Oneworld Multimedia

Oneworld Has Moved

2005-07-17T13:46:00.000+05:00

The Oneworld Multimedia Blog will now be hosted at http://oneworld.blogsome.com in order to make use of the added flexibility of WordPress. The site's design is still being implemented but should be finished soon. In order to avoid confusion, readers are advised to always access the Oneworld Multimedia blog at http://www.oneworld.am/blog/ which will always take you to where this blog is.

Armenia's Telecommunications Developing Steadily

2005-07-16T20:13:00.000+05:00

The first report on ICT in Central Asia and the Caucasus has been published. The report focused on the Broadband and Internet market in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Taijikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. If you want the report, however, it's going to cost you € 421 for a hard copy or € 336 for the electronic version. Still PanArmenian.net covered some of the main points as they pertain to Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

[...]

The report notes that Internet services are outside ArmenTel's monopoly. The country's Internet market is small (penetration 7.5%), but has been developing steadily. However, there are still several major obstacles in the way of improved Internet connectivity. Not unexpectedly, these include poor telecom infrastructure; expensive telephone lines; the high cost of computer equipment relative to an average worker's salary; political unrest in some regions of the country, which impedes infrastructure reform and intimidates potential sponsors and donors, and a heavy dependence on international funding, making long-range planning difficult.

A permanent Internet link was established for Azerbaijan in 1995 through the country’s Academy of Science. The country has had dial-up Internet access since 1991. By early 2005, Internet penetration was around 6%. Georgia established a permanent link to the international Internet backbone in 1995, after having had non-permanent, dial-up Internet access since 1991. Internet use remains low (penetration 5%), but the market has shown growth and strong competition between ISPs. There are a handful of broadband services in place.

I've also seen the executive summary of the report which details some interesting facts and information. There are 600,000 fixed line telephone subscribers in Armenia and in neighboring Georgia, mobile phone users exceeded fixed line subscribers in early 2005. In April, for example, there were just 200,000 mobile phone suscribers in Armenia thanks to the ArmenTel monopoly that has now thankfully been broken in this sector at least whereas in Georgia there were over 1 million. The Georgian mobile phone market is now growing at a rate of 40 percent per year.

Nothing compared to Kazakhstan, however. In that country, there are 3.2 million mobile phone subscribers (20 percent penetration) and the market has been growing by 80 percent per year since 2004. Even so, Internet penetration stands at just 5 percent.

Meanwhile, in related news, since Viva Cell emerged in the Armenian market, it's been virtually impossible to call ArmenTel mobile phone subscribers. At the same time, I'm told by a journalist friend that there is now a shortage of handsets available for sale in Armenia and that rumors abound that Kocharian's son wants to allegedly control the market for that commodity.

Tag: armenia | internet | telecommunications | technology |

Important Note

2005-07-16T18:24:00.000+05:00

The Oneworld Multimedia Blog will be moving to a new server by the end of the month. It is unknown yet whether it will be hosted on the Oneworld Multimedia main web site or on a blog service provider. Regardless, the reason for move will be to use the WordPress system and it is advised that all readers of this blog start to access it via the http://www.oneworld.am/blog/ URL.

This way, regardless of where the blog is located, you will always manage to find it.

The War of the Roses

2005-07-16T15:07:00.000+05:00

Meanwhile, following on from the recent skirmish on the streets of Tbilisi and fisticuffs in the Georgian Parliament, things are no longer looking so "rosy" in Armenia's northern neighbor. Unfortunately, events that followed a small group of sportsmen running amok after two of their own were place in pre-trial attention, are now being used to detract from pro-democracy movements elsewhere. This is particularly true for Armenia where the state-controlled Public TV had a field day with footage of riot police on the streets of the Georgian capital.

Would that we could be so lucky in Yerevan, however. Last year, in April 2004, it was actually the police beating journalists and smashing their cameras so no footage exists. Two friends, journalists from RFE/RL, were forced to run for their lives and go into hiding as Armenian riot police indiscriminately attacked peaceful protestors largely made up of pensioners and ambushed others as they tried to escape. Nevertheless, the recent events in Georgia didn't do Saakashvili any favors. Already there is talk of growing impatience among western donors and also, rumor that is wife has left him or is about to.

The tiny trigger in this bitter battle between former partners was – oddly, but as it turned out appropriately – a court ruling that consigned two wrestling champions charged with extortion to pre-trial detention. After the court’s decision on 30 June, disgruntled relatives and friends of the detainees rampaged through the courtroom, which was in the same building as Georgia’s Supreme Court. An angry mob then blocked traffic on Tbilisi’s main street, Rustaveli Avenue. The capital’s transport police struggled to restore traffic and the riot police were called in as the crowd ran amok. Dozens were briefly hauled away by the police, but around ten were taken into custody. No one was seriously injured (all accept that point), though some felt the force of the riot police’s batons.

[...]

This unpleasant but isolated incident has sent shockwaves through Georgian politics. All major TV stations broadcast the events live and most gave the floor to the opposition, seizing on the “excessive use of force” as an opportunity to attack the government. “A crime against humanity” was the evaluation of the incident by an opposition Republican Party leader Levan Berdzenishvili. Others even compared that the events to the bloodshed of 9 April 1989 when Soviet troops disbanded the peaceful pro-independence rally – an extreme comparison since 20 protestors, mostly women, were killed that day.

So everyone expected the rough and tumble on the streets to produce heated words on the floor of parliament the next day. What Georgians got, though, was even wilder than even the wildest expectations: a spontaneous, free-wheeling fist-fight that left MPs with cuts and bruises. The chief sparring partners were the former partners-in-revolution, the ruling National Movement party and the Republicans. In their more restrained moments, former friends and comrades from the revolution hurled insults at each other, the opposition accusing the ruling party of authoritarianism and the ruling party accusing the opposition of backing criminals.

Anyway, part of the problem as highlighted by this article posted on Civil.ge (although originally published by Transitions Online) is that the "Rose Revolution" that brought the young Saakashvili to power did so in a disproportionate way. Elected by 90 percent of the vote, another necessary ingredient for a democratic society was forgotten -- an effective opposition. Moreover, when many of Georgia's Shevardnadze-era activists migrated into Saakashvili's government, the country's greatest asset -- a vibrant civil society -- was also inadvertently destroyed.

Such a concentration of power has both frustrated the opposition and ensured that much of Georgia’s politics is conducted within the government. Eventually, inner-circle disagreements in the National Movement prompted two factions – the Republicans and the Conservatives – to leave the coalition. More fissures snake through the National Movement, with several leaders competing for influence.

[...]

The signs that undivided power and arrogance could prove a problem came swiftly, prompting civil-society leaders to meet Saakashvili in early 2004 to warn him that the disregard shown to the opposition would harm Georgian democracy. “It is time to end the revolution and revert to [steadier] governance” they stated in a joint declaration.

I hope that this lesson is learned by other pro-democracy movements if the new wave of freedom sweeping over the former Soviet space continues. In a sense, this feeds into Christopher Walker's op-ed written for Eurasianet that I posted yesterday. Democracy doesn't just start and end with "revolutions." The process, as in the West, has to continue for some time after so that positive trends are irreversible. A harder task, of course, is going to be to change deep-set mentalities in Armenian, Azerbaijani and Georgian society. Unfortunately, however, that's going to take generations.

The full article can be read online here.

Tag: tbilisi | armenia | democracy |

Lines Being Drawn?

2005-07-16T13:18:00.000+05:00

Theoretically, Armenia doesn't face the prospect of "revolution" until the next parliamentary elections scheduled for 2007. However, with local elections set for October and a controversial constitutional referendum due the following month, that's not to say that the political situation in the country doesn't risk becoming more inflamed. In fact, like the parliamentary elections scheduled for November in neighboring Azerbaijan, Armenia faces a very real test of its democratic credentials that will either resolve a lot of issues, or exasperate them.

Local elections have always been a matter of fierce contest between the pro-presidential parties. During the last round held three years ago, the two smaller members of the ruling coalition government, Orinats Yerkir and the ARF-D, accused the larger Republican Party of falsification and bribery. Despite it being considered that whoever controls local government controls the local levers for determining the outcome of parliamentary and presidential elections, the opposition somewhat ironically didn't seem to bother with them at all. And they still don't seem too concerned.

However, this time round, it probably doesn't matter. What is of more interest is whether or not the three coalition parties come to blows or not. The Republican Party have always taken local elections seriously but so too have Orinats Yerkir who now apparently have a strong network of support in the regions. This was said to me by the head of a very significant international organization recently. She also told me that she believed that Artur Baghdasarian, Head of Orinats Yerkir and Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly, would be the next President of the Republic of Armenia.

In fact, Baghdasarian was always considered in the running for succession to Kocharian. Popular with some European diplomats, especially in France, the incumbent President was always said to be grooming the young former HHsh MP for the position. Until that was, the opposition protests last year. Known for his populist approach, and sometimes even compared to an Armenian Saakashvili, Baghdasarian played his cards carefully and neither took the firm pro-presidential line he was expected too although he didn't come out in support of the opposition either.

That was enough, however, to make many analysts think that Kocharian could no longer trust the 36 year old. Now, it is assumed that Kocharian will either try and seek a ruling from the Constitutional Court to seek a third term in office on the basis of a new Constitution that will probably be invoked later in the year or will instead seek to pass power on to his most trusted lieutenant, the Defense Minister, Serzh Sarkisian. Which makes news that Baghdasarian is now speaking out on the constitution ammendments all the more interesting.

According to ArmInfo, as distributed by Groong, Baghdasarian has told reporters that the Armenian President cannot legally run for a third term in office. He has also said that it would be more appropiate if the president did not exercize any new, even if reduced, powers until the election of his successor. On the other hand, Baghdasarian has also stated that the parliament under his control should be able to exercize its new and stronger powers immediately after the new constitution is adopted.

At the same time, he said it would be fair if the incumbent president preserved until 2008 his powers which will be reduced under the constitutional reforms. "The president should exercise the powers with which he was elected," Bagdasaryan said. He also said that the parliament will get new powers after the approval of the constitutional reforms.

Nevertheless, the logic of Baghdasarian's argument that someone elected under one constitution should serve their tenure under the same should probably be the same for deputies in the Armenian National Assembly, especially as new parliamentary elections are scheduled for a year earlier than the next presidential ones. In the meantime, Baghdasarian is said to be on friendly terms with some significant figures in the opposition, including the firebrand radical opposition leader, Aram Z Sarkisian.

In fact, in recent months, the two youthful leaders have even been exchanging mutual compliments.

Which leads us to the question of leadership in Armenia. Unless there was a real shift in public opinion towards pro-government figures like the Defense Minister and also to opposition leaders such as Stepan Demirchian or Artashes Geghamian, both of which who have already failed to live up to public expectations, there are very few that might be able to represent the "change" that many in Georgia and Ukraine thought Saakashvili or Yushchenko represented.

Unlike Aram Z Sarkisian who favors less than democratic means to implement regime change in Armenia and who has too much "baggage" in terms of his assassinated brother, Baghdasarian could potentially represent a middle force able to appease both pro-governmental and pro-opposition political forces in Armenia. Kocharian and Serzh Sarkisian might also feel more secure that after their departure from the political scene, they would not face prosecution for past or alleged misdeeds.

Hard to say, really, but one thing is for sure. With the opposition and Council of Europe thrown into the mix over the constitutional ammendments, the political environment in Armenia is heating up and in 2006 we will enter into the run-up phase for the next parliamentary elections that will determine the next President of the Republic of Armenia. Seems to me that the battle will soon be on. One analyst, David Petrosian from Noyan Tapan, has even said that Artur Baghdasarian was one of the financial supporters behind the Bekum Civic Forum, the closest we have to a pro-democracy movement in Armenia so far.

Tag: armenia | democracy | politics |

Plot to Assassinate Kocharian Uncovered?

2005-07-16T02:07:00.000+05:00

The Noyan Tapan news agency, as distributed by Groong, reports that Gagik Grigoryan faces charges under Articles 38, 35 and 305 of the Criminal Code of the republic of Armenia. His crime? He was apparently the mastermind of a plan to assassinate the two highest ranking officials in the country.

Court hearings into an attempt to kill the Armenian president [Robert Kocharyan] and the defence minister [Serzh Sarkisyan] will start on 25 July, Noyan Tapan learnt today from the office of Pargev Oganyan, a judge of the first instance court of Yerevan's Kentron and Nork Marash communities who will preside over the case.

Perhaps as testimony to the state of the media in Armenia, I can't remember any news reports on this quite headline making story before. I remember something about a hoax bomb phone call last month but not a fully-fledged plan to assassinate Kocharian and Sarkisian. If anyone knows more details please post them in the comments section.

Actually, I have to admit that Noyan Tapan are not a bad news agency. Just a pity that they're a subscription only service although during the 2003 Presidential Elections in Armenia they made all their content publicly available for free. That was apparently in the interest of providing information to everyone on that important event and I have to admit, I found their coverage the best.

Tag: armenia

OSCE Minsk Group in Yerevan

2005-07-15T23:24:00.000+05:00

RFE/RL reports on the latest round of shuttle diplomacy to find a lasting solution to the frozen conflict over the disputed mainly-Armenian populated region of Nagorno Karabakh. After visits to Baku, Stepanakert and Yerevan, the OSCE mediators still appear to be "cautiously optimistic" in the run-up to a possible Armenian-Azerbaijani summit next month but serious obstacles remain.

The French, Russian and U.S. diplomats acting under the aegis of the OSCE Minsk Group reiterated after longer-than-planned talks with President Robert Kocharian that the compromise peace deal may be sealed in the course of this year.

“We have made a considerable degree of progress in the past year in discussing these issues between the sides,” the group’s American co-chair, Steven Mann, told a joint news conference in Yerevan. “We still have difficult issues before us, but I believe that objective conditions exist for that type of solution … before the end of the year.”

However, it should be pointed out that while the general atmosphere surrounding this latest drive to end the conflict is more positive than at anytime in the past seven years that I've lived in Armenia, there is still a shroud of secrecy surrounding precise details. That said, there is also more openess than ever before.

Armenian diplomatic sources privy to the peace process told RFE/RL last week that Aliev and Kocharian may well finalize a peace accord that will enable the predominantly Armenian population of Karabakh to determine its status at a referendum to be held within 10-15 years. They claimed that the vote will follow the liberation of all but one of the occupied Azerbaijani districts around Karabakh and the reopening of Armenia’s borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey.

The mediators pointedly refused to confirm or deny the claims, citing the confidentiality of the negotiating process.

With parliamentary elections scheduled for November in Azerbaijan, however, the risk of internal instability stemming from talk of a compromise solution might yet derail the obvious progress acheived so far. In today's press review, talk of a compromise deal that might require Armenia to return six of seven territories outside of Karabakh currently under its control in return for a referendum to be held 10-15 years down the line are already ruffling a few feathers in Armenia.

“The idea of holding a referendum [in Karabakh] within 10 or 15 years is not understandable,” opposition leader Vazgen Manukian tells “Ayb-Fe.” “Why not now but in 10-15 years? I don’t think this is a serious approach to the issue.” Manukian claims that security guarantees allegedly offered to the Armenians by mediators are “absolutely unserious.”

“Ayb-Fe” agrees with Manukian. “It is our right to categorically reject the proposed ‘mutual compromise,’” writes the paper. “By walking away from agreements reached in Paris and Key West Azerbaijan has not lost anything. We too won’t lose from the collapse of that plan. We will lose unless we cause it to collapse.”

[...]

“Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” says the main Armenian fear regarding the referendum idea is that Azerbaijanis could eventually become a majority in Karabakh due to their higher birth rate.

Incidentally, Armenia Now also covers the OSCE Minsk Group's visit to Yerevan and takes a more pessimistic tone. Interestingly, despite the urgent need for a solution to the conflict that broke out towards the end of the Soviet era and the fact that many observers consider it to be a major obstacle to democratization in Armenia and Azerbaijan, the visit and the latest round of negotiations didn't even make headline news on the site.

Tag: armenia | azerbaijan | karabakh

Karabakh Update

2005-07-15T13:10:00.000+05:00

Associated Press (AP) reports that while there is some ground for "cautious optimism" in the latest attempt to resolve the frozen conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed mainly-Armenian populated territory of Nagorno Karabakh, the Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group is less so.

Yuri Merzlyakov, speaking late Wednesday after meeting with officials in Nagorno-Karabakh, said that "the two sides are still very far from reaching an agreement to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict."

Russian, French and U.S. envoys from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe are trying find a solution to the dispute over the mountainous region, which was seized by ethnic Armenian forces in a war with Azerbaijan in the 1990s.

[...]

The international community has become increasingly keen to reduce tensions in this part of the former Soviet Union as energy-rich Azerbaijan and other countries in the region have exploited vast reserves of oil around the Caspian Sea.

About 1 million people were displaced by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and their resettlement as well as the future status of the territory are among the major issues to be resolved.

Nevertheless, something seems to be different this time round when compared to the mood that what evident at the time of Key West in 2001. Even so, however, while Armenia talks of the need to make "painful concessions for peace," the situation is not the same, especially with parliamentary elections on the horizon in November.

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, having already visited Baku and Stepanakert, are due to meet with the Armenian President, Robert Kocharian, and Foreign Minister, Vartan Oskanian, today and will also hold a press conference. I think that we'll know more then.

Certainly, it would appear that the two sides are closer than they've ever been to establishing the framework and terms of reference for a negotiated peace but on the other hand, there are still many obstacles to overcome.

AP's report can be read online here.

Tag: armenia | azerbaijan | karabakh

Worker Rights in Armenia

2005-07-15T11:05:00.000+05:00

Hetq Online has published an article illustrating how the concept of worker rights in Armenia do not exist. Of course, many would argue that any form of rights under the law and the constitution are violated on an almost daily basis by the government and employers together. In this story, however, the culprits were the Indian owners of a gold mine and the issue is actually more than just worker's rights. It's actually about the lack of the rule of law in general.

According to Sarah Petrosian, the author of the piece, the Chairman of the Lernagorts Union of the Sotk mine employees went to work and was denied access to the premises. Armen Sahakyan had been absent because of a strike called by workers at the mine and along with 23 others, had been fired as a result. However, according to the law, as Chairman of the Union, he should still have been allowed to enter his former workplace.

However, Article 17 of the Armenian Law on Unions states this provision: “Representatives of leaderships of unions have a right under Armenian law to visit the premises where the members of their unions are employed, for the purposes of observing their working conditions, as provided under the law.” Therefore, Sahakyan contends, even though his employment had been terminated, as a union chairman he was still entitled to enter the premises. Besides, he adds, the letter was not addressed properly, mentioned no formal orders, and was not provided with a proper number, as required by law.

