Uzbekistan

by David Zenian Success knows no boundaries and three Armenian natives of Uzbekistan are proving just that in medicine, industry and government. Dr. Ardzvik Davidian was born in Samarkand and still lives in the same home which was built by his grandfather in 1902. Boris Arakelyan gave up "a comfortable life" in Glendale, California, to return to Tashkent in 1994 because he felt "at home" in Uzbekistan. Grigory Arustamyan is a Deputy Prosecutor of Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.

by David Zenian Islamic traditions are alive and well in Uzbekistan, but there is no room for Moslem fanaticism in the biggest Muslim state in Central Asia. With a population of more than 22 million, the land-locked country , which has an area of 172,742 square miles, is one of the most ethnically diverse in Central Asia.

by David Zenian Armenians are no strangers to Central Asia where they have lived on and off for hundreds of years, well before many of today's republics were born. According to old historical records, Armenian warriors and traders once moved freely in many parts of the region, often fighting alongside local warlords in exchange of trading privileges. They were particularly active during the glorious days of the early Persian Empire, which once spanned its influence along the legendary Silk Road that stretched across Central Asia.

by David Zenian Lazar Samsonovich Agryan still paints at the age of 87. Suren Babayan is an award-winning painter and Robert Avakian's sculptures immortalize decades of Uzbek achievements. Their works are on permanent display in museums, government buildings, and main squares in several cities across Uzbekistan. "I have devoted my life to art, and I want my works to be sent to Armenia, especially those between 1934 and 1945 when I lived and painted in Armenia," he said over breakfast which consisted of home-made bread, jam and a small bottle of vodka.

by David Zenian From small restaurant owners to journalists, Armenians are rapidly adapting to the new realities of post-Soviet Uzbekistan, itself undergoing a major transformation away from all-things-Russian which for generations threatened its own national identity. The days are gone when membership in the communist party was considered the stepping stone to success.

by David Zenian When Ernest Balayan was diagnosed with cancer and told by his doctors that he had only a few months to live, he gathered his family around him and said, "I don't want to die here. Take me back to Stepanakert." That was in 1989, and more than eight years later, his wife, Hasmik, still remembers the smile on Ernest's face as their car entered the war-torn capital of Nagorno Karabakh, his birthplace. He died a few months later at the age of 49 and was buried in the city where he was born.