Or should the title of this entry read, “Is Armenia Aspiring to Be Something Else Other Than European?”
One morning while on the bus I began to contemplate what Armenia intends itself to be in the 21st century, that is, how does it see itself in the world or how will its identity be defined by other nations?
Armenia is wedged between three Muslim nations whose influence has long been noticeable in Armenian music and even modern spoken language. The open markets throughout Armenia are the same types where ordinary people shop in its neighboring countries, so commerce is very similar. I have not had the opportunity of mingling with either Azeris or Turks so I can’t judge whether Armenians use similar kinds of body language or even if they engage in conversation with total ambivalence or on the offensive from the start. Iranians seem to be very polite from the few conversations I have had with them and it is unfortunately seldom nowadays that I run into Armenians by happenstance who are equally as dignified. Actually, some Armenian men especially behave rather badly in public, spitting every few minutes for no apparent reason. Some start arguing with you shortly after saying hello on the street. What is this attributed to?
I think that Armenia is far from reaching a point where it would be considered among the nations of Europe socially, economically, or in terms of general governance. Certainly Armenia has embraced capitalism to the fullest extent possible, the number one sign of that being homeless people and pensioners begging on sidewalks throughout the city. New posh boutiques displaying the latest fashions that only a small percentage could ever afford or have the inclination to wear seem to open weekly, not to mention supermarkets carrying foods consumed for the most part traditionally in the West, especially in Europe. Even landmarks and newly constructed buildings are taking on a sort of neo-European sophistication. But cosmetics and fancy shopping outlets do not define a European country. Rather, it is the way society itself is forged by its own citizens.
In Armenia a minority complains about the absence of the “rule of law” and “justice.” Citizens turn to Europe to solve their domestic complaints–in 2007 nearly 600 cases were opened by Armenians with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. The government agencies and ministries are all connected to the policies of the governing Republican party and President Serge Sarkisian, and thus the courts do not act independently. Only the Ombudsman seems to be able to criticize and get away with it, and he is rather good at it, but it may only be a matter of time before he is replaced. No one in the government seems to be listening to him, anyway.
Many ministries fail to do what they have been created to accomplish. For instance the Ministry of Nature Protection last year approved the destruction of the Teghut forest in the Lori region for copper ore exploration–the move will certainly destroy a good part of the environment there and cause long-term problems for the wildlife. Also in the same area toxic waste is being dumped into a river threatening the health of local residents in the process with the government turning a blind eye.
The educational system has been reduced to tatters. A friend of mine named Shahan who is originally from Beirut pulled his teenaged kids from the local public school because he complained that they weren’t learning anything, not to mention they were not accepted by the students there who communicate using “street” Armenian. Now they attend a private German school and according to what Shahan’s son explained to me, he is able to find his niche there, not to mention study properly.
Regarding the healthcare system–I wrote about my recent health problems a while back and identified some of the faults that I found. Simply walking through the hallways of some hospitals can be a frightening experience with the dim lighting, exposed electrical wiring, water-damaged walls with peeling paint, broken doors, and worn-out floors. In a tiny country which boasts a fiscal budget of $2.5 billion, what is the excuse for having state-run hospitals operating in near shambles? How much money will it take to install brighter light bulbs–perhaps florescent since they are more economical–and affix new linoleum on each floor, prioritizing on the ones that need the repairs most urgently? Construction materials are generally cheap as they come from neighboring Turkey which does not produce goods of the highest quality, but it would certainly be better to have mediocre floors and clean walls than none at all.
I don’t want to get started on the social services of Armenia, which are horrendous to put it mildly. I should just add that nothing seems to be changing in that sphere–pensioners are struggling more than ever and homelessness is an issue that may start getting out of control if urban development continues unchecked. You can see out-of-luck mothers with their children begging door to door and even in underground shopping areas, something practically nonexistent only five years ago–certainly in 2002 during my first stint at living here. I am not aware of what the current situation is like in European countries–in France the number of homeless was about 86,000 in 2004 for instance, and in 2006 there were approximately 345,000 people without homes in Germany (there aren’t official statistics available). But what is the excuse for a country in which housing was virtually guaranteed for all citizens when it was part of the Soviet Union? Why should those values change with the adoption of a free-market economic system? Armenian society is obsessed with German technology and German-made goods–perhaps Armenia wants to adopt this European power’s homeless problem as well.
