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MJ I agree with you that Soviet Union has never been a protector of Armenian people, but the popular perception was that without it Turks would have eaten us. For decades the propaganda machine of Soviet Union has successfully used our fear of Turks to create an unprecedented loyalty of Armenians toward USSR. The Karabagh movement was never a separatist movement from Soviet Union (remember the slogan “Lenin-Partia-Gorbachov”). When there were huge demonstrations in the Opera Square in 1988-89, a small group of Azgayin Miasnakan Party supporters (under the leadership of Paruyr Hayrikyan & Ashot Navasardyan) tried to advance the idea of independent Armenia, yet they couldn’t garner any support and were viewed as lunatics by the general public. It seems like there is something wrong with Armenian psyche, because throughout history we were always pro-Russian, pro-Soviet, pro-Turk, pro-Persian, pro-Arab or pro-whatever, but we were never pro-Armenian. The idea of independence pushed us to be alone, to make decisions for ourselves, which didn’t sit well with general public. Even when there is an independent Republic of Armenia I don’t think we are ready for that. Oh well, back to Karabagh movement. I am still puzzled by the sudden change of leadership of Karabagh movement in May of 1988. I think either KGB or other foreign intelligence agencies has something to do with this. That’s when “Lenin-Party-Gorbachev” slogan was changed. That’s when tricolor flags started appearing in the crowd. There are lot of coincidences that happened after May of 1988. I find the ideology of ARF and Communists the same also. ARF is more radical and is unhealthy for democratic Armenia. The existence of revolutionary parties hinders the development of democracy. Mexico is a great example to this. If ARF can shed it’s antiquated ideology inherited from 19th century and adopt more modest goals, it can serve as a major left party in the Republic of Armenia. When KGB arrested Karabagh committee in November of 1988 and Soviets imposed a “paretayin jam” in Yerevan, we felt as if we were under siege. So if Soviets were not as brutal towards us we would have never turned anti-Soviet. The arrest of Karabagh committee united people even more. Even international leaders lent their support to free the members of Karabagh movement.

Do you think the privatization of energy sector will jeopardize the security of Armenia. Overall it's interesting to know the views of people about this hotly debated topic.

MJ, it’s quite interesting to read your analogy of the events. But you’d remember that the popular movement in Yerevan started not as a national struggle for Karabagh, but it was merely a protest against the pollution of the environment. It didn’t have the mass national appeal, but that’s what brought people out of their houses. Then in February 21, of 1988 the news about Karabagh reached Yerevan and we all went to the Opera Square. To be frankly honest majority went there to satisfy their curiosity, and some went there remembering the events that occurred in 1960’s. We, Armenians, view history as very unjust toward us, and in 1988 there was an urgency to correct the historical injustices. The injustices were aimed mostly towards Turks and Turkey, but in 1988 Soviet Union turned from a defender of Armenian nation from Turkish threat to a collaborator with Turks (Azeris: we call them Turks). Armenian public didn’t take lightly the label of “extremist” and “nationalist” in Pravda and Vremya. We just wanted to correct the historical injustices, and thought that Moscow didn’t understand the problem, and if they did they’d side with us. That’s why Zori Balayan and Silva Kaputikyan went to Moscow in March of 1988, to explain politburo the grievances of Armenians. Many people thought the nationalist outburst will fade away, just like it did in 1960’s, but weaker Soviet Union couldn’t suppress it. The huge outrage of Armenian public came after the Sumgait events, and it was a reminder to a lot Armenians about genocide. I think Sumgait was the turning point. From then on it became not a Karabagh conflict, but an Armeno-Azeri conflict. The movement was purely popular up until the May of 1988, but I don’t exactly know what happened, but in May of 1988 the leadership of Karabagh committee has changed, Igor Muradyan has stepped down and Levon Ter-Petrossian has evolved. I think outside forces must have something to do with this. Igor Muradyan is a staunch nationalist and socialist, but the post May Karabagh committee is more liberal in its views. I think Armenian Communist lost a major credibility when late Karen Demirchian said from the tribune of Opera Square, “Karbaghe jebs chi vor hanem tam”. If Communist party had wise leadership they’d mostly likely be able to contain the movement, just like Azerbaijani Communist party did. Even our Communist Party was more nationalistic than any other communist party in the Soviet block. Then the KGB did an extremely stupid thing, by arresting the leaders of Karabagh movement and bringing Soviet troops to Yerevan. That caused a popular outrage and even hatred toward Soviets. With the election of H H SH the popular movement moved from the streets to parliament. The populist turned into criminals while they were in power.

Raffi, there are a lot of reasons people change their last names. I had a friend who was trying to break into entertainment industry and was asked by his agent to change his long Armenian last name.

Life as Armenian in Yerevanian dialect can be classified as: kaif

All time favorites: 1. Beatles 2. U2 (Bono rocks) 3. REM 4. Pink Floyd 5. Jimmy Hendrix 6. The Doors (Jim Morrison is awesome) 7. Bob Marley

