Karabakh Agreement Signed

This just in!

At Sunday's talks hosted at Meiendorf Castle, the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed "to speed up further moves in the negotiating process" over Nagorno-Karabakh, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in a statement.

The two country's foreign ministers would work with Russia, the US and France, co-chairmen of the Minsk Group of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which is seeking a diplomatic solution to the conflict, he added.

Sounds like a waste of time to me, unless one side gives up. We all know it won't be Azerbaijan and we all know that Serzh has indicated that he would trade or willingly give up some lands altogether.

Probably a non-event, but we'll see.

Source: BBC News

Video: Gary Kasparov & The Flying Phallus

Words fail to describe this.

Pic: Is this the future of Yerevan?

Is this the future of our fair capital? It would be a stretch to compare Moscow to Yerevan, that much is true, but the above picture is a possible glimpse into the future of a fast growing city, one that puts profits ahead of a sustainable, long-term growth.

Photo by Alexander Petrenko. Click for bigger version.

Azeris Attack Armenian, Nagorno Karabakh Flag

Yet another typical display of Azeri aggression & barbarity.

According to eyewitnesses, representatives of Azeri youth took aside a young Armenian who was holding the banner of Nagorno Karabakh. Azeris attacked the Armenian fellow, causing him physical injuries. They tried to take away the banner but couldn’t, after which Azeris tore it up.

They must be bitter about something, but I can't imagine what!

On a serious note, all they are doing is showing the world the sorts of people they really are. Not only do they fill the world with their lies and systematic propaganda, they turn any attempt at peace and normality into one of chaos and hatred.

Source: PanArmenian

Russia to Finance New Nuclear Plant

In line with Armenia's ridiculous line of thinking, it seems a major crisis has been averted. Or potentially created.

Russia is ready to fully finance construction of a new Nuclear Power Plant in Armenia.

Russia will be a joint owner of the new Armenian NPP....

...Russia is ready to send specialists for the works to be carried out. The Armenian authorities are planning to build a new NPP, since the republic has no other alternative after the closing of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant.

Long term. Why can't they think long term?

Source: PanArmenian

Armenia & Russia to Seek Uranium

Yes, in Armenia.

...the two sides will set up a joint venture that will explore areas in the southeastern Syunik region which Armenian and Russian geologists believe are rich in uranium. He was confident that they will discover commercially viable reserves of the radioactive metal used in nuclear power generation.

"Armenia will be able to meet its needs and sell [uranium] to others..."

As long as the environmental impact is well understood and managed, the latter being highly unlikely, exporting Uranium can be lucrative for Armenia. Global prices for a pound - that's 450 grams - of Uranium are currently hovering around $75 and a further escalation towards or even past $100/pound is expected.

Source: ArmeniaLiberty

Garry Kasparov Questioned by Russian Police

Even more unrest from the Russian Monarchy, I mean, republic.

Former world chess champion Garry Kasparov has been questioned by Russia's security service on suspicion of making extremist comments.

Mr Kasparov, 44, is now an opposition activist and was briefly detained during recent protests against President Vladimir Putin.

Wondering why I'm reporting about Kasparov? Well, he's half Armenian - on his mother's side!

Source: BBC News

Armenian Stabbed to Death in Moscow

This is simply outrageous! Russia is supposed to be Armenias friend, yet is stands idly by while innocent minorities are slaughtered on its streets. This is despicable!

46-year-old Armenian immigrant Karen Abramian who was earlier attacked by skinheads in the Russian capita, died in the hospital.

...while stabbing him the [three] unknown young men shouted nationalistic slogans.

Two suspects have been arrested in connection with this murder.

Putin: instead of rigging elections and arresting innocents for opposing you, secure the streets of the capital for the people! How many more innocent men, women, and children have to die before Russians snap out of their Vodka-induced comas and voice their outrage?

Source: PanArmenian

Russia Moves Military Equipment from Georgia to Armenia

In an agreement reached last year, Russia has to remove its military presence from Georgia. Hmm, where to move all those weapons to?

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.

We need Russia on our side. Until we have enough revenues to build a modern army ourselves, we have to continue doing what we're doing.

Source: RIAN

Surprise of the Day: Russia Supports the Republican Party

It's no surprise, really.

Prosperous Armenia is led by Gagik Tsarukyan, the richest person in Armenia and chairman of the national Olympic Committee. Analysts consider it a creation of the authorities as a backup incase of a setback to the Republican Party.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was in Armenia last week and expressed the Russian government's support for Sarkasyan. Russia traditionally plays an important role in the internal affairs of Armenia. Several other Russian officials have voiced support for Sarkasyan since then, including Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov and head of the Audit Chamber Sergey Stepashin.

Of course, Russia is one of the least democratic countries around, so it shouldn't surprise anyone that they are favoring one party over another. So what happens when both the top choices are evil and undesirable, yet the most powerful and influential?

Source: Kommersant

Condemn the Moscow Treaty of 1921!

The Treaty of Moscow was a friendship treaty between Grand National Assembly of Turkey and the Bolshevik government of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. It was signed on 16 March 1921. Neither the Republic of Turkey, nor the Soviet Union was established at the time.

Rafik Hambardzumian, head of an obscure National Pilgrimage organization, said the National Assembly of Armenia must condemn officially the treaty of March 16, 1921 which gave sizeable portions of historical Armenian lands to Turkey and placed Nakhichevan under Azerbaijan's rule.

He said the Republic of Armenia, as a sovereign state, should ask Russia to also condemn and invalidate the 1921 Moscow Treaty.

Seems futile, doesn't it? And besides, what will this accomplish?

