Fewer Die Serving in Armenian Army

It's pretty sad when one reports happily on a decrease in deaths in the Armenian Army. The Armenian Army is a horrible place to spend two years of your young life: I think many would prefer an American prison, instead. Regardless, some families circumvent the mandatory service requirements by spending thousands of U.S. dollars to bribe the right people and keep their sons out of the Army. Since the average Armenian makes a couple of hundred dollars a month, these huge sums put families in large debts.

In 2006 the rate of death in the army declined, 33 cases were reported against 47 in 2005, said Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan today in a news conference. “However, 33 is not the finish line and we must make efforts to reduce deaths in the army,” Serge Sargsyan says.

He said these 33 deaths had different causes, including killings, shooting by the enemy, etc. Besides, the minister of defense said it should be taken into account that over 40 thousand 18-year-old boys serve in the army, the majority have weapon and serve in the border installations.

“I do not think that you will find a community which will have better indexes," Serge Sargsyan said.

Hey Serge, try telling that to the grieving mother who lost her only son to your ineptly-run Army. I think you will impress her with the index numbers!

Source: Lragir

Armenia's Richest Men!

There is some controversy about the list of Armenia's Top 10 richest people that is to be published by Forbes Armenia, but something tells me it is pretty close, especially the top spot. Only the net worths of two people are given: Tsarukian at $400-500 million and Sargsyan at about $150 million.

I will be doing individual profiles of some of these people later on, so keep reading the blog. Trust me, you won't want to miss it!

1. Gagik Tsarukian - Businessman

Companies: Multi Leon - Kotayk Abovyan Beer Factory, Abovyan Plant of Measuring Equipment, Yerevan Chemical Drug Company, Mek Furniture Network, Aviaservice, Multi Stone Stone Processing Company, Yerevan Ararat Brandy, Wine and Vodka Factory.

2. Armen Avetisyan - Chairman of the State Customs Committee.

Fact: Admitted all the country's big importers are his friends.

3. Mikael Baghdasarov - Businessman

Companies: Mika Corporation - Armsavingsbank, Armavia Airlines, Mika Cement Plant, Mika Limited oil trading company.

4. Hrant Vardanyan - Businessman

Companies: Grand Holding - Grand Tobacco, Grand Candy

5. Khachatur Sukiasyan & Family - Businessman

Companies: Various.

6. Yervand Zakharyan - Mayor of Yerevan


7. Robert Kocharyan - President of the Republic of Armenia

Fact: It is known that Kocharyan was "elected" in 2003 with unfair means.

8. Serge Sargsyan - Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia

Fact: Once "Head of Propaganda and Agitation Division of the Stepanakert City Communist Party Committee."

9. Andranik Manukyan - Minister of Transport and Communication of the Republic of Armenia


10. David Harutyunyan - Republic of Armenia Minister of Justice


Well, there you have it! Of importance, the majority of the people on this list are government officials.

If you liked this post, consider Digging it up!

Sources: ArmeniaPedia, and the original Forbes list.

How Armenian Politicians Buy Votes

Want to know how Armenian politicians influence votes in their favor?

In past elections candidates were accused of buying votes by distributing sugar, flour or money to voters, but this time a much more sophisticated campaign is taking place.

On the grounds that drought had prevented peasants from storing seeds, Tsarukian's party began distributing winter wheat and potatoes in ten regions of Armenia. Bargavach Hayastan also launched a programme of providing free medical services for the residents of these regions.

His other initiatives have included sowing wheat and the setting up of a fund for impoverished students. And all his charitable activities are getting generous television coverage

Tigran Karapetian, chairman of ALM holding company and chairman of the People's Party, has been using ALM television for four years to promote his own charitable initiatives. The slogan "Be good to people at all cost” sounds out from television screens with an image of Karapetian and soulful music.

Karapetian has also been organising trips for provincial residents, mainly pensioners and the poor, in minibuses to visit Lake Sevan and other sights.

Zakarian has also criticised defence minister - and possible future president - Serzh Sarkisian for his involvement in opening a water supply system in the village of Tsakhkahovit last November instead of dealing with his defence portfolio.

The governing Republican Party of Armenia has also been engaged in controversial charitable initiatives, presenting provincial educational centres with computers and laboratory equipment.

It's a long post, but there you have it: craty Armenian criminals doing what they have to do to get or maintain power.

Source: IWPR

Turkey in the EU Good for Armenia

Think about this and see if this makes sense to you:

Turkey’s membership in the European Union would strengthen Armenia’s national security and bring the South Caucasus nation “geopolitically closer to Europe,” Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian said in a newspaper article published on Friday.

“In addition to building diplomatic ties between our two countries, we believe that in negotiating for membership -- and perhaps as a future EU member state -- Turkey will contribute to an economically stronger and more stable neighborhood,” he said. “This is in the interest of both Turkey and Armenia.

I'm not so sure about this. Maybe all he's doing is trying to embrace the inevitable, which is Turkey's entry without official recognition of the Genocide. But besides a stable region that will be created as a result, with which I agree completely, this will only move the formal recognition of the Genocide farther away. We can't have this.

Original article here.