1998_03 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper March 1998

              March 1998
Hye Sharzhoom
5
Armenia Today Explored in Weekend Class
By Matt Maroot
Staff Writer
As students found their way
into Social Science Room
104 on Friday, February
27, 1998, many of them already
had an idea about the current status
of the Republic of Armenia. And
as the weekend progressed, they
soon learned whether or not those
ideas were myths or realities. The
course, Armenian Studies 120 T:
Armenia Today, taught by Professor Barlow Der Mugrdechian, focused largely on Armenia in the
late 20thcentury. Through various
slide presentations and films, Professor Der Mugrdechian painted a
vivid picture of Armenian life as it
is today.
Though each student had a
different reason for enrolling in the
course, one thing remained the
same, a genuine interest in the country and in its people. "I enrolled in
the class so that I could learn how
Armenia got to where it is today
and how it is handling its current
situation," said Talin Mekhitarian.
Indeed, the current situation in Armenia is a point of great interest to
Armenians the world over. Many
of us have heard the questions: Do
they have electricity? Is it safe to
walk the streets'? What about the
earthquake zone? Professor Der
Mugrdechian's course thoroughly
answered these questions and many
more in a weekend that proved to
Barlow Der Mugrdechian
be interesting as well as informative.
In terms of everyday life,
nearly all of the comforts that we
enjoy and often take for granted
here in America can be found in
Armenia. The question lies in
whether or not the Armenians can
afford them. With an average
monthly salary of only $25.00, Armenia is struggling to stay afloat in
its new free-enterprise economy, a
dramatic contrast to the old Soviet
System. Some would argue that
Armenia was better off under the
Soviet System, but to others, the
struggle to stabilize the economy is
a small price to pay for independence.
With the reopening of
Metzamorin 1995, Armenia's lone
Nuclear Power Plant, Armenians
now have electricity 24 hours a
day. This represents quite a comfort compared to the 2 hours of
electricity available each day
throughout the energy crisis that
resulted from the Karabagh Conflict. However, with 80% of the
population living near the poverty
level, paying for electricity, telephone, rent, and heating can often
prove more than difficult. For many
students enrolled in the course,
Armenia's switch to a free economy
was of interest. "I am interested in
seeing how Armeni a will come out
of its crisis and away from poverty,
to become more American," stated
Tiffney Kuckenbaker.
Politically, Armenia is in a
state of uncertainty. With the recent resignation of President Levon
Ter Petrosyan, Armenia is led by
acting President Robert Kocharian,
former President of Karabagh and
one of the chief candidates in the
upcoming March 16th elections.
Though a ceasefire in 1994 has
brought relative peace to Armenia
and to those living in the region of
Nagorno-Karabagh, the struggle
over this region still weighs heavily
on the minds and the hearts of
many Armenians.    "I took this
course because I wanted to learn
the political background of Armenia and why we don't have the land
we once had," said Rita Aramian.
With approximately 81% of the
population of Nagorno-Karabagh
being Armenian (1985 estimate), it
is easy to see why so many Armenians today are so strongly tied to
this region.    The struggle over
Nagorno-Karabagh is likely to take
center stage on the political platforms of those seeking the Armenian Presidency.   And it appears
that Armenia will be faced with
solving this conflict from within as
the United States has recently
signed a $14 billion deal with
Azerbaijan to drill for oil in the
Caspian Sea. Moreover, the
Karabagh region could serve as a
strategic pipeline for the United
States to transport this oil.
Another issue of concern facing many Armenians is the current
status of the earthquake zone lo
cated in and around Gyumri,
Armenia's second largest city. The
earthquake which shook the region
on December 7,1988 caused widespread devastation and left thousands homeless. Many new housing complexes have been built but
much of the region remains in ruins. With few resources and even
less capital to purchase these resources, many Armenians are doing their best to get by.
Despite these hardships, Armenians are surviving. A walk
through Yerevan illustrates the
changing face of Armenia. The
city is modernizing rapidly as Armenians attempt to get a handle on
free-enterprise. The current Republic of Armenia declared its independence on September 21,1991.
And with a population of 3,500,000
people, 98% of which are Armenian, the Republic of Armenia is
one of the world's most homogenous populations. And as all Armenians know, this could mean
only one thing, that Armenia will
prosper.
1998 Presidential Elections
President Announces His Resignation
Yerevan, February 3 (Noyan Tapan). At 9:50 p.m. on February 3 the state television of Armenia broadcast the speech by President Levon Ter-Petrossian.
Below is the full text orthe statement:
"The well-known bodies ofthe power demanded my resignation. Taking into account the fact that the fulfillment ofthe president's constitutional duties under the
current situation is fraught with a real danger of destabilization in the country, I accept that demand and announce my resignation.
I refrain from any comments or assessment, in order not to aggravate the situation. I just think it necessary to note that the speculations over the Karabakh problem
was just a cause in the crisis of power. The problem is much deeper and is connected with the fundamental principle ofthe statehood and the alternative between peace
and war.
The time will show who did what for Karabakh and who is indeed selling it. Nothing extraordinary happened. Simply "the party of peace and decent accord" has
lost. Let us not burst into complexes. The party of peace has suffered defeats in more developed countries, like Israel. But both in Israel and Armenia this everything
is transient. Just a temporary defeat. Anyway, sooner or later peace will make a path for it. I call on you to display restraint, keep the order in the country and run legal,
civilized elections of the new president-That will be a manifestation of the maturity of our state we have formed for the last eight years and a deposit of maintaining
the image abroad.
I wish the new president success for the good and welfare ofthe Armenian people. I am very grateful to you
for your trust and support.
. I also thank all my supporters who were near by me all the time 'and remain with me now. If I take the decision
to resign, believe me, that means I thought that the alternative would be more dangerous for our state. If I did
something good, I do not expect any gratitude. I ask your indulgence for all my errors and the things I did not do.
With best regards."
As of March 5 twelve candidates running in the March 16 Presidential Race
The March 16 election is heating up as tweleve candidates have received the 25,000 signatures
required to be a presidential candidate. The following is a list of the candidates:
• Robert Kocharian - acting President and Prime Minister. Non-partisan
• Vazgen Manoukian - Member of parliament and Chairman of National Democratic Union.
• Sergey Badalian - Member of parliament and leader of the Communist Party of Armenia.
• Paruyr Hairikian - Member of parliament and Chairman of Democratic Party of Armenia.
• Aram Sargssian - Chairman of Democratic Party of Armenia.
• David Shahnazarian - Member of parliament.
• Karen Demirchian - Head of "Armelectromash" company
• Vigen Khachatrian - Member of parliament and Chairman of Liberal-Democratic Party.
• Ashot Bleyan - True path or "New Route" party
• Hrant Khachatrian - Chariman of Constitutional Right Union.
• Artashes Geghamian - Chairman of National Unity Party.
• Yuri Mkrtichian - Non-partisan
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