventually it will burst. Any one person with a rifle and a few tracer bulets can blow it up fro afar. The important thing is that there are other pipelines allready in the area from the soviet days. I also believe that the oil processing centers are in Armenia. I think that once the oil is in circulation it will find its way to Armenia by way of Georgia and Iran. Allready there was a minor scandal about sales to Armenia. Money has no consciounce or nationality. We can depend on the Turks to do with their money what they have allways done. Squander it or steal it. Let it go through. We'll find a way to utilize it. In the end money will seek safe harbors. Armenia is the only country without any internal strife. Business will naturally gravitate to Armenia because we are businessmen first.

Interesting post. however my opinion still is not challenged. Even if the division / specialization of criminal activity is exact as you say; There is a world of difference between Armed robery anf commerce in contraband. Smuggling and dealing in Stolen cars and car parts cannot succeed by themselves. The go hand in hand with legitimate sales of legal cars and parts. So the Armenian merchants are legitimate merchants who often trade in car pars and parts with questionable papers versus the georgians and the Chechens and the Azeris who do the stealing. One other important cultural issue: When the facade of the great Communist society fall away, what was there to replace it. The cultural icons of the surviving [winning] culture, which is unfortunately portraied in great motion pictures such as "the Godfather". You have Russian kids and businessmen mimicking gangster styles and behaviour rather than the unglamorous over weight, overworked bespectacled merchant. These guys are gangsters "wannbe's". I'm afraid that the provincials from Echmiadzin may not know the difference. I hope so anyway; Otherwise we have struggled for so long just so we can become gangsters in foreign cities.