By BILL KELLER
Published: September 11, 1988
YEREVAN, U.S.S.R.— ONE balmy evening several days ago on the plaza outside the city opera house, a group of Armenians were playing Yerevan’s favorite guessing game: What if Armenia broke off from the Soviet Union and declared its independence? One man argued that this would be suicide. Armenia is a Christian island semi-surrounded by Moslims, including the historically hostile Turks. Alone, Armenia would perish, he said. But look at Israel, retorted a university student. A few million Jews in a sea of Arabs, but strong and free. Armenia can do the same. This won a murmur of approval.
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