Fighting in Karabakh

Your article regarding the bloody struggle in the Karabakh region of the former Soviet Union reflects the traditional Christian-Western attitude toward Turkic people of the region. Your reporter doesn’t mention the fact that Turkic people have been living in the area for over 800 years and, whatever their religious convictions may be, they have as much right to live there as Armenians. A simple study of your map clearly indicates that it may be realistic for Armenians to peacefully concentrate on building their nation in what is now called the Republic of Armenia. Armenians of the region have a land of their own for the first time in thousands of years and I hope they will leave aside the animosities they have been carrying with them toward Turks to build political and economic relationships with them so the region can finally have some peace.

I also hope that our local Armenians abandon their hate toward Turks (mainly based on historical distortions on their part) so that their financial help can be used to buy much needed goods in Armenia, not guns. We should stop hating and start building economically viable nations. Fighting for “historical causes” only brings grief to families who lose their loved ones in these senseless killings. My advice to Armenians is to airlift their people to the Republic of Armenia instead of carrying guns to Karabakh.

MICHAEL SAVAS

Woodland Hills