1989_09 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper September 1989

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The Newspaper of the California State University, Fresno
Armenian Students Organization and Armenian Studies Program
September 1989
Volume 11, No 1
Fresno, CA 93740
Supplement to the Daily Collegian
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 262
Address Correction Requested
A few earthquake survivors and host families
Photo courtesy ofJebilian family
Central Valley reaches out
Survivors receive local aid
By Deborah Garabedian
Staff Writer
What had started as an attempt to
medically aid young survivors from
the December 7th earthquake in
Armenia became a valuable experience
in humanitarianism for many local
Armenians.
"To some degree I felt as if they were
my own children," said JoAnn
Hallaian, a host mother.
That seemed to be the sentiment
which was present among all the host
families who participated for a Medical
Outreach project during the summer.
The aid was made possible by the
Medical Outreach for Armenians, Inc.,
based in Los Angeles, designed six
years ago to help Armenians in Soviet
Armenia and- Lebanon. Also, the
United Armenian Earthquake Relief
Committee of the San Joaquin Valley
had a hand in this project by donating
over $15,000 and organizing the
search for sponsor families through all
the local churches.
Nubert Baker, pharmacy director at
Madera Community Hospital, is the
only Medical Outreach Director living
outside Los Angeles. Baker, along
with the help of his family, oversaw
the project
Baker asked Dr. Scott W. Southard
of Madera to help by organizing
Fresno Orthopedic Surgeons to donate
their expertise.
Volunteer Armenian families cared
for the children and provided housing,
transportation, and guidance. Each
host family accompanied their child to
local physicians who provived
extensive medical care. Valley
Children's Hospital, which contributed
it's services, was a common sight for
many children who journeyed their
frequendy.
Their trip was filled with many other
activities as well.
One host mother said, "I tried to
give my little girl as much fun as I
possibly could between doctor's
appointments."
Toys R Us was one of the numerous
places the children visited.
Many of the youth also went to the
Fresno zoo. Pearl McGinnis, an
Armenian volunteer zoo guide, gave
the children a special tour. "Some of
the children had seen a zoo and some
had not, even so, their reactions were
as excited as any child's would be,"
said McGinnis. She also brought out a
snake for the children to handle. "All
of them loved that part," she added.
Some host parents took their
children to the new ACF Sunnyside
Community Center which was recently
bought by the Armenian Cultural
Foundation. There they enjoyed craft
classes, went swimming, and took
tennis lessons. "It touched me to see
one child with a severe disability
overcome it and swim," said a host
mother.
Julie Baker, Nubert Baker's daughter
and CSUF student, relayed a special
experience she had with one of the
youngsters. Julie took a 10-year-old
boy to the Western Diocese Summer
Camp held in Dunlap, Calif., for two
days. There the young boy worked on
see SURVIVORS, Page 8
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California State University, Fresno
Fresno, CA 93740
The Hye Sharzhoom is sent to you without a subscription fee,
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Karabagh
situation
updated
By Seda Melkonian
Staff Writer
Last year Armenians living in the
diaspora saw something unexpected
happening in Armenia and Karabagh.
Armenians were demonstrating and
demanding that Karabagh be annexed
to Armenia.
Karabagh was under Azerbaijani rule
but the dominant population consisted
of the Armenians, who made about 80
percent
Demonstrations began in Karabagh
against the Armenians and the
Azerbaijani Turks.
The Turks abused and killed many
Armenians, while forcing others to
leave their homes.
Due to the demonstrations in
Karabagh, the Kremlin took control of
that region in hopes of quieting things
down.
Almost a year has passed, and the
demonstration and rioting are still
continuing.
About 4,500 troops are in Karabagh
and they are trying to keep the
Armenians and the Azeris apart.
The commander of the troops in
Karabagh, Col. Gen. Yuri Shatalin,
announced that he has plans to bring
in more troops.
"If we leave a great tragedy will
occur whithin a week at most. It is
only our presence that cools them
off," said Shatalin.
According to Soviet officials the
current situation in Karabagh is more
tense then it has been at any other
time.
Azerbaijani workers have refused to
work and have gone on a protest
demanding that Kremlin control of
Karabagh be returned to Azerbaijan.
Voilence is still continuing in
various parts of Azerbaijan.
In Baku, capital of Azerbaijan, Azeri
mobs raped an Armenian women and
hanged a 26-year-old Armenian youth.
In Lachin, a town between Karabagh
and Armenia, two Armenian merchants
were stoned to death.
Latest news from the Kremlin is
Gorbachev has given Armenia and
•Azerbaijan two days to end the feud
between them.
In Armenia there was a special
meeting by the Presidium of the
Armenian Supreme Soviet which
officially recognized the National
Council of Karabagh.
The Congress of the Armenian
intelligentsia has also called for a
special session of the Armenian
Legislature so they can officially
recognize the National Council of
Artsakh.
The Congress came up with a
declaration for a national Pan-
Armenian program.
One of the major points of the
program is to declare the establishment of a free, independent and united
Armenia.