Monthly Archives: June 2012

THE ISSUE OF OVERCOMING THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE – 2012-2

Outlines of Legal and Political Substantiations

Summary

Armen Ts. Marukyan
Until today, in the struggle for the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian people have only been able to secure the adoption of resolutions recognizing or condemning the Armenian Genocide by the parliaments of different countries or international organizations. It is important to note, however, that this strategy is no longer productive because it cannot guarantee the final resolution of the issue. For this very reason, it is necessary to change the strategy and moving forward, take the struggle toward the issue of overcoming the consequences of the Armenian Genocide, which in and of itself assumes not only the recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, but also restitution for the crime committed, which is probably the most important issue and without which recognition and condemnation become meaningless. Prior to taking any steps in this regard, corresponding Armenian and Diasporan structures and experts must first of all create the first large strategic document, «The consequences of the Armenian Genocide and the historical-legal basis of the package of demands to be presented to Turkey,» where it will be clearly registered what the Armenian people understand by saying the consequences of the Armenian Genocide and which demands they are preparing to present to Turkey. Based on the package of demands that will be developed including also the strategic application of the document, «Concept for overcoming the consequences of the Armenian Genocide,» where the methods and mechanisms will be outlined, which will make it possible to achieve the eradication of the abovementioned consequences. Differing from the Package of Demands, the Concept must not be public, but rather it should be closed, with limited utilization in order not to have previous knowledge of the contents to prevent any of the steps to be taken in this regard.

THE PERSPECTIVES OF SOCIALISM’S REFORMULATION – 2012-2

After the Failure of the Soviet Experience

Summary

Khachik S. Der Ghugassian
The article proposes a critical look at the different ideological understandings and experiences of socialism after the fall of the Soviet Union and the failure of the historical experience of the so-called “Real Socialism” and the building of a Communist future for humanity. It starts analyzing the post-Cold War dominant paradigm of the “End of History,” which paradoxically sustains the forthcoming of a de-ideologized world but assumes the guiding role of a one unique model of political and economic development. The article then compares the “right-turn” of European Social-Democracy with the rise of the center-left in Latin America highlighting the crisis of the first and the reasons of the re-emergence of the latter within a clear engagement with democracy instead of praising, as in the past, revolutionary utopias. In Latin America, we are witnessing democracy opening the way to socialism. Based upon the comparative analysis of Europe and Latin America, the study concludes with a broad reflection about the perspective of a socialist reformulation in the Eurasian continent. Thus, it sustains that the pursuit of a socially just order in former Soviet countries should aim at the strengthening of a middle-class and civil society to start de-centralizing power and wealth concentration and system change instead of aspiring to become government.

ON THE BOUNDARIES, TERRITORY AND DISTRICT-DIVISION OF SO-CALLED ALBANIA – 2012-2

Babken H. Harutyunyan
The so-call Albanian or Aghvan Kingdom was formed at the end of the second century B.C. or beginning of the first century. It was a confederation of 26 tribes and undoubtedly was composed of 26 administrative units in the beginning.

According to the dates of Strabo, Plinius Secundus, Claudius Ptolemaeus and as well as of “Ashkharatsuyts” (Armenian geography) by Movses Khorenatsi, the borders and territory of the latter are illustrated and an attempt is made to clarify the names of rivers and ascertain their current names. For example, Strabo’s mentioned Sandobanes is corrected to become Sardobanes or Zardobanes and is identified with Turyan-chay; Roitakes is corrected to become Rostakes and identified with Gyok-chay and Xanes with Gardman or Girdiman-chay. The river name Albanos and the city Albana are not connected to the name Alban, these emerged from the name, Lpnats River or Lpnats City, and from the influence of the country name Albania, which was accepted in the Greco-Roman world.

The district-division of so-called Albania or Aghvank, which has reached us through the “Ashkharatsuyts”, refers to the period of Aran’s or Ran’s marzpanate, when the Persian court merged the 19(20) districts Great Armenia’s Artsakh and Utik into the latter.

Archbishop M. Barkhudaryants and academician S. Yeremyan were engaged with the issue of the district- division of the Left Bank of Kura in so-called Aghvank, using the dates provided in the “Ashkharatsuyts”, in the work of the historiograph of the Eastern lands of Armenia Movses Kaghankatvatsi, reports by historiograph Ghevond (Levond) and other sources. M. Barkhudaryan’s locations are discussable, mainly incorrect, while S. Yeramyan’s locations are notably acceptable.

