Kavkaz

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by Yervand Markarian

Voice of America News September 13, 2004

RADIO SCRIPTS - BACKGROUND REPORT 5-55828

IMMIGRANT STORIES

by MIKE O'SULLIVAN

TEXT: LOS ANGELES

Immigrant Autobiographies Recount Turbulent Lives

INMTR: The United States is a nation of immigrants and each one has a story. Many of their stories are compelling. Mike O'Sullivan spoke to two immigrants who have published their autobiographies to share their personal tales of hardship and triumph.

...

Eighty-four year-old Yervand Markarian has a very different story, with a similar happy ending. Mr. Markarian was born to an Armenian family in the Chinese city of Harbin. Located near the border of the newly formed Soviet Union, in 1920 the Chinese city was home to expatriate White Russians who were fleeing the Bolsheviks, and Armenians who had fled persecution in Turkey.

As a young man, he would join the French army to fight against the Nazis. To his surprise, he ended up in French Indochina, modern-day Vietnam, fighting communist insurgents for the French Foreign Legion.

After the war, he worked as a policeman in the French concession of Shanghai, then joined his father-in-law running two Russian restaurants.

[OPT]

After the war, the restaurants thrived, but survived only briefly after the communists took power in 1949. Mr. Markarian recounts, it was soon apparent the new regime would not be good for business. Officials visited to ensure that none of the married customers was having romantic liaisons.

[MARKARIAN ACT]

"Or they would come up to a couple that would say, yes, we are married. (The officials would ask) do you come often to such a restaurant? Well, two or three times a week. How much do you spend? So much. How much do you make a week? So much. Well, we think you can afford another 10 percent of your salary to the state."

[END ACT]

[OPT]

Branded as capitalists, some of Mr. Markarian's business acquaintances committed suicide. Others like him eked out a living until they were able to leave. In 1951, he settled with five family members in Brazil.

Unable to speak Portuguese, he faced new hardships, but he finally found work in the Ford Motor Company's Brazilian operation. Eventually he took his family to the United States, were he also worked for Ford.

Mr. Markarian would build a successful business on Hollywood's Sunset Boulevard, where he recreated his Shanghai restaurant called Kavkaz. It soon became popular with film stars and directors.

[MARKARIAN ACT]

"Roman Polanski, Dan Duryea, Simone Signore, Peter Ustinov."

[END ACT]

[OPT] Celebrity patrons also included the actor Omar Sharif, oil magnate Armand Hammer, and singer Barbra Streissand. [END OPT]

Mr. Markarian recounts his tale in a self-published book called "Kavkaz," named after his popular restaurants.

The two immigrants say that despite their early hardships, they have kept their optimism. They are both effusive about the opportunities and freedom they have found in their new country. Mrs. Reyto adds that she is sharing a message.

[REYTO ACT]

"My message or theme is inspiration, the power of positive thinking, and hope and dream for a better tomorrow. And without that, we just can't survive. And in the worst of times, there are always decent people in the world."

[END ACT]

There is always, she says, light at the end of the tunnel.

The author says she has learned to take control of difficult situations because it is always possible to change them. (Signed)