The strike was called in May after workers demanded that their contracts be brought into conformity with Armenian legislation. Their second demand was that a joint commission of workers and management be formed to discuss employment-related matters such as personal safety in a high-risk working environment. The demands were submitted two months before the strike was called. In response, the Indian company terminated contracts with 463 employees and hired another 100 from nearby villages. The former workers were then requested to submit new job applications at two thirds their former salaries.

They fired workers who were receiving salaries of $200 USD, and (re)hired employees who now receive $50 USD.” The present workers say, “On average, they are paying from $100 to $110 per month for drudgery -- just enough for us not to starve so we can continue serving them.”

According to Yevgeni Kojemyakin, Head of the Armenian Union of Miners, Metallurgists and Jewelers, people are not familiar with the laws, and they are simply forced to sign employment contracts which are not in compliance with the Labor Code, and the Law on Compensation, both of which govern this situation.

“The work they do is considered of a high-risk nature. No more than 24 days per month work is allowed, while the workers do 190 hours per month. They work two shifts at Sotk, 12 hours per shift, while the maximum allowed working day is 8 hours. Overtime work is not being compensated, while the law stipulates that overtime work must be compensated at a higher wage rate.”

[...]

Over the course of 2004, the Armenian Ombudsman received one hundred thirty claims in cases of employment termination; non- payment or delayed payment for work; uncompensated on –the-job injuries; and professional casualties. The majority of the claims came from the private sector. The Ombudsman’s Report says of this situation, “An analysis of the current situation in labor relations testifies to the en mass violations of employee rights in Armenia, mostly in the private sector. A lack of control in the implementation of labor laws by the relevant Government bodies worsens the situation.”

After official complaints lodged by the Human Rights Ombudsperson with the government, a report is due to be released soon. Meanwhile, the Human Rights Ombudsperson is an attack on her office by the President himself.

The full article can be read online here.

Tag: armenia | employment | unions

The Next Wave of Democratization

2005-07-15T10:23:00.000+05:00

EurasiaNet has an interesting op-ed on democratization in the post-soviet space. In particular, it focuses on upcoming elections in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan but the same will be true for Armenia in 2007 when the next parliamentary elections are due. Of course, that's not to say that the West, and the Council of Europe in particular, shouldn't also keep on eye on local elections scheduled for October and the referendum on constitutional amendments in November.

Since the 1991 Soviet collapse, hopes for the institutionalization of democratic systems in the region -- in which free-and-fair elections would enable peaceful transfers of political power – have faded. Instead, an authoritarian trend has taken hold. Incumbents have tried to rig their respective political systems to defend their positions of political supremacy, engineering sham elections in an attempt to give their authority a stamp of popular approval.

To a certain extent, the heavy-handed governing methods found in most former Soviet states are backfiring. Corruption and a lack of political accountability, combined with dreadful social conditions and limited economic opportunities, have fostered an atmosphere ripe for change.

[...]

It is crucial that the United States and European Union [along with other interested states] continue their investments in the future success of democratization initiatives in Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan. But they must also prepare for the more complex challenges presented by other static and unreformed FSU states. Given the high level of frustration that already exists among the population in so many of these countries, this suggests that far more unpredictable and potentially volatile transitions are in the offing.

The full article can be read online here.

Tag: armenia | azerbaijan | democracy

Kocharian's Constitutional Draft Criticized by Media Groups

2005-07-15T09:31:00.000+05:00

After the recent controversy of preparing a draft of constitutional ammendments that satisfies both internal political demands and the Council of Europe, Armenia's leading media associations are now unhappy.

In a joint statement issued late on Wednesday, they said President Robert Kocharian must no longer have the exclusive right to choose members of the National Commission on Television (HRAH) which pulled the plug on the country’s main independent television three years ago. The seven signatories of the statement, among them the Yerevan Press Club and the Armenian Union of Journalists, accused the authorities of reneging on their promises given to the Council of Europe.

The full article can be read online here.

Tag: armenia | media | democracy

Hetq Back Online

2005-07-15T01:24:00.000+05:00

Hetq Online, one of the publications for which I work is now back online after being taken out by a hacker last Friday. We still don't know who did it and why but personally, I think that it is probably connected to the continung investigation into the trafficking of women and children from Armenia to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Regardless, here what the Yerevan Press Club had to say:

On the evening of July 8 the server that hosted the web-page of "Investigative Journalists" NGO and is located in the USA went out of order. In the press release of "Investigative Journalists" of July 11 it was stated that the server had been damaged by professionals, but it was so far unclear from where the attack was made. In the interview to "Aravot" daily (July 13, 2005) the head of "Investigative Journalists" Edik Baghdasarian said that the hacking might be related to the publications of a number of journalistic investigations in "Hetq" online newspaper of the organization.

Hetq Onine can once again be accessed at http://www.hetq.am.

Karabakh Peace Deal In Sight

2005-07-15T00:30:00.000+05:00

RFE/RL once again confirms that this time round, there really is the chance of a peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed mainly Armenian inhabited territory of Nagorno Karabakh.

“Yes, there is a possibility of a Karabakh settlement in the course of this year,” said Steven Mann, the U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group. He added that an agreement will be signed “this year or within the next hundred years,” indicating that the peace process has reached a make-or-break point.

However:

Bernard Fassier, the group’s French co-chair, clarified that the conflicting parties are more likely to sign a framework agreement on “the basic principles” of the peaceful settlement. Both he and Mann stressed that the successful outcome of the negotiations is still not a forgone conclusion.

[...]

Senior Armenian government sources have told RFE/RL that the two sides are close to a peace deal that will enable the population of Karabakh to determine its status at a referendum to be held in 10-15 years time. They claimed that the vote will follow the liberation of all but one of the occupied Azerbaijani districts and the reopening of Armenia’s borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Of course, the opposition in both Armenia and Azerbaijan don't like the news:

Some Armenian opposition leaders have already rejected that formula. One of them, Vazgen Manukian, called it “absolutely unacceptable” on Thursday. “We give away those territories and there will be a referendum in 10 or 15 years time,” he told RFE/RL. “What would we gain from that? I don’t know.”

“Karabakh’s status must be determined now, not after 10 or 15 years,” he said. “Armenia and Azerbaijan must declare that they want a referendum to be held in Karabakh now and will accept its results.”

The reported settlement has also been denounced by opposition figures in Azerbaijan who believe that Baku would never stand a chance of winning back Karabakh in that case.

The full article can be read online here.

Meanwhile, RFE/RL also reports that Armenia and Turkey have been holding secret talks in an undisclosed European city in order to "normalize relations." According to RFE/RL and other sources, these talks can also be closely linked to the possibility of an imminent Karabakh peace deal.

Diplomatic sources in Yerevan told RFE/RL last week that Armenia and Azerbaijan have already agreed on the main points of a Karabakh peace accord which they said could be signed by the end of this year or at the beginning of next. They said the lifting of the Turkish blockade is one of those points.

That full article can be read online here.

Tag: armenia | azerbaijan | turkey | karabakh

2005-07-14T18:24:00.000+05:00

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

Revolt Brewing Against Culture Minister

2005-07-14T11:22:00.000+05:00

RFE/RL reports that another revolt is brewing against the Armenian Minister of Culture, Hovik Hoveyan. After confusing people by suggesting that youth need to learn how to hold a funeral and lamenting the popularity of folk dances because they are a sign of socio-economic hardship, the Minister is now planning to replace the head of the State Dance Ensemble.

The man rumored to be Hoveyan’s choice of ensemble chief is Karen Gevorgian, dean of the Culture Department at the Armenian State Pedagogical University. The minister already tried to appoint him as head of Armenia’s main ballet school last September but had to back down after a three-week strike staged by the school personnel.

Given that Armenians take such pride in their culture, what is it about the position of Culture Minister that seems to attract people of this "callibre" to the post? Hoveyan's predeccessor, Tamara Poghosian, had to leave the position last May because of the public and political backlash against her short-lived tenure.

Of course, the position of Culture Minister has been "given" to Orinats Yerkir and so, that determines who gets appointed (Hoveyan reportedly joined the party a few days before his appointment) but I suppose, like Tamara Poghosian and Ara Aramian, at least these guys have the decency to go when the patience of the public is exhausted.

In case you don't remember, the Minister of Urban Development, Ara Aramian, had no choice but to resign last April after his son started to shoot off guns at a cafe close to where the Armenian President was wining and dining his Georgian counterpart, Mikheil Saakashvili. Aramian was also a member of Orinats Yerkir, one of the three parties in the ruling coalition government.

The news item can be read online here.

Tag: armenia | culture

Western Pressure for Democratic Elections in Azerbaijan

2005-07-14T09:08:00.000+05:00

Eurasianet also covers Albright's visit to Azerbaijan and then some. Unfortunately, since the U.S. started to talk about "freedom" in this part of the world, many in Armenia took it as a call to "revolution" before getting upset when they discovered that it wasn't. Instead, it was about democracy, the rule of law and international pressure for real democratic change in the run-up to – and also during – elections.

[...] as visiting PACE rapporteur Andreas Gross pointed out on 8 July, the West wants any change to come through the ballot box. "Today, we have to speak about elections," he said. "And those who would like to change anything should engage in elections and not speak about revolution."

Azerbaijan’s government has made several concessions to the opposition ahead of the elections. These include the right to hold peaceful opposition rallies and the release of more than 200 political prisoners since the beginning of the year.

Nevertheless, observers say Azerbaijani leaders appear inclined to block further reforms. They note that parliament on June 28 passed amendments to the country’s electoral law that did not include changes to the makeup of the country’s election commissions. The election commissions are seen as leaning too far in the government’s favor.

Speaking after meetings with the Azerbaijani opposition, Albright highlighted this issue: "There has been a very consistent message, and the message is the necessity for the [Central] Electoral Commission to be a truly independent commission that can help in making clear that the elections are free and fair and open, and a desire for there to be greater diversity in political participation."

Besides, I never saw what happened in Georgia and Ukraine as "revolution." Instead, what happened was that people within those two societies stood up and refused to accept the outcome of falsified elections. People acted within the law and the constitution, although what happened in Georgia is a little more debatable, and because of that, the West monitored procedings and did all it could to prevent the situation from turning nasty.

Basically, you cannot expect democratic forces to come to power through undemocratic means – on both sides of the political divide. I would imagine, therefore, that unless there is a real political and constitutional crisis as a result of the local elections and constitutional referendum in Armenia towards the end of the year, Armenia will be in the same position as Azerbaijan is now, in 2007.

Until then, what happens in November is a good case study to examine for what might happen in Armenia during the 2007 parliamentary elections. The full article can be read online here.

Tag: armenia | azerbaijan | democracy

Madeleine Albright In Baku

2005-07-13T21:33:00.000+05:00

The Jamestown Foundation's Eurasia Daily Monitor reports that the former U.S. Secretary of State and Chair of the National Democratic Institute visited Baku on Monday and met with politicians, NGOs and the mass media. She was also expected to meet with the Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev. The purpose of the visit was to "discuss the situation in the country ahead of the November 6 parliamentary elections."

The visit of the former high-ranking American official was immediately compared to the visit that former Secretary of State James Baker paid to Tbilisi in the summer of 2003. During that visit Baker convinced then-Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze to change the composition of the election commission, which later led to the Rose Revolution.

[...]

Albright herself drew the media's attention to the need for political freedom as a precondition of democratic elections. "If there are no fair election commissions, there will not be free elections," she said. When asked about the future of Azerbaijan, Albright replied that the country has a "happy future, if all the oil revenues are fairly distributed and there is an open market."

[...]

The major opposition parties, meanwhile, have united in a joint coalition "Azadliq" (Freedom) and are threatening to stage a "velvet revolution" should the authorities fail to hold free elections. On July 10, they held another street rally in Baku, in which, according to some observers, more than 35,000 people participated. Rallies also took place, for the first time in the past two years, outside of Baku, including the towns of Sumgait, Sabirabad, Gedebey, Sheki, and others.

The Bush administration remains in a difficult situation regarding this crucial election. While the White House urges more democracy around the world, as seen especially in U.S. efforts to reform the Middle East, Azerbaijan has been tied to the United States in a vital strategic cooperation arrangement over energy and security issues, with official Baku even sending peacekeeping troops to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Thus, the pressures from Washington come at a careful pace, after consideration of U.S. national interests in the Caucasus.

The full article can be read online here.

Tag: azerbaijan | democracy

Chief Architect Defends Yerevan Construction Boom

2005-07-13T21:02:00.000+05:00

RFE/RL has an interesting article on the continuing controversy sourrounding the "construction boom" afflicting Yerevan at present. As in Baku, my take is that much of this construction is in violation of the law and represents corruption rather than genuine development. I think this view is shared by most people in Yerevan who are already furious with the disappearance of the city parks. In that case too, corruption is the main culprit.

The process was strongly criticized on June 30 by the chairman of Armenia’s Union of Architects, Mkrtich Minasian, who claimed that the new high-rise buildings emerging in downtown Yerevan are constructed with little government oversight and in violation of the existing safety and architectural norms.

Minasian said they are also at odds with the city center’s masterplan that was designed by Armenia’s most famous architect, Aleksandr Tamanian, during the 1920s and 1930s. It envisaged mainly five-story buildings made of tufa, a light volcanic stone widely used for construction in the mountainous country.

The redevelopment, initiated by President Robert Kocharian five years ago, will essentially yield two new avenues that will run through the heart of the city in place of old and decrepit houses. Danielian admitted that some of the expensive buildings already constructed there look like “monsters.”

[...]

Local press reports have identified senior officials in Kocharian’s staff and the government among the owners of those buildings. Danielian refused to comment on this, claiming that he does not know any of the owners personally.

The process has also been marred by allegations of foul play in the compensation of the owners of houses torn down to make room for the new properties. Many of the owners complain that the sums offered by the government are well below the prices of decent apartments in other parts of the city.

One day, the truth will be known and heads will roll. Until then, the full article can be read online here.

Tag: armenia | corruption

Talking of Minorities

2005-07-13T18:13:00.000+05:00

Yezidi, Armenia © Andrei Liankevich

Last month, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs granted a funding proposal that included support for the Photostory section of the Hetq Online web site. Unfortunately, because of the recent hacking attack, the site is down but that's only temporary. Anyway, the point is that after establishing and maintaining the section for over a year on a shoestring budget -- in fact, without one at all -- we now have the ability to commission and publish work from up and coming young photographers working on Armenian themes.

In the past few days, therefore, I've been scouring the internet and talking to as many people as I can to find out where this new breed of young photographers are. Unfortunately, as with almost everything in Armenia, there are few people who want to cooperate with others and allow them to take the limelight. Of course, key to this regrettable situation is money. Everybody wants it for themselves and certainly don't want it shared around.


Yezidi, Armenia © Andrei Liankevich

Thanks to a young Armenian now in Holland, however, the search is going well. Forever Child pointed me in the direction of a young female photographer in Armenia, Ani (Apples), who I met up with on Monday. Hetq has now commissioned her to shoot new work on the Molokan community in Armenia and also, one on gender issues. There has also been some impressive work from two non-Armenian photographers who until recently were resident in Armenia.

Andrei Liankevich is from Belarus and as part of his Caucasus Media Institute / World Press Photo project, concentrated on the Yezidi minority in Armenia. He sent me some of his work yesterday and it's truly fantastic. Hetq hopes to bring that to you all soon. A friend of Andrei's and also Ani's is Dominichka, a Pole who until last week lived and worked in Armenia. Although we're still discussing story ideas, I'm hoping that she'll consider submitting something on the small Polish community in Yerevan.

There's more but I'll leave that for another time. Meanwhile, life just got interesting again...

Tag: armenia | photography

Educating Minority Children

2005-07-13T17:44:00.000+05:00

Fioletovo, Lori Region, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian

By Onnik Krikorian / UNICEF Armenia

FIOLETOVO, Lori Region – It’s not often that you encounter a village that makes you feel like an “outsider” in Armenia but Fioletovo is one of the few that do – in every sense of the word. It’s not that the residents of this ethnically homogenous village made up of Russian Molokans don’t like visitors. It’s simply that their presence is not considered essential for this small community to survive and prosper.

The Molokans are Russians that split from the Russian Orthodox Church in the 17th Century. Fioletovo, a village inhabited by less than 1,500 people, is the largest community outside of Yerevan. Their total population in Armenia, however, stands at just 5,000 although 14 years earlier when independence was declared, there were approximately 12,000 Molokans living in the republic. Since then, most have left.

To call the community “closed” isn’t something of an overstatement. In fact, it’s not too far from the truth. Apart from venturing out of Fioletovo and nearby Lermontovo to sell their famous sauerkraut at market, the village instead resembles a traditional Russian enclave cut off from the rest of Armenia. You might even be forgiven for thinking you had entered a settlement somewhere deep in the heart of Russia.

In fact, many consider the Molokans as something akin to the Amish in the United States.

True, the Molokans use motorized vehicles but otherwise, alcohol is forbidden as is marriage outside the community. And, for the more strict adherents to the faith, so is television. Streets are impeccably clean with every other house sporting a fresh coat of paint. The men wear long beards that haven’t been cut in years while most of the women cover their heads. Their fiercely blonde and blue-eyed children are unable to communicate in any language other than Russian.

And herein lies the problem. As idyllic and refreshing as the scene might be, the situation in terms of education is just the opposite. In fact, according to a recent survey of education in national minority communities by the Hazarashen Armenian Centre of Ethnological Studies, “Molokans continue retaining [their] virtues over education and thus, the inertia of perceiving education as secondary continues.”

Finally, after some delay because of work on a book for UNICEF, the article was completed today, the full text of which is available here.

Tag: armenia | education

Golden Apricot Film Festival

2005-07-13T13:25:00.000+05:00

RFE/RL also reports that the renowned Canadian filmmaker of Armenian descent, Atom Egoyan, opened the second annual Golden Apricot Armenian Film Festival in Yerevan yesterday. Egoyan will also head the jury for the main competition.

A related news item in Azg also caught my eye. Another film director from the Diaspora, Robert Gedikyan, has also arrived in Armenia to shoot a film about the "real Armenia and Armenians."

I am well informed and know what's going on in Armenia. I think I have sufficient information about one of the most intolerable phenomena -- corruption," Gedikian says.

Meanwhile, in yesterday's RFE/RL Press Review, a pro-opposition newspaper touches upon this sensitive issue.

“In terms of the number of anti-corruption seminars and activities, Armenia is the first in the world, but that the scale of corruption here doesn’t decrease as a result,” laments “Haykakan Zhamanak.”

ArmeniaNow.com covered the festival on Friday and I know that journalists from Hetq Online are also attending. Unfortunately, however, the Hetq site is still down.

