DEPARTMENTS
4 Editor's Note 5 Letters to the Editor 6 Notebook 7 Bytes on File 8 Focus 41 Faces 43 Other People's Mail 44 Underexposed 46 Essay ARMENIAN SURVEY
14 Cover Story Who will become the next president? Meet the candidates, find out what they hope to accomplish if elected, and learn about the powerplays among the dozen hopefuls.
24 Telethons and Lotteries From the streets to the cafes,
old and young wade through a sea
of campaign promises.
It was lights, camera, and a telethon to help the homeland. Plus, how a new international lottery will benefit Karabakh.
26
The Children of Karabakh A photo essay by French-Armenian Antoine Agoudjian
says
volumes about the children's everyday lives.
RELIGION
i&& Will the legacy of the trinity prevail with the A.R.F.'s return to Armenia's political spectrum.
30
Swaziland
31
The Last Priest Before the Border
What would motivate an aging typewriter salesman to build an Armenian church in a remote corner of Africa? Father Mkhitar of Khor Virab is redefining the priesthood.
DESTINATIONS 36 Caving at Vayots Dzor Explore volcanic thermal springs, unique rock formations and
caves- among the best ones in Europe; this month's AIM destination is only an hour's drive from Yerevan.
BOOKS
32
Zabelle
A fresh and gripping new novel about a woman tossed from the homeland after the great catastrophe.
ln the City of Angels, teens in the thralls of gang-banging find their own guardian angels.
34 Outsiders
Looking ln
A Russian, a Pole and an American write about Armenians. A RTS
38
The Reel World
Up close and personal with French filmmaker Robert Cuediguian. COVER PHOTO BY MKHITAR KHACHATRIAN; COVER DESICN BY SOUARE ONE.
AIM(SSN1050-3471),March1998,Vol.9,No.3 ispublishedmonthly,$45peryea(byTheFourthMillenniumSociety,2oT
Su ite 203, Clendale, CA 91 204; Phone: (8'1 8) 245- 7979, (ax: (81 8) 246'ctr'88. Periodicals Poshge paid at clendale, CA and additional mailint offrces. Canada Post Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 0516457. @ Copyight 1998 by The Fourth Millennium Society. All rights reserved. AIM may not be reproduced in any mannei either in whole or in part, without written pemtssion from the publisher The editors are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or art unless a rtamped. self-addressed envelope is enclosed. Opinions expressed in sitned articles do not necessarily represent the viewsofTheFourthMillenniumSociety. Foradvertisintqueriescalll-818-246-T9T9.Subscriptionratesforl2issues,US:$45, Foreign:$55.Postmasters:Sendaddresschangesto AlM,PO.Box3296,ManhattanBeach,CA90265,U.S.A.
South Brand Bou levard,
Pinocchio had Cepetto; Tbilisi's Hago and Yeghso have the puppet maker of Havlabar.
March
1998 Alrl