European countries take pride in their adoption of democratic values and the rule of law. Their court systems are arguably the best in the world. And those who choose to defy the law do not go unpunished. But none of those things can be said about Armenia. True democracy is still a long ways off with vote bribing and beatings continuing. Petty lawlessness is evident every day, examples being motorists driving rapidly against traffic along one-way streets and people shooting off guns during arguments in the middle of the street, as I witnessed last autumn.
Illegal construction continues, as does mindless civil construction, with new roads and tunnels built that are not used as often as they should be. Sidewalks and side roads in the meantime continue to fall apart. Parks are disappearing. State funds seem to keep going to the wrong projects. Now that the global recession is just starting to show its face in Armenia, who can say how that money will be spent through the end of the year?
What does being European mean for Armenia, its leaders and citizens? To be quite honest, I don’t have the faintest idea.
First of all Armenia is very European, have you been to Armenia? Armenia is very similar to Europeans. Europeans love Armenians. So many of the countries are helping us with our military, food supplies, water supplies, oil supplies, etc., Armenians don’t spit a lot maybe the kids and stuff but adults say thats disrespectful and get really mad when the kids do spit. Armenians don’t fight with you, I doubt an Armenian would ever fight with you unless you insulted them as would any race. Look at all the things other races in America do, (NOT BEING RACIST), African Americans selling drugs, robing, stealing items, murdering people, Mexicans, a lot of Mexicans are here illegally, they aren’t paying taxes, they do a lot of the same thing African Americans do, Americans doing stupid things all the time, most drug addicts are the white people in America if u didn’t know that. The reason why Armenia isn’t doing as good as they should be is because after genocide did take place as we started geting back on our feet from the long after affects and decrease in population, Azerbaijan started a war with Armenia, and during the war a big earthquake hit Armenia. Now we are geting back on our feet and geting a lot of aid from Europe, U.S, and Russia. HAVE YOU BEEN TO ARMENIA!?! How can you say that Armenia is using the supplies for unnecessary construction for new roads and tunnels, ey man you need to learn a thing or two before you make an article.
Yes, Arthur, believe it or not, I do indeed live in Armenia, and I notice or else experience everything that I have described about Armenia’s society on a daily basis, including the fighting/arguing. European countries are “helping” Armenia by doing business here, they’re not providing services for free by any means. This year the costs of natural gas, electricity and even water have gone way up. And Armenians are leaving Armenia today as they were in the 1990s to find work elsewhere for the most part, not because of the Genocide, which happened in 1915 in case you forgot, and not because of the war which came to a halt due to a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The Armenian economy was booming until recently as the world crisis is starting to take its toll, so Armenia was already “getting back on our feet” in case you didn’t realize.
It’s easy to write such comments when you are living the high life in Glendale and are far removed from the Armenian experience. Come to Armenia and immerse yourself in life here, then think about my blog entry and compare it again to what you wrote above.
If anything, Armenian society is more Asian, it is far from being European, believe me.
I don’t give a damn about being European. Live in the middle of Genocide maker Turks barbarians for 300 to 500 years and try to have a fancy Paris or Rome. You probably would have become a Cro-Magnon in only 50 years, literally speaking.
By the way Mr. Editor, the Armenia now is the making and the direct result of the European world order fascists joined in hand with the turks. Learn a little history before writing such articles.
Also, try to become a true Armenian and not a pursuant of Europhilia. If we did not mimic the Europeans like a monkey we would not have all these wrong situations that you are talking about. When Europeans were living in caves we were building the largest and the most beautiful metropolitean cicty in the world.