STUDY SHOWS OVER HALF ARMENIA’S POPULATION IN NEED OF GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE A recently published economic report in Armenia indicates that over half the country’s population is in need of government assistance, and that many others rely on cash transfers from relatives working abroad. In addition, the statistics point to a widening of the gap between rich and poor in Armenia, a trend that complicates government efforts to promote economic recovery. The report, titled "The Social Pattern and Poverty in the Republic of Armenia," was published by the National Statistical Commission. According to the survey, which was sponsored by the World Bank, about 55 percent of the individual population can be categorized as "poor" or "impoverished" (very poor). The share of households falling into these two categories is somewhat lower than 50 percent, indicating that those Armenians in large families are more apt to be poor or impoverished. Meanwhile, those with incomes above the poverty line were classified as "well-provided," accounting for about 45 percent of the individual population. However, according to the report, about 13 percent of those in the "well-provided" group are regarded as "potentially poor" with incomes (12,000-12,500 drams per month, or about USD $25) just above the poverty line. In all, the survey warned that over two-thirds of Armenia’s population could become dependent on government assistance. Additional data indicated that the formation of a middle class, the backbone of a stable market economy, is lagging in Armenia. The incomes of the top 20 percent of wage earners are over 32 times greater than the incomes of the bottom 20 percent. According to the Gini index, a popular method for measuring income inequality, Armenia has an income inequality ratio of 0.593, indicating that the country has one of the highest income polarizations of all former Soviet republics. The Gini index is 0.22 in Belarussia; 0.34 in Lithuania; 0.40 in Estonia; 0.44 in Russia; and 0.59 in Kyrgyzstan. Under the Gini index system, a number closer to 0 indicates relative income equality. The higher the number, the greater the disparity between rich and poor. The survey also suggested that living standards are declining. The percentage of Armenians in the "well provided" group fell from 45.3 percent in 1996 to 44.95 percent in 1999. At the same time, the percentage of "impoverished" decreased from 27.7 percent to 22.91 percent, providing evidence that government and international assistance programs were having a desired impact in combating poverty. The share of poor is twice as high both in the zone of the 1988 earthquake, and in border regions that suffered during the armed conflict over Artsax. The real level of unemployment is 27.3 percent, according to the survey, well above the previously reported official estimates. About 17 percent of those employed can be classified as working poor, who do not earn sufficient money to fall into the "well provided" category. The average salary is 20,157 drams (about USD $40) a month. Overall, the data indicated that between 620,000 and 1 million of the country’s official 3.8 million population had gone abroad in search of work. Most of those abroad are of working age, and two- thirds of them are men. Other sociological indicators do not bode well for the future. The birth rate fell two-fold in 1999 compared to the level of 1990, and the average growth rate of the population during the same period was 0.7 percent annually, down from 1.2 percent per year during the preceding nine-year period. The survey found that wages and salaries comprised only 24.6 percent of individuals’ monetary incomes. Sales of the agricultural produce made up 32.1 percent; money generated from self-employment stood at 10.6 percent; state pensions and allowances were 9.3 percent; and up to 19.3 percent of incomes came from transfers from friends relatives. Almost 13 percent of incomes came from remunerations from friends and relatives living abroad. In addition, only 0.1 percent of incomes was generated by investment activity, including leases, interest and dividends. This indicates that the market reforms, privatization in particular, has thus far had a minimal impact on the money-earning behavior of the population. The survey data was compiled from a systematic study of 3,600 households from across the country. The study was performed from July 1 1998 to June 30 1999. Subsequent developments in Armenia indicate that the survey’s findings continue to present a representative picture of current economic and social conditions in Armenia. The criteria for classification as "poor," "impoverished" and "well-provided" were based on income size relative to a typical consumer basket for essential food and durable goods. A household is considered "poor" if its per capita consumption was lower than the cost of typical household expenses, including food, clothing and housing. Households whose per capita consumption was below the cost of the minimal food basket were classified as impoverished. For the period of the study, the "poverty line" and "food line" in Armenia were estimated at 11,735 Armenian drams (USD $22.50) per month, and 7,194 drams (USD $13.7) a month, respectively. Food is the major item of household expenditures, comprising 60 percent of total expenditures. In "impoverished" households the percentage of income devoted to food purchases reached 73 percent. In "well-provided" households the percentage was 31 percent. According to the report, Armenia’s GDP level in 1999 was 60 percent of that of the 1989 level, and was comparable to that of 1977. This was mostly due to a large drop in industrial production (41 percent over the 1987 level). The share of agriculture in the GDP rose to 26.2 percent in 1999, as compared to 17.2 percent in 1990. The government of Armenia has elaborated a Strategic Program of Poverty Reduction, which has gained the preliminary support of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. These institutions are likely to provide funding when the program is formally approved, perhaps as early as late March. The main goal of the program is to stimulate economic activity and create jobs. It also allocates additional funds to help for vulnerable people, with the aim of preventing widespread poverty from developing into a long-term, self-reproducing phenomenon in Armenia.

Priests, missionaries sexually abuse nuns March 20, 2001 source CNN VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -- The Vatican acknowledged on Tuesday a damning report that some priests and missionaries were forcing nuns to have sex with them, and were in some cases committing rape and forcing the victims to have abortions. Some nuns were forced to take the contraceptive pill, the report cited in the Rome daily la Repubblica said. The Vatican said the issue was restricted to a certain geographical area, but the report cited cases in 23 countries, including the United States, Brazil, the Philippines, India, Ireland and Italy. "The stories are horrifying and disturbing to say the least," said Bill Ryan, spokesman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. However he added that he was not aware of anything similar in the United States. "The National Catholic Reporter ... offered no documentation for that. I don't know how you would investigate something like that unless you had specifics or a charge," he added. The charges first appeared in the Kansas City-based National Catholic Reporter weekly on March 16 and in a small Italian religious news agency Adista, which also publishes a weekly. Limit of human endurance Missionary news agency MISNA condemned the abuse while recalling that missionaries often worked "at the limit of human endurance." It urged the media to remember the good deeds of missionaries around the world as well as their failings. A Vatican statement said "in relation to the news of cases of sexual abuse against nuns committed by priests and missionaries, Chief Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls had the following announcement: "The problem is known about and is restricted to a certain geographical area. "The Holy See is dealing with the issue in collaboration with bishops, the Union of Superiors General (grouping of heads of male religious orders) and the International Union of Superiors General (heads of female religious orders)." While the Vatican did not name the geographical area, the report said most incidents of sexual abuse against nuns occurred in Africa where the nuns were identified as "safe" following the onset of the HIV and AIDS viruses devastating the continent. Nuns forced to abort Charges made in the report, signed with names and surnames, were made known to Church authorities on several occasions throughout the 1990s, the article by la Repubblica's respected Vatican correspondent Marco Politi said. The author of the report was nun and physician Maura O'Donohue, who presented it to the head of the Vatican's Congregation for Holy Orders, Cardinal Martinez Somalo, in February 1995. He ordered a working group from the Congregation to study the problem with O'Donohue, who was AIDS coordinator for Cafod, the London-based Roman Catholic Fund for Overseas Development. O'Donohue made specific reference to certain cases, one in which a priest forced a nun to have an abortion, after which she died. He then officiated at her requiem mass. In reference to Africa, her report said: "It is impossible (there) for a woman or an adolescent to refuse a man, especially an older man and in particular a priest." In Africa, certain priests sought out nuns "for fear of contracting AIDS with prostitutes." "There are cases in which priests make nuns take the pill, ...and there was one case of 20 nuns in one religious community being pregnant at the same time," the article cited the report as saying. A mother superior was continually ignored by the local bishop when she complained that priests in the diocese had made 29 of her nuns pregnant. The bishop relieved her of her duties, the report said without identifying the diocese. Sexual favors In 1998, Marie McDonald, mother superior of the Missionaries of Our Lady of Africa, presented her report on "sexual abuse and rape committed by priests and bishops." The Vatican is monitoring the situation, making sure bishops were aware of the phenomenon, but no direct action has been taken, the article said. Vatican spokesman Navarro-Valls said in his statement: "We are working on two fronts, training of people and finding a solution to individual cases. "Some negative cases cannot let us forget the often heroic faith expressed by the large majority of those men and women in religious orders and of the clergy." MISNA echoed his words, saying: "If on the one hand... these incidents of alleged sexual abuse cannot and should not be denied or justified, on the other hand they prompt us to reflect on the conditions in which the majority of the tens of thousands of missionaries live on the fringes of the so-called Third World. "Many of them live in situations of extreme psychological and physical hardship, at the limits of human endurance." La Repubblica quoted McDonald as she knew of no inspections taking place after her report. "Then there is the conspiracy of silence which makes the problem worse. Only if we confront this together, will we be able to find a solution," she said.

