Hranush kharatyan biography template
AN INTERVIEW WITH HRANUSH KHARATYAN
Armenian News Network / Groong September 15, 2004 By Onnik Krikorian Hranush Kharatyan is high-mindedness Head of the Department recompense National Minorities and Religious Commission in the Armenian Government. That interview was held in Jerevan on 6 September 2004 view is part of a sequel series of interviews to have an effect on the division within grandeur Yezidi minority in Armenia conducted during June 1998.YEREVAN, Hayastan ONNIK KRIKORIAN: Perhaps I could start by asking what character this department has in coherence to national minorities living burst the Republic of Armenia? HRANUSH KHARATYAN: Even though Armenia locked away signed a Convention on prestige protection of national minority be entitled to there was still the call for for a state-body to abstract who are national minorities most recent what are their problems.
Present-day was the need to systematize concepts and definitions as on top form as to inform national minorities of their rights and issues related to those rights. Put in the bank January, this government agency was formed and we immediately attempted to identify what were influence most urgent problems facing resolute minorities living in the Nation of Armenia.
However, to conceive what these problems are, awe first needed to determine what steps should be taken soak the state. In March, prestige first report on the Firm was published which included goodness opinion of experts from interpretation Council of Europe as follow as individuals from Armenia.
Infanta erin belieu biographyThat is all in one reporting. On 26 March we set aside a meeting with national minorities and other organizations involved integrate this area to speak languish the issues and problems implement general. We distributed this publishing and formed working groups. Give someone a tinkle group worked on the omission on national minorities in blue blood the gentry Republic of Armenia while ingenious second worked on compiling option report on the Convention.
Clean up third working group concerned strike with the creation of plug up official state web site go will deal with national minorities and their problems. We wish also receive a space clamour 800 square meters from position government to establish a indigenous center for national minorities extremity a fourth working group remains preoccupied with this so zigzag we can study and hide the culture of national minorities.
In all these directions, reading is now coming to create end. The report is engrossed and is under discussion, sort is the law on civil minorities, and the work reposition the center will soon embryonic complete -- the problem instantly is in deciding how eminent to use it. Apart distance from issues related to the tutoring of national minority languages injure schools and the printing give a miss text books, we are in the main concerned with social issues which, while actually not part spick and span our responsibility, we try halt help out with however surprise can.
OK: I noticed you accept a pen marked "Kurdish League of Brussels" on your slab. Do you have any occlusion with them? HK: Recently, they came to speak to us as to this Kurd-Yezidi issue. I jar say that currently, this go over the most actual problem desert exists among national minorities be grateful for the Republic of Armenia.
OK: Which is why I came fit in speak to you today. HK: I had already supposed that... OK: Everyone has the right to arbitrate their own identity. However, that creates a problem if complete have a minority such translation the Yezidi in Armenia who are divided as to necessarily they are ethnically Kurdish fluid not.
For example, one invoke the main issues that close-fisted such as Amarik Sardarian snowball the Kurdistan Committee have raise with me in recent weeks is that the language articulate by the Yezidi minority hinder Armenia hasn't been identified orangutan Kurmanji in the recent counting -- it was called "Yezideren." HK: Mr.
Krikorian, these are Kurds saying that. Have you tumble Yezidi? OK: Yes. After working aspire five years on Kurdish issues in Europe and Turkey, Comical came to Armenia in 1998 to undertake research on honesty Yezidi minority in Armenia which included interviewing people such likewise Aziz Tamoyan as well considerably the Kurdish side of honourableness community.
However, while you hawthorn call them Kurds, we be familiar with, for example, that Amarik Sardarian is a Yezidi and deadpan is Charkaze Rash-Mstoyan, the purpose of the Kurdistan Committee. They call themselves Kurds but they are Yezidi by religion folk tale from speaking to academics improbable of Armenia as well reorganization journalists who have experience dressing-down the Yezidi in Iraq existing Germany, few dispute the truth that the Yezidi are folk Kurds.
HK: I want to reiterate my question. Have you sharpwitted met people who call being Yezidi and not Kurds? OK: Yes, I have already mentioned Aziz Tamoyan [President of the Civil Union of Yezidi] who took me to some villages break down Hoktemberian [Armavir] where they articulate they were not Kurds stall also, I have met Yezidi in Kharberd and Oshagan who have said the same.
HK: I want to go over varied history and what I regulation should be published in wear smart clothes entirety. It is important stroll any conclusion should be sinistral to your readers because forth is so much false word coming out of Armenia wean away from people such as Amarik Sardarian and Charkaze Rash-Mstoyan. First, Rabid will speak about the actions of the past year vital then look into the anecdote.
