Seta Kabranian-Melkonian

A few days ago I suddenly wake up form sleep. Monte is sad, I think. The green light on my clock writes 6:18 am. In my mind I replay the scenes of my dream. The sadness thickens and stretches. A long crate made of rough wood passes slowly like an old train with no wheels. From my position the little ones appear like bodiless heads, lined two by two. Behind an empty table Monte is sitting alone. His head is bent down, pensive.

Monte, what’s the message of my dream?

In the light of new world developments, I often converse with Monte lately. I search for his answers in the letters he wrote to me, letters that were written over one quarter of a century ago. As always, Monte doesn’t disappoint me.

In the late 1980s when the issue of Soviet Armenia’s independence was just circulating, Monte wrote to me that there were no independent countries, that “The only country that is close to be independent is Albania, but who wants such a country?”

Today, once again Armenia is going through a dangerous phase. The internal conditions are shameful. Our country has rarely been raped by its own as much as it is today. No day goes by without adding a new name on the list of corrupt officials and government employees, who exploit their position. In the region the most dangerous environmental development, the lack of water is being ignored. Recent research puts our hostile neighbor Azerbaijan in the list of top ten countries that would run out of water. In the world of the rulers, the United States presidential elections don’t promise anything positive, considering new appointees and their business friendships with Turkey. In Armenia, the growing epidemic of Russophobia makes a complicated matter worse.

Now what do you say, Monte?

Now it’s been two days that I haven’t had any news from Artzakh and Soviet Armenia. Of course I think about them very much. Always, you and our homeland (with all their aspects) are major parts of my thoughts. I have not seen the demonstrations in Yerevan, therefore I’m almost forced to try comparing them with experiences I’ve had in my life. I know that the two instances have little in common. But again, since I haven’t been in Yerevan naturally my mind goes to the demonstrations in Tehran. There, too, the demonstrations were very big, the nation was excited and brotherly. They knew one thing: that the shah needed to go and a new government should be formed. This was a very fair demand, but wasn’t enough on its own. Eventually the shah left, but there was a politically unprepared and confused crowd that started to exterminate the real revolutionary power. And now it is clear that the current government has harmed the peoples of Iran (as well as other nations in Afghanistan and Iraq) much more that the fascist shah. Why am I writing about this? Because I am worried about our S. Armenia and I am worried about the people there. I know that no one would allow S. Armenia to be “Independent” (even if the Armenian people actually make such an anti-Armenian move) that it’s very unrealistic. But it is already obvious, that the previous clear-sightedness and seriousness have given way to confusion, uncertainty, and political immaturity. I am worried, because from experience I’ve learned that for every mistake there’s a price to pay, that every mistake brings some harm. I don’t want our nation to take a step backward or harm itself. They had started such a great movement…It would be a shame if this movement is spoiled. No! It’s not acceptable. For the people of Artzakh (at least) we don’t have the right to lose our seriousness. Beyond that, if this movement is carried out with political maturity, it would completely change our S. Armenia. It opened the door for truly progressive movement. It’s a turning point for our people and our history.

8.10.88

Monte Melkonian (November 25, 1957 – June 12, 1993)