National, International, Armenia, and Community News and Opinion
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18 The <strong>Armenia</strong>n Reporter | April 4, 2009<br />
Editorial<br />
Commentary<br />
the armenian<br />
reporter<br />
Moving Turkish-<strong>Armenia</strong>n relations to a new level<br />
U.S., Turkish, <strong>and</strong> <strong>Armenia</strong>n diplomats have been spreading word that an agreement between<br />
Turkey <strong>and</strong> <strong>Armenia</strong> is imminent. The agreement would likely have the following elements:<br />
• Turkey would agree to open the border with <strong>Armenia</strong>, which it closed 16 years ago today,<br />
<strong>and</strong> to establish diplomatic relations with <strong>Armenia</strong>.<br />
• <strong>Armenia</strong> would agree to an intergovernmental commission to examine all issues that<br />
constitute the <strong>Armenia</strong>-Turkey agenda.<br />
• The United States would refrain from dealing publicly with any of the most contentious<br />
historical <strong>and</strong> contemporary issues on the <strong>Armenia</strong>-Turkey agenda while the commission<br />
was in play.<br />
(Alternatively, the sides will formally agree to discuss these matters further. In other words,<br />
a process rather than an outcome will be announced. Such a process could <strong>and</strong> likely would be<br />
dragged out indefinitely <strong>and</strong> thus, would have the effect of reinforcing the status quo.)<br />
If Turkey actually opens the border <strong>and</strong> agrees to establish diplomatic relations, it would<br />
be taking steps in the right direction. The border closure has been illegal. Both <strong>Armenia</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />
Turkey’s eastern provinces will see some benefits from open borders. And Turkey will gain<br />
some credibility as a regional leader.<br />
Furthermore, if Turkey actually opens the border, it will signal that it no longer allows<br />
Azerbaijan-<strong>Armenia</strong> relations to determine the nature of Turkey-<strong>Armenia</strong> relations. Such a<br />
change would be a welcome step toward regional stability <strong>and</strong> integration.<br />
<strong>Armenia</strong>’s challenge is to secure normal relations with Turkey while refusing to fudge on<br />
the truth <strong>and</strong> ongoing relevance of the <strong>Armenia</strong>n Genocide.<br />
Turkey’s challenge is that it needs to go beyond its annual pre-April 24 charm offensive<br />
<strong>and</strong> actually do something with <strong>Armenia</strong>.<br />
The challenge for the United States is to secure results for the new foreign-affairs approach<br />
put forth by the Obama administration. Since President Obama has made repeated <strong>and</strong> unequivocal<br />
promises to recognize the <strong>Armenia</strong>n Genocide, ignoring it is not an option.<br />
In fulfilling his commitment, Mr. Obama would help move the relationship between <strong>Armenia</strong><br />
<strong>and</strong> Turkey to a new level. At that level, Turkey’s primary concern would no longer be<br />
to find a way to avoid settled history. Rather, the shared concern would be to find ways to<br />
move forward to a brighter future.<br />
f<br />
This April, read Balakian <strong>and</strong> Odian<br />
In this first week of April, two memoirs on the <strong>Armenia</strong>n Genocide appear for the first time<br />
in the English language. Both are well worth reading, <strong>and</strong> they are best read in conjunction<br />
with one another.<br />
<strong>Armenia</strong>n Golgotha, by the high-ranking cleric Grigoris Balakian, has been translated by<br />
Peter Balakian with Aris Sevag, <strong>and</strong> published by Knopf. Accursed Years by the satirist Yervant<br />
Odian, has been translated by Ara Stepan Melkonian, <strong>and</strong> published by the Gomidas<br />
Institute.<br />
Accounts by foreign observers in the Ottoman Empire in 1915–17 make up an important<br />
part of the literature on the <strong>Armenia</strong>n Genocide. The testimony of U.S. officials – like Consul<br />
Jesse B. Jackson in Aleppo or Consul Oscar Heizer in Trabizon, <strong>and</strong> of missionaries like<br />
Henry Riggs, Maria Jacobsen, <strong>and</strong> Tacy Atkinson in Harput, <strong>and</strong> Bertha B. Morley in Marsovan<br />