Tag: armenia | cinema | film

Opposition leader says "Karabakh Opposed to Phased Peace Deal"

2005-07-12T21:13:00.000+05:00

Aram Gaspar Sarkisyan, Opposition Rally, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia

Yesterday, RFE/RL reported that Armenia and Azerbaijan are "close to finalizing a peace deal" over the disputed mainly-Armenian populated territory of Nagorno Karabakh. Today, ArmeniaLiberty reports that a senior opposition figure says that the authorities in Stepanakert are opposed to the idea of a "phased peace deal."

Senior Armenian sources privy to the peace process have told RFE/RL that this formula is at the heart of a peace accord which is likely to be reached by Armenia and Azerbaijan. They said the deal calls for an independence referendum to be held in Karabakh within 10 to 15 years from the liberation of most of the Armenian-occupied lands in Azerbaijan proper and the restoration of economic links between the two neighbors.

A former foreign policy advisor to the Armenian President, Robert Kocharian, Aram Gaspar Sarkisyan says that he has discussed the details of the deal with the leadership of the breakaway and self-declared republic. Sarkisyan, now in opposition to Kocharian, is also reported to have warned that the demographics of Karabakh might change by then.

However, Armen Rustamian, a senior member of the nationalist Armenian Revolutionary Federation - Dashnaktsutiun (ARF-D), is reported to agree with the deal in principle. Dashnaktsutiun is part of the three-party coalition government loyal to Kocharian and appears to hold a surprisingly different view of the proposed peace deal than the opposition in Armenia.

“The main demand of the Armenian side is that the issue of Karabakh’s status be solved in accordance with the Artsakh people’s right to self-determination,” he told RFE/RL. “So we must achieve the realization of that right.”

“But we don’t have the remaining details,” he added. “As they say, the devil is in the details. A few concrete issues must be clarified. For example, the territory on which the referendum is to be held and the electorate that will take part in the vote.

Interestlingly, this seems at odds with the position of the Karabakh wing of the ARF-D. Last month, one of their party activists was reportedly beaten by the Minister of Defense and other high ranking Karabakh military officials after accusing them of cowardice out of their readiness to return territory outside of Karabakh proper in the event of a peace deal.

The full article can be read online here.

According to ArmInfo, the phased peace deal also deals with the issue of the Turkish-Armenian border. In the event of a peace deal, it reports, the border will be opened. Incidentally, as reported by PanArmenian.net, the OSCE Minsk co-chairs charged with the task of mediating between the two sides are due to arrive in Yerevan tomorrow from where they will also visit Stepanakert.

The mediators have already visited Baku.

Tag: armenia | azerbaijan | karabakh

Hetq Attacked by Hacker

2005-07-12T20:52:00.000+05:00

A1 Plus reports that one of the publications that I work for, Hetq Online, was indeed hacked on Friday 8 July. The site is still down but we hope that all will be restored soon. My gut feeling is that the reason for the hack was probably Edik Baghdasarian and Ara Manoogian's investigation into the trafficking of women from Armenia to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) but it's only that for now. The location of the hacker, if possible to pinpoint, will probably provide further clues.

Tag: armenia | internet | censorship | media

Karabakh Problem discussed in Georgia

2005-07-12T13:55:00.000+05:00

A1 Plus reports that a seminar entitled "The Possibilities and Prospects of Karabakh Conflict Settlement" started today in the neighboring Republic of Georgia. The seminar was organized by the International Crisis Group and will continue until 15 July.

Tag: armenia | azerbaijan | karabakh

Close (Again) to Karabakh Peace?

2005-07-12T00:25:00.000+05:00

Armenian Church Service held in a theatre, Stepanakert, Nagorno Karabakh © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 1994

RFE/RL reports that Armenia and Azerbaijan are close to finalizing a peace deal as early as the end of this year. While this sounds too fantastic, rumors to this effect have been circulating around Yerevan since the end of last year. In the spring, high profile public comments from the Armenian President and Defense Minister confirmed Yerevan's position that "painful concessions are necessary for peace" in order to achieve a final solution to the "frozen conflict" over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh.

The details of the proposed peace deal reported here match precisely the rumors that have been circulating since November 2004, and according to RFE/RL, have effectively been confirmed by anonymous sources in the Armenian government.

The high-level sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, have told RFE/RL that the conflicting parties have already agreed on the key points of a peace deal that could be formalized as early as this year or at the beginning of next. At the heart of it, they say, is the idea of a referendum in which the Karabakh Armenians will decide whether they want to be independent, become a part of Armenia or return under Azerbaijani rule.

Some Armenian and Western officials have hinted at the possibility of such a vote over the past year that has seen major progress toward the resolution of the Karabakh dispute. Presidents Ilham Aliev and Robert Kocharian could build upon it at their next meeting scheduled to take place in the Russian city of Kazan on August 27.

The Armenian sources claimed that the referendum would be held within 10 to 15 years from the signing of a peace agreement and would follow the return of five of the seven occupied Azerbaijani districts around Karabakh. They said the Lachin district, which serves as the shortest overland link between Armenia and Karabakh, would remain under Armenian control, while agreement has yet to be reached on the seventh occupied territory, Kelbajar. The Armenians are ready to pull out of Kelbajar only after a date is set for the referendum, while the Azerbaijani side is demanding its liberation along with the five other districts, the sources said.

Of course, being close to peace and actually getting there are two entirely different things but it has to be said that the feeling among those privy to some of the details have been very optimistic about a peace deal since eary 2005. However, as with the Key West talks held in 2001, it remains to be seen how political forces in Azerbaijan will react to this news – if true – so close to the November Parliamentary Elections. Interestingly, Itar-Tass reports that "political consultations" were held on resolution of the Karabagh conflict in Baku today.

The full news item can be read online here.

On the subject of Lachin, a photo essay I shot there can be found online here as well as photos taken soon after the 1994 ceasefire. There is also an article I wrote for Transitions Online on settlement in Lachin available on my web site.

Tag: armenia | azerbaijan | karabakh

Hetq.am Hacked?

2005-07-11T13:26:00.000+05:00

It would appear that this weekend, someone hacked into the web site of Hetq Online, one of the publications I work for in Armenia, and it is now temporarily unavailable. Of course, with Edik Baghdasarian's hard hitting investigative journalism, it's no wonder that this would happen. In November, for example, the car belonging to the editor of the Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper, Nikol Pashinian, was firebombed allegedly by MP, oligarch and former arm wrestler, Gagik Tsarukian (AKA Dodi Gago) in probable retaliation against the paper's reprinting of some of Edik's articles.

Of course, the businessman who is considered by some analysts to be a front for the business interests of two senior government officials, denied the allegations.

It's difficult to say what has exactly happened for now until Hetq investigates further but given the high profile investigation into the trafficking of women from Armenia to the United Arab Emirates which also includes allegations that members of the Armenian and UAE government are somehow involved, the "sudden disappearance" of the site comes at an interesting and convenient time. Thankfully, however, many – if not all – of those articles are available on Ara Manoogian's blog over at Martuni or Bust.

In the meantime, I shall be seeing Edik later today and will keep you updated on any new developments.

Tag: armenia | internet | censorship | media

The land of tortured souls

2005-07-11T10:28:00.000+05:00

Psychiatric patient at home, Chambarak, Gegharkunik Region, Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia

Yesterday, the UK's The Sunday Times published a harrowing account by author DBC Pierre of reality as it can be experienced in Armenia. Spending time with the Belgium wing of Médecins Sans Frontières, the writer visited the economically depressed border regions of Armenia to look at the situation of the mentally disabled living in already vulnerable communities. Unfortunately, many of the scenes and stories he describes are true.

More than a decade after the announcement of ceasefire, much of Armenia still lives in a state of poverty, her infrastructure in decay. Pensions, when they're paid, amount to little over $6 a month, yet fuel costs approach those in the United States. A young republic for the third time in her history, Armenia has no mineral resources to speak of and relies heavily on diaspora Armenians for support. She struggles to find the tools to clear the mess that the 1980s lobbed into her house. In a world intent on the immediacy of conflict, on the savage, newsworthy glamour of unfolding crises, this forgotten place seems a bitter taste of things to come. The taste of a chronic, festering aftermath.

[...]

Not far from the house with the missile sits the border town of Chambarak, comfortably settled into the folds of a high valley. The town is a mixture of rusticity and post-Soviet neglect, an occasional apartment block rising between traditional houses of lava and stone, and smatterings of hay and dung. Some windowsills sport old US Aid tins as flowerpots or buckets, souvenirs of support long gone. A nutty haze of dung smoke hangs over Chambarak, from ubiquitous solid-fuel heaters like large, iron shoe boxes with stovepipes attached. The market building is a vacant shell, attended every day by a crowd of heavily-wrapped men doing nothing and talking about doing nothing. Only one trader is there, selling twigs for broomsticks. 'There used to be nearly 100% employment here,' says a man. 'Now, it's nearly 100% unemployment. Every day there are five funerals, but never a birth.'

[...]

© Psychiatric patient at home, Lchashen, Gegharkunik Region, Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia

Hamest and her husband are mentally retarded. So are their children. And their life's routine after the door closes behind us is one of unthinkable abuse. Hamest's husband often trades their bread for vodka and drinks with other men in the building, often in that tiny room. He regularly beats Hamest, and there is reason to suspect her daughters suffer sexual abuse at the hands of the men. Hamest's mother is dead, and she has lost all contact with the family she knew when she fled Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, in 1990. She is utterly powerless.

MSF provides Hamest with a grant for electricity, and its psychologist tries to convince her to send her adolescent daughter to a boarding facility, away from the horrors of home. But Hamest is afraid she will lose her daughter as well. I retire from the building with questions. Not least, what are the odds of a mentally handicapped couple finding each other, and going on to raise a handicapped family?

[...]

I learn that when Hamest's husband is out, ranking soldiers from the local base come to the hostel for sex. The kindlier officers might sometimes leave a bag of pasta, or a loaf of bread, for her troubles. The hostel's inhuman feel palls over me. I'm staying in a Soviet apartment in Chambarak, without running water, and with intermittent power. The snow at its entrance has compacted into grey ice, and a puddle of bright blood - hopefully from a freshly killed animal - gilds its shine. Suddenly, it is relative luxury.

[...]

Next day, in nearby Martuni, I meet the region's chief psychiatrist. His office is in a seemingly deserted polyclinic that stands alone in the snow, winds howling through its open concrete foyer. It's bitterly cold inside. No power here either, and the building seems largely empty; only debris and litter are visible through darkened doorways. A nurse ushers us into the office. When Dr Mikayel Kahramanyan arrives, he goes to a cabinet at the back of the room and produces plates of freshly sliced fruit, nuts, chocolate, soft drinks. And brandy. It's 10.30am.

[...]

He agrees there are many institutionalised patients who could be released. But he says the country is still dealing with Soviet structures, and with cultural attitudes. In Armenia, a psychiatrist's report is needed to obtain many types of certificate and licence, including a driver's licence. People won't come forward for treatment, as a psychiatric file would blight them for life. Families shun members with psychoses, and if sufferers aren't committed by their families, they eventually come to the attention of police.

[...]

I met many people in the southern Caucasus. Maybe, notwithstanding psychoses brought about by the trauma of war and dislocation, there are no more mental disabilities here than anywhere else. But a great stigma is placed on mental disorder here, and it attaches to anyone within reach of a sufferer. Lesser conditions, such as depression and anxiety, are ignored. And this dynamic forms the heart of Van Baelen's project. He has started on the task of de-stigmatisation.

The children of a psychiatric patient at home, Chambarak, Gegharkunik Region, Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia

The article also details the recent history of Chambarak. If being situated on the border with Azerbaijan wasn't enough thanks to the added problems of landmines, people suffered greatly during the war. As in other border regions of Armenia, such as in north-eastern Tavoush, they still suffer greatly today. I travelled to Chambarak with MSF-Belgium last year as part of my ongoing project on poverty in Armenia which also included a component on mental health. Along with other international organizations, MSF-Belgium is doing something in the border regions of Armenia but not nearly enough simply because finances are lacking.

Now that's somewhere where I would like to see the Diaspora invest its time and resources. For anyone interested, the article also lists details of how you can donate to MSF-Beligium's work in Armenia.Anyway, the full article can be read online here. There are also some related photographs of psychiatric institutions in Armenia in Macromedia Flash format here.

Tag: armenia | poverty | mental health

Kocharian Sends Condolences to British PM after London Bombings

2005-07-09T12:50:00.000+05:00

The Arka News Agency reports that the Armenian President, Robert Kocharian, has sent his condolences to the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, after this week's terrorist attack on London.

"We understand that these barbaric activities were directed against the whole of humanity and condemn terrorism in all kinds of its disposition. Please, accept profound condolences on behalf of the whole Armenian nation and personally from me."


© Edmond Terakopian, AP, 2005/07/07

In related news, PanArmenian.net reports that the Armenian Defense Minister, Serzh Sarkisyan, says that it is unlikely that Armenia will ever become a target for international terrorists.

When commenting on the statement spread by the “Secret Organization of al Qaeda in Europe," which contained threat for the crusader-states, Serge Sargsian said “Armenia has never considered itself to be a crusader-state. He also stated that the law enforcers keep the situation under control and noted the importance of Armenia's participation in the anti-terror coalition.

Even so, a few months before 9/11, security at the U.S. Embassy in Armenia had been stepped up and the new British Embassy in Yerevan has also been built like a fortress. The problem is that nobody ever seems to know where terrorists are going to strike next. Certainly, the embassies and other international missions here have been taking security very seriously for many years.

Anyway, one of my friends in London, Edmond Terakopian, another British citizen of Armenian descent, is busy photographing the tragedy for Associated Press. In his last email to me sent yesterday, he sounds exhausted. I have to be honest and say that this is one time I'm glad I'm not back home.

Tag: armenia | london | london explosions | terrorism

antitrafficking.am

2005-07-09T12:25:00.000+05:00

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Armenia has announced the launch of an updated anti-trafficking web site, http://www.antitrafficking.am. It is targeted towards the dissemination of information internally to Armenia and is only available in Armenian.

The website provides general information on trafficking, overview of the situation internationally and locally, relevant international and domestic legislation, description of actions undertaken by the Armenian authorities, local and international organisations to combat trafficking in Armenia. The web resource features a News section, links to partner organisations, video materials (public service announcements), Feedback and Poll, where visitors can answer various questions on trafficking. The website is constantly being updated with up-to-date information on efforts to prevent trafficking, protect victims, and prosecute traffickers in Armenia.

It's a pity that there is no English and/or Russian version of the site so that others can monitor what the situation is in Armenia. However, for that, I'm sure the work of Edik Baghdasarian and Ara Manoogian at Hetq, as well as Arpine Harutyunyan at ArmeniaNow.com, can fulfill that need. Talking of Ara Manoogian, the US citizen of Armenian descent who now lives in Nagorno Karabagh has some harsh words on the government's anti-trafficking "efforts" over at Martuni or Bust.

The information we had right after Lucine arrived to Armenia was that she visited with the prosecutor’s office and paid a $150,000 bribe to clear her “debts.”

Last years trial of mother pimp Nano and her gang at least put them behind bars for a few months, probably because for the 5 traffickers, they only paid $300,000 to the prosecutor’s office ($60,000 each).

[...]

Though I was hoping that this time the prosecutor’s office would do the right thing, I’m glad they showed their true colors and did what they do best and that is to help criminals like themselves continue to commit crimes against our people.

Ara's blog can be found online here.

Tag: armenia | trafficking | uae | dubai | corruption

UNICEF Book Ready

2005-07-08T22:35:00.000+05:00

Finally, although I think I've said that before, the book I wrote, photographed, illustrated and designed for UNICEF in Armenia is now ready for printing. Despite two power cuts today, I managed to get the final version of the artwork to the printhouse in Yerevan this afternoon. If we're lucky, the book will be available from UNICEF for potential donors after 16 July. If not, it will definitely be ready at the beginning of August. Some of the articles from the book can be read in the journalism section of my website.

This is my second book this year, following on from Armenia: Poverty, Transition & Democracy which was published by the US/UK Gomidas Institute in January. Although there has been little to no interest from the Diaspora, I'm glad to say that it has been well received by the heads of various international organizations and NGOs such as Lise Grande, residential representative of the United Nations in Armenia, Sheldon Yett, representative of UNICEF in Armenia, Brian Kearney, Chief of Party of the Armenian Social Transition Program (ASTP) - PADCO, as well as Amalia Kostanyan, Chairperson of Transparency International in Armenia.

And if she's reading this blog, I haven't forgotten Sona Ayvazian, the Environmental Policy Expert / Project Director of CRD/TI and yes, Sona, I will definitely get you that second copy of the book this week! BTW: Your involvement in the recent Shikahogh campaign was impressive and I'm glad that people concerned about the rule of law and environmental protection finally won.

And with that, as I've got one article to write for UNICEF as well as some editing work to finish off, this might be the last blog I make until Monday. Then again, blogging is so damn addictive that you never know. Depends what happens over the weekend.

Tag: armenia | books

U.S. Continues Large Scale Assistance to Armenia

2005-07-08T21:45:00.000+05:00

Emil Danielyan again writes for the Jamestown Foundation's Eurasia Daily Monitor but this time on U.S. assistance to Armenia. While the U.S. Government has declared that financial assistance to countries such as Armenia is reliant on democratic progress, even George W. Bush has to contend with the powerful clout of the Armenian Diaspora.

Reflecting the influence of the Armenian community in the United States, the U.S. Congress is blocking yet another attempt by the White House to sizably cut long-running American assistance to Armenia. The small South Caucasus state is thus due to remain one of the world's leading per-capita recipients of U.S. economic aid, more than $1.6 billion since 1992.

[...]

The Bush administration clearly had to reckon with the Armenian community's clout when it included Armenia last year in the list of 17 developing nations eligible for additional multimillion-dollar assistance under Washington's Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) program. Neighboring Georgia was the only other ex-Soviet state selected for the scheme, which is designed to promote political and economic reform around the world.

Georgia is increasingly emerging as a U.S. bulwark in the South Caucasus, due to its new leadership's pro-Western foreign policy. Still, it may get less American economic aid in 2006 than Armenia, which continues to be seen as Russia's key regional ally. Furthermore, close defense links with Moscow have not prevented Yerevan from securing over $20 million in U.S. military assistance since 2002. It is expected to make up at least $5.75 million in fiscal year 2006.

The full article can be read here.

In related news, Emil writes for Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty that Kirk Kerkorian, the U.S. billionaire of Armenian descent is set to give Armenia $60 million for infrastructure projects in Armenia. To date, Kerkorian has given in excess of $150 million to the government although many NGOs and investigative journalists involved in monitoring corruption in Armenia allege that only part of that money is actually spent.

