"I AM NOT AS PATIENT AND PATRIOTIC AS RAFFI IS"

A1+
[05:44 pm] 23 May, 2008

Professor of California, historian Richard Hovannissian is concerned
over Armenia’s political scene. He expressed his concern to A1+
saying that "he is first of all concerned as an ordinary human being."

"March 1 was a great tragedy. I cannot name those guilty or innocent. I
think we are all guilty as we couldn’t avert the occurrences. The
Armenian Diaspora is shocked as blood was shed in the capital,"
he says.

As a solution to mutual antagonism Richard Hovannissian offers to
forgive each other. "We must forgive each other. We must treat each
other with endurance. Both policemen and people died. Sorrow and
hatred will deepen even more if they don’t free the jailed people."

Mr. Hovannissian is also concerned over ongoing migration from
Armenia. Asked whether he might take his son’s model and settle in
Armenia, he said, "I am not so patriotic and patient as my Raffi is."

While summing up Armenia’s background over the past 90 years Richard
Hovannissian said, "The creation of this small country was unexpected
as the whole revolution and the Armenian Cause were concentrated
in Western Armenia. No matter where the representatives of our
intelligentsia were they never thought of Western Armenia. They never
thought that they might come together and Yerevan might become the
country’s capital. Sometimes history plays tricks on us.

The country once occupying 10 000 square kilometers expanded to the
slopes of Ararat covering 50 000 square kilometers. We hoped to unite
Western and Eastern Armenians but our dream didn’t come true.

Mr. Hovannissian is surprised at the fact that Yerevan shops are open
on April 24, the day of the Great Armenian Genocide. He thinks that
people are absorbed in everyday problems and thoughts even on that day.

"People are not given equal footing in Armenia. While walking
in the streets one has the impression that nobody cares for the
vulnerable. The authorities should constantly take care of them. Though
I am in Armenia for a short period I am seriously concerned about
the country’s state."

Hovannissian says he had more respect towards the authorities of the
first Republic than the acting ones. "The authorities of 1918 came to
suffer with their people. No official or prime minister abused his
powers or pursued personal interests. Neither did they enrich their
relatives and acquaintances. They suffered with their people. For
instance, Aram Manukian died of typhus."