All the talk about Azeri economic superiority is just a facade to cover up the rotten nature of their whole economy. Economy that's too dependent on one source of income. There is absolutely no diversification of economy. It's true that they have a huge chemical and agricultural sector, but these are waning industries. Azerbaijan resembles some of the Gulf countries, where the wealth is concentrated in a few hands, and as time goes on they will absolutely lose their national characteristics and will become toys in the hands of oil companies. Furthermore, the income from oil is not invested in infrastructure and is constantly washed out of the country. In the Information Age, it's not the natural resources that will determine the wealth of the country, but the vast knowledge of country's citizens. When they got rid of Russians, Armenians, and Jews they lost most of the human capital in Baku. In contrast I don't see Armenia's economy as bleak as Azeri's. First and foremost it's not over dependent on one sector. Second, the country is more democratic, which is one of the cornerstones for having a successful market economy. I think with wise management Armenia has a better chance to develop its economy than Azerbaijan.

It's not even funny but it's even anecdotal to mention about Kars treaty. Aren't there any decent diplomats who will take important positions. People who are realistic in their views, more pragmatic, and less dreamers. Let's not forget Khrimian Hayrik's words after the Berlin Congress in 1878. "Ayntex bolorn uneyin Yerkate Sherep. Isk im@ txtits er". Officiall the Kars province passed to Turkey not by Kars treaty but by the Treaty of Alexandropol signed in December 2 of 1920 by Dashnak government. There is no legal ground to contest the treaty of Kars, which is simply a confirmation of the Treaty of Alexandropol.

IMF, World Bank Caution Five CIS States on Debt By Andrew F. Tully WASHINGTON, Mar 12, 2001 -- (RFE/RL) Ten years ago, the newly independent nations of Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, and Tajikistan were virtually debt free. Today they shoulder a crushing debt. The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have issued a report on what these five poor nations -- and their creditors -- can do to manage these debts. The five poorest nations of the former Soviet Union could be even poorer over the next decade unless they can begin to manage their enormous debt. And according to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), that will not be possible without serious reform. This stark conclusion was drawn in a report that the Fund and the Bank issued on 8 March at IMF headquarters in Washington. The countries covered in the document are Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, and Tajikistan. When the Soviet Union broke up, Boris Yeltsin -- then the Russian president -- decided to take on the debt of all the former Soviet republics, leaving his neighbors without this financial burden. But being debt-free did not last long, according to Samuel Otoo, an official with the World Bank's Europe and Central Asia region. "All five countries began the transition in 1991 with virtually no external debt. By 1999, their total public and publicly guaranteed debt exceeded $5.7 billion, despite a number of reform programs supported by the international community, including the IMF and the World Bank." Meeting with reporters at the IMF building, Otoo said the size of this debt, collectively, is too great for these countries. He noted that the per-capita incomes in these countries range from $290 a year in Tajikistan -- the poorest of the five -- to $620 a year in Georgia, the richest. Otoo and Mohammad Shadman-Valavi, an economist with the IMF, said the debt has grown so quickly for several reasons. One is the recent increase in the price of oil for these countries, all of which are energy importers. A second is the abrupt end of financial support from Moscow when the Soviet Union broke up. Yet another factor is that all have been distracted by costly armed conflicts -- regional and/or internal -- since independence. But most important, the report says, is that these countries are victims of bad governance, which slows the pace of transition to a democracy with a market economy. Bad governance, it says, also leads to corruption. According to the study, the governments of Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan must increase the pace of institutional reform -- particularly their banking and other economic systems. Such reforms are necessary to make sure that they successfully complete the transition from managed economy to the free market. The five nations also must crack down on corruption and make their nations more attractive to business investors. Otoo put it this way: "The basic message and the basic thrust of policy going forward needs to be to improve the environment for new firms -- for the entry of new enterprises -- and to create conditions where both foreign investors and domestic investors would have more confidence in the rules of the game -- the rule of law, respect for property rights, where sources of administrative corruption would be minimized." Otoo acknowledged that this is what he calls a "very heavy burden" on these governments, but he adds that he can see no reasonable alternative. And Shadman-Valavi said it is important that these nations' leaders maintain their reforms without interruption. He stressed that this is the only way to achieve momentum during the transition. But Shadman-Valavi said the burden for relieving the five countries' debt is not on these nations alone. He said other countries could help with some debt relief. But he stressed that the five must earn debt relief by demonstrating that they are moving ahead with reforms. And he said all five governments recognize this, which he called an important step in the process. Otoo and Shadman-Valavi were asked if the report might have an undesired effect -- highlighting the financial problems of the CIS' poorest nations, and thus making other countries reluctant to restructure debt. But Shadman-Valavi replied that this probably would not be the case. "It increases the urgency of more focus on the part of the authorities [in the five countries], but it will also encourage the creditors to pay closer attention to developments in these countries." James Lilley -- an American diplomat who once served as ambassador to China -- says it is fine for the IMF and the World Bank to give advice to these five countries about how to reduce their debt. But he says it will be a long time before the five can be called democracies with market economies. He says they have operated for too long under what he calls an "unholy alliance" that determines the direction of their economies. "The [leader of the] political communist cadre in the countryside, who controls government allocations, makes his arrangements with the greedy, crooked entrepreneur, who's building the factory. That's the unholy alliance." This collusion keeps the leaders and manufacturers rich -- and the vast majority of the people poor. And with a poor populace, a government that carries a huge debt cannot raise enough tax revenue to pay off the debt. As a result, Lilley says, he believes it will be decades before Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, and Tajikistan emerge from crushing debt.