Kerkorian’s decision to continue his multimillion-dollar assistance to Armenia was for months anticipated by the country’s cash-strapped government. It was announced less than two months after the reclusive tycoon’s unexpected visit to Yerevan during which he met President Robert Kocharian and received Armenia’s highest state award from the latter.

Kerkorian also inspected streets in the city center and roads outside it that were rebuilt with his money. He was reportedly satisfied with what he saw.

According to one activist, however, Kerkorian's Lincy Foundation has even stated in private that as long as some of the money is spent, they're happy. Not sure I buy into that argument. Think just how much progress there could be if transparency and accountability were in place.

While that article can be read here, the Armenian government can still manage to ruffle a few feathers. In another article co-penned by Danielyan, the World Bank is reported to be furious with news that the Armenian electricity distribution network has been sold to a state-run Russian company.

The normally reserved World Bank official was visibly angry as he commented on the uncertainty surrounding the fate of one of Armenia’s largest and most profitable companies. “Has the formal process of requesting permission and receiving approval from the government of Armenia and the Public Service Regulatory Commission gone on?” he asked. “To my knowledge, no.”

“Any change in the beneficial ownership of ENA has to be approved by the government of Armenia and the Public Service Regulatory Commission,” Robinson stressed. “If you have a law, follow the law. If you have a license agreement, follow the license agreement. And let’s do this in an open and transparent way.”

Seems like I'm not the only one fed up with waiting for the law to actually function in Armenia, believing that accountability and transparency is sorely needed in the country. The article can be read here.

Tag: armenia | corruption | democracy

Armenia Now Roundup

2005-07-08T21:27:00.000+05:00

The weekly online magazine, Armenianow.com, has two articles of particular note this week. The former Hetq Online trainee and now ArmeniaNow.com staff reporter, Arpine Harutyunyan, writes on trafficking, but with a twist. As we know, although generally forget, trafficking is not just about sex. It's also about illegal migration, illegaly working abroad, international adoption and it can also affect men.

And while the stories in Vanadzor grew more fanciful that Arthur got married, he was bed-ridden through illness; he couldn’t get his salary to return to Armenia.

In fact, 40-year-old Arthur Aloyan was a victim of trafficking in Ufa, the capital of Bashkortostan (a republic in the East of Russia’s European part). Forced labor is defined by the United Nations as one form of trafficking under a protocol adopted in 2000 that also covers exploitation through prostitution, slavery, and the trade in human organs.

[...]

By late 2002, Arthur left for Ufa with 39 other men from Vandzor, including his brother-in-law Arman and his friend Georgy Gevorgyan, all hoping to be able to send money home. But the doors of slavery opened before them when they arrived.

“They took our passports away at the very beginning to put us under their total control. They made us work from morning till late night and didn’t give us a penny. We ate only macaroni, and slept in cold and wet rooms on bare beds. People say they kept us like slaves,” recalls Arthur.

http://www.armenianow.com/eng/?go=pub&id=1072

Of as much concern, and as I blogged earlier, the Human Rights Ombudsperson (at last, a publication that is politically correct), Larissa Alaverdyan, is facing significant pressure against her office. Although considered impotent because she was a presidential appointee, her firm stand on a number of issues has incurred the wrath of many in government, including the president. Thankfully, however, a number of others are jumping to her defense.

Vazgen Manukyan, chairman of the National Democratic Union (NDU) declared: “Knowing Robert Kocharyan well I can say that he does not tolerate the disobedience of subordinates. In reality, the authorities committed infringements against the institution of the Ombudsperson and everybody.”

On June 16, John Evans, the United States Ambassador to Armenia, visited the Ombudsperson’s Office and presented it with a computer, saying that he would support her activities. Ambassadors of European countries met Alaverdyan at the French Embassy on June 24 and expressed their solidarity with her.
http://www.armenianow.com/eng/?go=pub&amp;id=1070

Other stories from ArmeniaNow.com can be accessed through the main page.

Tag: armenia | democracy | human rights | trafficking

Being Yezidi

2005-07-08T19:21:00.000+05:00

A Moslem Kurd helps a young Yezidi girl prepare for an event in Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia

Yannis, who describes himself as "as a foreigner in an ex-soviet country of transition" has very kindly linked to an article I wrote on the division within the Yezidi minority in Armenia for Transitions Online last year.

The Yezidi community is the largest ethnic minority in Armenia even though it numbers just a few tens of thousands of adherents. Although their precise number worldwide is unknown, the followers of this ancient religion are spread throughout Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, and, as recent immigrants and refugees, Germany.

Widely misconceived as "devil worship," Yezidism in fact combines elements from Zoroastrianism, Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. Yet despite the widespread belief that they are also ethnic Kurds who resisted pressure to convert to Islam, there have been attempts in Armenia to identify the Yezidis as a separate ethnic group since the last years of Soviet rule.

Soviet-style demography, which determined communal identity based on language and largely ignored religion, identified the Yezidis and Muslim Kurds living in Armenia together as members of the same ethnic group. But by 1988, during the period of glasnost, some of Armenia's Yezidi religious and political leaders began to challenge this notion and the "Yezidi Movement" was formed.

Coincidentally, I met with a visiting British Lecturer in Kurdish from INALCO in Paris yesterday. She is in Yerevan to research the oral history traditions of the Yezidi minority in Armenia and, after reading my work on the Yezidi minority since 1998, wanted to speak to me specifically about this issue. Also coincidentally, I have to write a long-overdue article for UNICEF on the subject of national minority education in Armenia.

And it is language that might prove to be the most vexing problem facing the community in Armenia. According to Hranush Kharatyan, head of the government's department for national minorities and religious affairs, so significant is the issue that it is now "the most actual problem existing among national minorities in Armenia."

When the Armenian government considered ratifying Kurmanji as the name for the language spoken by the Yezidis and Kurds, for example, emotions ran high and Kharatyan says she was accused and threatened by both sides. In particular, she says, Yezidi spiritual leaders demanded that their language instead be classified as "Yezidi" even if in private they acknowledge that it is Kurmanji.

Unable to satisfy both sides of the community, the government ratified both Yezidi and Kurdish under the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages. Although there is a sizeable but still-unknown number of Yezidis who consider themselves Kurds, there are just as many who do not. As a result, says Kharatyan, the government was right not to come down on one side or the other.

Not surprisingly, the division within the Yezidi minority, and especially in the area of language, has once again raised its head. That article will probably be available sometime next week so until then, the article I wrote for Transitions Online can be read online here. There's also a photo story in Macromedia Flash I shot at a recent Yezidi event here.

Tag: armenia

London Blast by Edmond Terakopian

2005-07-08T18:53:00.000+05:00

Just found this photo from yesterday's terrorist attack in London by my good friend, Edmond Terakopian, on The Guardian web site. After emailing people I know from when I lived in London, I'm glad to say that none were caught in the blasts. Unfortunately, however, Edmond has never been busier shooting for AP. It's probably an assignment he could have done without.

Another friend, an academic in London, wrote me an email from which I think this is the most poignant part:

My first reaction was: it's ordinary people that get caught up in this shit. The no. 30 bus comes from the East End into town and would have been full of East End working folk. Not soldiers, not politicians, not big shots; probably plenty of blacks and Asians, old and young, all shafted.

Incidentally, Edmond's web site, which I put together, can be found online here

Massive hunt for London bombers

2005-07-08T13:04:00.000+05:00

The BBC reports that "A massive intelligence investigation is under way to find those responsible for the bomb attacks in London which killed at least 37 and left 700 injured."

As always, full coverage can be read online here.

More Diasporan Myopia?

2005-07-07T21:51:00.000+05:00

The Christian Youth Mission to Armenia have posted a blog by Diasporan Armenians volunteering in the Republic. Lovely idea. Unfortunately, however, incredibly naieve. I can forgive them that, of course, straight off the plane and blinded by the sight of Ararat on a clear day. What I can't forgive, however, is that my comments on one blog do not appear and I am now on "moderation." Again, fine if I had been offensive but instead I pointed out how they were wrong. The reason was a blog by Anahid Ovanessoff, a member of the CYMA Executive Committee, on the health sector in Armenia.

The nurses with whom I work, only make $55 a month…A MONTH!!… and they work longer hours and more days than the nurses in America… some of their shifts being from 9 am one day till 5 pm the next day…most of them working 5 or more days a week. Regardless, I really feel like the people here try not to dwell on the fact that they have such hardships and instead appreciate life, taking into account the wonderful things that they do have.

Sorry to burst your bubble, Anahid, but in fact, no nurse in Armenia makes only $55 a month. There is a system of “informal payments” in the medical sector that means that treatment that should be free by law isn’t. As an example, although treatment for children under the age of 7 are entitle to free treatment, it never happens. In one morning alone at a Yerevan hospital I saw 20 families pay a doctor $250 each for a 15 minute hernia operation on their children aged less than 3 years old that should be free. In half a day, over $5,000 entered the shadow economy and was distributed among the doctors and nurses as well as going higher on up in the chain.

As a result, according to official statistics, ony 1 in 3 Armenians seeks medical treatment. Of course, it’s a Catch-22 situation. If salaries are low, corruption flourishes and because it does, and as the economy is weak, the state budget can’t increase salaries in the public sector sufficiently to stamp out corruption. Incidentally, even payments that should be made end up in the shadow. Instead of going through a system of official paperwork they are paid into the hands of doctors and nurses and as a result, hospitals can not be kept in sufficient shape.

It’s a huge issue in Armenia. I recently heard of one case from an international worker here that when a local friend of his was recruited by a hospital, salary $50-100, she was then expected to pay her department head $1,000 on her first day of work. I think that gives you an indication of how much money is unofficially going through the system. Anyway, there’s an interesting document on this subject by the Armenian International Policy Research Group available for anyone to read.

In fact, the situation is well known and even made a story on RFE/RL in February.

Public healthcare, which is only partly subsidized by the state, remains effectively off limits to the majority of Armenia’s population hamstrung by poverty and especially rampant corruption among medical personnel.

Government research, backed up by anecdotal evidence, indicates that most Armenians suffering from various illnesses continue to turn to doctors as a last resort, when hospitalization becomes their only chance of survival.

The thriving practice of informal payments at virtually every government-funded hospital or policlinic means they remain reluctant to seek even those medical services that are officially free of charge. According to the most recent household survey conducted by the National Statistical Service in 2003, only one in three people with health problems visit a medical facility.

However, Anahid goes on to say how most Armenians live humble lives and it is only Americans who extravagantly flaunt their wealth. True, but she obviously has yet to see the motorcades of the oligarchs made up of Hummers, or the mansions and cafes built by government officials. Go out towards Abovian, Anahid, and take a look at Gagik Tsarukian's (AKA Dodi Gago) “palace” on the hill? Yet, every year, his businesses which include Kotayk beer, post losses. Armenia is also one of the most socially polarized countries in the world.

Up until an hour ago, I had been telling locals and the more astute Diasporans around about this blog entry I encountered this morning. I said that I don't begrudge these guys for not being able to see past their rose-tinted glasses. However, as my comments posted at 9.30am today have been effectively censored it now has to be said that this sort of approach does nobody any favors in Armenia.

If anything, at a time when international organizations and local NGOs are attempting to tackle corruption in the medical sector and tax avoidance elsewhere, it only exasperates the problem.

Hardly Christian now, is it guys?

Tag: armenia | diaspora | corruption | health

Armenian Human Rights Defender Online

2005-07-07T20:33:00.000+05:00

A1 Plus reports that the web site of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, more commonly knowns as the Ombudsman, is now online at http://www.ombuds.am. The launch of the site comes at an interesting time with Larissa Alaverdyan, appointed by the President to the position in March 2004, coming under significant pressure to curb her powers.

In one case, the ombudsman highlighted a human rights abuse when the mayor of Yerevan auctioned off a plot of land that was still on valid lease, and the tenant’s rights had not been terminated. The mayor’s office described the ombudsman’s actions as “unconstitutional," and told her to stay away from property matters.

Alaverdian was similarly rebuffed by the legal department of the president’s office when she questioned the validity of government actions in a property dispute, when citizens’ property was forfeited and land was seized for the needs of two ambitious government construction programmes, the Northern Prospekt and Cascade in central Yerevan.

Stepan Safarian, an analyst with the Armenian Centre for Strategic and Ethnic Studies, believes that the Armenian authorities had expected their ombudsman to be more obedient and were now trying to make her so. “Whether the law was good or bad is beside the point. What matters is that Armenia got an ombudsman, who proceeded to insist on certain freedoms,” he said.

Safarian recalled how in April 2004, when an opposition demonstration was brutally dispersed by the police in central Yerevan, the ombudsman put the government in an awkward position by claiming its actions were unconstitutional and demanding an explanation from the president.

“The president appealed to the constitutional court because he did not like this new institution which could influence the routine, conveyor-belt administration of justice, making the outcome less predictable,” said Safarian.

Even so, the launch of the web site is a positive step. There's just one problem. Will citizens make appeals online when the security and confidentiality of the information they submit is now questionable? In fact, this is the case for any appeal against human rights abuses in Armenia, as Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty reported yesterday. However, that's probably the least of the Ombudsman's problems at the moment.

Alaverdian faced another embarrassment shortly afterward when one of her employees was arrested on bribery charges. Immediately after the arrest the National Security Service (NSS) controversially raided the ombudsman’s office in Yerevan and confiscated its main computer that contained information on individuals filing human rights complaints. The information is meant to be strictly confidential under Armenian law.

Alaverdian publicly condemned the NSS actions at the time. She charged the authorities are seeking to tarnish her and her agency’s reputation in retaliation for its recent criticism of last year’s government crackdown on the Armenian opposition.

BTW: It's interesting to note that although the first Human Rights Defender in Armenia is a woman, rather than refer to her as the Ombudsperson, she is still referred to as the Ombudsman.

Tag: armenia | democracy | human rights

London Hit by Terrorist Attacks

2005-07-07T18:50:00.000+05:00

Nothing to do with Armenia, but as a British citizen who lived in London for six years before moving to Yerevan, the latest news on the terrorist attack on the capital can be found on the BBC's web site. I remember living in London at a time of IRA bomb attacks but like many others, thought that we'd never see anything like this again from any hostile group, especially with heightened security since 9/11.

Democracy Guy has just posted news that The Guardian newspaper is blogging the attacks here.

Shevardnadze Interview

2005-07-07T09:13:00.000+05:00

Registan.net introduces us to a new interview with the former Georgian President, Eduard Shevardnadze by the english language Russian paper, Mosnews. Registan's preamble can be read online, with a link to the interview itself, here.

Tag: tbilisi | russia

Change To Come For Armenia’s Constitution?

2005-07-06T17:45:00.000+05:00

Eurasianet also has an article on the imminent ammendment of the Armenian Constitution. Doesn't say anything new but condenses everything into a readable and understandable form. It can be read online here.

Tag: armenia | democracy | constitution

Constitution Day

2005-07-05T13:42:00.000+05:00

5 July is Constitution Day and this year marks its 10th Anniversary in Armenia. It's a national holiday and many people were given the opportunity to work on Saturday so that they could take yesterday off as well as today. However, most of the shops around my way are still open which is pretty much normal even for New Year and Christmas (6 January). Regardless, PanArmenian.net carries congratulations to the nation from the Armenian President.

“Within the past decade our Constitution has demonstrated its viability and has pointed out the way to overcome the hardest situations. The Organic Law of our country is the major guarantor of civil accord, rule of law and stability. At this stage the process of constitutional reforms has ripened and reached its final phase. Much work has been done to that end by state bodies, political forces and specialists. We have also made international commitments thereupon. I am sure that the natural course of reforms of the Constitution is of high importance for the progress of our country.”

The Catholicos of all Armenians has also issued his address.

“On the day of the adoption of the Constitution our souls admitted the rule of the values and principles, which must bring our country to prosperity and strong state organization. We are convinced that the values of right and humanity in our society should strengthen and yield fruit as the expression of our Christian identity and traditions, as the evidence of hopes for happy future. In the course of centuries our people strived to secure and lawful life and free creation," the statement says.

Strange. I never realized constitutions had anything to do with Christianity but regardless, this year is probably more significant than its ever been with constitutional ammendments scheduled for November. The ammendments are part of the deal that clinched Armenia's accession to the Council of Europe in 2001. They were also apparently part of President Kocharian's campaign promises.

Nonetheless, there is little or no discussion in Armenian society and the process itself has been controversial to say the least. The opposition had threatened to turn the referendum on the ammendments into a vote of no confidence in the President but may back off from such an idea now that three key issues are to be incorporated into the final draft. However, the former ruling party, the Armenian Pan-National Movement (HHSh), is still very much against the changes.

Of course, the point is that it should be up to the people to decide whether the draft ammendments are passed or not rather than internal and international political forces. However, if that's the case, then there also needs to be discussion within Armenian society of which there is clearly very little. On a brighter note, however, it is promising to see that today in Vanadzor, the Helsinki Citizen's Assembly are staging an event to raise public awareness.

Studying the course of constitutional changes in the Republic of Armenia, as well as considering the constitutional reforms very important as a process directed to the formation of a democratic and legal state “Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor office” NGO appeals to all the citizens, NGOs, political parties, means of mass media, which consider their own rights and freedoms important to take part in the public action which will take place on July 5, at 13:00 in “Artsakh” park. It aims at awareness raising among Vanadzor residents on the constitutional reforms held in Armenia. During the event, the rock group “Vordan Karmir” will be present there with a concert program.

They've even held a telephone poll of 250 residents of Armenia's third largest city. The results are not encouraging. Even though today is a national holiday, over 70 per cent do not know why and when asked about the current constitution, nearly 60 per cent are unaware of their constitutional rights. More information is available on the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly of Vanadzor web site. In related news, A1 Plus reports that the former residents of what will become Northern Avenue protested outside the presidential palace before marching on the Constitutional Court.

“The Constitution does not exist. Today, by decree of the government a white genocide is perpetrated," one of the protesters said. Raffi K. Hovannisian, chairman of Heritage party and Ombudsman Larisa Alaverdyan were the only officials to approach the people. They told they share the anxiety of the demonstrators and agree with their claims.

According to another report by A1 Plus, Hovannisian was one of a handful of people attending a celebration at the Constitutional Court (CC). The Chairman of the CC presented his new book, “Constitutional Culture, Lessons of History and Modern Challenges” to an audience outnumbered by those protesting outside.

Anyway, happy Constitution Day, not that anyone -- including state officials -- really knows what it means. Incidentally, Raffi Hovannisian -- the republic's first Foreign Minister and a US-born American citizen who was denied Armenian citizenship until recently because both the current and former president fear his potential political clout -- has launched his party's web site at http://www.heritage.am.

