Great find Lewon. Thanx a lot. I took the liberety of typing interviews 1-3 for everyone who might prefer reading it. I will work on parts 4 and 5 as soon as I can. Enjoy.
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California, a small town in California, get to be a Commander of 4,000 soldiers in the Karabagh Liberation Army?
Monte Melkonian: Well... first of all, its been a long time since I've been, but, participating in the Armenian struggle, in the Armenian people's struggle to regain their rights throughout their homeland ... throughout their historic homeland. Most of which is no longer, what, part of the Armenian state, the present Armenian state. So its been about 15 years, more then 15 years, that I've been participating in that struggle. So, I've accumilated a bit of experience and then when I came here I began the same work. I could use, what, I'm doing here is a continuation of what I did before. And it's totally natural that, what, Armenians from the United States or any other place come here and participate like any other Armenian. In other words, this is our homeland ... this is as much my homeland than it is the homeland of whoever has been born here
whatever. So it's very natual that people like me come here and participate. And, I don't know... just like anyone else ...through my work, you know, things developed and fortunately we've had important successes in the region I'm the Commander, in the region of Marduni, in, what, Mountainous Karabagh. And so, that was just the way things evolved and now I'm the Commander of that region and right now I'm in Mardakert heading a unit from our region that's come here to help in re-liberating this region. As you know, the Azeries took it over in June and July 1992 and burned most of the villages and everything. We've had a hard time getting back into these mountains but we've done it. We've done it. And we've caused a
lot of damage to our enemy and I think our enemy has stated to understand that isn't part of Azerbadjan. That, they can't crush the Armenian people militarily. And that, they've got to look for other solutions.
Interviewer: Give me some background on the conflict.
Monte Melkonian: Well, historically, Artsakh, that's the historical name for Karabagh .. the Armenian name ... Artsakh. So this region of Arsakh is .....has always been one of the, what, intregal regions of the Armenian homeland throughout our history. Thousands of years of history and thousands of years this region has been Armenian. In 1920, when Azerbedjan and Armenia became Soviet Republics, at that time they went to draw new borders. For very tactical and political reasons, Stalin put a lot of pressure on the authorities of the Transcaucasion Republics (Armenia, Georgia, Azerbedjian) to have both Arstakh and Nakichevan included in Azerbedjan rather then in Armenia despite the fact that the Azerbejani leader at
that time, initially, what December 2nd 1920 declared that both of these regions were to be included in Armenia rather then Azerbejan. Despite that, Stalin put a lot of pressure on them to have these two regions arbitarily cut off from Armenia and included in the Republic of Azerbedjian. Mostly, to get in good with Ataturk who at the time Stalin was trying to covet for political reasons. With Stalin's arbitrary decision to cut this off, cut this region off, draw those stupid, totally, what... obsurd boarders. But despite that fact most of the countries in the world recognize those boarders as quote on quote Internationally recognized boarders. I don't know, its obsurd to me, its obsurd to me that the U.S. President .. the heads of State of all these countries throughout the world would take a solemist position on Artsakh.
Interviewer: Do you think that has anything to do with the United States' relationship with Turkey?
Monte Melkonian: Of course it does, of course it does. United States has extremely tight relations with Turkey. They count on Turkey for a lot things. Turkey is sort of their little puppet in the region. Turkey does more-or-less what they [united States] what it [Turkey] to do. There is a strong army, the United States wants to use that army... you know, to police the Arab states, to police Iran ... to, what, enforce U.S. policy in the region. And do to that, the United States is willing to totally ignore the rights of an awful a lot of people, including the rights of the Armenian people. They're willing to ignore historical reality. They're willing to ignore demographic facts. They're willing to ignore awful lot of stuff just to, what, to keep in good with Turkey. It is very similar to what Stalin was doing in 1920, 1921, when he, what, cut Artsakh and Nakiecivan from Armenia just to get in good with the, what, Turkish government at the time with Ataturk.
Interviewer: How could Turkey explain the demographics of Naxichevan. It's really cut off from Azerbejan isn't it?
Monte Melkonian: Yes its totally, geographically, its totally cut off from Azerbejan. It has nothing to do with it all. It's sort of an, enclave, south in the southern region of the present Armenia. And there are only 300,000 population there. And the region has always been, historically, Armenian also. And as you can see, georgraphically, has nothing to do with Azerbedjan. But since that's the only territory quote on quote Azerbejani terriroty that boarders Turkey it's extremely strategic for Azerbajan. It was strategic at the beginning of the Century also. You know, to have one region administratively linked to Azerbejan which would boarder Turkey. So, again, Nakichevan was cut off from Armenia for political reasons. For political reasons that had nothing to do, that even contradicted, reality. Contradicted the interest of the people at the time. Contradicted the neccissities of the time. And which contradict, which contradict all our efforts for peace. Peace cannot be established in the region as long as obsurd frontiers exist. As long as obsurd
decision are, what, forced on people. People can't just accept obsurd decisions.
