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BBC World Service
Last Updated: Friday, 28 September 2007, 13:29 GMT 14:29 UK
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Tales from the 'Black Garden'
By Stephanie Holmes
BBC News
The lives of thousands of young Azeris and Armenians have been scarred by the bitter conflict over a mountainous region whose name means "Black Garden".
Vafa Farajova
I kept asking God: 'Why? Why?' Every day, every hour, I asked: 'Why?' Nobody answered me
Vafa Farajova, Azeri journalist
Some 30,000 people were killed during the war over Nagorno-Karabakh in the early 1990s, and little progress towards peace has been made since a 1994 ceasefire.
The struggle for the mainly Armenian-populated region of Azerbaijan remains unresolved, and hundreds of thousands of people are waiting to return to their former homes.
For nearly 20 years Azeris and Karabakh Armenians have had no contact with one another.
But a group of young journalists from both sides, who grew up during the war, are now taking part in a project that brings them together to make short documentary films.
They explore the impact of war on the two communities and the absurdities of daily life under the conditions of frozen conflict.
Massive expulsions
The shared background for all the film-makers is what Laurence Broers, an expert on the South Caucasus with conflict resolution group Conciliation Resources, describes as the "massive mutual expulsions" caused by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Map showing Nagorno-Karabakh
One million Azeris were driven out of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions by Armenian forces, or fled homes in Armenia.
Some 400,000 Armenians were also displaced from Azerbaijan or the border regions of Armenia.
Twenty-year-old Suzanna Seyranyana, a Karabakh foreign language student, was apprehensive about meeting Azeris through the project.
"Before, I thought that the Azeris were our enemies, I never thought I'd be able to sit down with them, to have a cup of tea and a chat, but during the project I met Azeris for the first time and they've become my friends. I didn't feel any barriers between us," she said.
A dream
"I realised that it is not our fault," she continued. "People aren't guilty - neither Azeris nor Armenians. It was war. It feels like a dream, sitting with them, talking to them."
A journalist filming in Armenia (photo: Conciliation Resources)
The films were made in the richly fertile mountainous region. Photo: Conciliation Resources
Yet there is reluctance, by both Armenians and Azeris to remember, recount and relive their experiences of childhood.
"I was five years old when the war broke out. I saw everything. I lived in a shelter for about two years. There was no light, no nothing. It was awful. I don't want to remember that period," Suzanna said, speaking quietly.
Vafa Farajova, a bright-eyed 31-year-old Azeri teacher and journalist explained: "We have forgotten our childhood and school-years."
But she still has vivid memories of abandoning her home in Zangelan, one of seven districts surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh occupied by Armenian forces during the conflict.
"When we fled, all the routes to Baku were closed, all the districts were occupied by Armenians so we had to escape across the river, via Iran," she said.
"We left everything - our home, everything... We didn't take my clothes, my pictures, my dresses or shoes. I felt awful, I cried. I kept asking God 'Why? Why?' Armenians and Azerbaijanis had had such good relations. Every day, every hour, I asked 'Why?' Nobody answered me."
Sense of the absurd
Making the films, which involved joint training sessions, gave them the chance to express their frustration about a conflict they see as senseless.
A still from one of the films (photo: Conciliation Resources)
Many of the films combine sadness with humour. Photo: Conciliation Resources
A film by Azeri journalist Madina Nik-Najat, titled "The Bug-gobblers", unravels how conflicts begin, and the role of seemingly irrelevant differences in behaviour.
It juxtaposes members of two neighbouring groups, explaining why they simply cannot get on, mentioning different speeds of talking and methods of baking bread. The audience at a screening in London's Institute of Contemporary Arts laughed out loud.
Madina describes the film as "almost a comedy, showing that conflict will be present whenever there is difference".
Vafa's film introduces the audience to a former solider, blinded in battle, who bears the scars of the bullet which robbed him of his sight at his temple.
