Article

2007-05-13 Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Armenia chooses new parliament amid worries

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Posted by Fred 2007-05-13 00:00|| || Front Page|| [3 views ] Top

#1 Armenia is one of the more deserving basket cases of the post-Soviet collapse. As the oldest Christian nation in history they certainly deserve the support of Western religious groups

As shown above, Echmiadzin is a breathtaking example of the architecture that would eventually become the template for Europe's masterpiece cathedrals. The Roman era temple at Garni gorge is equally disregarded, even though cave dwellings in the region date to prehistoric times. Little if any attention is paid to Armenia's rich treasury of ancient Christian tradition. Yes, Robert Cocharian is just another gangster in the typical Soviet model, but this in no way negates the necessity of Western support for a culture that has always favored cleverness over book-learning.

How sad it is that America's powerful religious groups have chosen to overlook this vital and enduring component of Christian history. Imagine the revolting spectacle of visiting this enlightened country during 2001 only to see that, across the street from my own limited hot-water lodgings, the one major construction project in the dead of winter was Cocharian's private residence

Posted by Zenster">Zenster 2007-05-13 01:34|| 2007-05-13 01:34|| Front Page Top

#2 Ahh, how I do love em. I stared over Lake Ohrid that night and watched them in front of me :)

Posted by newc">newc 2007-05-13 01:46|| 2007-05-13 01:46|| Front Page Top

#3 Actually, Zenster, I think private support from the very successful Armenian diaspora HAS been significant - and at least in the years 1992 to 1997, when I worked the issue, US support was substantial. Also, don't forget (unless it's changed) the strategic alliance between the two orthodox cultures, Russia and Armenia, which sort of provided Armenia a backstop during those early rough years of independence.

I managed to be in Armenia in summer or fall, and thus avoided the winter problems, though I did find myself in Nagorno-Karabakh in January once, and had some amusingly primitive lodgings there.

Trivia question: is it a settled fact that Armenia, and not Ethiopia, was the first Christian state? I thought that was in dispute.

Posted by Verlaine 2007-05-13 02:32|| 2007-05-13 02:32|| Front Page Top

#4 Damn your eyes, Verlaine. Is there no venue you haven't visited? What's an ordinary Rantburger to do?

is it a settled fact that Armenia, and not Ethiopia, was the first Christian state?

Let's have the Jews settle that question, eh?

Again, I really appreciate your well-informed posts. What do you see as Armenia's future? It is so difficult to imagine anything more that a horrid descent back into Soviet style gangsterism? I want this to be so untrue yet see very little alternative.

Posted by Zenster">Zenster 2007-05-13 02:46|| 2007-05-13 02:46|| Front Page Top

#5 THAN a horrid descent ...

Posted by Zenster">Zenster 2007-05-13 02:48|| 2007-05-13 02:48|| Front Page Top

#6 There's plenty of places I haven't been, Zenster, I just happened to have worked in the Caucasus a lot in the 1990s.

I'm really way out of touch with things back there, thus have not the slightest idea where things might be headed. Armenia always seemed a cut or two above the other former Soviet republics I worked in, partly due to heavy foreign (i.e. diaspora) involvement and influence.

Russia itself certainly seems to be a lost cause, but as for Armenia, I can't say. Georgia seemed to have at least found a few decent folks with the young president's new government, Azerbaijan is a hopeless quasi-dynasty. Not a rosy picture, but then again real change can take a long time.

Posted by Verlaine 2007-05-13 15:27|| 2007-05-13 15:27|| Front Page Top

#7 Is there no venue you haven't visited?

Zen, I'm partial to the BBQ caucus in Marin County.

Posted by RD">RD 2007-05-13 18:32|| 2007-05-13 18:32|| Front Page Top

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