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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 />

<strong>Armenia</strong>n Reporter (ISSN 0004-2358), an independent newspaper,<br />

is published weekly by <strong>Armenia</strong>n Reporter llc.<br />

Copyright © 2009 by <strong>Armenia</strong>n<br />

Reporter llc. All Rights Reserved<br />

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not necessarily those of the publishers.<br />

Editor Vincent Lima<br />

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Assistant to the Editor Seda Stepanyan<br />

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