Again, think about 300-500 years of wars, masacres, genocides, total cultural and physical destructions, waves after waves of barbarian hordes running over a country and killing everyone and burning every thing they encounter, and then write such article.
Mr. Editor be an Armenian first before trying to become Mensuer Jeanne-Luisse Batiste or Senior Leonardo Galiardi…
It ain’t mimicking Europeans when you try to act like civilized people with respect for one another and a respect for the environment in which you live.
These values are human values and seem to be woefully lacking in Armenia today.
They were in abundance in the Armenian towns and villages in eastern Anatolia 100 years ago and more. And that was truly an “Asian” milieu.
I’m an Armenian who has never lived in Armenia or visited there (unfortunately), I want to express my feeling for my nations faith, and how we became the subject of critisim by this editor. 1st of all, Armenia has been for centuries un der different rullers and governments other than their owns. I better not to mention which governments or ideology etc., who for decades kept Armenia and Armenians under their rules and made Armenia to follow their orders or else. Secondly Armenian Genocide is another disasterous misfurtunate event which happened to a nation who from the time of Christ un til now has remained Christian without any hesitation or doubt to convert to another religion (Georgians converted to Islam when Shah Abbas hurd them down to Persia). Diaspora Armenians have lived for hundred of years un der adopted countrie’s rules, whithout demanding or causing political offensives to their adopted country. Armenians have nomerous quantity of musicians, craftsmen, singers(thats opera), and businessmen and women who kept their nationality even though they achieved these goals in their adopted countries. In Australia (where I live), our multicultural head of spoksman is an Armenian (Mr. Kirkasharian), we also have an opposition party road and traffic spokswoman who is also an Armenian. In addition to these, one day perhaps our Mr. Joe Hockey (who also is an Armenian) will take PM’s position in Australia (he is a very popular opposition leader treassurer. Anyway, apart from all these comments, world should not forget that Armenia is surrounded by 3 major Muslim cou ntries (Turkey at the top), standing there and watching to catch an opportunity to tear Armenia Apart, so we Armenians have all the right in the world to be jittery, and on the edge when any other non-Armenian provokes them by asking silly questions, or critisize them for any wrong doing (such as we invaded Azeris or why we are spitting on the floor, etc.and so on)…come on dear editor, open your eyes wide and look into our misfurtunate past, and look carefully how this great nation has survived and will survive for thousands of years to come in the future…Shah Abbass, Lenin/Stalin, or Taalat Pasha coudn’t do a thing to us…u think anyone else could. LOL
Hello its me again…I would like to know where the editor comes from (what nationality )…I’, pretty sure people in his coountry also spit on the ground, and will definately engage in argumentive conversations, if provoked with unpleasant questions.
I totaly agree with anna…what a great Armenian.
Hi, I am an Armenian in the US who has been living in Armenia for five consecutive years, and I also lived here for an extended stay in 2002. You can read more about my experiences on my other blog, Notes From Hairenik — http://noteshairenik.blogspot.com.
I can only suggest that people like Anna visit Armenia for an extended stay–not as a tourist–so that they will have a better understanding of what I am talking about. Armenians in the diaspora are generally safe in their cocoons of comfort, but things are different for most people living here. Come and see why for yourself.
Hi,
I red, or I’m still reading your noteshairenik blog…I liked it, it is very much in details and eye opening, and above all sad, and often disappointing. As I wrote before, Armenia is still suffereing from many unfortunate events which is still haunting the nation, and who knows how long more this situation will exist or continue. I love to go to Armenia and experince all these for myself, but I’m not ready for this trip yet. When I’m comparing Armenia with other either European or Western countries, I still think that Armenia posseses much more dignified lifestyle (I’m talking about horrible crimes such as murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking )which we hear daily in newspapers and media (for instance I don’t think there is a place/suburb in Yerevan such as colombian drug infested communities, or Bronx in New York) or maybe you know actually there is one in Yerevan, which I’m not aware of.