– give invaluable information. The testimony of Turkish <strong>and</strong> German observers adds<br />
an important perspective.<br />
In an effort to prove that the <strong>Armenia</strong>n Genocide is not a figment of the <strong>Armenia</strong>n imagination,<br />
some people dismiss <strong>Armenia</strong>n testimony, focusing exclusively on foreign testimony<br />
that may be seen as more “neutral.” But that is a serious mistake. The testimony of <strong>Armenia</strong>n<br />
survivors is an irreplaceable source of information <strong>and</strong> insight into the genocidal experience.<br />
The publication of these two important memoirs in English is thus an important step.<br />
Grigoris Balakian’s account, long available in <strong>Armenia</strong>n, gives the classic story<br />
of the Genocide. He was among the 250-odd intellectuals <strong>and</strong> community leaders<br />
famously rounded up on April 24, 1915. He came across decimated “deportation” caravans<br />
along his own deportation route, which allowed him to form a broader picture.<br />
He spoke to <strong>Armenia</strong>n deportees, Turkish officials, German engineers, byst<strong>and</strong>ers<br />
<strong>and</strong> participants alike. Ultimately he was able to attest to the Der Zor massacre of<br />
1916, when tens of thous<strong>and</strong>s of those who survived the deportation all the way to the<br />
desert were killed off.<br />
Odian’s story shows that there were many variations on the classical story of the <strong>Armenia</strong>n<br />
Genocide. The subtitle is telling: “My Exile <strong>and</strong> Return from Der Zor, 1914–1919.” Zor<br />
was not a place <strong>Armenia</strong>ns typically returned from. Odian arrived there in 1917, after the Zor<br />
massacre had run its course. His survival in a different part of Syria, which was under the<br />
rule of Cemal Pasha, a member of the empire’s ruling triumvirate, suggests that the Young<br />
Turk leadership was not unanimous in its approach to <strong>Armenia</strong>ns.<br />
Coming to Zor after the massacre, Odian was able to see <strong>Armenia</strong>n survivors who had converted<br />
to Islam – <strong>and</strong> to note that the population did not expect them to actually participate<br />
in religious rituals, suggesting that there was an effort to hide <strong>and</strong> protect <strong>Armenia</strong>ns.<br />
This April, as we prepare to mark the 94th anniversary of the Genocide <strong>and</strong> as we take<br />
active steps to encourage our elected officials to acknowledge the events as genocide, we<br />
would do well also to increase our own store of knowledge. These two memoirs by prominent<br />
<strong>Armenia</strong>ns are an excellent place to start.<br />
f<br />
The <strong>Armenia</strong>n Church’s exp<strong>and</strong>ing role in the military<br />
by Father Simeon Odabashian<br />
VAGHARSHAPAT, <strong>Armenia</strong> – Some time ago<br />
through Catholic television in the United<br />
States, I became aware of a high level ministry<br />
known as the Archdiocese of the Military.<br />
This archdiocese has no geographical boundaries,<br />
yet it has a diocesan structure with an<br />
archbishop based in Washington <strong>and</strong> priest<br />
chaplains stationed at every U.S. military installation,<br />
base, warship, etc. in the world.<br />
How pleased <strong>and</strong> proud I was to learn that<br />
<strong>Armenia</strong> has a quickly developing Armed<br />
Forces Chaplaincy program. In 1997 Catholicos<br />
Karekin I appointed Father Vertanes<br />
Abrahamian as the first chaplain of the <strong>Armenia</strong>n<br />
Army. Since that time, the program<br />
has grown to 30 chaplains, both priests <strong>and</strong><br />
deacons, serving <strong>Armenia</strong>’s armed forces. At<br />
the helm of this critical ministry is the since<br />
elevated Bishop Vertanes Abrahamian, himself<br />
as veteran of the Karabakh war. This<br />
year, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos<br />
of All <strong>Armenia</strong>ns, elevated the chaplaincy<br />
program as well, <strong>and</strong> has since been granted<br />
diocesan status. With Bishop Vertanes as its<br />
first primate, the new Diocese of the <strong>Armenia</strong>n<br />
Armed Forces has been born.<br />
Last week I walked into a meeting of the<br />
chaplains <strong>and</strong> observed Bishop Vertanes at<br />