Heritage, a National Liberal Party, is national by its roots, liberal in its economic principle, and an advocate of the democratic system of governance and due process for its citizens. The party's objective is the development of Armenia as a democratic, lawful, and rights-based country that anchors its domestic and foreign policies in the nation's sovereign interest.

The English version of the Heritage web site is available here.

UPDATE: 8.41 pm

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty's Armenia Service also carries news of the tenth anniversary of the Armenian Constitution here. Unfortunately, however, the whole issue is now getting even more heavily politicized at a time when the public as well as the government show no basic understanding of what the constitution and the rule of law means. Even so, the situation is one of Armenia's own making and it is ultimately up to society to decide so let's hope someone engages them in the matter ASAP.

Tag: armenia | democracy | constitution

Carnival of the Revolutions

2005-07-05T00:01:00.000+05:00

Oneworld Multimedia will be hosting the Carnival of Revolutions on 10 October 2005 just in time for the local elections in Armenia. Not that anything much is expected to happen here apart from increased friction in the ruling coalition but it will nevertheless make an interesting addition to the weekly roundup of democratic news from around the globe. Incidentally, this week's Carnival of Revolutions is already online over at registan.net.

Tag: armenia | democracy

Up in Vanadzor

2005-07-04T22:22:00.000+05:00

Garo, AKA Christian Garbis, has just blogged about his frequent visits to Vanadzor, the third largest city in the Republic of Armenia that was also hit by the 1988 earthquake and which seems to have been forgotten by many people here as well as in the Diaspora who pay more attention to Yerevan, Gyumri and Spitak. Nevertheless, despite the problems, it is a nice city although of course, there are still a sizeable number of IDPs living in domiks (temporary metal containers) although not as many as there used to be.

Vanadzor is located in the Lori region, about 110 kilometers north of Yerevan, and is the third largest city in Armenia, Gyumri being the second largest. The name of the city was changed not surprisingly shortly after Armenia’s sovietization to Kirovakan, after Sergei Kirov, who was a Bolshevik revolutionary and as a Red Army soldier helped defeat the anti-Bolshevik forces in the South Caucasus back in 1920. The name was changed back to Vanadzor after independence, although the city is mainly known as Kirovakan, and people from the city are referred to as “Kirovakantsi.” There are two ways to get there from Yerevan: by way of Aparan, which is shorter, or through Dilijan via Sevan. The scenery along the latter route is spectacular to say the least, especially around Dilijan.

Anyway, despite the problems, I do like Vanadzor and have been up recently to take photographs of the Integrated Social Services Center (ISSC), to look at a model kindergarten, to visit Molokan villages outside of the city proper, and last weekend I even accompanied the kids from the Vanadzor Children's Home to Water World in Yerevan. Some things are happening up there but even so, I haven't been frequently enough to really say. Certainly, I haven't spent more than a few hours in the city which is why I'm grateful to Garo for his account.

Even so, it's always interesting for me at least to remember that Vanadzor is considered a center for human rights and contemporary popular music which means, of course, I should really go and spend more time there. Anyway, Garo's post on Vanadzor can be read online here.

Tag: armenia | vanadzor

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Discusses Karabakh

2005-07-04T21:12:00.000+05:00

A1 Plus reports that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is holding its Parliamentary Assembly in Washington. Not surprisingly, the ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh appeared to be high on the agenda.

Swedish MP Göran Lennmarker, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Special Representative on the Nagorno Karabakh Conflict, today presented his report to Heads of Delegations to the OSCE PA. The Report spells out his ideas on how to promote a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict within the ongoing OSCE Minsk peace process.

The conflict between the Armenians and Azerbaijanis over the region of Nagorno Karabakh broke out more than a decade ago, leaving territories occupied and resulting in displaced people living under miserable conditions on both sides. Although a ceasefire was established in 1994, the conflict remains unsolved.

Mr. Lennmarker stresses that "the conflict is not frozen. Several people are killed along the line-of-contact every year." He adds: "there is no alternative to a peaceful solution - in fact there is an urgent need to solve the conflict in order to end the personal, economic, and social suffering on both sides of this conflict."

According to Lenmarker, communication between the two parliamentary delegations within the framework of the OSCE should be encouraged. "Once a peace agreement has been finalized by the two Governments, the parliamentary dimension becomes invaluable in informing the public and in ensuring its implementation," he said. "It is of utmost importance that networks of parliamentarians already exist and stand ready to take on these tasks."

Of course, while many outside observers are reported to be encouraged by recent progress in ongoing talks between the Presidents and Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, others remain skeptical that either side has the political will to make the "painful concessions" necessary for a resolution of the conflict. From today's report by RFE/RL, this seems to be particularly evident on the Azerbaijani side.

The delegation heads blocked a long list of amendments to the resolution that were put forward by an Azerbaijani parliamentarian. They referred to Karabakh as a part of Azerbaijan, demanded “unconditional withdrawal of the occupying forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan,” and urged Armenia to “stop the continuation of the settlement of civilian populations” in those areas.

It's also interesting to note that if democratic development in Armenia has stalled, opposition groups are very much involved in international processes. Artashes Geghamian, the outspoken and contraversial leader of the opposition National Unity party, for example, was also present at the Parliamentary Assembly and is quoted in the RFE/RL report.

Tag: armenia | azerbaijan | karabakh

Persisting Apathy over Constitutional Ammendments

2005-07-04T20:45:00.000+05:00

RFE/RL reports that a new opinion poll shows that most residents of Yerevan, the Armenian capital, are unaware of the proposed ammendments to the constitution which will be put to the population in a referendum scheduled for not later than November.

Vox Populi, a private polling organization, said that only 13 percent of 624 city residents randomly interviewed last week would definitely take part in the referendum. Another 16 percent said they would likely do so, according to the survey made public at the weekend.

The reported figures are essentially identical with the findings of two other polls which Vox Populi conducted in Yerevan, home to at least one third of the country’s population, in April and October. They should be cause for serious concern for the Armenian authorities that are facing growing pressure from the Council of Europe to amend the much criticized post-Soviet constitution.

In related news, the head of the Yerevan mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is quoted by the Aravot newspaper in RFE/RL's Press Review that Armenia will "face no international sanctions if constitutional amendments drafted by its government are rejected at the planned referendum."

“If all goes well and the changes are rejected, they will have to accept the outcome,” he says.

Yeah, no kidding. Thanks, Ambassador Pryakhin. That seems to be the point and the lack of discussion in society with no attempt at encouraging public participation and debate seems to suggest that things aren't being conducted well at all.

Tag: armenia | democracy

Hetq Trafficking Update

2005-07-04T20:18:00.000+05:00

Forgot to say that last week I signed a new contract with Hetq Online, an online publication available in English and Armenian. I'm working on a part-time contract basis to continue with the Photostory section that I introduced at the beginning of 2004. Anyway, it's additional work on top of contracts still in play with a few international organizations operating in the republic.

But, back to Hetq. In another interesting batch of articles today, Edik Baghdasarian continues with his investigation into the trafficking of women and children from Armenia. This time, however, rather than report on the inactivity and actual involvement of officials in the United Arab Emirates in the trade, Edik deals with the alleged collusion of local officials here in Armenia.

On May 25th, The Court of First Instance of the Kotayk Province, Judge Gagik Heboyan presiding, issued a decision that is a classic example of the support pimps receive in the Armenian legal system. These pimps have been selling Armenian women into sexual slavery in Dubai for years. But they are given a slap on the wrist by the courts, and released as soon as possible so they can get back to work.

This time, the court had received a request from the administration of the Abovyan prison to release notorious pimp Marietta Musayelyan before the end of her sentence. Why the prison sought an early release is anybody’s guess.
[...]

How did Judge Gagik Heboyan come to take such a favorable view of Marietta Musayelyan? That something that only he and the prison administration can answer. Who gave the order to send the case to court so quickly, and to release the pimp before she had served even half her time? The prosecutors alone could find that out, but only if they wanted to. They had fifteen days to appeal the court’s decision, but they did nothing.

According to Edik Baghdasarian, Musayelyan was wanted by Interpol while in Dubai and her surprising return to, and arrest in, Armenia was simply a ruse to get rid of the international arrest warrant. To be honest, nothing would surprise me in Armenia. Anyway, plenty of material on the phenomenon of trafficking of women and children from Armenia in the archive section of the Hetq Online web site.

Tag: armenia | trafficking | uae | dubai | corruption

Notes from the Underground

2005-07-04T14:21:00.000+05:00

Pomegranate Seed, a new arrival from the United States, has just started a blog on her experiences in Armenia. Sounds to me like she's enjoying the peculiarities and quirks of the country already.

I thought I would have been moved out of the hotel by now-but alas! I am not, and after having "negotiated" a price with the manager, I moved into a smaller room wondering at what point I will be able to find an apartment to rent. One more time at the lovely Bass, where apparently it is "Lionel Ritchie night." The music was piping into the lounge rather loudly-so loudly in fact that I thought my windows must have been open, which prompted me to check them. Sadly, they were shut, so I gave in, and got in bed with Ritchie belting out his infamous "Hello," for the 4th time. Apparently he is really popular in Yerevan. Who knew? I was awakened several times that night by Mr. Ritchie, who was really into partying "All Night Long."

Pomegranate Seed should try and give the live band, that plays at the illegal construction called a cafe outside my apartment building, a go. It's especially unfortunate as that god awful "Nune" song has just made it into their repoitore although I think the Lionel Ritchie covers they used to play around Komitas have mercifully since been banned.

In her latest blog, Pomegranate Seed makes reference to an encounter with some Syrian guys interested in renting her their apartment. It probably sounds a little racist, although after my last posting on the babe theory in democratic revolutionary movements, I suppose I can't really accuse her of stereotyping.

Me: Syrian boys eh? What are Syrian boys doing in Armenia?

(later in the apartment with Syrian 1 and Syrian 2-the place smells like a camel just gave birth. Vasken and myself are sitting on one vomit-green couch, whose springs have mercilessly rerouted themselves into my backside; Syrian 1 and 2 are collecting the Islamic paraphernalia that dots the living room)

However, it's not the first time I've heard this. One Diasporan in Armenia told me a few months ago that many landlords now refuse to allow Iranians especially to rent apartments. On the other hand, the area I live in is full of Iranian and Syrian students studying here and obviously grateful to be in a country that is a mecca of democracy and freedom in comparison to where they come from. I've got nothing against them and have always regretted the mono-ethnic nature of Armenia.

Met an Iranian student in my local kiosk the other day. Thought she was Diasporan because she was speaking English with an American twang but it turned out she was from Tehran, is studying at the Medical University in Yerevan and is deeply upset about the recent elections in Iran. In her opinion, the albeit small but noticeable progress that had been registered in the country will now be reversed. There was an interesting related news item on RFE/RL recently on the same subject but focusing on Iranian Armenians.

For young people like Annette repatriation also represents a welcome escape from the Islamic Republic’s strict code of behavior to a more liberal and laid-back environment. “What attracts us here is freedom,” he says.

Let's see but it's exemplifies why many young Iranians are coming here, including those from the Armenian community in Tehran. No dress restrictions here, for example, and alcohol is not forbidden but interestingly, the young Iranian student I encountered still considered Armenian society to be more conservative than that in Iran although perhaps she was talking about her own class back home. She certainly didn't strike me as poor, was obviously western-educated and had already studied in Europe.

Personally, I like multi-cultural societies even though the arrival of middle eastern students with money to burn in comparison to the rest of the population has pushed rents for apartments up. It is interesting to note, however, that when I arrived in Armenia in October 1998 the first question asked by locals was, "are you from America?" As a sign that non-Armenians from Moslem countries currently outnumber Diasporans in Armenia, the first question is now usually, "Are you Iranian or Syrian?"

Anyway, I shall be looking forward to reading more of Pomegranate Seed's blogs from Armenia, Notes from the Underground, over the next few months.

Tag: armenia

Vardavar

2005-07-03T19:46:00.000+05:00

Today was Vardavar, perhaps the most loved of all Armenia's festivals. For children, in particular, it's the one day in the year when they can throw water over each other and drench strangers foolish enough to take to the streets. All without fear of discipline from their parents and today was no exception. It was therefore hardly surprising that fewer people dared to risk walking under balconies or anywhere near areas where groups of children congregated, plastic bottles and buckets full of water in hand.

As with most festivals in Armenia, although now considered Christian, Vardavar in fact has its roots in pagan times and this variant of the festival is still carried out today by a small group of pagan Armenians. Actually, if the truth be known, most are not really pagans at all but believe that history goes back long before 301 AD when Armenians were the first nation in the world to adopt Christianity as the official state religion.

The ancient Armenian pagan feast “Vartavar” was traditionally associated with the Goddess Astghik, the Goddess of Water, Beauty, Love and Fertility. The festivities associated with this religious observance of Astghik were named “Vartavar” because of the fact that Armenians offered her roses as a celebration (“vart” means “roses” in Armenian). Also, they released doves and sprinkled water on each other. Vartavar was celebrated during harvest time. It was an expression of gratitude in return for the goodness of the harvest. The prayers directed to her asked for water for the benefit of fields and fruit orchards and vineyards for the harvest. Animals were also sacrificed.

http://www.usanogh.com/articles/article.php?story_id=302

A1 Plus reports that Vardavar is celebrated 98 days after Easter, usually between 28 July 28 - 1 August, so I don't quite understand why this year it was celebrated on 3 July but never mind. And just to confuse matters, I also remember from a few years back that Vardavar is also celebrated on a different day in the north eastern Tavoush region of Armenia. Again, I'm not sure why and it probably doesn't matter anyway. It's a great day for kids although some adults don't quite get into the fun. However, I have to wonder whether or not they also drenched their elders when they were young. Probably.

There's some nice footage of Vardavar at the end of Arthur Margaryan's music video which is only a small download at http://www.oneworld.am/artur.wmv. Incidentally, I got soaked three times. Thank god my F5 is waterproof, especially as water seems to be a recurring theme of late. Last weekend I photographed the kids from the Vanadzor Children's Home visiting Water World in Yerevan.

More photos from today's Vardavar in Yerevan can be found online here.

Tag: armenia | culture

The Babe Theory of Political Movements

2005-07-03T15:41:00.000+05:00

I know this is rather sexist so you'll have to excuse me. However, I found it quite funny. According to Willisms.com, revolutions have more chance of being peaceful and successful depending on how many pretty girls are involved. The argument goes as follows:

The babe theory of political movements essentially holds that:

Where and when there are hot babes, an exponential number of men will show up. If 100 cute girls with voluptuous bodies are protesting for freedom, you can count on a thousand men being there as well.

If sexy babes are involved in a peaceful political movement, it has a far greater chance of succeeding. If there are no good-looking women involved, the odds of a successful (and peaceful) movement fall dramatically.

Where and when alluring women are excluded from demonstrations, you can expect greater chances of strife, rioting, and failure.

On this basis, there will be no peaceful revolution in Armenia or Azerbaijan anytime soon. It's not there aren't any babes in either countries. There are lots but so far, they're obviously too sensible to want to get involved in the dirty politics of the South Caucasus.

An alternate view of the Babe Theory holds that attractive women are drawn more to successful political movements than to fringe movements. In other words, if the ideas behind a political movement has value, if the fight has a noble purpose, if it has worth, it will attract lovely young ladies, who then become the face of the movement. Women (babes), then, are discerning consumers of political movements, and when there is a worthwhile one, they buy into it whole-heartedly. Under this view of the Babe Theory, sexy women just happen to be found at successful demonstrations; the sexy women are not actually responsible for the success of the movement, babes at political rallies are but a symptom of success, an effective heuristic for prognosticating, an augury of what is to come.

The full theory can be read online here.

Tag: armenia | azerbaijan | democracy | revolution

Renaissance -- Arthur Margaryan

2005-07-03T14:09:00.000+05:00

Hovhannes Kourghinyan's Army of God, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian

Last night was a blast. A few months ago I blogged on Blogrel about a young 22-year old rock guitarist in Armenia, Arthur Margaryan. He's studied oud and now plays lead guitar in Hovhannes Kourghinyan's new band, Army of God (photographed above - Artur Margaryan is in the background on the left). Anyway, Artur emailed me a few weeks ago asking me to come to the club to pick up a copy of his new demo CD which I did last night.

However, what really made the night a blast was the fact that the young guitarist of another Armenian band, Bambir II, was in the audience and didn't need much encouragement to join Arthur on stage for a guitar duel and improvised soloing session. Magnificent. Incredible guitar playing and quite a charismatic performance from Bambir's Narek. In fact, as a frustrated musician, i.e. talentless, and envious of anyone who can play Jimi Hendrix covers, including the solos, as a matter of habit I think these guys should have their fingers broken!

Gutted, but a fantastic night. Well recommended if you're in Yerevan this year. A video of Arthur Margaryan's guitar playing is available online at http://www.oneworld.am/artur.wmv. Incidentally, at the end of Arthur's video there's some scenes of the Armenian festival of Vardavar which happens to be today. So, time to grab my camera and take to the streets hoping not to get drenched!

Tag: armenia | music

USDA Blog from Armenia

2005-07-02T17:12:00.000+05:00

If you ever wondered how Ricotta Cheese was introduced to the local Armenian market then look no further than what appears to be a new blog set up by an employee of USDA in Armenia. It's interesting for anyone who wants to know more about international assistance to develop sustainability among rural agricultural communities in Armenia. The blog, Hye Life, can be found online here.

Tag: armenia | agriculture

Karabakh General Admits Beating ARF-D Candidate

2005-07-02T15:14:00.000+05:00

Lieutenant-General Seyran Ohanian, the commander of the Nagorno-Karabakh military, has admitted to beating Pavel Manukian, a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation - Dashnaktsutiun (ARF-D), on 21 June 2005. Ohanian says he did so because Manukian, himself a veteran of the war with Azerbaijan, insulted the Karabagh military.

Manukian, who unsuccessfully ran for parliament on the Dashnaktsutyun list, publicly ridiculed the generals for their stated readiness to obey government orders to withdraw from occupied Azerbaijani territories surrounding Karabakh. He also questioned their moral integrity.

According to Manukian, Ohanian swore at Dashnaktsutyun during the beating and said the NKR leadership would not allow Dashnaktsutyun and other local opposition groups to win the June 19 election. Ohanian appeared to deny this, saying that he has never had problems with Dashnaktsutyun. “Attempts to attribute anti-Dashnak feelings to me or to link the incident to the elections are absolutely groundless,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Defense Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Serzh Sarkisyan, who was himself once the commander of the NKR Defense forces, admits that Ohanian over-reacted and that there should not be internal conflict with the ARF-D, part of the ruling coalition in Armenia but opposition in Karabagh. However, he says that more respect must be shown for the army in the disputed territory which is still the subject of ongoing negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The full report can be read online here. Ara Manoogian, an Armenian-American based in Martuni, blogs about the reaction from people in Karabagh to the incident over at Martuni or Bust.

