Yerevan Becomes Hell: Fires, Deaths, Misery

Way to outdo yourselves, guys. It wasn't enough that you protested after a relatively fair election, and you continued still even after the police moved in to move you out. And now this:

A police spokesman said that eight people were killed and 33 police officers injured in the clashes. He said several officers had been injured by gunfire.

Demonstrators hurled stones and petrol bombs, setting vehicles on fire, and police and troops responded with truncheons, tear gas and by firing bullets in the air.

TV pictures showed burnt-out cars and smashed shop windows in the city.

This is why foreigners are afraid of Armenia, whether visiting or investing. We mock some of the destabilized countries in Africa and Latin America, but what do we do when it happens on our own turf by our own people? Do we point fingers and blame the other guy? Do we kill people and destroy property to show dissatisfaction?

Source: BBC News

Armenians: World's Worst Drivers?

Click to enlarge.

From the picture:

347: Average number of people injured or killed in Armenia for every 1,000 vehicles, making Armenians the world's worst drivers. In the USA, the number is 16.

Does this make us - or rather those in Armenia - the world's worst drivers or the world's worst pedestrians? There is hardly any doubt in the minds of tourists who visit there that driving in Armenia is a dangerous affair!

On the skeptical side, no information is provided as to when or how this information was compiled.

Source: Princeton

Record Number of Accidents & Emergencies

Just have a look at these numbers. Horrific!

Rescue service affiliated to Armenian Regional Administration Ministry said 7126 emergency cases have been recorded in the country over 2006.

The rescue service says the increase in number of emergency cases was mainly due to traffic accidents and fires.

I'll break the numbers down for you:

2006/2005
Man-Caused Accidents: 4,566/2,978
Social & Domestic Accidents: 2,313/1,250
Casualties: 2,186/1,841

Why is it that these numbers almost doubled in a year? Is the reporting better? Are people being more dangerous? Are more emergencies preventing workers from getting to others? Is there a case of being understaffed or underfunded, vis-a-vis emergency workers, equipment, etc.?

Maybe someone can shed some light on this.

Source: Arka

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

2,102 Babies Born in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2006

For whatever reason, I feel you should know these numbers:

Last year 2,102 babies were born in Nagorno-Karabakh, by 98 more than in 2005 and 1,235 people died, less than in 2005 when 1,260 people died.

Last year 827 marriages were registered against 751 of 2005 and 123 divorces were granted against 135 in 2005. The divorce rate was 15 per every 100 marriages.

15% divorce rate? I prefer to think of it as 85% success rate!

Source: ArmenPress