What’s the purpose of having an Armenian Bank? In other words what do you think should the mission statement of this kind of institution be? I personally think that pan-Armenian bank should not only serve the purpose to facilitating business activities in the Republic of Armenia, but also it should be a business facilitating entity in Diaspora. Something between a commercial bank and a business incubator, where business plans will be reviewed and potential entrepreneurs will be helped in establishing successful ventures. I don’t think Republic of Armenia is creditworthy enough to create a bank of any significance. I think overall Moody’s rating of sovereign credits of Armenia are Baa3, which inherently makes receiving funds expensive. Also, I don’t think Republic of Armenia has the professional resources to operate an international institution, as Pan Armenian bank should be. In addition government involvement in financial activities creates bureaucratic inefficiencies and the climate of favoritism. The only viable means of creating this kind of institution is expanding the current capabilities of Midland, and getting more partners involved in it. Also, I am a strong believer that this type of corporation should be domiciled in the Republic of Armenia, and should be incorporated by the laws of that country.

Steve, Byzantines were relaxed as long as they controlled Russian, Serb, or other Eastern Orthodox Churches. Keep in mind that the head of all these churches is still the Greek Patriarch that seats in Constantinople. I don’t understand your argument how Armenian Church divided the universality of Christian faith, when it was already divided by 700 AD. The struggle between Greek Orthodox and Armenian Orthodox Churches was based more on political than on theological motives. It was all about control and Armenian Church wasn’t going to willingly give up its control over the Armenian population. The Armenian clergy perfectly understood that once it got under the influence of Greek Orthodox Church it would have lost the special privileges it held for centuries. The whole division of Armenian and Byzantine churches started in 506 at the Council of Dvin, when the Armenian church rejected the ruling of the Council of Chalcedon (451), that the one Person of Christ consists of two natures; the Armenian church thus became (and remained) Monophysite (a view holding that Christ had only "one nature"). When the Georgian church broke away from the Armenians and reunited with the Greek Orthodox Church in the early 7th century, the Armenians remained in communion with the Coptic and Syrian Jacobite churches, confessing the Christological formula of St. Cyril of Alexandria, "one incarnate nature of the Word. So it wasn’t only Armenian Church that held the Monophysite view, Coptic and Syrian churches also adhered to this belief. So claiming that Greek Orthodox Church was tolerant and accepted the existence of other national churches should be viewed from the perspective that they were accepting the existence of other national churches as long as they were able to dominate them. In terms of population of Arabkir and Akn speaking Armenian, the only evidence that I have about the language that were used by Armenians in that region are my grandparents, and other Arabkirci people who lived in Nor Arabkir region of Yerevan. The reason most of the Armenians were Armenian speaking in Constantinople because it was encouraged. Turk was used as a derogatory term, and speaking Turkish was not something that added a social class.

I had to dig one of my old college books to provide you this information. According to Vincent N. Parrillo's "Strangers to These Shores" book, which is about different ethnic groups that make the melting pot of the United States "Armenians place a high value on education. A 1991 survey found that 45% of Armenian Americans had earned at least one college degree and that 57% were in professional management jobs." pg 211 Armenian Americans have the highest percentage of college degrees among all groups. That makes me extremely proud to have an Armenian heritage.

Steve, Greek Orthodox Church was very aggressive when given a chance. It successfully used the political force of Byzantine Empire to disintegrate Armenian Church. Up until the capture of Constantinople there have been numerous attempts to establish an Armenian Patriarchate in Constantinople where there was a huge community, but to no avail. Only after 1453 when Mehmet II conquered the Constantinople Armenians were recognized as a separate religious group. Greek Orthodox Church did not have to be aggressive in its policies to assimilate Armenian Church; over the time the dominant Greek culture would have assimilated it. The fate of Armenians living in Central Europe should serve as an example how dominant faith assimilates the minority culture. Keep in mind that it was due to successful Greek policies to disintegrate Armenia and relocate nobility to Central and Southern Anatolia that resulted to settlement of Armenia by Seljuk Turks. Medieval Armenian historians also point out that Armenians were not majority in Western Armenia by 15 and 16 centuries. There was virtually no resistance to Turkish invasion, because Greeks have weakened the nobility. In fact Armenians were not even a majority in Eastern Armenia up until 1828. It was through successful immigration from Persian and Ottoman empires that Yerevan guberniaya became mostly Armenian populated. Also, I would like to direct you to Richard Hovhanissian's book "Republic of Armenia", where his research shows that most of the Armenian population in Western Armenia outside of Constantinople and Van region spoke Turkish. My grandparents are from Western Armenia (around Arabkir region) and according to them most of the Armenian population in Sebastia vilayet did not speak Armenian. On a personal note, I’d appreciate if we can hold our discussion on a high level and not get into name calling.