Source: ArmenPress

Armenicum AIDS Drug Marches Forward

Rememebr Armenicum? There are so many rumors about it that it's hard to know where the truth begins. Basically, it is a supposedly-successful anti-HIV/AIDS treatment that was created in Armenia. You can learn more about it on Armenicum's Web Site.

Armenicum has now been registered in Ukraine and Russia and is pending registration in China.

Recently, Iranian scientists claimed that it was an effective cure against AIDS.

Six years ago, the BBC did an investigative piece on the drug and found that it made things worse, instead. Then again, that was apparently before proper trials were conducted in Armenia.

Source: Yerevan.ru (translated)

Russian-Armenian Businessmen Help Nagorno-Karabakh

An example that should be followed by others, I say!

Moscow-based businessmen of Armenian origin have pledged $15 million in assistance to Nagorno-Karabkh's government to help it implement a series of humanitarian programs and improve irrigation systems in a number of rural areas.

Frankly, there is a lot to be done there. I recently covered one such endeavor: mine clearing.

Source: ArmenPres

Armenia Unable to Fill Wine Gap in Russia

Remember our earlier post about Armenian wines in Russia with Georgia out of the picture?

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.

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.

I wonder if there is a market in Russia for cheap Californian wines? If I am asbent for weeks, you will know why!

Source: ArmenPress

Yet Another Armenian Attacked in Moscow

Remember the little boy who was killed in Moscow? This is a disturbing trend.

Today at the center of Moscow unknown people have fired shots at Arabuli Robinson and his driver Emil Karapetyan, Radio Station "Azatutyun" informs.

According to the prosecutor's office, the criminals fired just as Robinson and Karapetyan were getting into their Toyota. It was an attempt on their lives, the prosecutor's office reports.

Robinson and Karapetyan have been taken to hospital. No other details are reported.

What kind of an ally is Russia if it is doing seemingly nothing to prevent the deaths of innocent people, especially minorities? Friends aren't just economic.

Source: A1+

Gazprom to Build Oil Plant in Armenia

I should note that it seems plans are not yet finalized, even though some sources make it seems as if they are. Let the pollution begin!

Gazprom Neft Russian company announced the intention to build an oil processing plant in Armenia. The capacity of the plant is supposed to make 7 million tons per year.

The plant will be located at the border of Armenia and Iran, the supplier of the stock. A new pipeline from Tebriz will be laid for the purpose. The processed stock will be delivered to Tehran via a railway that doesn’t exist yet, reports Kommersant daily.

Can't join in the railroad project with the Kars-Gyumri line? Team up with Russia and Iran and build a whole new line and make barrels of money! Smart thinking.

Source: Yerkir

Armenians Participate in Game of Intellect

If you speak Russian, chances are you know about this game. If not, here you go:

The “What, Where, When” Russian-language intellectual game that originated in the 1970s and Brain Ring established later are currently widely spread in CIS countries.

During the game six intellectual players get a question sent by TV viewers and discuss it for one minute, and then the captain of the team decides who gives the answer, which, if correct, brings a point.

With stormy discussions and great enthusiasm Armenian intellectual players try to find answers to interesting questions. Every correct answer is followed by gleeful celebration.

The unique aspect is not the game, but that it was sponsored - that is, paid for - by Armenia's Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs. However, since fewer Armenians speak Russian, some of the teams are not as strong, as they must first translate and then solve the questions.

Source: ArmeniaNow

Armenian Boy Murdered in Moscow

When will these hate-filled acts stop? When will Russia do something about it?

Moscow law enforcement bodies informed Interfax that a body of a young boy was detected not far from 45 Kostanayevskaya Street.

“The law officials detected the body of Arthur Martirosyan, born in 1991, who went to one of Moscow schools and was in its 7th year of studies,” the source says.

The investigation says the young boy was found stabbed in his left thorax. A criminal case is instituted.

Does it matter to the family that a case has been launched? Most likely they won't find the person responsible, and even if they do, no amount of "justice" will bring their son back. What Russia needs to do is to completely ban the organization of such groups, as they do nothing more than hate other groups, whether Armenian, Georgian, Azeri, Jewish, or some other group. This has got to stop.

Source: Panorama

Former Communists Want A Red Reunion!

First a claim of record membeship, and now this.

Russian Communists urged Saturday the Communist parties of ex-Soviet states to join their efforts to restore the former Soviet Union.

Communist leaders from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Armenia and other ex-Soviet republics gathered Saturday in the Russian capital to discuss the strengthening of future cooperation and the development of a common strategy to re-unite the former members of the now-defunct Soviet Union.

The participants of the meeting issued a statement calling upon all parties on the territory of the former Soviet Union that adhere to Communist ideology to join the fight for the "socialist development of brotherly nations and their unification into a Union State."

"Without a union between Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other brotherly republics that used to be members of the Soviet Union, we do not have a future," Zyuganov said.

Communism is always made out to be a bad, evil force, but the way I remember it is much different. Do I want it back? It's hard to answer, but most likely not. There are problems that cannot be solved even today with the tools of a quasi-democracy: how can we expect a failed system to ever do the job?

Source: RIAN

Euroset Comes to Armenia

Is this a sign that local monopolies may soon face international competition?

“Euroset” Company - one of the largest retailers in Russia and the CIS states, today announced the opening two shops in Yerevan...by the end of the year there will be 30 shops of the net opened in Armenia.

We are happy to announce the opening of the “Euroset” shops in Armenia – the eleventh country, where our company functions. Now a good choice of mobile phones, digital equipment with traditionally low prices for the company will be available for our customers in Armenia. As in all the other countries, we will offer the customers in Armenia high standards of quality service”, the President of “Euroset” Eldar Razroev stated.

They already have 5,100 shops across the CIS, and in 2006 had sales of over $4.62 billion. Other international companies will be making their way to Armenia soon, if this is any indication.

Source: Banks.am