IRANIAN ARMENIAN ARCHITECT VARUZHAN ARAKELIAN: CURRENT MIGRATION OF ARMENIANS FROM IRAN WEAKENS COMMUNITY

Noyan Tapan
June 23, 2009

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.