He has rebuilt his life. He has returned to university to become a teacher, got married and had a child but, asked if he would return to the battlefield, he replies unhesitatingly: Yes.
The project, organised partly by Conciliation Resources, aims to develop dialogue between young people from both sides of the conflict.
The idea is that the films will be shown to both Armenian and Azeri audiences, but there is no guarantee that this will happen.
Sevak Hayrapetyan, a 26-year-old Armenian student, nonetheless says he hopes the films may help increase understanding between Azeris and Armenians.
"The war was incomprehensible for me," he says.
"I don't know if this project will help end the stalemate but these are at least small steps."Comment
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Imagine, the world want Armenians in Artsakh to live under Azeri rule and here is yet another example of precisely why that can never come to pass.
Teimur Radjabov: We all hate Armenians
12.11.2007 – Recently, at the European Championship, the team of Azerbaijan got Bronze, behind the Russians and Armenians. The latter are historical enemies of the Azeris, politically, culturally and in chess. One of the stars of the Azerbaijan team, Teimour Radjabov, gives vent to his personal feelings and how it affected the play of his team against the enemy in this startling APA interview.
Teimur Radjabov: The enemy is the enemy – we all hate Armenians
The head of the Azerbaijani national chess team that won the bronze medal at the European Team Championship, behind Russia and Armenia, Teimour Radjabov, gave an exclusive interview to the Russian sports news agency APA. It contains some very startling comments.
On the Bronze Medal win at the European Championship: This is of course a great success. I think our players competed well – we should not forget that European chess is the strongest in the world. I am sure that we will achieve more success in future.
On the clash with Russia, after leading until round five: We lost to the main favorites of the European Championship, the Russian team, and it had a bad influence on me. We lost three games in round five, and one ended in a draw. But this score does not reflect the potential of our players at all. Before competing with the Russians we were thinking about defeating our rivals. We were scoring well until that round. The Russians defeated us and won the gold medals.
On the loss to Slovenia in round six: We did not think about losing to them. We took risks and that led to our defeat, an unexpected defeat. I think we are to blame, as we did not assess our opponents correctly. We thought that we would win without any difficulty.
On the draw against Armenia in round eight: Of course we had chance to win it. But the situation changed gradually. Vladimir Akopian offered me a draw, after Shahriyar [Mamedyarov] and Rauf [Mamedov] had finished their games with draws. I did not accept, because by then Vugar [Gashimov] had a bad position. He lost, so I had to defeat Akopian to draw the match, and I managed to do it.
On the team's feelings before this round eight match: I will not deny that we were very nervous. Regardless of where we meet, the enemy is the enemy. We all have feelings of hate towards them. But you must try to suppress those feelings and not let them interfere. Chess must be played with a sober head.
On the atmosphere in the hall at the time: The Armenians had a lot of active fans. The Armenian Prime Minister Serge Sarkisian had arrived there, and I saw him in the hall during most matches. The President of our federation, Elman Rustamov, also attended our match with the Armenians and supported us. We understood the importance of the match and adhered to the principles of the encounter.
On the roots of this first historical success for the national team: First of all collective fight. Friendship in the team was one of the main factors. We thought about the team first of all. None of the sportsmen fought to improve his personal rating. This is very important. Our failure in the previous competitions worried us, as we felt that we had the capability to win medals.
On whether the team is capable of winning greater victories: I believe in it. Though our team has been composed of teenagers, we are known in the chess world. All teams fear and respect us. We are in the list of the strongest national teams of the world. For the first time, we have two Azerbaijani chess player is placed in the top ten in the world, which shows that our chess occupies a high place. I do not doubt we will win greater victories in future competitions. The world team championship is being discussed at the moment. Our team is the bronze medalist of the European Championship and so should also participate in this competition, which will involve the ten strongest countries in the world. But I heard they want to give the right to organize the competition to Armenia, and in this case, our team will not be able to take part. If Armenia is commissioned to organize the competition, our federation will appeal to FIDE.