Tag: armenia | karabakh | azerbaijan | democracy

Another Test For Georgia

2005-07-02T13:38:00.000+05:00

Eurasianet reports on fighting that broke out in the Georgian Parliament last week as well as on the streets of Tbilisi. The scenes were ugly but were interesting in that once again, events can be used by detractors of the November 2003 Rose Revolution in Armenia's northern neighbor to criticize pro-democracy movements in the South Caucasus.

Eurasianet says that chain of events was sparked by the 28 June arrest of Aleko Davitashvili, president of the Georgian Wrestling Federation, who along with his brother and a Georgian Judo champion were sentenced to 3 months pre-trial detention. They have been accused of blackmailing a Greek businessman although the three men deny the charges.

Tension escalated soon after the court announced the sentence. Television cameras in the courtroom relayed chaotic images of what appeared to be a brawl between supporters of the accused and court officials. Upon leaving the court, several dozen wrestlers and other supporters went on to hold a rally on nearby Rustaveli Avenue, effectively blocking Tbilisi’s main thoroughfare. When attempts by regular police to disperse the crowd failed, riot police were called to the scene. As on-lookers cried "Shame on you," dozens of demonstrators were arrested amid a string of violent scuffles.

Opposition MPs and activists then arrived at the scene and condemned the police crackdown. Yesterday, a press conference was held in which demands that the Minister of Interior of Georgia, Vano Merabishvili, were voiced. This comes at the same time as opposition criticism of a law that allows the Mayor of Tbilisi to be elected by the city council and pledges to boycott local electtions scheduled for next year. However, some opponents of the government have already warned that the skirmishes should not be exploited for political purposes.

One Olympic gold medalist, who supports the Wrestling Federation detainees, however, has already called on the opposition to avoid adding the Rustaveli Avenue demonstration to its list of complaints against the government. "I know we behaved badly. The president of Georgia is doing more for the development of Georgian sport than anybody before him, and he most of all doesn’t deserve this," the Russian news agency RIA-Novosti reported weightlifter Giorgi Asanidze as saying at a July 1 press conference. "We don’t need the interference of political parties. In sports, we’ll take care of things. Let all the parties leave us alone."

In Armenia, of course, the footage of riot police on the streets of Tbilisi and fisticuffs in the National Assembly were seized upon by state-controlled Public TV and shown in its entirety. Ever since the 2003 Rose revolution in Georgia, supporters of the government and president here have used any stick they can find to beat what many outside observers believe is the emergence of real democratic change. In contrast, Armenia is considered an authoritarian state and Azerbaijan, a dictatorship.

More interesting, however, is the way in which in Georgia, sportsmen who break the law are prosecuted whereas in Armenia, they serve the authorities. On 5 April last year, wrestlers employed by oligarchs close to the government beat journalists and smashed their cameras on the streets of Yerevan in full view of police. They were also instrumental in the severe beating of a political activist, Ashot Manucharian. They are also implicated in various high level shoot-outs on the streets of the Armenian capital and in recent months, the opposition press has declared that the richest man in the country, MP, former arm wrestler and Chairman of the Armenian Olympic Committee, Gagik Tsarukian (AKA Dodi Gago) is as powerful as the President.

And of course, the 12 /13 April brutal suppression of an opposition protest staged on Yerevan's central Baghramian Avenue in the early hours of the morning wasn't televised at all, especially as the Deputy Head of Police, Hovannes Varian, is alleged to have personally beaten journalists himself. There were no calls from the Armenian Parliament for his resignation. Indeed, although the politically motivated crackdown was severely criticized by Human Rights Watch, it was considered that the police were fulfilling their duty not as upholders of the law but as protectors of the government against the people.

Nevertheless, while these two incidents represent the difference between a more democratic Georgia and what activists describe as a police state in Armenia, there is no doubt that serious concerns are emerging with regards to processes underway in Tbilisi. However, would that such concerns emerge in Armenia. While last year's incident in Armenia was an unprovoked attack on peaceful demonstrators, events in Georgia came after protestors resisted arrest. The TV media also covered the incidents -- unlike Armenia where all the TV stations are controlled by those closest to the government.

"The government was absolutely right to use force against those resisting arrest. You cannot create mass protest on the main street because you don’t like the verdict," commented Alexander Rondeli, president of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies. While calling for the government to investigate "individual cases of excessive force," Rondeli criticized opposition members for taking up the protestors’ cause.

Anyway, it's yet another test for post-revolution Georgia and unfortunate as well as concerning to hear from foreigners based in Tbilisi, and those who frequently visit, that international organizations are now unhappy with what is happening there. The full article can be read online here. Civil Georgia also covers the unfolding story on their web site.

Tag: armenia | tbilisi | caucasus | democracy

Pot Head Pixies Over Yerevan

2005-07-01T22:12:00.000+05:00

Tired of the Diasporan fixation with Nune Yesayan, especially when the phenomenon was created outside of Armenia, when I started to look into the development of a contemporary and diverse musical scene in 1999, there was some potential. Unfortunately, however, that potential soon got hijacked by businesses close to the government. It's hardly surprising, therefore, that most of the music created in Armenia today serves patriotic purposes only or at the very least, promotes apathy among youth in the country.

...

This has also been one of the reasons why I've been examining the contemporary rock scene in Armenia. Unfortunately, however, it is very small. Although many young Armenians -- especially those who think differently from the run of the mill -- listen to bands like Metallica and Pink Floyd, the local rock scene is very under-developed and can hardly attract a large audience. Which is a pity because there's some good bands out there. From the young but promising Sard through the grand-daddy of rock in Armenia, Hovhannes Kourghinyan, to the truly underground sound of MDP, there's a lot of potential.

Of course, the precedent for successful Armenian rock has been set by the US band of Armenian descent, System of a Down. However, while the band visit Armenia they have yet to play here.

But, starved of a diverse and quality contemporary music scene, and probably as I get older and reminisce about the past, I've been looking back to listen to the bands I did in my late teens and early twenties. It was that which took me out to CD shop after CD shop recently to look for some of the lesser known bands I liked in the West -- bands such as Hawkwind, for example. And surprisingly, I found CDs by them although it has to be said, it was unfortunate that the MP3 CD of Hawkwind albums didn't include Bob Calvert/Hawkind albums such as PXR5 or Astounding Sounds and Amazing Music. What surprised me even more, however, was to find albums by bands like Gong available in Armenia.

Gong was formed by an Australian, Daevid Allen, who had materialized in Paris in 1960. After meeting and working with William S. Burroughs, Allen started to experiment with free form jazz and eventually ended up in England where he formed the band, Soft Machine, with Kevin Ayers in 1966. After overstaying his visa in the UK, Allen ended up in the middle of the 1968 student protests in Paris before forming Gong not long after. Apparently based on hallucinations experienced during an acid trip, Allen invented a world of Pot Head Pixies and Flying Teapots on the imaginary planet, Gong.

...

All very out there, of course, but even now, the music is refreshing and not least because of some very evolved jazz fusion elements and also, what would later become trance. What is also interesting is that the Cantebury sound that Allen was partly responsible for was recently mentioned to me as being instrumental in the development of a new breed of bands that are springing up in Armenia -- bands such as Oaksenham. And if that seems too tenuous a link between Gong and Armenia, Gong's woodwind player, Didier Malherbe (AKA Bloomdido Bad de Grass), is quite an afficianado of the doudouk, the traditional Armenian reed instrument popularized in recent years by Djivan Gasparian in the Oscar-winning movie, Gladiator, and by Vatche Hovsepian with Peter Gabriel.

In fact, Malherbe was involved in the first ever International Duduk Festival staged in Yerevan in 2001 to celebrate the 1700th Anniversary of Christianity in the republic where he performed with Gasparian. He also has a band, Hadouk, a French jazz trio that fuses the three string African bass, the Hajouj, with the Armenian Doudouk. Now, if only they had Green, an album by Gong's guitarist and "progressive house" pioneer, Steve Hillage (and produced by Pink Floyd's Nick Mason), available in Yerevan. On the subject of Armenian rock, however, there are interviews with Sard, Hovhannes Kourghinyan and MDP on my web site.

Tag: armenia | music

Western Pressure Grows For Fair Elections In Azerbaijan

2005-07-01T17:18:00.000+05:00

Again returning to the theme of demands on two of the three South Caucasus Republics to enact real democratic change, Eurasianet reports that the Azerbaijani parliament has passed ammendments to the electoral code in the face of increased US and European pressure. The news follows pressure on the Armenian government to include three clauses in the proposed constitution that would theoretically curtail the President's powers.

The Commission has not yet issued comments on the final electoral law, but in a June 16 statement warned that the code would leave no room for free and democratic elections this November if changes were not made beyond the largely technical revisions submitted by Azerbaijan to the Commission on June 14. Aside from the make-up of election commissions, particular attention has also focused on allowing voters’ fingers to be marked to avoid so-called "carousel" or duplicate voting, a practice cited in both the 2000 parliamentary and 2003 presidential elections.

Of course, reform and ammendments are one thing but ensuring that they function are another. Nevertheless, there would appear to be increased pressure on both Armenia and Azerbaijan to introduce more than just cosmetic changes or else face possible sanctions and even international isolation. Even though the US has vested interests in Azerbaijan in the form of the BTC pipeline. Nevertheless, the US Embssy in Baku has been vocal in its demands for restraint from the authorities regarding recent opposition protests.

In the volatile South Caucasus, democracy is seen as key to promoting long term stability.

Exit polls could provide one check for whether or not Azerbaijan has met that standard. Under an agreement with the Azerbaijani government, negotiated by US Ambassador Reno Harnish, the US Agency for International Development will provide financing for exit polls in almost half of Azerbaijan’s constituencies during the November ballot. No information has yet been released on the amount of financing.

[...]

The US role has not been limited to exit polls. Harnish also arranged talks on the elections between pro-government parties (YAP, Ana Veten, Sosial Fifakh) and opposition parties (the Popular Front, Democratic Party, Musavat, Citizens Unity Party) under the auspices of the Baku mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Although the two meetings held since May have failed to result in any serious breakthroughs, the talks have been deemed a success for stimulating discussion about how to hold free and fair elections. All discussion of the make-up of election commissions, a topic advocated by the opposition, has been vetoed by YAP participants in the talks, however.

Interesting days. The end of the year will be important tests for both Armenia and Azerbaijan in terms of democratic development. Armenia will see local elections in October and a referendum on constitutional ammendments by November, the same month that parliamentary elections are scheduled for Azerbaijan. I don't suppose that any of these events will be problem-free but it will be interesting to see if either country now has the political will to implement changes demanded by the West even if it comes as a result of significant international pressure.

Of course, it can all go disasterously wrong and the situation in Georgia is beginning to concern a few people. Saakashvili's wife is reported be in the process of leaving him, international donors are unhappy with the pace of reform and are witholding money and today, Public TV of Armenia showed a major skirmish between deputies in the Georgian National Assembly. Still, at least they fought over something. The Armenian National Assembly, full of oligarchs, businessmen and individuals without the trust of the electorate, has hardly bothered to turn up or fight for anything.

The full article can be read online here.

Tag: armenia | azerbaijan | democracy

Armenia: Constitution Deal in Sight

2005-07-01T14:27:00.000+05:00

The Institute of War & Peace Reporting (IWPR) also covers the ongoing saga of Armenia's imminent constitutional reform with a report from Strasbourg and Yerevan by Victoria Abrahamian who's been covering the Council of Europe session for the Aybe Fe news agency. According to Abrahamian, and contrary to how many are trying to spin the about-turn by the authorities on the matter, pressure from the Council of Europe (CE) has forced the Armenian government to accept three key issues considered crucial for the democraticization of the country.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, PACE, of which Armenia is a member, had strongly criticised the country for sticking to an undemocratic constitution. Further criticism had come from the Armenian parliamentary opposition, which has boycotted plenary sessions of parliament for two years.

[...]

The Venice Commission, which gives expert advice on constitutional matters, had expressed concerns about three parts of the constitution. In particular, they proposed abolishing the president’s right to sack the prime minister unilaterally and that the new premier should be appointed with the approval of a majority in parliament. It also wanted to see the end of presidential power over judges, and requested that the mayor of Yerevan – the capital city home to a third of the population - become an elected official.

The latter point is considered particularly sensitive and Kocharian's predecessor, former President Levon Ter Petrosian, was also considered to be against the idea of an elected Mayor regardless of whether that was to be by the people or a local City Council. The main argument is that as most of the population is concentrated in the capital, an elected head of the city would be in a position to challenge presidential power.

On the other hand, with the amount of illegal construction and environmental damage as a result of corruption in Yerevan, it is imperative that the Mayor is accountable to residents of the city and not subservient to the same people responsible for much of the illegalities. Regardless, the three main provisions will also result in many powerful individuals losing the levers they once enjoyed and exploited for personal gain.

“Power is very attractive and it’s hard to give it up,” noted Armen Rustamian, a parliamentary deputy from the pro-government Dashnaktsutiun party. “I don’t want to name names, however after constitutional reforms many will lose their levers of influence. By following the agreements that have been made Armenia really can get itself out of a constitutional crisis.”

Anyway, for whatever reasons, many consider that the constitutional ammendments will go a long way in resolving a lot of the problems currently facing Armenia. However, they are also quick to point out that just because a new constitution is enacted it does not mean that it will necessarily function.

“If all the demands of the Venice Commission are adopted, then Kocharian’s power will definitely be weaker,” said Hovsep Khurshudian, political analyst with the National Centre for Strategic Studies in Yerevan. “But let’s not forget that even the most ideal constitution can be violated.”

A weakening of presidential power on all these fronts will diminish Kocharian’s ability to dominate the country and ensure success for his chosen successor when his second and final presidential team ends in 2008.

The full article can be read online here.

Tag: armenia | democracy

Cafe Season In Yerevan Again

2005-06-30T11:38:00.000+05:00

A1 Plus ran an interesting story yesterday that is of particular relevance to those of us who live next door or close to any of Yerevan's many open-air cafes. Constructed in violation of the law by state officials or their relatives, these cafes have already resulted in the shrinkage of green areas in the capital. In the summer, however, the situation gets even more unbearable when music blasts out, sometimes until the early hours of the next morning.

According to the RA Health Ministry, the anti epidemic inspectorate deputy head Marietta Basilisyan, suchlike "objects' must be visited frequently and fined. Today, the Municipality commerce and service department head Karen Gevorgyan said that a week ago they visited 39 open-air cafes in Yerevan. 16 of them have received preliminary warnings for violation of music norms.

But according to Mr. Gevorgyan if they continue to violate the norms, they will be fined for 30,000-50,000 drams. But still, according to him, in order to solve the problem the fines must be raised up to 300, 000 drams.According to Mrs. Basilisyan, the violations of music norms do not harm the health of the people very seriously, but the continuous loud music can cause serious illnesses.

This is the situation with the cafe opposite my apartment in Komitas. A friend living in the same building recently complained but was effectively told to get lost by the owners. The head of one local organization, the branch of a very large International NGO, did some checking and yesterday told me that I really do not want to mess with these guys. They already have criminal backgrounds and are effectively the local mafia.

Nevertheless, the Yerevan Mayor's Office is trying to do something but one guesses that if the owners of a particular cafe are more powerful, then there's nothing much they can do. This was the situation with the illegal construction of these cafes in the first place. While tourists, especially from the Diaspora, see these cafes and consider them a sign of progress, most communities and residents in their proximity are sick and tired of them.

Hopefully, after a successful Shikahogh campaign and with the Armenian government facing pressure from the Council of Europe to make the Mayor of Yerevan an elected -- and thus accountable -- official, perhaps environmentalists will once again turn their attention on the cafes in Yerevan. For anyone interested, Edik Baghdasarian of Hetq Online wrote an article for Transitions Online that is a great background to the problem.

Anyway, making the Mayor of Yerevan an elected official would go a long way to making his office more sensitive to community and environmental concerns and not only because the law is being broken by officials and businessmen close to them. The Mayor might also finally comply with a recent court ruling that he should release details of land allocations in the park around the Opera to Hetq Online which he so far refuses to do even though such information should be in the public domain.

On a related note, an interview I held with Sona Ayvazyan, Environmental Policy Expert and Project Director for the Center for Regional Development / Transparency International in Armenia on the environment in Armenia -- and cafes in Yerevan -- can be found online here.

Tag: armenia | environment | democracy | corruption

Armenia Country Guide Updated

2005-06-29T00:29:00.000+05:00

Oneworld.net, the world's leading human rights and sustainable development portal and web site has updated its Armenia Country Guide. Incidentally, the guide is written by myself as the Armenia Volunteer Editor for the site. It can be read online here.

Tag: armenia

Manic Depressive Psychosis (MDP)

2005-06-28T23:50:00.000+05:00

Manic Depressive Psychosis (MDP) have updated their site. Although many people know of the US rock band of Armenian descent, System of a Down, very few know about MDP -- probably the most original and unique rock band in Armenia today. Anyway, their site now features a pop up streamed audio player on the front page so make sue you check whether or not you have pop-ups allowed in your browser if you access it at http://www.mdp.am.

BTW: An interview I held with MDP is online here and also, a review of one of their concerts by Garo Adanalian is available on Notes from Hairenik.

Tag: armenia | music

Constitutional Ammendments Decisive For Armenia’s Future

2005-06-28T22:40:00.000+05:00

In what is still the biggest political test of the year, RFE/RL reports that the Council of Europe has expressed in no uncertain terms that constitutional ammendments scheduled for November are vital for the democratization of Armenia.

“I proceed from the assumption that the referendum will be positive, and that is what we base our expectations and our further policy on,” Ambassador Roland Wegener, a German diplomat representing the Council’s governing Committee of Ministers, said at the end of a fact-finding visit to Yerevan.

Initially, however, the Armenian government was resistant to opposition demands that three key issues should be included in the proposed ammendments. And, although the government's supporters at home and abroad did their best to discredit the need for their inclusion, the Council of Europe also considers that they are necessary.

Those amendments would considerably curtail President Robert Kocharian’s sweeping powers to appoint and sack the government as well as judges at will. They would also make the mayor of Yerevan, home of at least one third of Armenia’s population, an elected official.

Under a memorandum signed with the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission in Strasbourg on Friday, the Kocharian administration has to incorporate those changes into its constitutional draft. The draft is due to be debated and finally approved by parliament in August before being put to a referendum this fall.