MJ in your post you said: quote Just wanted to point out that we are not as divided as we think. Although I don't agree on issues we unite for.

MJ we are more united than we give ourselves credit for. During the Artsax War every single Armenian in Diaspora and in Armenia united for the liberation of Armenia. At critical times Armenians are always united. In the beginning of century they had many disagreements, but the Battle of Sardarapat brought all the fighting fractions together. Look at other people living in Caucasus. In Georgia, Mengrels literally hate Kalxetis, Svans hate both of them. If I start going on then Georgia would be more like a federative republic. Azeris are also divided. Baku people (Western Azeris) don’t like the Ganja people (Eastern Azeris). That’s why it’s easier to reach a compromise on the Artsax issue with Bakveci than with Ganjaci people. The same divisions exist even in modern Europe. Take the example of Germany or Italy. I remember a few years ago I met a German and asked whether he was a German his reply was, “No I am Silezian”. In Italy there is even a political party who’s goal is independence of Northern Italy. It’s common for people to identify themselves by the province than the country they live in. Take the example of US. In Texas they are more Texan, in California more Californian and in New York they are simply New Yorkers. So it’s natural that we identify ourselves as Yerevanci, Tehranci or Beyrutci. What we lack though is unifying ideals. What unites us is the hatered toward Turkey and grievance for the tragic history. It’s sad but true hatred is unifying us. What I think should unify us is the hope for the brighter future. We should take example from Jews, they are united for the brighter future of the State of Israel. No matter religious or secular, even if they disagree on a lot of things but they are united around the idea of strong Israel. It’s through their unification and efforts that Tel Aviv has become the next Silicon Valley. It’s true that they don’t forget their history and to this day reap huge amounts of money as retribution, but they are not living in history like we do. Let’s move on people, find more unifying ideals. What’s the point of having the Republic of Armenia, and what makes every Armenian proud? Can somebody answer these questions. If one day Turkey admits the Genocide, apologizes for it, even pays a retribution for it, what’s going to happen to us. Are we going to stop hating them? What do you think the unifying idea should be for Armenian nation?

In history usually people don’t make “what if” arguments. What if Byzantine army not by Seljuk Turks won the Battle of Manzikert, that’s a more important question. The course of history would have been totally different. I think in that case Armenians would have easily assimilated to Greek culture. It’s somewhat an oxymoron that the oppressors are responsible for the continuation of ethnic culture (Germans are indirectly responsible for the creation of the State of Israel, since Holocaust was the main reason for Ashkenazi Jewish allia). Throughout centuries of Turkish yoke most Armenians in Anatolia forgot their language, and religion was the main distinguishing factor for Armenians. Since they share the same Orthodox traditions with Greeks subsequent assimilation was imminent. The example of assimilation of Armenians in Eastern European Christian countries should serve as an example that difference in religion with Turks was the main reason that Armenians did not assimilate. As much as Armenians hate Turks they have to realize that they were given more freedom in Ottoman Empire than in Byzantine. Up until the capture of Constantinople Armenians weren’t even allowed to have a patriarchate there, and most of them easily assimilated. We shouldn’t also forget that in 1862 Tanzimat laws were passed, which gave Armenians cultural autonomy. What if 1915 did not happen? Interesting question. Just like in the case of Germans and Jews, it brought some positive things for us. First of all before 1915 most Armenians spoke Turkish except in a few places in Western Armenia and Constantinople. Even if we take the numbers of Constantinople Patriarch (I think it’s biased) Armenians did not constitute more than 30% in any of the 6 Armenian vilayets. If Allies won the Battle of Gallipoli and invaded Anatolia, thus preventing a Genocide, still Armenians were only another minority. The only reasonable solution to establishing an Armenian state was a voluntary exchange of population (just like Greece and Turkey did in 1922). I think Armenia wouldn’t be a part of USSR if Allies helped establish an Armenian state then they wouldn’t have allowed the entrance of Soviet Army. In that case Armenia would have been a strategic NATO ally. Taking into consideration the hard working nature of our people and excellent commercial skills, than Armenia would have resembled Greece or pre war Lebanon.

Khoren Hovhannisyan is my favorite athlete. A class and level of play that Armenian football did not have an equal. Ararat 73 jan ba Ishtoyanin moranum es.

Jew

Araksya I myself am a graduate of USC, and have an experience in fixed income finance, notably with asset backed securities. Recently I had disagreements with upper management, left the company and started working on my own option pricing models. I, like you am currently studying for GMAT. I got the "Barron's: How to prepare for GMAT" book. I wouldn't recommend a CPA, since a lot of my freinds are CPA's, and if you are not into too much paperwork and find it boring it's definately not for you. CFA is more interesting, and can give you a chance to get into money management (which is an extremely lucrative industry). Pepperdine is a good university, it has a good finance department. It all depends what industry are you pursuing. Are you into Old Economy companies, and are you ready to climb the corporate ladder. As for myself, my goal is to have my own hedge fund (just remember every Fortune 500 company once was a small startup). By the way where did you get your undergrad degree. [ February 26, 2001: Message edited by: alpha ]

Araksya where are you getting your MBA from. CFA helps if you want to go to money management and it's not hard at all. MBA has to be from a top natch school (Wharton, Chicago, UCLA ) to be worth anything.