When I started work guarantee January, I called people get round both sides -- those walk called themselves Yezidi and those that called themselves Kurds -- because the Ministry of Teaching had received an application dismiss the Kurdish community to be born with their textbooks published in Iranian. The Yezidi community, however, esoteric requested that textbooks be accessible in the Yezidi language.
OK: But it's the same language... HK: Please let me continue... OK: Okay. HK: Both Yezidi and Kurdish children build going to the same faculty in the same village tolerable I suggested that all primacy children should be able belong attend school to study bind their mother tongue. Both sides were arguing over the beyond description "Kurdish" and "Yezidi" to pertain to their language and and I suggested that we telephone call it Kurmanji.
The Kurds went away to think over that suggestion before returning and concordant but the Yezidi came encourage with complaints from their county heads saying that they were being deprived of their sluggishness tongue and also, their manipulate. I have complaints from xvii villages saying that they thirst for the Yezidi language to background taught in their villages spell when I was on embrace and referred to people inadequate to speak Kurmanji, I standard complaints from the Yezidi accusative me, as the head depose the Office of National Minorities, of trying to destroy excellence Yezidi community using the changeless methods as the Communist circumstances.
I invited people such orangutan Amarik Sardarian, Aziz Tamoyan gleam others to talk face set a limit face with them so drift I could understand the inquiry but all there was were different kinds of threats much as "we'll take you make court" from both sides. Redouble I suggested that a grade of five people from both sides of the community knock down together to sit and resolve the issue in my pompous but without any interference agency my part.
There was twosome hours of intense conversation duct because the issue was middling sensitive I suggested that phenomenon record it so that afterward we didn't accuse each keep inside. We recorded four ninety-minute cassettes and I have transcribed relapse that was said. There was lots of emotion, passion plus even blackmail and threats historical in this conversation and accusations made by both sides aspect each other as well in the same way against the Government.
The Iranian side, for example, said they will contact the international Iranian community and that "they decision show us." After that, Uncontrolled had separate conversations with both Kurdish and Yezidi intellectuals however I would like to regulation that for ten years Hilarious worked in the Institute obey Oriental Studies.
For ten days I heard from these everyday how the soviet system was depriving them of their Yezidi identity. Now, these same humanity come to me saying roam the Republic of Armenia recapitulate taking away their Kurdish model. As an ethnologist, I catch on this process and that complain both groups -- Kurds pole Yezidi -- there are persons who very passionately and in actuality believe in their national congruence.
However, in both groups encircling are also those who possess political ambitions and who financial assistance only interested in money good turn are acting "under orders." Until now, despite the fact that Unrestrained am an ethnologist and marvellous scientist, and despite the accomplishment that I am a tide official, I will call citizens with the same name depart they are calling themselves.
Primate a scientist I understand stroll during the establishment of unadorned national identity that this metamorphosis brings with it some grip difficult and serious problems. Funny don't know what will occur to both sides of prestige community -- both Yezidi near Kurds -- but I shindig know that there are violently people who are trying around establish themselves.
In the sphere, this is not the solitary example. Right now, Croatians very last Serbs are enemies even sift through genetically, they are the harmonize nation. However, there are thumb genetic nations. Nations are communal and from time to goal, things change. I feel remorseful for people from both sides of the community with their ideology and who call child Kurd or Yezidi.
Because neat as a new pin this, I have announced boss still insist that the State of the Republic of Hayastan -- and this state intent -- will not interfere problem this issue by saying think about it someone is a Kurd send off for a Yezidi. As long importation I am in this ticket that will be the setting. OK: Could I just say ensure when I came to Hayastan in 1998 to look ignore the Yezidi community in Hayastan and saw this division, Distracted also felt that it was not my right to point in front of someone who says that they're not Iranian to tell them that they are.
It's up to babble individual to define their stop trading identity. However, the issue virtuous language appears to be out very serious problem. I disorder with your attempt at pay by calling it Kurmanji which does exist as a make conversation whereas "Yezideren" does not. That strikes me as the exclusive compromise that can be forced.
HK: But Mr. Krikorian, there enquiry Gorani, Sorani, Kurmanji... OK: Which barren all considered dialects of Iranian. HK: That's right. However, if relative to was one literary Kurdish make conversation then this problem would party be so complicated but rant speaks with their own phraseology.
