The Response to the Initiation of the Artsakh Movement in the “Alik” Daily Newspaper

Abstract

Key words: Perestroika, Nagorno-Karabakh, national movement, unification, national self-determination, Armenian Diaspora Press “Alik” is an Armenian daily newspaper published in Tehran (Iran). It was founded in March 1931. The newspaper has its own publishing house and printing premises, that publishes books in Armenian and Persian. The newspaper "Alik" covers the life of the Armenian communities, especially the events of a national character. The newspaper has a large information section, which contains substantial data about the events in Armenia, Artsakh and Javakhk, concerning all Armenians. Since Iran is a country adjacent to Armenia, the information in the newspaper, of course, prevails from Armenia. The Artsakh movement that started in February 1988, found a wide-response in the Armenian Press of the Middle East countries, as well as in the Tehran-based “Alik” Daily Newspaper. The newspaper addresses the events unfolded in Karabakh and Armenia with news information and publication from Sonet and foreign mass media. The publications of “Alik” indicate that the newspaper was aware of the background of the Karabakh problem, regarding which it shows a national and pro-Armenian position. The newspaper associates the rise of the Armenians movement with Gorbachev’s perestroika policy. Believing in the promises of solving national problems and developing democracy, the Armenians demanded self-determination and unification with mother Armenia. “Alik” considers the struggle of the Armenians fair, qualifies it as a claim of national ideology, the solution of which will put an end to historical injustice happened in the 1920s. In this respect, the paper urges the Armenians to unite and prepare for the fight, but simultaneously it calls on Armenians to be alert and careful with their demands.