This marks yet another significant U-turn by the Armenian Government. As the opposition paper, Chorrord Ishkhanutyun, points out -- and as quoted by RFE/RL's Press Review -- it wasn't so long ago that the Armenian President was adamant that he would not bend to pressure from the CE.

“The problem is a fairly complicated one because Kocharian had said before that the Council of Europe is not a Politburo for us. And there is now a need to explain why the most combat-ready president of the region has meekly accepted all of the Council of Europe proposals.”

Regardless, it probably doesn't matter. What does matter, however, is that for now at least, the Armenian government is starting to alter its policies as a result of pressure from elements within society as well as international bodies. This can probably be seen in the light of recent democratic changes in Georgia and Ukraine and is certainly a welcome step towards democratic development in the country.

RFE/RL's full report can be read online here.

Tag: armenia | democracy

New Possibility for Karabagh Peace?

2005-06-28T22:20:00.000+05:00

Emil Danielyan, writing for the Jamestown Foundation's Eurasia Daily Monitor, says that the OSCE Minsk Group's co-chairs feel that there is now another window of opportunity for a Karabagh Peace agreement. Although a ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the mainly-Armenian inhabited territory situated within the latter republic still stands, there are concerns that failure to find a lasting solution will destabilize the South Caucasus region and frustrate its potential for economic development.

Nevertheless, although almost everyone urges caution in expecting a breakthrough, both sides still seem content enough with the progress made. What remains the sticking point, however, is Karabagh's status and whether territory surrounding it in Azerbaijan proper should be returned after this issue is determined and agreed upon.

Azerbaijan stands for a "step-by-step" resolution of the dispute that would delay agreement on Karabakh's status, the main sticking point, until after the liberation of surrounding Azerbaijani lands that were occupied by Armenian forces during the 1991-94 war. The Armenians, by contrast, until recently insisted on a "package" accord that would resolve all contentious issues at once. But they are now ready to embrace a phased settlement, provided that they get other international guarantees of continued Armenian control over Karabakh.

Accordingly, each side emphasizes elements of the discussed peace deal that it finds more beneficial for itself. Azimov, for example, said the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers discussed the return of the occupied districts in Azerbaijan proper. For his part, Oskanian was anxious to stress that none of those districts would be given back to Baku without some agreement on Karabakh's status. He said it remains the number one issue for the Armenian side and is high on the agenda of the Prague process.

The two sides were reportedly close to a deal on Karabagh at a US-hosted summit between the Armenian President, Robert Kocharian, and his then Azerbaijani counterpart, Heydar Aliyev, in Key West during 2001. However, although it is believed that the elder Aliyev agreed to outright independence for Nagorno Karabagh, the ailing leader was considered to have met with significant resistance to the idea upon his return to Baku. With parliamentary elections scheduled for November in Azerbaijan, such concerns must surely also weigh heavily on his successor and son, Ilham Aliyev.

U.S. officials are mindful of the possibility of another fiasco. They say that is the reason why renewed hopes for Karabakh peace will not ease U.S. pressure on Aliev's regime to ensure the freedom and fairness of Azerbaijan's upcoming parliamentary elections. They also rule out more leniency toward Armenia's leadership, whose democratic credentials are likewise questionable.

Some Armenian and Azerbaijani pundits have long argued that neither regime is interested in mutual compromise on Karabakh, as it would run the risk of losing power. The next few months should put this theory to the test.

The full article can be read online here.

Tag: armenia | azerbaijan | karabakh

Shikahogh Film Presentation

2005-06-28T20:55:00.000+05:00

Bulldozer, Siunik Region, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian

The SOS-Shikahogh Working Group of the Ecological Public Union has announced that there will be a presentation of a documentary film on the Shikahogh Nature Reserve tomorrow. As always, background information on Shikahogh can be found online here.

In the frames of a wide-scale protest campaign waged against the construction of a road passing through Shikahogh state reserve, radio company VEM, with the support of Armenia Tree Project, World Wide Fund for Nature and Armenian Forests NGO has prepared a documentary film dedicated to the issue of Shikahogh.

The presentation of the film will take place on June 29, 2005, at 18:00, at the Yerevan Movie House; address: 18 Vardanants St, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia.

The film displays beautiful sceneries of nature and wildlife of Shikahogh reserve, cites professional comments of environmentalists, shows pieces of illegal construction works of the road that has not undergone environmental impact assessment, as well as presents the available alternatives to the road.

For additional information contact Mher Sharoyan, Media Coordinator, Armenian Forests NGO. Phone 54-15-29, E-mail: media@armenianforests.am.

On a related note, although the announcement had come via the Armenian Forests NGO, I noticed that there is also a youth environmental group involved in publicizing the event. Given that Shikahogh campaign resulted in an unprecedented U-turn by the Armenian government it is interesting to at least consider the possibility that the environmental movement here might soon turn into what is effectively a pro-democracy, pro-human rights and an anti-corruption one.

This is, after all, what happened during the last days of the former Soviet Union when environmental protests eventually became pro-independence and Karabagh movements. It is also interesting and somewhat encouraging to see the involvement of youth in all of this. Besides, there's also a lot to do with regards to the wholescale disregard for the environment shown by the government at present. Anyway, for those interested, the Burg Youth Environmental Center has a web site here.

Tag: armenia | environment | democracy | youth

Referendums, Democracy and Revolution

2005-06-28T16:33:00.000+05:00

A1 Plus reports that the Armenian government has agreed to Council of Europe demands that the long awaited referendum on constitutional ammendments will be held in November. At the same time, the three key requirements of the CE and also the Armenian opposition have albeit reluctantly been accepted by the government.

That is, increasing the power of the parliament, ensuring the independence of the judiciary and making the Mayor of the capital, Yerevan, an electable position.

Tigran Torosyan said that the RA authorities have no discrepancies with the Venice Commission on the key issues. In his words, the reforms are carried out not by request of the Europeans but are essential for the development of the republic.

http://home.a1plus.am/eng/?go=print&id=30039

There's also more good news. According to MP Shavarsh Kocharian, and as requested by the CE, the Armenian opposition is also ready to return to parliament. It had already stated that if the government were to accept the three main demands of the CE it would engage in parliamentary discussion on constitutional reform.

Of course, even if this happens and even if the government do put forward a better draft of constitutional ammendments, it still remains to be seen if the referendum is conducted properly and also, even if it is, how long it will take for the changes to come into force and, like the rule of law, actually function.

The members of the Justice bloc claimed that if the agreement reached in Strasbourg is realized, and the draft Constitution is reformed, it will be a step forward, but the problems of out country are conditioned not by the quality of the law but by their non-observance of the laws.

The Ago group persuaded the opposition to return to the Parliament and to take part in the discussion of the Constitutional reforms till the second reading. Stepan Demirchyan answered that if the draft constitution is ready and they are sure that the agreements reached have been put into practice, they will think about returning to Parliament.

http://home.a1plus.am/eng/?go=print&id=30018

Nevertheless, it is all a positive step. Many took a speech made by US President George Bush to Tbilisi last month as a call to "revolution" in the former Soviet space. Later, however, the US State Department made it clear that talking of aspirations to democracy does not mean American support for regime change.

Personally speaking, and although others mistakingly dwell too much on this issue, there is nothing to indicate that the US is willing to sponsor regime change in countries like Armenia and nor should they. Instead, the US and the CE are becoming more forceful in demanding that real democratic change occurs.

Later, in the event of falsified elections -- if they occur -- the US and Europe will do all it can to allow individual societies the ability to determine whether they are willing to accept the outcome or not. This pretty much what happened in Georgia and Ukraine, for example, and this is what should happen in Armenia if the next elections are falsified and are not conducted properly.

Basically, it is up to individual societies to determine how best to respond to a given undemocratic situation within a country and preferably within the context of the law and the constitution. After all, how can you expect an opposition movement that might come to power through unlawful actions to also be democratic? Elections should also be the time when such issues come to the fore.

Anyway, regardless of whether some people hoped that Bush's speech was a call to arms to citizens in Armenia and Azerbaijan, the point is that something has happened -- and also within the context of increased pressure from the CE. That is, the authorities in Azerbaijan have been more restrained in dealing with opposition protests there than they were in 2003 (and as compared to Armenia in 2004) and have agreed to the use of exit polls in the November parliamentary elections.

In Armenia, recent reversals in government policy on Shikahogh and the Constitutional Ammendments are also encouraging signs. Now, let's hope that such a process, which is real democracy in action, continues up until the 2007 parliamentary elections. Then, as long as that process is genuine, there will be no need for "revolution" in Armenia.

Of course, that depends on real political will from the government -- the first signs of that being in October and November in Armenia for the Constitutional Ammendments and Local Elections, and in Azerbaijan, for the Parliamentary Elections. Both governments have the ability to avert political crisis and internal instability within their two respective republics. We should soon know if they will.

Tag: armenia | azerbaijan | democracy

Trafficking of Armenian Women to Dubai / UAE

2005-06-28T03:32:00.000+05:00

Ara Manoogian over at Martuni or Bust reports that the english subtitles for the documentary film he worked on with Edik Baghdasarian of Hetq Online on the trafficking of women and children from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is now ready. If any of you are interested, contact Ara at ara_manoogian@yahoo.com.

Once again, you can find some of the articles on trafficking from Armenia to the UAE as well as allegations of government complicity in the multi-million dollar trade in the archive section of the Hetq Online web site. You can also find an interview I conducted with Ara Manoogian on the phenomenon here.

Tag: armenia | trafficking | uae | dubai | corruption

Government Backs Down -- Shikahogh is Saved

2005-06-28T02:53:00.000+05:00

In what is an unprecedented victory against the government, both RFE/RL and Hetq Online today report that the battle to save the Shikahogh Nature Reserve has ended in success. This could be a sign of a weakened government in Armenia but whatever way it is, it represents a unique example of both local and Diasporan activists working together to prevent highly dubious plans to build a road through a protected area in the south of the country.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) indicates the path of the proposed road through the Shikahogh Nature Reserve, Siunik, Republic of Armenia

Writing for Hetq Online, Tigran Paskevichyan, puts it simply.

I am sure that the cooperation between Armenian NGOs and experienced, respected Diaspora Armenians will not end here, because it is time to put a stop to the government’s hostility toward society, their placing of the interest of the state over that of society, thereby infringing the rights of the possessors of that state, the people.

Mtnadzor is unique as a virgin forest but it is not unique as an event in which a group of officials turns public property and national treasures into objects of sale. It happened in Haghtanak Park when they cut down all the trees to build a hotel; it happened in the park near the Opera House when they poured concrete on the green areas and turned them into cafes; it happened with Northern Avenue, when along with people’s huts and cottages they destroyed buildings that were historical and architectural treasures. Now it’s about to happen to Komitas Park and the Pantheon, which they want to move, in order to use the land for public and private construction.

In every one of these cases, ordinary citizens and non-governmental organizations were alone in the struggle against the authorities, and they were defeated. Their defeat, however, was not a disgrace for them, but for the government who paid a disgraceful $14,000 to the owners of the houses they demolished in the center of Yerevan , a sum too small to buy an apartment on the outskirts of town.

I am sure that the experienced, respected Diasporans see and understand all this, and, having lived all their lives in democratic countries, they know that oppressing society and silencing public opinion never works in the long run. They know that the state, so long dreamed of, is stable and safe when negative processes are noticed right away, talked about, and put an end to.

These Diasporans have demonstrated their patriotism though their actions, and in doing so, their love for their homeland has grown stronger.

http://www.hetq.am/eng/society/0506-diaspora.html

My article on plans to build a road through the Shikahogh reserve can be found online here. There is also a photostory on the Hetq Online web site.

Tag: armenia | environment | democracy

Karabagh, an Arms Race and Accusations over Coffee

2005-06-28T02:16:00.000+05:00

In a bunch of interesting articles today, RFE/RL report that Pavel Manukian, a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation - Dashnaktsutyun, says that he was beaten up by the highest ranking members of the Nagorno Karabagh military that included the Defense Minister, Seyran Ohanian.

At a meeting with Karabakh President Arkady Ghukasian local Dashnaktsutyun leaders demanded strict punishment for Ohanian and other alleged participants of the beating. Similar demands were contained in a joint statement by Dashnaktsutyun and several other local parties that condemned the violent incident. But nobody has been charged in the case so far.

The incident came in the wake of Karabakh’s June 19 parliamentary election in which an opposition bloc formed by Dashnaktsutyun and the Movement-88 opposition party unsuccessfully challenged Ghukasian’s loyalists. The bloc refused to concede defeat, alleging serious vote irregularities.

Meanwhile, and going back to a previous post on the start of a possible arms race in the South Caucasus, the Azerbaijan President has stated that his government's 70 per cent increase in military expenditure this year is largely due to the transfer of Russian military hardware from the Republic of Georgia to Armenia. And if there wasn't enough bad news going around, one of Armenia's leading importers of coffee into the republic has again accused the country's Customs of corruption.

“We are dealing with a group of officials who set unofficial rules, and if you don’t comply with those rules then you must not operate,” said the company’s executive director, Gagik Hakobian. “If they yield and do things in accordance with the law, they will have problems with other businessmen.”

Some things never change but with the lack of democracy -- and thus accountability -- some would argue that they are actually getting worse.

Tag: armenia | azerbaijan | democracy | corruption

Damn Arminco...

2005-06-27T22:37:00.000+05:00

If you thought the ongoing saga with ArmenTel was bad, there are unfortunately other areas in the telecommunications and related internet sphere that also sums up what's wrong with life in Armenia. One of those is Arminco, an Internet Service Provider who always moan about ArmenTel but since I arrived here in 1998 have always quickly shut up after making a deal with the dreaded telephone monopoly.

Anyway, although I've been a subscriber to Arminco for nearly five years now and maybe more, I've started to use pre-paid cards by Xter.net as well because their internet connection is much better and also, you don't have to go through a proxy server. True to the western notions brand loyalty, however, I have continued to host my site, oneworld.am, on Arminco's servers for a few years now. However, that's all about to change.

The reason? The sloppy, sarchastic, rude and downright arrogant customer service (or actually lack of it) that Arminco offers. You would have thought that being a long-term customers of theirs for many years and forking out $20 / month for a sometimes unreliable dialup internet connection that works from the hours of 7pm to 9am on weekdays and 24 hours on Saturday and Sunday would have at least earned me some courtesy but not so.

Instead, after accessing my email from my server and uploading a few different images from Saturday's day out for the kids from Vanadzor Children's Home I received a telephone call from UNICEF requesting that I upload the final version of the book I have written, photographed and designed for them. However, I had a meeting with another international organization and said I'd do it when I got back. However, when I returned, I couldn't access my email or my web server for uploading by ftp.

Fine. I'm used to Arminco's servers not working for a short period of time in any given month and so I waited... and waited and waited. I checked my emails for notices of whether their server was undergoing any routine maintenance or anything like that (not that they usually bother -- they instead apologize AFTERWARDS and shift the blame on someone else). I even checked their main web site and also their hosting server front page. Nothing.

So, in desperation, I sent an email at around 8pm and this is what I wrote:

My site, oneworld.am, has been down since at least 2pm. If it is a problem with your hosting server why haven't you posted a notice on host.am? Also, if it is a technical problem your end, please sort it out immediately and make sure it doesn't happen again because it disrupts people's work. You should also post an announcement on host.am so people know what's happening.

Well, it turns out that I had paid for my server space only until 9 May but Arminco are meant to send out emails telling their customers of this. However, they hadn't. Not ONE email came to me alerting me to this deadline -- not ONE. And when I look up the AMNIC whois, I can see that in fact, despite my request for them to change the contact email from an arminco address to a oneworld address because of the damn spam they seem to want to get through, I find that their promise to do so was BROKEN. They didn't do what they said they'd do.

But, rather than write a normal email informing me of this in a way that companies should to their customers i.e. Dear Sir, The reason for your server being down is because our record show etc etc..., this is the sarcastic response I received from Ed J. Aivazian at Arminco's hosting service.

Dear onnik,

Should I post it at host.am as an announcement?

# whois oneworld.am

Domain name: oneworld.am
Status: on hold
^^^^^^^
------ OUTPUT SKIPPED ------

Registered: 2001-05-09
Last modified: 2005-06-27
Expires: 2005-05-09
^^^^^^^^^^

Great! Deja Vu! The last time my server went off was for the same reason. That time, I had forgotten when my server subscription was to run out and I missed their emails because they had sent them to my arminco email address. Thing is that this address gets hundreds of spam emails a day I never used it. In fact, rather than install anti-spam software on their mail server I was convinced for a while (and still have my concerns) that they were selling their subscriber's email addresses to spamming lists.

That time, however, I was more fortunate. The person at the other end of the email was Vahan Yerkanian, who I knew from when I first arrived in Armenia from England. He promised to change my contact email from my arminco address to my oneworld.am address and also put my web site online temporarily so that I could get in to the office the next day to pay. Worth a try this time, I thought, especially as I had already been into the Arminco office today to renew my dialup account.

Certainly, I hadn't been told that I should pay for my server space as well but anyway, such things happen when it takes seeing three people to pay your internet connection fee at Arminco. First you go to the girl and tell her your user name. She prints out a form. Then you take that form to the woman in the next room who takes your money. She then tells you to go to another office to get the card that you then have to fill in online at home to renew your account. Man, were the soviet days this bad and full of such unnecessary bureaucracy as Arminco?

Okay, so maybe Arminco don't trust their staff which is why you have to go through three different people but even so, c'mon guys, it's the 21st Century and you're meant to be on the leading edge of the IT rejuvination that will solve some of Armenia's investment problems. Why can't you be like Xter.net or Netsys and just have one person to take my money and give me a card. Hell, really be trend-setting and have that person punch a key and extend my account in the office there and then.

Instead, customers have to stand sometimes in 2 or 3 queues to do something that other ISPs in Armenia simplify. You get a better internet connection as well with the others.

But back to this arrogant tech support on the other end of the email tonight. I mention that I had received no email reminders, I mentioned that UNICEF were waiting for their artwork and could he please stick my site online because despite my request to update my contact email address, it would appear that they hadn't. I'd be in the office to pay tomorrow and if necessary was willing to jump in a taxi to do it now.

At the same time, given that internet connections through Arminco had delayed previous correspondence with UNICEF, I also cc-ed them so that they knew I wasn't making excuses for my server being down.

This is what I sent:

No, but basically, this happened last time when payment was last due. Why wasn't I informed by email. This is now twice. I received NO WARNING EMAILS about the date and so this is a little too much especially as I was in the Arminco office today. Can you please sort this out and at least check that you are sending to the correct address.

Last time I requested that warning messages are sent to [personal email address ommitted] but I repeat, I received none. Last time, Vahan Yerkanian stuck my site back up temporarily and I am requesting that you do this again now. I will be into Arminco office tomorrow to pay.

