In an address on state television on Thursday, Mr Saakashvili gave in to opposition demands and brought presidential elections forward to January.Something tells me that we haven't see the last of the Georgian stormtroopers.
A day earlier, he had imposed a state of emergency after riot police used force to put down opposition protests in the capital, Tbilisi.
A 41 year-old ethnic Armenian, Amiran Mkhitarian, a resident of Georgia's capital city Tbilisi, killed himself yesterday, Rustavi-2 TV channel reported. It said abject poverty was the reason that drove the man to committing a suicide...the man killed himself after failing to find money to buy febrifuge medicine for his five year child.By the way, febrifuge is medicine that decreases fever.
A truck convoy carrying military equipment from a Russian military base in Georgia crossed the border with Armenia...The military convoy left the Akhalkalaki base in the south of the country heading for Gyumri (Armenia), where the 102nd Russian military base is located...The base already contains over 30 Mig-29s and other advanced weapons.
Robert Kocharian rejected Turkey's offer to set up a joint panel of historians to debate the issue and called on Ankara to accept his suggestion of an intergovernmental commission. "The normalization of bilateral relations is the responsibility of governments, not historians," Kocharian was quoted by Reuters as saying.We all know that whatever commission is in place to discuss the Armenian Genocide will only be for show. Do you really expect Turkey to discover that it indeed killed 1,500,000 Armenians after decades of lies? Come on!
"That is why we are ready to establish diplomatic relations with Turkey without preconditions, create an intergovernmental commission and to discuss all issues, including the most sensitive," he added.
On February 19-21 the Co-Chairs of the Committee deciding upon the Armenian-Georgian state borderline, RA deputy Foreign Minister Gegham Gharibjanyan and Georgian deputy Foreign Minister Georgi Manjgaladze will meet in Tbilisi.If this is an important story that develops, you'll be the first to know.
The sides will discuss issues about several parts of the borderline.
The three Azeri citizens of Georgia who were arrested five days ago in the territory of Armenia have been set free and sent to their home in Sadakhlo. Nevertheless, the Azeris have been set free without paying the sum, due to an agreement reached between the Armenian and Georgian border keepers.Hmmm. What could be the political motivation for releasing criminals without any punishment?
One of the Azeris, Hussein Mamedov, informed agency "Trend" that the attitude of the Armenians towards them was good. "We spent three days in the detachment 'Stepanavan' where we were taken. And I cannot complain of any case of bad treatment".
Armenian Border Guard caught three Azeris having Georgian citizenship. They were trying to pass the Armenian-Georgian borderline to realize deforesting.We have enough people cutting down trees illegally as it is: we don't need any outside help. But thanks!
The frontiers caught the third Azeri in the neutral zone between the Armenian-Georgian borderline the boundaries of which are not decided by the two sides yet.
The third arrestee was also heading to Armenia after timber.
A parliament member Manvel Ghazarian, who is also the owner of one of the biggest Armenian wineries - Vedi Alco - lamented yesterday that Armenian wineries are unable to fill the gap in Russian wine market that has emerged after its authorities banned imports of Georgian and Moldavian wines last year.I wonder if there is a market in Russia for cheap Californian wines? If I am asbent for weeks, you will know why!
He said Moldova and Russia were selling about 200 million bottles of wine in Russia, while all Armenian wineries can produce together about 10 million bottles of wine. Ghazarian said the ban on Russian and Moldavian wines has prompted a bigger interest in Armenian products.
The first step for the Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway line project named "Iron Silk Road" has been taken. The Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan, the Azerbaijani president Aliyev and the state president of Georgia Saakaşvili signed the historical agreement of the rail way line of Kars-Tbilisi-Baku which drives out Armenia. The project is anticipated to be finished in two years and around $420 million will be spent.Wow, that was a poorly worded article.
Armenia has been trying to prevent the the Azerbaijani president Aliyev and the state president of Georgia Saakaşvili signed the historical agreement of the rail way line of Kars-Tbilisi-Baku which drives out Armenia rail way line of Kars-Tbilisi-Baku for the reason that the railway line in the country will be disposed. But the project aged 14 years which will provide railway connection from Europe to the Middle Asia is driving out Armenia.
On January 26 the first Chinese child was born in Akhaltskha.In related news, Akhaltskha has now become a manufacturing superpower, churning out toys, cars, phones, and more, and each item that is exported carries a golden oval which states, "Made in Akhalatskha by China."
In fall of 2006 several Chinese families came to Akhaltskha. They are engaged in their own business. One of those families had a son...
The Council of the Armenian NGOs of Javakheti is worried by the upcoming qualification of directors of schools in Tbilisi on January 28...The directors of the Armenian schools of Javakheti, as well as other parts of Georgia will take a test on Georgian besides the other exams.That sounds fair, doesn't it?