The district-divisions of so-called Aghvank or Albania are presented using the materials of public sources on the subject and the results of former researchers’ studies. The district Ekhni is located in the territory adjacent to the present-day settlement of Lagodekh; Bekh in the area of present-day Belokan or Belakan; Kambejan in the lower part of the basin of present-day river Iori all the way to the River Kura; Shake, currently Shaki in the area surrounding the city Shaki, which incorporated at different times the province of Hoghmagh to the west of the district Shaki; Vostan in the area surrounding the capital city of Kapaghak; Haband, whose name in different manuscripts was known as Hambasi (distorted version); to the east of Kapaghak, and Vostan-i-Martspanan is identified with Jora Pahak and the territories south of it. Kaghadasht or Kaghats Dasht (field) and Dasht-i-Baghasakan, were located near the river Kura and fields north of the Caucasus mountain range all the way to the Caspian Sea.

It is necessary to note that due to the incorrect annotations made by transcribers in the “Ashkharatsuyts”, in one case the name of the district of Vostan is omitted and in another case the word vostan in Vostan-i-Martspanan or Marzpanan is omitted, which has caused a misunderstanding. In this same vein, transcribers have omitted the word dasht from Kagha (Kaghats) dasht (field) or Dasht-i-Baghasakan, thinking that it was a repetition. Because of this, the number of provinces on the left bank of Kura number 11.

Nonetheless, the number of districts in so-called Albania or Aghvank during the reign of the Mazkut kingdom was much numerous and later reduced by the Persian court during the marzpanate when tribal districts were united in the districts of Vostani-Marzpanan, Kaghats Dasht and Dasht-i-Baghasakan. Using the description by Asian Sarmatia of “Ashkharatsuyts”, it is possible to disclose that until the establishment of Persian rule, Shighpk, Jighpk, Kaspk, Pakhk, Paskhk, Khsrvank and Mazkutk and other districts existed. The research reveals that the number of provinces during the kingdom’s reign numbered 20/21 and even 21/22. They were Ekhni, Bekh, Kambejan, and Hoghmagh, which was most probably created later, Shake, Geghavu, Vostan, Haband, Kaghadasht or Kaghats Dasht, Jor, Pakhk (probably Paskhk – B.H.), Tavaspark, Hejmatakk, Izhmakhk, Gatk (probably Vatn – B.H.), Gghuark, Shighpk, Jighpk, Lpink, Baghasjik (also Kaspk – B.H.) and Kaghadasht or Kaghats Dasht , later called Hejeri.

THE HISTORICITY OF HAKOB PARONYAN’S MORALITY – 2012-2

Summary

Aram G. Aleqsanyan
Hakob Baronyan’s moral philosophy and the historicity of his satirical heritage are studied in this article. The perceptions of man’s time structure are underlined as much as possible in the context of which the future leads consciousness, and presents the action. Historically, in philosophy these core modifications expand the individual’s role in the process of creating history. In this context, moral philosophy and satire are born.

A comparative analysis is made with Plutarchus’ moral orientations about the family and marriage and their resonance in Baronyan’s dramas. Baronyan’s art is very natural. In his work, Baronyan presents the moral ideal of the individual and the public and the ways and means to achieve that ideal.

KARS AS A NOVEL SPACE – 2012-2

According to Yeghishe Charents’ “Land of Nayiri” and Orhan Pamuk’s “Snow”

Summary

Vahram S. Danielyan
The article deals with two particular novels: Yegishe Charents’ “Land of Nayiri” and Orhan Pamuk’s “Snow.” The events of these two novels are set in the same city, Kars and the article is an attempt to describe the literary space from the perspectives of geographical, historical, political platforms; how these two different authors reconstruct and rediscover the city and its life from the perspective of different historical times, political worldviews and novelizing styles. This is also a new attempt to draw parallels between the literature of the two nations: Armenian and Turkish and to find a bonding point on the base of common literary space.

ARMENIAN-HUNGARIAN DIALECT IN THE 17-18TH CENTURIES – 2012-2

Lexical and grammatical review

Summary

Norayr B. Poghosyan
The article is devoted to the linguistic relationship between Armenian and Hungarian. Armenians have settled in Hungary since the X-XI centuries. In the late Middle Ages (17-18 centuries) Armenians gained economic and judicial autocracy in Hungary; many archival documents were later published. Grigor Govrikyan, for example, published many archival documents of Transylvanian Armenians. Leaning upon these documents, the author of this article illustrates that Hungarian-Armenians utilized many European words in their language. Among them, Hungarian ones constitute a great number, e.g. guba (wine store), lants (chain), nemish (nobleman), chibgay (lace), valos (reponse), etc.

Other European loan words as well as the characteristic features of the dialect of Armenian- Hungarians are also discussed in the article.