Interviewer: Do you think that the Azeries and the Turks have any Imperialistc ambitions to oblirate free Armenia?
Monte Melkonian: Well, if you look at maps recently published both in Azerbejan and Turkey, there the southern part of present Armenia, in other words, Zangazour, the Region of Zangazour, and the northern shore of Lake Sevan are in Azerbejan.And the rest of Armenia is nothing but another province of Turkey. Well, if you look at those maps then you'll understand that at least some people, influential people at that, obviously don't believe that Armenia should have a future. And if you listen to what they say, and if you listen to what a lot of people write, then you'll get even more convinced of that.
Interviewer: Tell me a little bit about your army. They're all volunteers aren't they?
Monte Melkonian: Well volunteer, who wouldn't volunteer to defend his own house? His own family? They're all people from here, from the region. You know, in the thousands, among the thousands of soldiers we have there are something like 10 from Armenia this place, and 15 there another region. And the whole region of Marduni there are about 10 people from out of Artsakh. In other words, they're local people. They're defending their families and their homes. Do when you say volunteer, no one really wants to fight a war. No oen really enjoys fighting a war. Fighting a war is more like cleaning a toilet. It's something you have to do. It's dirty work but you have to do it because if you don't do it things will
only get worse.
Interviewer: There is a great difference though between your army and Azerbedjian's army isn't there?
Monte Melkonian: Yes there is. Yes there is. Are people are much more motivated. We're out numbered. Out armed. You know, our enemy has much more ammuniation, better quality arms, everything. In other words, mathematically speaking, we should have lost long ago. We should have lost long ago. But we keep resisting and we're succeeding. We're succeeding, we've had big success. Mostly due to the fact that our people are more motivated. Like I said, they're defending their homes and their families while the Azeries are coming to a region that they really don't know about. A lot of their soldiers, a very important number of their soldiers, deep down inside know that this isn't part of Azerbejan. They know this is not worth dying or getting wounded for this place. That it's not worth staying awake all night, you know, sleeping in the snow, going through all this trouble to fight for a land which has nothing to do with their country. A lot of them
really understand that deep down inside, even though they don't admit it. And that's why they run away when a lot of them ...... run away very very quickly when we start attacking them. And that's the best thing they could do because it's stupid to resist. Why should they resist? Why should they continue oppressing our people? Why should they resist to, what, make their politicians happy? If those politicans really want to fight this war, let them come to the front and let them fight themselves.
Interviewer: Once you have liberated Artsakh, would you prefer to have your own political structure independent of Armenia?
Monte Melkonian: Look, this is my personal opinion. Armenia, the Armenian people, are one people. And, our country is one country. Artsakh is part of Armenia. Today, well on December 10th 1991, there was a referendum in Artsakh where the people here decided to declare and Independent Republic of Artsakh. Despite that, I think that's only a provisional decision. I think its ... I think it's the only real future for Armenia, for Artsakh, is to be reunited with Armenia. It's the most natural, the most logical outcome of all this.
Interviewer: Are you getting support from Armenia?
Monte Melkonian: Well, the Armenian people in Armenia gives us moral support. In other words, all Armenians want this region to be reunited with Armenia. Material support, you know, we may get electricity and fuel and all that stuff. But really, we would like to get a lot more material support. A lot more material support. The region is, you know, under a lot of pressure. Totally blockaded. Totally cut off from the rest of the world. The only way to, to, to, what, to have any contact with the outside is through Armenia. As you know, Armenia is blockaded by Azerbajan. Armenia, Azerbejan is fighting a war on the boarders of present day Armenia also This war isn't only in Artsakh. They're attacking other regions. They've taken over Artsvashan and other Armenian places. So Armenia, is in a very difficult situation itself but never-the-less we would like to get even more material support. Political support also. We would like more political support.
Interviewer: It seems to me though that politically Armenia has kind of slightly disassociated itself from this war, atthe moment, at the present time.
