Friday, 5/9/97 Travelling the world for peace, sovereignty Man
walks around globe to promote sovereignty for Karabagh
By Gregory Mena Daily Bruin Contributor It has taken Sergei
Martirosyan four years to get here from the Middle East. If that
sounds like a very long trip, consider UCLA as just one stop on his
journey across the world. Martirosyan explained his message of
peace and independence for his native land, Karabagh, to the UCLA
Armenian Students Association at their Wednesday night meeting.
Already, Martirosyan has bicycled, walked and driven across Europe,
the Middle East and South America. He has carried the Karabagh flag
from Russia to France. He traveled from Greece to Egypt, sleeping
in churches and mosques. Most people he encountered were helpful,
he said. "They understand. They want to help our nation’s struggle
for independence." He continued his marathon, traveling from Brazil
to Uruguay. From UCLA, he will cross the United States and continue
to Scandinavia. With the help of an interpreter, the 64-year-old
former journalist expressed an agenda for his homeland, Nagorno
Karabagh. "We want peace and no more fighting. When the first
country recognizes our independence, I will walk to that country
and my mission will be finished," he said in a discussion of the
current situation in Karabagh. The current status of Karabagh is
not settled. Although not recognized internationally, Karabagh has
taken the appropriate measures in accordance with the United
Nations to gain recognition as an independent nation, according to
Pierre Kouyoumdjian, a fourth-year student. Martirosyan endured the
bombing of his village and the killing of his family members in
recent fighting between Nagorno Karabagh and Azerbaijan, the nation
which surrounds it. Karabagh, a relatively small enclave, was
separated from the Armenian mainland by Stalin in 1936. Karabagh is
historically and culturally Armenian, according to Sarah
Ter-Minasyan, a UCLA graduating senior. Since February 1988,
Armenians in Karabagh have been fighting with the Azeris for land
and control. Martirosyan expressed his hopes that the next
generation of Armenians will be able to inherit Karabagh as a
sovereign, peaceful nation. "Every generation has their own fight.
One day we will get the land. And when it is yours, I hope that you
rebuild it," he said. "And I hope that you do not see the days that
I have seen." Martirosyan has seen what the threat of attack can do
to a village. All males in Karabagh age 10 to 23 were trained and
prepared for battle positions. Women within the village were taught
to treat injuries and wounds. Martirosyan asked for the support of
Armenian students. "Your activities here affect the Armenian
community. You do make a difference," Martirosyan said. Many
students who attended the meeting were able to relate to
Martirosyan’s message. "I consider myself part of the current
struggle even though I have not been to that region," said Vic
Petrossian, a fifth-year history student. "All Armenians are very
close because of our history," he added. Another student who had
recently returned from Armenia said that the Armenian Student Union
keeps her closer to her culture. "For me it is kind of like a home.
I can be among people who are culturally like me. I still don’t
feel at home in this country," said Paytassar Sasunyan, a
fourth-year biology student. "(At the students’ union), I get to
discuss Armenian issues and promote Armenian culture," said
Sasunyan. JUSTIN WARREN/Daily Bruin Sergei Martirosyan holds the
national flag of Nagorno Karabagh, an Armenian enclave within
Azerbaijan.