Iranian Armenian architect Varuzhan Arakelian: Current
migration of Armenians from Iran weakens community
23-06-2009 16:00:00 | Armenia | Social
YEREVAN, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. Iranian
Armenian architect Varuzhan Arakelian was born in 1934 in
Tabriz. From his youth he was a member of various public and
library organizations, was a member and chairman of various
national structures of Tabriz. He is the Vice-Chairman of the
Union of Armenian Architects. He takes an active part in the
restoration work of Armenian cultural monuments in the territory
of Iran. In his interview to the Hayern Aysor electronic
newspaper Varuzhan Arakelian presented some details regarding
Iranian Armenian community's current condition.
- Mr Arakelian, how would you characterize the Iranian
Armenian community? What problems does it have?
- The Iranian Armenian community is very old, it has
centuries-old history, thus it is difficult to "fit" it into the
notion of Diaspora, as the Diaspora as such was formed
especially after the Armenian Genocide. And historian Arakel
Davrizhetsi already touched upon the history of Nor Jugha and
Atrpatakan. I will mention that at first these territories were
completely populated with Armenians. The Armenian community did
not feel itself a national minority at all then, as it was
rather big and strong, but the situation changed completely in
the past two decades. The former strong community became weak
especially because of large-scale migration.
Certainly, today the community has problems and
difficulties, but the main concern is migration. Migration
(especially as birth rate has also fallen considerably) has
rather a negative impact on both community's volume (which,
certainly, weakens its social and political strength) and might.
The current migration to the U.S., Europe, Canada and other
countries has rather a negative impact especially on people
remaining in Iran. The formed situation has an impact on
community's public and union life, on charity organizations,
university unions and other structures.
- As an urban development specialist and architect, how
would you estimate the condition of Armenian historic-cultural
monuments in the territory of Iran and their keeping? Aren't
they defiled or destroyed in a non-Christian country?
- For thousands of years Persia has been a cradle of
culture and a free country for various religions and
confessions. History confirms that Armenians lived here not as
newcomers, but as natives with all their rights. Perhaps that
is why it is difficult to include Iranian Armenians in the term
"Diaspora." It can be said that Armenians have lived here for
many centuries, the live witnesses of which are hundreds of
monuments in this territory as Armenian people's cultural
heritage.
Monuments are kept and preserved, as well as restored here
as a result of Iranian authorities' careful attitude, and it is
not accidental that thanks to hard work of many years it became
possible to fix as monuments of international value two Armenian
historic churches, Surb Tade and Surb Stepanos and Tsor-Tsor
Surb Astvatsatsin Church with its seven adjacent constructions,
including ruins of the Darashamb Armenian populated area at the
intersection of Tghmut and Araks, village's church, cemetery and
other churches at the UNESCO conference held in 2008 June in the
city of Quebec, Canada.
Indeed the Islamic Republic of Iran is rather a free
country in the respect of protection of rights of religious and
national minorities, its brightest evidence is that we,
Armenians, solemnly celebrate Surb Vardanants Holiday, which, as
you know, glorifies Armenians' victory against Sasanian Persia.
- I have heard for many times about pilgrimages organized
and carried out in various Armenian sacred places of Iran. How
are they organized?
- Pilgrimage as such emerged in 1954, exactly 55 years ago.
It was especially crowded within the framework of the events
dedicated to the 1700th anniversary of Christianity. A great
fesivity was organized. The main goal of the pilgrimages is
perhaps to constantly keep the sacred places in the focus of
attention and to acquaint the Armenian youth with Armenian
culture and especially sacred culture.
- Mr Arakelian, what is your opinion of the architectural
solutions of construction carried out in Yerevan? What can you
say about modern Armenian architecture?
- There are very many violations, capital city's face has
been distorted to a considerable exent, the panorama of capital
city's heart, square, has been damaged. I don't know who and why
has disregarded the most elementary urban development norms, but
to restore them will be much more difficult today than if they
had not been committed. It is perhaps evidence of either lack of
urban development laws or their being incomplete. I must say
that you cannot see such kinds and number of urban development
norms violations in any other country of the world.
Neither urban development nor construction norms are kept
at newly built districts, individual demands necessary for
person's well-being are disregarded. It is clear that we cannot
correct everything at once and naturally, we cannot at once
introduce here laws operating in other countries, for instance,
in the U.S. However, the norms should be revised, clarified and
carried out without fail. We can say that today Yerevan is
gasping, as green zones have decreased very much. In a
conversation with RA Chief Architect Narek Sargsian we spoke
about arrangement of city's buildings.
- What can you say about the all Armenian gathering of
architects organized by the RA Ministry of Diaspora? What
expectations do you have from this gathering?
- I think that first we should congratulate the formation
of this newly created structure, RA Ministry of Diaspora, as it
had the status of committee before this and now is already a
ministry. We are also glad that such a skilled, clever and
competent person, Mrs Hakobian has been appointed head of the
structure so important for the Diaspora. I think the main task
for the Ministry of Diaspora is the return of Armenians, their
return to the Homeland, with the motto "return to the Homeland."
Let's not forget Silva Kaputikian's words "To whom do we leave
our graves and go away?"
I think this all Armenian gathering of architects was very
important in the respect of consolidating Armenian architects
worldwide, as well as introducing them to each other and
bringing them together. The most important achievement of this
gathering was that an All Armenian Union of Architects was
created. If this union indeed operates and exactly carries out
its mission, I am sure that many things will be given a positive
solution.
Raffi N.M.