work strategically ordering the young clergy<br />
in his charge. My immediate thought was<br />
that here is a spiritual general at work. In<br />
some nations chaplains are granted military<br />
rank.<br />
Like its American counterpart, the Diocese<br />
of the <strong>Armenia</strong>n Armed Forces has a<br />
unique arrangement by which its religious<br />
jurisdiction encompasses all army bases <strong>and</strong><br />
military institutes in <strong>Armenia</strong> <strong>and</strong> Nagorno-<br />
Karabakh.<br />
According to a recent agreement between<br />
the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin <strong>and</strong> the<br />
Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanian, chaplains<br />
are to be a permanent presence within<br />
the life of our armed forces. In addition,<br />
plans have been approved for the erection of<br />
a church for the military located close to the<br />
Ministry, where all official church/military<br />
events will be held. This church will also meet<br />
the spiritual needs of over 50,000 residents<br />
in the Avan section of Yerevan.<br />
The Ministry of Defense headquarters<br />
complex, <strong>Armenia</strong>’s version of the Pentagon,<br />
is a sprawling, impressive structure, which<br />
was opened less than a year ago. With the<br />
approval of the Defense Minister, Bishop<br />
Vertanes has been given an office within<br />
the Department of Human Resources. His<br />
office will eventually be equipped with modern<br />
telecommunications capabilities, so that<br />
the Primate can be in frequent contact with<br />
chaplains, via voice <strong>and</strong> video conferencing.<br />
In the words of Colonel Rafael Tatevosian,<br />
“Bishop Vertanes <strong>and</strong> the chaplaincy<br />
program’s work are closely related to the<br />
work of our department. That is why his office<br />
is located in our section. In our military,<br />
it is not enough to be physically fit <strong>and</strong> informed<br />
about tactical strategies, it is even<br />
more important to have a solid ideological,<br />
cultural, patriotic, <strong>and</strong> religious background.<br />
Since we are in Khorenatsi’s words, a ‘Pokr<br />
Adzoo-Small Nation’ <strong>and</strong> are easily outnumbered,<br />
our strength is in our ideological convictions.<br />
Part <strong>and</strong> parcel of this is the faith of<br />
the Apostolic Church, which is taught by the<br />
chaplains. Our soldiers need to be informed<br />
about historical events like the Battle of Avarayr,<br />
for example.”<br />
While the <strong>Armenia</strong>n Apostolic Church is<br />
the only religious presence allowed by law<br />
in military areas, to further strengthen the<br />
church’s presence, plans are in the works to<br />
build small chapels on every base <strong>and</strong> military<br />
school. Bishop Vertanes envisions “chapels<br />
built on all of the military bases, where a<br />
soldier will go to pray, receive a blessing <strong>and</strong><br />
words of encouragement from the chaplain<br />
prior to his shift of duty. After completing<br />
his shift he will go again to the chapel to offer<br />
a prayer of thanks. This will help in relieving<br />
danger-related stress.”<br />
While the <strong>Armenia</strong>n border with Turkey<br />
is well guarded by Russian Federation forces,<br />
the critical eastern boarder with Azerbaijan<br />
is defended solely by <strong>Armenia</strong>n troops. One<br />
of Bishop Vertanes’ serious challenges is to<br />
find qualified chaplains who can serve in<br />
these most critical border areas.<br />
So why is this religious presence so important<br />
Chaplains offer prayer <strong>and</strong> encouragement<br />
to the soldiers. They also provide<br />
education on the Christian faith <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>Armenia</strong>n Church sacred traditions. Additionally,<br />
they offer Christian education<br />
at seven military schools. Bishop Vertanes<br />
is proud of the fact that as of this year a<br />
new uniform curriculum was adopted for<br />
use by all chaplains, which covers the basic<br />
teachings <strong>and</strong> history of the <strong>Armenia</strong>n<br />
Church, as well as questions of morality<br />
<strong>and</strong> spirituality. Next year, the curriculum<br />
Continued on page 19 m<br />
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