On January 28 fewer Armenian directors will pass qualification than the number of Armenian schools. Consequently, some Armenian schools will have non-Armenian directors. Therefore, Artak Gabrielyan, a member of the Council of Armenian NGOs of Javakheti, says the knowledge of Armenian should also be obligatory for the directors of Armenian schools.
A 29-year-old resident of Tbilisi, Georgia, Irma Hovsepian, was arrested by police after her newborn daughter was found in a garbage bin, Georgian Rustavi-2 TV station reported. It said Irma Hovsepian was arrested at her house and confessed to throwing her baby after several hour interrogation.Just goes to show that there are people like this in all cultures, races, religions, etc. What a horrible thing to have done.
The infant, placed in a pack, was found in the garbage bin in the Armenian-populated district of Havlabar. The infant was taken to prenatal medicine center for treatment.
In 2006, the export of Armenian wines to Russia rose by 30%. According to a rough figure, Armenia produced over 1.2 million bottles of wine, 80% of which was sold in Russia. Russia's banning of Georgian wine has meant soaring demand for Armenian wine.For comparison, Armenia exported almost 300,000 bottles of wine in 2005. Quite an increase, huh?
Brandy production in Armenia in January-November of 2006 made 7,589.9 thousand liters, having decreased by 4.7%, as compared to the same period of 2005.Say goodbye to drinking for the sake of getting drunk and say hello to the new breed of sophisticated wine and cheese lovers!
...vodka and distillery production in January-November of 2006 made 10,751.8 thousand liters, having decreased by 11.5%, as compared to the same period of 2005.
Eight people connected to a Glendale-based charity were arrested on suspicion of fraud after the Los Angeles Police Department linked them to an international crime ring.Stories like these don't make me proud to be Armenian, because these people only serve to create stereotypes for the rest of us. The Armenians that I like to think of are artists, musicians, businessmen, and others of positive influence.
Global Human Services, which posed as an organization that regularly sent humanitarian aid overseas to the Republic of Georgia, Jordan, Armenia and Russia, was actually a front for international car theft and fraud...
In June, an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement search of two of the organization’s shipping containers in Houston uncovered a shipment of women’s shoes and two late-model sport utility vehicles hidden behind false walls in each container...
It’s estimated that the GHS shipped $5 million worth of cars in the past few years, not including the loss to insurance companies through fraudulent claims.
Those in custody are: GHS operators Rita Gervorkyan, 27, and Garegin Narinyants, 32, both of Burbank, who are being held on $500,000 bail. Co-operators Lioudvig Gevorkian, 57, and Gayk Gevorkian, 21, are believed to be out of the country but are also wanted by the LAPD.
Six car owners and lessees who allegedly participated in the scam were arrested last night and early this morning. Each was being held in lieu of $30,000 bail, according to the LAPD.
Now that Georgia has agreed to buy Russian gas at the increased price, the question is will Georgia increase its transit price to Armenia. Armenia receives Russian gas via Georgia's pipeline.Let's hope not! After all, someone should tell them that it wasn't such a great deal for us, what with having to give them a power station for temporary fixing of the prices!
MP Niko Lekishvili chairman of the parliamentary committee of sector economy and economic policy categorically denies the possibility of such a decision. He says that Georgia will not take a step which could hurt its relations with Armenia.
Citizens of Armenia and Georgia wishing to travel to Indonesia may obtain visas at its consulate in Armenia. The consulate is situated on Israelian street, 37, in Yerevan. Until now Armenians could obtain visas at Indonesia's embassy in Armenia, located in Kiev, Ukraine. The new procedure becomes effective from January 10.So if you're a citizen, go get yours. Indonesia is a beautiful country!
Earlier, the US president approved a bill banning state financing of the construction of the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railroad. Earlier, the bill was passed by the House of Representatives, and then by the Senate. “We call upon Turkey to revise the policy of alienating Armenia, put an end to the 13-year-old blockade and take actions directed at cooperation with its neighbors,” the statement says.
The document contains an amendment proposed by Senators Robert Menendez and Rick Santorini, which rules out financing by the Export-Import Bank of the construction of the railway that would isolate Armenia from the economic and regional transport corridor with average estimated cost of $400 mln.
Armenia was receiving a fraction of its regular gas supplies from Russia for a third consecutive day on Wednesday due to the reported rupture at a vital pipeline running through neighboring Georgia.
Georgian officials say a section of the pipeline was ruptured by an avalanche on Sunday. Armenia has since been importing Russian gas through a much smaller reserve pipeline.
Russian gas is used for generating about 40 percent of Armenia's electricity. It is also the principal source of winter heating.
