>From Beslan to Yerevan: Russia’s tragedy touches Armenia
By Julia Hakobyan, ArmenianNow Reporter

Armenianow.com
Sept 10, 2004

The gruesome details that have emerged in the aftermath of last week’s
terrorist act in Russia have revealed that 33 Armenians were among
hostages held for three days in that school gymnasium in Beslan,
Russia.

Nine Armenians, including five children, are among at least 335 who
were killed. Survivors are now in hospital in Beslan, Moscow and
other Russian cities.

About 200 Armenians in Yerevan offered blood for Beslan victims Like
other world-wide sympathizers, reports of children being shot in
the back as they fled what should be a child’s sanctuary but instead
became a life-lasting chamber of horror, shocked Armenian sympathizers.

Monday classes throughout Armenia’s capital (the hostages were taken
on the first day of school) began with tributes to the victims.

“The events in Beslan were very painful for all of us, neither pupils
nor teachers in our school could concentrate on lessons,” says Anahit
Lazarian, a teacher at School N118. “Everyone tried to put himself
in the position of hostages. We started our lessons on Monday and
Tuesday- the days of mourning in Russia with a minute of silence. We
join to all families in Beslan in their grief for killed relatives.”

President Robert Kocharyan and Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan and
other top government officials signed a book of condolences at the
Russian embassy. The Vice-Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Tigran
Torosyan said that the tragedy in Beslan showed that moral values
have eroded.

“We faced a new way of brutality that had not yet reached children,”
he said.

An Armenian airliner was the third, behind Norway and Italy, to
deliver relief supplies, and the Ministry of Health has extended an
invitation for victims to be brought to Yerevan for treatment.

“We have sent one box of plasma and 21 boxes of medication to Beslan,
including those for anti-shock and antipyretic treatment,” says Hayk
Darbinyan, the Deputy Minister of the Armenian Health Ministry. “Now
we are preparing to send another consignment, including more medical
goods and clothes.”

Meanwhile, at the Armenian Center of Hematology, residents queued to
donate blood for the Beslan victims. Yuri Karapetyan, vice director
of the clinic, says that more than 200 people applied to become donors.

“Most of them are parents, also there are many people from
law-enforcement bodies,” Karapetyan says. “We examine the
cardiovascular system, the blood pressure, and other health
parameters. So far we accept blood from 120 people, but we are going
to send more assistance to Beslan and welcome all those who want to
help the victims.”

Arpine Nalbandyan, a student of Armenian Medical College and young
mother was among the first to become a donor.

“As a medical student I know that those hostages who received severe
burns from the bombs- blasts will need long treatment and they will
need great amounts of blood. I think what every person should do now
for the sake of humanity is to be a donor, because now we can nothing
else for them,” says the future nurse.

A memorial at the Russian embassy included toys, candy, water The
event has also sparked international debate over who the terrorists
really represent. A $10 million reward has been put up for information
concerning the whereabouts of key Chechen rebel leaders. And Russian
President Vladimir Putin has responded to criticism from the west,
with his own chastisement of its handling of its “War on Terror”.

Alexander Iskandaryan, Vice-Director of the Swiss based Caucasus
Media Institute in Yerevan joined other analysts in criticizing
Russian anti-terrorist policy and calls their present steps against
terrorism ineffective.

“On the one hand it is clear the world has not yet found a successful
and final way on fighting terrorism which Russia can apply. But on
the other hand the Beslan tragedy showed that Russia is not even a
step ahead after the series of the terrorist acts in the last years,”
he said.

“As a person I want to believe that the Beslan tragedy will never be
repeated in Russia. But as an expert I will have to say that by the
measures Russia takes now it will not prevent more terrorist actions.”

The political scientist lays part of the blame on corruption in
Russia, where, he says, it would be easy for terrorists to buy off law
enforcement. “However, honest and professional agents are not enough
to stop terrorism,” Iskandaryan said. “The war between the Kremlin and
Chechnya over the past decade destroyed the region. Today in Chechnya
there is a generation of people who know nothing except war and know
nothing except killing and are ready to die, with bomb-belts.”

While analysts opine and officials make offers and public gestures of
solidarity, it is a make-shift memorial outside the embassy that most
shows the depth of thought that the tragedy in Beslan has stirred here.

Along with candles and flowers, toys have been placed at the memorial,
in a tribute to the dead children, at least 156. And with the toys and
candles and flowers, bottles of water are there, a poignant reaction
to reports that the hostages were denied drink for three days in
a sweltering and packed gymnasium, while home-made bombs hung over
their heads.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress