As the U.S. airstrikes continue in Afghanistan, support from the former Soviet Central Asian states remains strong. Russia, too, has experienced no hard feelings from its southern neighbors, and this week I'll tell you about that as well as how Muslims and Christians live side-by-side in Russia.

I'll also fill you in on my ancestral homeland of Armenia and the once-misunderstood phenomenon of vegetarianism.

Q: How damaging are the U.S. strikes on Afghanistan to relations between Russia and the neighboring Central Asian nations, which are mostly Muslim? – Alec Azar, Toronto, Canada.

A: Yes, the former Soviet republics in Central Asia are Muslim, but they support the United States' anti-terrorist campaign. They have opened their airspace to U.S. planes, and have given the United States the use of some of their airbases under certain conditions. Our relations have in no way been damaged.

You must remember that the majority of the Muslim nations have either joined the anti-terrorist coalition or have declared their moral support for the United States. What gave birth to the suicide hijackers who smashed into the World Trade Center, to the fighters for the jihad – the Holy War – is the tremendous poverty in many Muslim countries, as well as their deeply rooted social problems and harsh authoritarian regimes. Those factors, not the Muslim religion, give rise to terrorism.

In Russia today, we have about 13 million Muslims – not 20 million, as some media outlets report. The New York tragedy and the United States' bombing of the Taliban in Afghanistan have not split the Russian society: We have remained one nation that is not divided into Christians and Muslims. Islam on Russian soil has been moderate and civilized for centuries.

I would like to conclude by saying that Islam is basically a very peaceful and tolerant religion. It too preaches that thou shalt not kill and that you should love your neighbor, and it favors strong family and work ethics. One of the aims of the terrorists is to set various religions at loggerheads and direct the world against the Muslims. A civilized person who knows and adheres to the Koran could never be a radical.

Q: Were vegetarians persecuted during the Soviet era? Also, have there been other famous vegetarians besides Leo Tolstoy? – William Kerr, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

A: Before the Revolution, we had many vegetarian societies. The Communists compared vegetarianism to fasting, something connected with the church. It was considered a capitalistic habit. In Soviet times, being a vegetarian was about the same as being gay. I have this from authoritative sources.

In Russia today there is an increase in people who believe in "life without meat." Leo Tolstoy was the father of Russian vegetarianism. Famous Russian vegetarians are thin on the ground, but among famous vegetarians in general there have been Pythagoras, Socrates, Rabindranat Tagor, Mahatma Ghandi, Albert Schweitzer, Albert Einstein and – that butcher Adolf Hitler. William, now that you have heard all about vegetarianism, you can go and have your steak. Medium-rare is my favorite.

Q: Is Armenia a separate country, or is it part of the Russian Federation? – Bruce Teede, Carnarvon, West Australia.

A: Today, Armenia is a sovereign and independent country. It is the only former Soviet republic that has a treaty on military cooperation and aid with Russia.

I am Armenian back to my great-grandparents, though I've never lived in my ancestral homeland.

During several trips to that country I've seen Mount Ararat, where Noah landed his Ark. They say that in the League of Nations the Turkish representative asked why Armenia had Mount Ararat on its emblem when it no longer belonged to it. Vishinsky, the Soviet representative, answered: "You have the moon on your emblem and that doesn't belong to you either."

I am proud that this little republic, which had a population of about 3.5 million, gave the Red Army 60 generals and four marshals of the Soviet Union during World War II. Other famous Armenians include French singing legend Charles Aznavour, former Lebanese President Elias Sarkis, ex-governor of California George Deukmejian and one of the richest men in Great Britain Calouste Gulbenkian. Not to mention Andre Agassi, a famous tennis player, and Aram Khachaturian, a celebrated composer.

Among famous Armenian-Americans there are Michael Connors, the '60s TV star, whose real name is Krekor Ohanian, the singer Cher – or Cherilyn Sarkisian – and Arlene Francis, or Arlene Kazanjian.

No, I'm not a nationalist, not by any means. But I find it hard to forget that in 1915 our Turkish neighbors slaughtered at least 1.5 million Armenians. There is a monument to this tragedy in Yerevan, Armenia's capital.

(E-mail Joe at editor@russiajournal.com.)