Scientific Research in Armenia Office of Naval Research Europe and European Office of Aerospace Research and Development Visit Armenia In November, a joint mission composed of scientists from the European Office of Aerospace Research and Development (EOARD) and the Office of Naval Research Europe (ONREUR) visited Armenia for a brief on-site survey of the opportunities available for scientific collaboration. The mission of the EOARD is to support Air Force research and development laboratories and product divisions by identifying foreign technological capabilities and accomplishments which can be applied to Air Force needs. The Armenian Government appreciates the importance of the development of science and technology in Armenia, especially given the vast potential of Armenian scientists and engineers who, regardless of the difficult circumstances, continue carrying out world class work. But the lack of financing can eventually put many otherwise promising projects on infinite hold. We reprint the articles with the sole purpose of helping expose the capabilities of Armenian science to the US scientific community and encourage open communication and research collaboration between them for the mutual benefit of the two countries. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Institute of Applied Problems in Physics Institute of Mechanics Bjurakan Astrophysical Observatory Institute of Radiophysics and Electronics Institute For Physics Research Yerevan State University State Engineering University of Armenia Institute of Microbiology Institute of Chemical Physics Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry L. A. Orbeli Institute of Physiology Institute of Geological Sciences Institute of Informatics & Automation Laserayan Technica Armenia The Republic of Armenia has a population of only 3.3 million people, but boasts a strong tradition of scientific excellence and was likely the third largest contributor to research within the USSR, following Russia and Ukraine. In recent years, however, the resilience and determination of the country to maintain its scientific infrastructure has been put to the test. In December 1988, an earthquake devastated the northern portion of the country, killing 55,000 people and swelling the capital, Yerevan, with refugees. After the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, this land-locked country found itself geographically and politically isolated. Armenia is a strongly Christian country which went to war with its Muslim neighbor, Azerbaijan, over control of Nagorno-Artsax, a region within Azerbaijan populated by ethnic Armenians. Consequently, Armenia's other Muslim neighbors, Iran and Turkey2, enforced total land blockades along their borders while Armenia's one remaining neighbor, Georgia, has been deeply embroiled in a civil war. Consequently, for the first few years of its newly found independence, virtually all imports and exports had to be transferred by air. The country's nuclear power station shut down and the lack of natural fuel resources led to long periods of power outages, including the cold winter seasons. In less than three years, the value of the currency decreased by a factor of more than 100,000 while prices of many consumer goods inflated rapidly to western levels. Today, however, Armenia enjoys relative stability and an optimistic outlook toward the future. There is a cease-fire with Azerbaijan and the land blockades are loosening. The civil war in Georgia has ended, Armenia's nuclear power station was recently reopened, and their currency, the dram, has held a constant rate of exchange against the dollar for more than a year. Economically, however, Armenia still has a long way to go, but is westernizing quickly and has attracted more foreign aid from the US. per capita than any other country in the world aside from Israel. Although they were the first of the former Soviet republics to introduce privatization and economic reform, a typical research scientist at the Academy of Science earns a base salary of only $8.50 per month - half that of a scientist in Ukraine, and ten times less than a scientist in Russia. Scientists are also frustrated by frequent power outages, and in some cases, loss of power due to the inability of institutes to pay their bills. A majority of the institutes and universities are virtually unheated and will be closed completely during the coldest winter months. This November, the first Edison House2 visit to Armenia was made by Lt. Col. Don Erbschloe, Professor Jack McIver and Dr. Mark Maurice of EOARD, and Dr. Igor Vodyanoy of ONREUR. Despite the turmoil faced since the late '80s and the current economic conditions, several of the institutes visited were found to be doing outstanding, world-class research. The institutes and universities have done a brilliant job of maintaining their infrastructure and potential during the worst of times and are optimistic that the international scientific community will recognize the value of what they have to offer. The institutes use the typical Soviet scientific model of having both testing and engineering facilities to follow-up on basic scientific results. The Edison House scientists feel very strongly that the timing is optimum for our labs to form a strong, lasting relationship with Armenian scientists and institutes for the mutual benefit of both of our countries. Site Visits to Institutes of the Armenian National Academy of Science The Armenian National Academy of Science was founded in 1943 as the primary coordinator of basic research within the Republic. The Academy is comprised of 34 institutes and is divided into the departments of Physics and Mathematics, Technical Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Humanitarian Sciences. Approximately 4,000 researchers work among the various institutes - about 1,500 fewer than five years ago. Economic conditions have lowered governmental funding to less than one million dollars annually, causing increasing emphasis on the need to attract outside funding sources. Last year 428 researchers within the Academy received Soros grants, giving them the largest number of grants of any FSU country aside from Russia. Institute of Applied Problems in Physics This institute of approximately 250 people (90 scientists) was formed just 10 years ago, and boasts good, young experimental facilities, a design bureau, and three manufacturing facilities. They specialize in solid state physics, nuclear physics, acoustics, particle physics and physics of low temperature plasma. They maintain strong relations with their Russian counterparts and are building relationships with American firms such as HP and GM. A few of their recent developments include a lightbulb based on plasma acoustic modulation which requires only 20-25% of the power needed for conventional fluorescent bulbs of the same output power and contains no mercury and electric heaters fabricated from volcanic rock that are 20% more efficient than conventional electric heaters. This institute has particularly strong research efforts in the generation and use of acoustic waves. For instance, using a method they call 'parametric dissociation', they have used acoustic waves to modulate quasi-Cherenkov radiation generated by electrons or positrons traversing crystals. The resulting distribution of x-rays is highly angularly dependent and thus this method can result in x-rays of very high monochromaticity. The process also results in an increase in the x-ray intensity by a factor of 1.5 to 2. Acoustic waves have also been used to spatially modulate low-temperature plasmas.Particular applications of this technology are improved performance of high-power, gas-discharge lasers and the generation of monochromatic, coherent acoustic waves from a plasma pumped by a microwave source. Some Highlights of Armenian Science A library of over 20,000 bacterial cultures, including 2,500 strains used for biodestruction An acoustic "laser" produced by exciting cold plasma with microwave radiation Rotation detectors for tracking satellites with 22-bit accuracy Production of spectrally-pure extreme ultraviolet sources based on laser pulses on targets Several facilities capable of growth of high-quality doped and undoped crystal and optical materials A vast underground facility for very accurate measurement of variety of seismic effects Institute of Mechanics This institute was founded in 1955 and employs approximately 140 people. They specialize in a wide variety of theoretical research relating to the mechanics of solid media, and consider themselves the world's best center in the area of plates and shells (their monographs were translated and used by NASA). Previously, they were part of the USSR military complex and participated in the Sputnik program. In the late '80s, their major funding source was for Soviet satellite strength calculations. Today they work to develop other international relationships, of which their contacts with France and Japan are the strongest to date. Bjurakan Astrophysical Observatory This institute employs nearly 200 people and has been doing research in astrophysics since 1946. It is located in the Ashtarak region of Armenia which allows viewing on 70% of the nights with 1.5-2 arcsec viewing on good nights. There are two telescopes that are currently in use, a 1.3 m Schmidt telescope and 2.6 m reflector. The Schmidt telescope has a 4o field of view and has three different wedge plates that can be inserted in the telescope to provide wavelength dispersion. This telescope was constructed in the 1950s and is operating with its original drive and controls. It is also restricted by the fact that it is currently only capable of recording images on glass plates. There are plans to modernize both the control/drive mechanisms and install a CCD camera. The 2.6 m telescope was constructed in the 1970s. This is also in need of maintenance and modernization, part of which is planned for the spring of 1996. This telescope is somewhat unusual in having a relatively high slew rate which makes it a possible source for satellite tracking. Their current research includes investigations of galaxies, star formation regions, theoretical astrophysics and mathematical physics. They have a long history of international participation and collaboration, and are credited with the discovery of stellar associations and galaxies with active nuclei. They are very close to establishing Internet access and creating a WWW site to make available over 2000 plates covering over 17,000 deg2 of the sky. Institute of Radiophysics and Electronics This institute, founded in 1964, has approximately 300 employees and specializes in fundamental and applied research in radiophysics, electronics, and automatic control. Currently, much of their focus is on the development of accurate, sensitive microwave radiometers for wavelengths in the range of 2mm to 30cm, and the use of masers as receivers up to 200 GHz. There is a substantial effort in the development of materials for detecting IR and submillimeter radiation. Prior to the breakup of the Soviet Union much of their research and production capabilities were directed to military applications. This includes a series of rotation detectors the largest of which have a resolution of 0.3 arcsec and 22 bits of accuracy. A 14 bit accurate detector designed for fighter aircraft is available for purchase at around $500/sample. Recently, they have developed a six channel six centimeter wavelength radiometer to fly on the MIR Space Station. Current projects are oriented towards the development of wavelength specific detectors for particular applications. These include: a 195 Ghz high-Tc superconducting detector for mapping ozone distribution in the atmosphere, millimeter band detectors for short-range communications and data transfer, l-50cm band detectors to measure water content of the soil, and 94 Ghz detectors for imaging, to name a few. The soil humidity detector is already operational and is claimed to be more sensitive than anything on the market. They also have ideas for developing an amplitude and phase detector for microwaves with a sensitivity ten times better than any device currently available. Institute For Physics Research This institute of nearly 300 people was founded in 1967 and is located in the Ashtarak region of Armenia. Before the breakup of the Soviet Union this was probably the premier institute for fundamental research in physics and optics in Armenia. It was comparable in stature to the Lebedev Institute in Moscow in the '70s. They are still engaged in a wide range of scientific activities although their experimental efforts have been and still are curtailed. They specialize in nonlinear optics, quantum optical electronics, solid state physics and crystal structure, theory of radiation of charged particles, theory of interaction of radiation with matter, quantum and classical electrodynamics, and high temperature superconductivity. Specific research project include: extreme UV sources based on laser pulses on targets; up conversion of light using the interaction of laser pulses with metallic vapors; squeezed light in lasers without inversion; the effects of erbium doping in solid state lasers; the effects of different dopants on photorefractivity in lithium niobate; and high Tc devices for spectrometry. $100-200K per year, but they have retained leading edge capabilities in several areas and have a strong potential to rebuild themselves within the world market. Among their specialties are the design and production of a wide range of optical coatings for high power lasers, the growth of laser and nonlinear crystals, optical elements, and the development of laser systems for remote sensing, such as a helicopter based airborne laser fluorimeter for detecting underwater chemicals, chlorophyll, and minerals. Their crystal growing capabilities are near state-of-the-art for three different methods. This facility can grow rods and slabs for a wide variety of solid state lasers including YAG, YLF and Er. They also grow a wide range of nonlinear optical materials such as KTP, LiNbO3 and BBO. In addition, they are exploring commercial opportunities for their capabilities in two and three dimensional engraving and cutting with lasers. Yerevan State University Yerevan State University was founded in 1919, and has 19 faculties containing 110 departments. There are approximately 9500 students and 3150 employees, and the university was considered one of the top 25 in science throughout the USSR. As with the research institutes, the university is currently forced to shut down during the coldest months to conserve on energy costs and adjust its summer calendar accordingly. The university has a printing house which publishes three scientific journals and is working with Brown University to establish Internet access. At the moment the university is transitioning from the degree system model of the USSR to the degree system used in the USA. Tuition charges are also being introduced, with 50% of the students now paying yearly fees ranging from $200 to $1000. The highest tuition costs are being levied against the most popular study, law, while science and engineering are among the lowest cost and interest due to the current lack of economic opportunities with these degrees. Much of the research that is currently pursued in the institutes of the Academy of Sciences originated in this university. State Engineering University of Armenia There are a total of 13 public and 42 private universities in Armenia, and among these the 63 year old State Engineering University is the largest with more than ten thousand students and five campuses. This university is pioneering the move in Armenia towards a western style degree and education system, and is working with Cal Tech on the reformation of its structure and management. The main directions of research in the university are: computer sciences, semiconductor devices, powder metallurgy, high-speed ground transport, machine design and simulation, alternate energy sources including solar cells and panels, robotics and micromanipulators, fiber optics for communications, tribiology, and new lubricants with synthetic additions. Institute of Microbiology Institute of Microbiology, founded in 1961, has nearly 200 employees, 10 laboratories, and a small chemical and drug factory. It also has a library of more than 20,000 living bacteria cultures which are available for international access. They maintain a databank of all their cultures to include nomenclature, bacterial characteristics, and passport data (strains). They are putting all this into an electronic database. Of great significance is a databank of 2,500 species of biodestructors. They have developed a scale to measure the degree of bacterial damage and procedures to protect people and equipment exposed to biodestructors. Current research includes bacterial destruction of synthetic materials for waste treatment, bacterial enrichment of ore, synthetic production of fructose, bacterial insecticides, acido-lactic products for treatment of childhood diseases, and production of gunpowder additives/replacements. In addition, the institute is developing a liquid protection coating to prevent biocorrosion and destruction of pipelines.The bacterial agents in this coating are also being investigated for use as an additive to paints used for ship hulls to prevent mollusks from attaching. Appeal for Information Exchange The biggest problem facing Armenian science is information exchange, according to Academician Fadey T. Sarkissian, the President of the Academy of Sciences. Power disruptions, a blockade by neighboring countries, and financial woes make it difficult for the Armenians to receive or send out scientific information. They require support to publish and distribute monographs and books on a wide variety of scientific subjects. They would like to receive scientific journals, magazines and papers. If any of our readers have suggestions or ideas to help the Armenian scientists, please contact EOARD. Institute of Chemical Physics Institute of Chemical Physics founded in 1975 has approximately 160 employees, and specializes in chemical kinetic reactions with free radicals, chain reactions, and combustion and explosion in gaseous and condensed phases. Recent achievements include using a laser to deter oxide production in hydrocarbons at temperatures between 350 to 500 K, which causes the hydrocarbons to break down without oxidation, raising the temperature required for ignition. Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry has more than 250 employees and was founded in 1957 to specialize in research relating to the full utilization of mineral resources. Using silicates, they claim a 96% recovery rate for Au and an 88% recovery rate for Ag. Current projects include the development of an inexpensive, spray-on inorganic polymer anti-corrosion coating based on silicates and phosphate, and thin layer chromatography absorbents. They employ an elastic wave process for making synthetic diamonds and metal-on-metal coatings. They claim this process can speed up reactions up to 10 million times. L. A. Orbeli Institute of Physiology L. A. Orbeli Institute of Physiology, founded in 1943 has approximately 210 employees. Before the dissolution of the USSR, this institute led all of the Soviet Union in publications in neuroscience. The main problem they study is neuroplasticity, specifically restoration of functions, including memory, after damage. They are looking at different synaptic mechanisms of regulation in the autonomic nervous system, and claim to lead the former Soviet Union countries in research on the hypothalmus. "The Snakes are Returning..." The Armenians have initiated a project of using poisonous gurza snakes as biodetectors for earthquakes. They have noticed that several hours prior to a quake, hundreds of thousands of these snakes surface, head to the river, and swim downstream to congregate until the earthquake is over. (They only go as far as the spot where the local molybdenum mine dumps its refuse in the water.) Then they return, also en masse. The Armenian scientists are looking at three possible explanations for the behavior of the snakes. Although the snakes are deaf, they are very sensitive to infrasound and infrared. It is also possible that they sense minute chemical changes in hydrogen sulfide concentrations. The scientists do not feel it is an electromagnetic effect - gurzas placed in Helmholtz coils showed no special sensitivity. The snakes seem to provide the best advanced warning of all animals studied - up to 18 hours. Dogs seem to know when earthquakes are coming a few hours prior. Goats, we are told, are not as good: maybe 30 minutes to an hour ahead at the most. Institute of Geological Sciences Institute of Geological Sciences, founded in 1935, has approximately 330 employees and specializes in both geology and geography. Achievements include the publication of a ten volume set of monographs titled "The Geology of Republic of Armenia," and the construction of an extensive database of information from 50,000 earthquakes for use in developing theories on earthquake prediction and movement of the continental shelves. Other research includes the geopathological zone - the influence of geology on life, and the relation between volcanic and tectonic activity. Their theories take into account hydrodynamics, hydroseismology, and seismic tectonics. Using photographs from remote sensing satellites, they have studied tectonics throughout Russia. Institute of Informatics & Automation Institute of Informatics & Automation, founded in 1967, has approximately 150 employees. The topics of research fall into six major categories: theory of automata, mathematical logic and algorithms, pattern recognition and image processing, artificial intelligence, coding theory, and communications systems. Some more specific areas of research are: paired forms of multidimensional coverings to improve the performance of fast transforms, computerized tomography, effective methods of signal and image restoration including noise filtering, quasilinear systems and spaces for construction and classification of wide classes of nonlinear systems and methods such as median filters, pattern recognition theory, earthquake prediction and computer assisted drug design. They are also compiling a data base of earthquakes for Armenia. They have partial earthquake records extending from 1900 to 1960 and complete sets of data from 1961 to present. Laserayan Technica Armenia Laserayan Technica Armenia research company was founded by Yerevan State University and includes a research institute, design bureau, and production facility. At its peak in the 1980's it had a staff of 990 and income of $20-30M per year, primarily from the USSR. Today the staff was shrunk to 300 and the income to $100-200K per year, but they have retained leading edge capabilities in several areas and have a strong potential to rebuild themselves within the world market. Among their specialties are the design and production of a wide range of optical coatings for high power lasers, the growth of laser and nonlinear crystals, optical elements, and the development of laser systems for remote sensing, such as a helicopter based airborne laser fluorimeter for detecting underwater chemicals, chlorophyll, and minerals. Their crystal growing capabilities are near state-of-the-art for three different methods. This facility can grow rods and slabs for a wide variety of solid state lasers including YAG, YLF and Er. They also grow a wide range of nonlinear optical materials such as KTP, LiNbO3 and BBO. In addition, they are exploring commercial opportunities for their capabilities in two and three dimensional engraving and cutting with lasers. [ February 26, 2001: Message edited by: Garo ]