Monte Melkonian: Well, disassociated ... like I said, we are getting support. The Armenia people support this effort. That's certain. But, the Armenian goverment itself is in a very difficult position like I said. The economic situation in Armenia is very bad. Again, due to the Azerbajani blockade mostly. Not only that but there are other reason also. But the Azerbajani blockage has been having a terrible effect on the Armenian economy as well as the Armenian people. We've been sufferring during the winters. There's no heating, no gas, no fuel. All the roads have been cut off and whatever used to come from Azerbajan doesn't get here anymore. Prices have shot up. Unemployment has risen. They're toturing Armenia a lot. Azerbejan has been toturing Armenia a lot and the government of Armenia is just trying to figure out how it can minimize the, what, the effects of what Azerbajan is doing to our country. Minimize the effects on our people.
Interviewer: How do you see solutions for this conflict?
Monte Melkonian: Well solutions to this conflict, theoretically is very simple. The whole world should just recognize the historical facts. They should recognize reality. They should recognize the rights of the people here. And they should say, "Alright look, the abitrary boarders that were drawn at the begnning of the century have nothing to do with justice, have nothing to do with the facts. Therefore, we've got to change them. And they should force Azerbajan [interviewer interjects: Under the spirit of God's glory] And they should force to accept the fact that Azerbajan's boarder with Armenia must be re-drawn. That this region must be re-included into Armenia. Just as Azerbejan blockades Armenia and wages a war against our people other countries can blockade Azerbajan. They did it against South Africa. They did it against other very, what, racist or unjust countries. Why can't they do it against Azerbajan? Why can't they do it in this case? If people are serious about peace in the region, then they've got to be serious about a real solution. Not one of these quote on quote compromise solutions that, what, put the war off for another two years and then the war gets even worse after that. No, that's not a real solution. That's not a real solution. People, you've got to face the facts. Say this is what we're going to do, what, put pressure on the culprit. Put pressure on Azerbajan to accept that. And then, there will be a lasting peace. And let me empashize
that without a lasting peace here, the situation can be very dangerous, very volitile for the entire world. Because, this region of the world is one of the most complicated where and awful lot of interests get mixed up. A lot of contradictions can, what, blow up into wars. And a lot of different forces can get involved. A lot of forces much much bigger then Azerbajan and Armenia. Forces which, if they start getting involved, you know, the intensity of the war, the intensity of the ... the magnitude of the effects will get totally, you know, out of proportion of what's going on right now. So I'm going to emphize that it is a dangerous situation and that there's got to be a final solution. People have got to just face the facts. Even if that doesn't make Azerbajan happy and say, "Look this is it. And if you don't accept it then we're going to punish you. We're going to put a blockade on you, and embargos, everything else.
Interviewer: You must have been brought up with a strong sense of Armenian nationality. Were'nt you?
Monte Melkonian: Not really, not really. I'm a 3rd generation Armenian from the United States. I was born there, my parents were born there and everything. My mother's family has been in the United States since 1881. And my father's family since something like 1907. Anyway, we've been there a long time and I didn't speak the language at all until the age of 20. I started to learn the language when I went to Lebanon. And, I really wasn't brought up .. no I wasn't brought up .....
Interviewer: Why did you go to Lebanon?
Monte Melkonian: Well, because at a certain age.. at the age of 11 or 12, when my family went to Turkey and we saw our grandfather's home and all that stuff we started learning, we started reading, we started learning that we were Armenian. Up until then, we really didn't know that. But, after that we got really interested and we just started reading more and more and learning more and more. And, when the war broke out in Lebanon and the Armenian quarter was very much in danger .. the filandergist were attacking and were trying to take, what, force the Armenians pay taxed and beating them up if they didn't, blowing up their homes if they didn't and all that stuff. So, I went there to participate in the self-defense of the Armenian quarter in Beruit. And, that's how everything started. Started learning more and more and more and now it's been 15 years.
Interviewer: So not until your 20's did you begin to learn about Armenian history, the Armenian holocaust, the neglect of the Armenian people throughout history by the rest of the world? Is that right?
Monte Melkonian: Well the first time I ever heard about the massacre, about the genocide, was when I was about 12 years old. And after that, I began reading and the age of 13, 14 everything. But at the age of 20, I graduated from Berkley and I went to Beruit where I began learning the language and where I began participating directly in the struggle. So, you know, that's my personal thing. A lot of other people have been much more, have been concious of the thing for much more time. But, like I said.... this whole strugglist thing it isn't new. Neither in Artsakh or diaspora. The Armenian people's struggle has been going on for a long time. We've lost most of our homeland and we'd like to have the right to live in our homeland, as anyone else should have the right to live in their homeland. And, what, we're going to fight for that.
Interviewer: You're going to do that. You're going to do that.