On his your target at the World Cup in Khanti-Mansiysk, Russia: The competition will start on November 24. I am still trying to rest after European Championship. That’s why I will not participate in the Mikhail Tal Memorial. As the World Cup is held according to the knockout system, one defeat is decisive. That’s why I will do my best to be very careful and move forward step-by-step. If I achieve it, I can expect success there.General Antranik (1865-1927): “I am not a nationalist. I recognize only one nation, the nation of the oppressed.”Comment
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Azerbaijan and Armenia arming for fight
BRUSSELS, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- A new report by the International Crisis group calls for a halt to the recent military buildup by both Azerbaijan and Armenia.
In the report titled "Nagorno-Karabakh: Risking War" the Crisis Group urged the governments of Azerbaijan and Armenia to end what critics are calling an arms race and instead negotiate a settlement for the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
"The international community needs to take the threat of war within a few years seriously," Magdalena Frichova, Crisis Group Caucasus project director, said in the report. "The risk of armed conflict is growing, and the dangers of complacency are enormous."
The report argues that oil money has afforded Azerbaijan the means to upgrade its armed forces and Armenia's relatively strong economy has resulted in its increased military expenditures.
In the 1990s the two countries engaged in war over the Nagorno-Karabakh causing the deaths of 22,000 to 25,000 people and more than 1 million refugees.
"The international community needs to press hard for peace," said Sabine Freizer, Crisis Group Europe program director. "Conditionality should be used with financial aid instruments, and active diplomacy should focus both sides on the costs of continued stalemate and confrontation, which far outweigh those of an early compromise."
© 2007 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
Comment
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EU won’t support Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku link
23.11.2007 14:02 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “During the High Level Group exercise on the definition of the extensions of Trans-European Transport (TEN-T) network to neighbouring countries and regions, the European Commission position was to support development of existing trans-national transport axes and not to create new parallel lines like the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku link, which would furthermore by-pass Armenia,” European Commissioner for External Affairs and the Eurioean Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner said in response to MEP Ioannis Kasoulides’s inquiry about EU stand on the KATB link.
As PanARMENIAN.Net came to know from the Armenian representation in the EU, Ms Ferrero-Waldner said in part, “In the final report of the Group, the Transport Corridor Europe Caucasus Asia (TRACECA) axis was retained as the main trans-national axis for Caucasus which connects all the countries in the region and does not isolate Armenia. The Commission has not changed its position since then.”
“On the other hand, the Commission continues, in line with the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), to promote regional cooperation for transport in the framework of consensus among ENP partners through the establishing policy dialog under the Baku Initiative and though providing technical assistance under TRACECA programme and participation at the meetings of TRACECA Member States.
“The Commission has begun the exploratory talks with all neighbouring countries on the implementation of the main trans-national corridors retained under the High Level Group report. Concerning Caucasus countries, the exploratory talks will focus on the implementation and good functioning of the TRACECA corridor.
“The EC financial assistance provided or to be provided under the TRACECA programme, will not therefore support any operation related to the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi link. The Commission is also passing a similar message to the various financial institutions active in the region, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB).”Comment
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Ahhh, that World-renowned BBC accuracy and impartiality in action again. Azeris were "driven out", Armenians were merely "displaced" - gone off, perhaps, on a little holiday (similar to the one they had back in 1915 maybe).Originally posted by steph View PostPlenipotentiary meow!Comment
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Quite right, the Islamic-apologist Beeb.Originally posted by bell-the-cat View Post
Cat, I posted the article but didn't write it.
The dialogue between the people seemed relevant to me.Comment
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Abkhazian Deputy Defense Minister: we will be side by side with South Ossetia and Karabakh
27.11.2007 14:38 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ If something happens in South Ossetia or Karabakh we will be by their side, Abkhazian Deputy Defense Minister Gary Kupalba said when addressing the panel of the permanent coordination council of Cossack atamans in Yerevan. He voiced assurance in peaceful resolution of conflicts in the region and in triumph of right of nations to self-determination.
For his part, council’s deputy chairman Sergei Madatyan said that a monument to his renowned ancestor, hero of 1812 war Valerian Madatov will be erected in Yerevan and NKR in the near future, IA Regnum reports.
Comment
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Cool. I don't doubt his sincerity but I don't know if their direct help would be possible in case of renewed violence. Still, it is a bold statement.Originally posted by Helen View PostGeneral Antranik (1865-1927): “I am not a nationalist. I recognize only one nation, the nation of the oppressed.”Comment
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THE ORIGINAL THINKING OF "THE MOST UNIQUE NATION", I.E. THE AZERI NATION
PanARMENIAN.Net
24.11.2007 GMT+04:00
Perhaps in near future Baku will assure that when the Greek historian
of the 4th century B.C. Strabon wrote about the Armenian people he
meant the Azeri people.
The fact that the official Baku has always tried to attribute all
the achievements and values of the people of the South Caucasus and
the Middle Asia to "the ancient Azeri Nation" is no news. Every time,
reading this kind of "discoveries" in the Azeri Press, one may only be
astonished and even amazed at the creativity of our neighbors. They
either announce that the great Iranian writer Nizami is Azeri,
or take the monasteries in Georgia for their own. As a rule, there
is neither any desire nor any time to waste on such nonsense. We
are already tired of denying the pseudo-scientific fabrications of
the Azeri historians, which was initiated by Farida Mamedov and Zia
Buniatov, who in their time suggested removing Armenia from the maps,
as a country which doesn't exist.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ But all the above mentioned is nothing in comparison
with the announcement made by the leader of the Humanistic Party of
Azerbaijan Ogtay Atakhan, which is worth being quoted. "As someone,
who in his time suggested an original national historical conception,
I may only be sorry for it, since it is still being neglected in the
Azeri history even when we know that there doesn't and will never
exist another one. In compliance with this concept we should have
long ago laid our claims on everything which is considered the so
called "face of the Armenian Nation", including the phenomena like
"Armenian", "Aravan", "Ararat", which are of great importance to
our National history, as well as on the entire so called "Armenian"
culture, and the so called "Armenian" church, which is historically one
of the pre-Islamic religions of our ancestors," says Atakhan in his
interview to Day.az. We should pay attention to the last words which
make it clear that the Azeri people were the first Christians. And the
Armenian Nation, according to the same "humanist" is an artificially
created nation, which is guilty of a thousand-year of spiritual and
physical genocide of peaceful Azeri people... And the state of Armenia
itself has never existed and never does; instead there is "the great
and only Azerbaijan". Even Turkey has never had such a thought.
In connection with this several questions rise.
Firstly: do they really believe in what they write and speak? Secondly:
Are they in sound mind? And finally: can we really suppose that there
is someone in the entire world who takes the Azeri thoughts seriously?
In an article published in one of the Baku newspapers, it was
written that "the Armenians do not deny our words, because we are
right." The Armenians do not deny it, because one won't have enough
time for it. So we have no time to disprove allegations. And the fact
that Armenia has never adopted someone else's history does not need
any proof either. Though, it will be no surprise to me if in near
future there is an interview with a "leader of a Party X" in the very
Day.az, which will say that when the Greek historian of 4th Century
B.C. Strabon wrote about Armenian people he meant the Azeri people.
And the last statement of Atakhan is, that "The Azeri people are
very unique nation in the meaning that during the different parts
throughout its entire history and in different regions of its
huge territory various religions, among which all the monotheistic
religions existed. And even if it is so, that is to say, even if the
Christianity is not alien to our nation, and if our nation realized
this, who could then use the Christianity as a spiritual-moral factor
as opposed to us? - No one." Here everything, starting with Semites
and Hindus and ending with Vikings and Celts, must subside.General Antranik (1865-1927): “I am not a nationalist. I recognize only one nation, the nation of the oppressed.”Comment
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