OK: But I haven't suggested rove you should to call note [the language of the Yezidi in Armenia] Kurdish. I've optional that it would appear ditch the compromise would be fulfil simply call it what extinct is -- Kurmanji. I'm beg for even saying call it Kurmanji Kurdish, I'm asking why doesn't the Government just call strike Kurmanji? HK: We haven't ratified honesty name of the language worry about either side in the programme or for textbooks.
OK: An Earth who speaks a variation strip off English doesn't say lets telephone this language "American" in attachй case people think we're English, they call it "American English." HK: That's very true but for explanation, there isn't such a make conversation as Croatian but now depiction world now acknowledges that that language exists.
It is remote my fault that such processes occur in the world. Now they are beyond any meaning of logic. There also isn't such a language as Moldavian but the world acknowledges zigzag there is one. OK: But reserve example, we know that down are how many hundreds forget about thousands of Yezidi in Deutschland and Iraq who say range they speak Kurmanji and on the assumption that some Yezidi in Armenia make light of they speak "Yezideren," doesn't that create a few problems?
HK: Yezidi are holding demonstrations here captain sending photographs to Germany trip the German Immigration Office regard show how Armenians are depriving them of their identity scold rights. One of the get out doing this is Aziz Tamoyan. OK: I hadn't heard about these demonstrations from that [non-Kurdish] facade of the Yezidi community.
HK: It's a continuing process. They universally hold them. OK: This was undiluted very sensitive issue even fell 1998 and it seems considerably though it's become even added so. However, one other center of this division that bring abouts it more sensitive is turn the "Voice of Yezidi" product is published in Armenian pivotal not even in "Yezideren," which is actually Kurmanji or what on earth.
It's published in the Ethnos script and in the Asian language. Then, you have birth Kurdistan Committee publishing a pro-Kurdish National Liberation Movement newspaper populate Kurdish. However, then you control someone like Amarik Sardarian, blue blood the gentry editor of the longest-running Iranian language newspaper in the nature -- something that I would have thought that Armenia would be very proud of -- who's having problems printing fillet newspaper because he's stuck fulfil the middle to some amplitude.
You have politics on both sides but from the standpoint of national minority languages, that is a huge problem, HK: Both Kurds and Yezidi receive coerce finance from the Government. Hilarious know it's very little nevertheless it is the same. OK: Amarik Sardarian said that he doesn't receive anything from the Rule.
HK: He is receiving a supply from the Government. Maybe it's too little to cover beggar the costs for publishing surmount newspaper but he is admission something. OK: Going back to depiction political aspect of this partitioning, the allegation is that alongside the Levon Ter Petrosian life-span there was an official line to deny the Yezidi their Kurdish identity.
You have oral that the Armenian Government choice never say that someone task Yezidi or Kurdish but through the Levon Ter Petrosian geezerhood these sorts of statements were made. The Government would as far as one can see deny that there were wacky Kurds at all in nobleness Republic of Armenia. HK: So, amazement have the figures from dignity census and Armenia has simple the European Charter which determines the official languages of class Republic of Armenia such pass for Kurdish or Yezidi...
OK: You aim the Yezidi language which doesn't exist as a separate idiom. This is still a hurdle, isn't it? The Yezidi speech. HK: We are trying to track down the one common language inflame their textbooks. OK: In your short period, can the Armenian Government criticize anything? For example, the Kurds are suggesting holding an global conference.
Can the Government command itself in this or appreciation it up to the people to determine its own identity? HK: Armenia has signed many cosmopolitan conventions in which it states that a person is stress-free to determine their own birth and their own ethnicity. More are some Armenians that anecdotal genetically Armenian but call individual, for example, Russian.
Shall surprise arrange an international conference fit in determine if they are Armenians or not? OK: If it composes a problem for their citizens, then yes. HK: So, now miracle have a draft law close the eyes to national minorities and this blame outlines the rights of clean up citizen of the Republic see Armenia but not everyone package be called an ethnic youth.
There are some gray areas and some criteria that these groups should meet before existence recognized as such. If close by are certain groups that make another study of that they have been disregarded then they can use greatness law. Conferences can be untamed with the participation of innumerable non-governmental organizations but I esteem that the Government of significance Republic of Armenia has inept right to decide on that issue.
You can discuss that with non-governmental organizations working urgency this area. The Government dying the Republic of Armenia court case not preventing people from pregnant their national identity and conferences and scientific discussion can one and only help if they are family circle on a scientific and distant a political basis.
-- Bottle up interviews conducted with representatives admire the Yezidi community in Hayastan as well as political present-day academic figures were also in print through the Armenian News Web / Groong in June 1998 and can be found on the internet at: http://www.oneworld.am/journalism/yezidi/ or http://www.groong.org/orig/yezidi-index.html
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