TANER AKCAM’S “A SHAMEFUL ACT…” – 2012-2

A Pragmalinguistic Study

Summary

Seda K. Gasparyan, Gohar R. Harutyunyan
The paper aims at studying Taner Akcam’s considerations of the Armenian Genocide and brings out his point of view concerning the responsibility of the Turkish Government and the Turks in general for the shameful, unforgettable and unpardonable crime their predecessors committed against the peaceful Armenian population in Western Armenia. His firm belief is that it is only by carrying the burden of responsibility that Turkey will be able to get over the syndrome of denial, “look into the eyes of the obvious truth” and cease to violate the undeniable historical reality in the perception and understanding of the coming younger generations of Turkey.

The application of the pragmalinguistic approach to the study of the book helps to reveal the meanings and shades of meanings implied in the text.

AVAG PETROSYAN, STROKES OF A PORTRAIT – 2012-2

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth of a prominent opera singer

Summery

Anna G. Asatryan
One of the central figures in 20th century Armenian music, tenor Avag Petrosyan (tenore di forza) was one of the most distinguished representatives of the Soviet-Armenian vocal school. He was a unique and profoundly national artist, a singer and dramatic artist harmonically combined, whose created characters were distinguished by the unification of his amazing vocal and stage presence.

A. Petrosyan became known for the heroic roles he played in Armenian operas:
Saro in A. Tigranyan’s “Anush,” Santur in A. Tigranyan’s “Davit Bek,” Ashugh and Sheikh in A. Spendyaryan’s “Almast,” Karo in A. Babayev’s “Artsvaberd,” Tirit in T. Chukhajyan’s “Arshak III,” Vahan in H. Stepanyan’s “Heroine,” Sos in V. Tigranyan’s “Sos and Varditer,” Seyran in L. Kojayeinatyan’s “Namus.” His roles as Saro and Santur (“Anush,” “Davit Bek”) became the masterpieces in his artistic repertoire.

A. Petrosyan was also a celebrated chamber singer, he was the delicate interpreter of Armenian, Russian and Western European classical songs, and was an unrivalled performer of Armenian traditional and folk songs.

A. Petrosyan presented Armenian musical culture to the cities of the Soviet Union, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kiev, Tashkend, Tbilisi, Baku and also to the United States, Canada, India and France. Everywhere he went he spread Armenian song and received nationwide acclaim that very few artists have been able to garner.

THE FIVE PUBLICATIONS OF HAKOB MEGHAPART – 2012-2

A Comparative Analysis of Print and Manuscript Samples

Summery

Vardan G. Devrikyan
Vardan Deverikyan’s article, “The Five Publications of Hakob Meghabart,” examines the first printed Armenian publications by Hakob Meghapart in Venice, 1512-13, according to the sequence of their printing.

By examining all of his books individually, the article illustrates how the first Armenian printer carried on the Armenian manuscript tradition from the previous era and with which guiding principles, prior to printing. Meghapart’s publications are examined thematically and contextually. The article highlights Meghapart’s publications, which were conditioned by the following motives:

a. To disseminate a number of manuscript collections notable in contemporary Armenian environment through printing that had begun in Europe, which related to different religious and ritual issues, natural phenomenon and through an annual calendar, make forecasts for any particular day of the year.
b. Through the printing of books containing necessary information, communicate different agricultural activities and accurately determine church celebrations, also including information about daily life.

Hagop Meghapart’s works printed in Venice were first and foremost for Armenians dispersed throughout the world, Armenian merchants of the day and different travelers. With this objective, necessary information, including forecasting and superstitions, were communicated prior to travel; church celebrations were concisely noted and presented, so that those Armenians, far away from the homeland could celebrate those days accordingly.

One of the main objectives for Meghapart was to create ties for those Armenians living abroad with the Motherland, which is clearly illustrated particularly in his last publication, “Songbook.” Similar collections in the 16-17th centuries had wide usage in the Armenian Diaspora, thereby Hakob printed “Songbook” where all the cherished songs of the day are compiled; among those songs found in his book, those pertaining to wanderers form the greatest portion.

THE LOCATION OF ACHEMENID PERSIA’S SAKA COUNTRY – 2012-2

Summary 

Hovhannes G. Khorikyan
The study of the location of the country of Sakā and the Sacae in general in specialized literature has given rise to much disagreement. However, a comprehensive study of old sources shows that the country of Sakā of Achaemenid Persia corresponds to the country of the Sacae mentioned in the XV Satrapy. By initially being included in the territorial settlement of Sakā-haumavargā, the territorial settlement of Sakā was later included also in Sakā-tigraxaudā, found in the country of Sakā. Therefore, on the Behistun inscription, the country of Sakā and the Sacae in Herodotus’ XV Satrapy, in general, represent the haumavargā and tigraxaudā Sacae, who were found adjacent to each other, and reflected in the geographical concept, «the Scythians who are beyond Sogdians.»