I also would like to once again request that to avoid further confusion that you request a read receipt on all email regarding final notices. This is now the second time this has happened and in both cases I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY WARNING MESSAGES.

Do you think that this is fair? I am working for UNICEF and haven't been able to upload the artwork of a book that needs to be printed this week.

Thanks. I would appreciate your immediate response and an undertaking to request read-receipts in future so that you know the messages are getting through. As I said, I was in the Arminco office today and its ridiculous that no message got through to me so I could have paid it then and there. This is the twice time it's happened and I do not particularly want there to be a third time.

Anyway, no, I am not asking you to post an announcement on host.am saying my server payment has expired but I do request that you send me notification before it does. Last time the problems was that you were sending to [personal email address ommitted] but I never use this email account because it attracts 100s of emails a day. I therefore requested that Vahan Yerkanian change the contact email address to [personal email address ommitted] which he did.

But I still never received anything and this needs to be sorted out. I URGENTLY need my server back up and as I said it is down because I WAS NOT informed about the deadline for payment which is hwo you usually warn people. If you want, I'll get in a taxi now and bring you the money this evening but I really need my server back up because it is down through no fault of my own.

Thank you.

Onnik Krikorian

Trouble is, I spelt the contact guy's name at UNICEF wrong so added some stuff to the email and sent it again. More trouble. Arminco's internet connection was playing up again -- although it could have been the nearly 4,000 spam emails in the account because they can't be bothered to put in anti-spam filters on their server -- so I hit the send button again. Result. Three emails sent. Obviously, the guy at Arminco who needs a few lessons in customer service had his chance to insult a customer again.

Dear onnik,

Does anything go wrong with your computer (or browser window you use to send emails)?

I have a dozen emails from you already (all with the same text but different timestamp/messageID) and I guess I'll not be surprised when I find some 6 234 865 more tomorrow morning.

Then, he sent another one and either the guy can't read, doesn't know his own system or is basically making it up as he goes along.

Dear onnik,

As you can see, your domain name has expired on 2005-05-09. Before (and after) this we have sent many email notifications and also hard-copy letters containing all the information about the terms and results of domain name expiration.

As you can guess, our team is not able to remember the expiration dates of all our clients' services (and it would be ridiculous if it would). Instead, we have automatic notification facilities which we use to keep our customers informed.

Unfortunately, I'll not put your domain name live again, please, visit (or give a phone call) your domain name registrar's office tomorrow to solve the problem.

Thing is, neither BEFORE or AFTER had I received any emails from Arminco and to be quite frank to suggest that they sent out a "hard-copy letter" is stretching reality to say the least. Not even HSBC do that with bank statements and in fact, I've never ONCE received a letter sent internally to Armenia from Arminco or indeed, anybody else here. Even the British Embassy hand delivers correspondence to my door because the postal system is not used.

Sorry Arminco can't sort out its automated email system but is that my fault? Is it also my fault that they employ too few staff with memory problems when I was actually in their office today? Should Arminco understand that their business should be reliant on being helpful and polite to their customers? You bet ya but of course, that is the western style of working and Arminco have been around too long and have grown complacent by being one of the first ISPs in Armenia.

Regardless, my site is down, I can't access my email, UNICEF don't get their book, the guys who wanted the photos for the kids at the Vanadzor Children's Home don't get those but I get cocky emails from a member of their staff who needs to go on a customer service and relations training course. Typical of Armenia and an article I should write in itself. In the meantime, however, the moral of the story is quite clear.

There are better ISPs in Armenia than Arminco who offer better internet connections and better customer service. Besides, you don't have to re-live the good old days of the Soviet Unon when dealing with three people was the preferred system even if you only needed one.

A word of advice. Boycott Arminco and let them understand customer service if they want to keep their clients. Until then, there are many better and friendlier ISPs in Yerevan such as Netsys and Xter.net. Use them. As for me, enough is enough and I'm now going to look into taking my custom elsewhere. I'd advise others to do the same.

At the very least, any decent and professional employee at Arminco would have understood what email they should have written. It would have been quite simply: sorry for the problems and if you didn't receive our warning emails. However, there's nothing we can do at present. Please come in to the office tomorrow and we will try to resolve the problem and to see what it was.

None of that, however. Just plain old arrogance, rudeness and sarcasm from someone who obviously doesn't give a damn about Arminco's customers. You have all been warned and until businesses learn that without respecting their customers the latter will go elsewhere nothing much is going to change for the better in Armenia. I also repeat again, their internet connection is lousy and their proxy server is again playing up tonight. Really, do yourself a favor and take your business elsewhere.

Disclaimer: The above opinions are my own and in no way represent that of any of the local and international publications and organizations that I work for on a freelance or contract basis.

Tag: armenia | internet

Bulgarian "Wanted" Over Bush Grenade in Georgia

2005-06-27T18:01:00.000+05:00

The Sofia New Agency reports that a Bulgarian is "wanted" in connection with the discovery of a grenade that failed to detonate during last month's high profile visit to the Republic of Georgia by US President George Bush. The news reportedly comes via Georgia's Rustavi-2 TV station.

The grenade landed 30 m away from where Bush spoke to a huge crowd in Tbilisi, but did not detonate, according to the Georgian authorities. The US Secret Service said it received reports of the incident after Bush had left the ex-Soviet republic.

On Friday the Georgian authorities announced the results of investigation into the alleged attempt on G.W. Bush's life during his visit to Georgia last month.

[...]

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said at a late evening briefing on June 22 that Georgian authorities had identified a person suspected of throwing the hand-grenade during US President George Bush's address on May 10.

Initially, reports stated that the grenade was of Armenian origin but what with the proliferation of arms and munitions in the South Caucasus, the grenade could have ended up in anybody's hands. Regardless, the report can be read online here.

Tag: tbilisi | bush | armenia | bulgaria

Vanadzor Children's Home Kids at Water World

2005-06-27T02:45:00.000+05:00

A small selection of photographs from Saturday's outing for the children from the Vanadzor Children's Home (Orphanage) to the Water World amusement park in Yerevan, the Armenian capital are now online here on my web site.

WaterWorld, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / ASTP-PADCO

As mentioned in a previous post, the outing was arranged by the USAID Armenian Social Transition Program - PADCO who are responsible in assisting the Armenian government in reform the social and health sectors of the republic. A good time was had by all.

Interestingly, it occurred to me that I keep on being taken back to doing work on Vanadzor of late. The third largest city in Armenia that was also devastated by the 1988 earthquake, it never seems to get the attention from the media that it deserves.

Considered a center for human rights activism as well as the small but growing rock music scene in Armenia, it's not quite Gyumri, the second largest city, and definitely not Yerevan. Nevertheless, it has a nice feeling to it and a more and more or my work seems to be concentrated there.

In the past month alone I've been to Vanadzor for PADCO to photograph the pilot Integrated Social Services Center (ISSC) they established with the government and the local municipality and I've also been there with UNICEF during the same time period. The first visit was to look at pre-school education and the second, to look at national minority education.

Incidentally, the second article on the subject of education for Armenia's national minorities will be coming soon. Until then, if you're planning to visit Armenia this summer, its worth a trip north to Vanadzor. Lori region is quite green and the surrounding area is full of historical and cultural sites to visit such as Haghpat and Sanahin, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as well as Odzun, Kobayr etc.

Tag: armenia | children

An Arms Race in the South Caucasus?

2005-06-26T13:01:00.000+05:00

Agence France Press (AFP) reports that the Azerbaijani military budget has increased by 70 per cent this year to $300 million, largely as a result of increased oil revenues. The largest of the three South Caucasus republics inauguarated a multi-billion oil pipeline from Baku to the Turkish port of Ceyhan last month. AFP says the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline will bring in as much as $160 billion into the impoverished country over the next 30 years.

The Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev, has made no secret of the fact that if ongoing negotiations with neighboring Armenia to resolve the conflict over the territory of Nagorno Karabagh, mainly inhabited by ethnic Armenians, within Azerbaijan come to nothing, then the Azerbaijani military will resume hostilities to take it back by force.

"The adversary must know that the Azerbaijani army can mobilize at any moment and liberate the occupied territories," Aliyev said. "Spending on the country's defense force will grow continuously."

The conflict that erupted between the two neighboring states towards the end of the former Soviet Union turned into fullscale war in 1991. Over 20,000 died and as many as a million were forced to flee their homes in both republics until a ceasefire was signed in May 1994. Progress is reported in a new round of negotiations currently being mediated by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Minsk Group.

Nevertheless, all three South Caucasus republics have recently increased spending on the military -- rising to $104 million in Armenia and a whopping $180 million in the Republic of Georgia. Although Georgian spending is less than the total expenditure on the military in Azerbaijan, it is worth noting that it stood at just $23 million five years ago. Of course, Georgia has its own problems with separatist regions but at the same time, has also set its sights on integration into NATO as well as Europe.

Interestingly, the Georgian Defense Minister, Irakli Okruashvili, has just visited the United States where he met with the US Defense Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld. It's also worth noting that the 2005 US Defense Authorization Bill has money earmarked for non-proliferation. The Bill envisages spending $10 million in Georgia to establish a pilot project to promote "non-weapons-related employment for scientists, engineers, and technicians formerly engaged in activities to develop weapons of mass destruction in the Caucasus and Central Asia."

Meanwhile, an arms race is obviously developing between Armenia and Azerbaijan and although international organizations such as the Council of Europe and European Union have warned the latter about any resumption of hostilities, military build-ups are always worrying especially as its an escalation that probably does not favor Armenia. Of course, Russia is also reported to be relocating old military equipment from Georgia to Armenia as pressure for it to remove its bases from the former increases.

Tag: armenia | azerbaijan| military

Children from Vanadzor Children's Home visit Waterworld

2005-06-25T21:53:00.000+05:00

Brian Kearney, Chief of Party for the USAID Armenian Social Transition Program (ASTP) - PADCO, asked me to accompany the children from the Vanadzor Children's Home to Waterworld inYerevan today and I was glad to do so.

WaterWorld, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / ASTP-PADCO

I've photographed at the Children's Home in Armenia's third largest city before but in black and white as part of a larger project on social vulnerability and children in residential care in Armenia. However, this was the first time I've shot in color.

Anyway, it will take me a while to sort out the images but I'll probably post more tomorrow. Until then, however, one of the pics I shot today. If you'd like to know more about previous outings to Waterworld arranged by PADCO in the past then you can check out this page and this one also. I didn't take the pics on those pages but they offer some background info.

If you're interested, there's also some information on the PADCO site regarding the ratification by the Armenian government on the Minimum Social Standards for the Care and Upbringing of Children in Orphanages.

Although the majority of children in Children's Homes and Boarding Schools in Armenia are not orphans, nevertheless as representative of some of the most vulnerable children in the republic they stand an even tougher time than most in adjusting to life "on the outside" when they "graduate."

Anyway, I'll post some more later today but probably tomorrow. The main thing, however, is that a splendid day out was had by all.

Tag: armenia | children

Vazgen Manoukian Calls for "Revolutionary Change" in Armenia

2005-06-25T01:24:00.000+05:00

Everybody seems to be talking of revolution in the post-Soviet space and today, in Armenia, a politician and former official who RFE/RL calls "a prominent voice of moderation within the Armenian opposition" has apparently launched what the radio station's web site calls "a blistering attack against the authorities. According to the report, Vazgen Manoukian is calling for “public mobilization” for regime change."

Vazgen Manoukian, Opposition Rally, April 2004, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia

Anyway, here's some of what Manoukian had to say:

He described the ruling establishment as a clique of “plunderers” who are “at war” with the rest of the country’s population. “Unless there is a mobilization of our type [of people] who will fight for the future of the country, the country will not change,” he said. “And as the AZhM leader, I set the task of mobilization before the AZhM.”

Asked by one of the delegates whether that means he supports a popular uprising against President Robert Kocharian, Manukian replied: “It depends not only on ourselves. It also depends on the extent of the opposite side’s resistance. If we consolidate, the opposite side will have two options: either to provoke a revolution or retreat. God willing, we will have revolutionary change without a revolution.”

RFE/RL notes that members of pro-government and other opposition parties were in attendance at the NDU Congress and apparently earned the praise of two members of the government coalition, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and Orinats Yerkir.

Interestingly, Manukian drew praise from senior representatives of two coalition parties, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and Orinats Yerkir, who were present at the AZhM gathering. They both wishes the AZhM success in their speeches. It was not clear if they agreed with Manukian’s assessment of the situation in the country.

Also in attendance were other senior opposition figures, notably Aram Sarkisian of the Hanrapetutyun (Republic). Sarkisian, who leads the most radical opposition group, appeared to agree with Manukian, saying that opposition parties need the backing of other sections of Armenian society in order to succeed.

Also in attendance was the former Karabagh military commander, Samuel Babayan, who RFE/RL says is sympathetic to Manoukian. Incidentally, it's worth pointing out to those readers that don't know that Vazgen Manoukian contested the 1996 Presidential Elections but "lost" in what is considered a falsified vote to then President Levon Ter Petrosian. Since 2003 he has certainly been one of the most interesting of voices in the Armenian opposition.

The full news item can be read online here.

Incidentally, also touched upon in today's ArmeniaLiberty.org is continued progress in the current round of negotiations over Nagorno Karabagh and news that the Armenian government has finally given in to pressure from the Council of Europe and the Armenian opposition to include three key items in proposed constitutional reform scheduled for later this year.

Finally, Another Mobile Phone Operator in Armenia

2005-06-24T20:16:00.000+05:00

RFE/RL also reports that Armenia will finally be getting a second mobile phone operator. The Lebanese owned K-Telecom that is already operating in the self-declared Republic of Nagorno Karabagh will launch their new service on 1 July. Finally, ArmenTel -- the much hated Greek owned telecommunications monopoly -- will have some competition in Armenia although already, the damage has been done.

The ArmenTel monopoly is widely blamed for the fact that Armenia has lagged behind neighboring Azerbaijan and Georgia in the development of mobile telephony. The high cost and poor quality of the service led the Armenian government last year to renegotiate one of the key terms of ArmenTel’s 1998 sale to OTE which resulted in the partial liberalization of the market.

In April 2005, there were approximately 200,000 mobile phone subscribers in Armenia. In comparison, the neighboring republics of Georgia and Azerbaijan had over 1 million and 1.5 million subscribers respectively -- and both with more than one company operating in the market. Most regions of these countries are covered by their mobile phone network while coverage in Armenia is small and mainly confined to the capital where reception is attrocious.

The full article can be read online here.

PACE ‘Deeply Concerned’ About Armenian Constitutional Reform

2005-06-24T00:25:00.000+05:00

While we talk about building a democracy in Armenia and whether the US should intervene, we generally forget more important questions relating to the same issue. That is, Armenia’s international obligations as a voluntary signatory to various treaties and conventions as well as membership of various international organizations. With this in mind, the Council of Europe have passed the resolution on constitutional ammendments that I blogged about yesterday.

“The Assembly is deeply concerned that the delay in agreeing and adopting the constitutional amendments is holding back Armenia’s progress towards European democratic norms and standards in key areas of political life,” reads the resolution.

PACE specifically urged Kocharian and his ruling coalition to comply with the recommendations of the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission that would give more powers to the Armenian parliament, strengthen judicial independence and make the mayor of Yerevan an elected official.

Interestingly, the same concerns that the CE has expressed with regards to the draft constitutional ammendments drawn up by the government are shared by the opposition. Indeed, the CE noted such a fact , something that raises serious questions about the government’s refusal to consider these three issues when the opposition said it would become part of the process if they did.

Finally, we have a serious matter through which we can assess the democratic credentials of the government and its willingness to meet its international obligations let alone its duty to its own citizens. I think this will determine future attitudes towards the process of reform in Armenia and whether, when push comes to shove, the government is truly democratic or whether it is simply playing games.

The full report by RFE/RL can be read online here.

Democracy is a Process...

2005-06-23T18:42:00.000+05:00

On the subject of democratic development in Armenia, Democracy Guy reacts angrily — although some would say justifiably so — to talk of building a democracy being a process. This is especially so when those that say such things are allegedly on the payroll of Armenian lobbying groups in the United States.

Republican Senators Chuck Hagel and Norm Coleman visited Armenia recently, and in between shopping for rugs and drinking Armenian cognac, apparently mistook the place for a democracy.

[...]

Coleman’s remarks seemed at odds with the strong US criticism of the last Armenian presidential election in 2003. The State Department said at the time that Armenian authorities “missed an important opportunity to advance democratization.”

Before you think Coleman and Hagel were either drunk or asleep the entire trip, it’s important to note that the trip was sponsored by the Armenian Assembly of America, the powerhouse lobbying group of diasporan Armenians.

[…]

For this purpose, the “democracy is a process not an event” horseshit suits them just fine. And American politicians are just petty enough to let a campaign contribution and a trip to buy some nice rugs and trinkets in Armenia pull the wool over their eyes. Democracy may be a process, but it can only begin with one thing…free elections. Period.

According to Democracy Guy — and few would disagree with him — there has been not yet been any precedent of democratic elections in Armenia — well, perhaps with the exception of the first ever presidential elections that brought LTP to power (although someone correct me if I’m wrong). Since then, however, it’s all been down hill. Anyway, his full blog can be read online here.

Revolution or Democratic Change?

2005-06-23T02:15:00.000+05:00

EurasiaNet has an interesting article on the US position re. democratization in Armenia in the wake of "revolutions" in Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan and President George Bush's recent visit to Tbilisi.

Opposition demonstration protesting the outcome of the 2003 Presidential Elections, Matenadaran, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia. A full gallery of images can be viewed online here

However, whereas many opposition activists saw Bush's calls for democracy to sweep through the region as a call to revolution, the US in fact favors peaceful democratic change through elections or at most, through citizens protecting their constitutional right to determine their own government in cases where the vote is obviously rigged.

The senior administration official indicated that recent statements made by President Bush should not be interpreted as a call for street protests, or other anti-government action that undermines stability in the region. "The [Armenian] opposition should not launch a dangerous revolution or seek to humiliate the [Kocharian] regime," the senior administration official said, adding that Washington now favors an "evolutionary process" of democratization.

Basically, the opposition had its chance in Armenia during 2003 but blew it. Now the issue is promoting real internal political and democratic development in time for the next elections scheduled for 2007 at the latest. The article can be read online here.

ARF-D demands resignation of top NK Military Commanders

2005-06-22T23:02:00.001+05:00

RFE/RL reports that after a prominent Dashnak activist was allegedly beaten, the ARF-D have demanded that top military commanders in the self-declared Republic of Nagorno Karabagh resign or be dismissed.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) demanded on Wednesday the resignation of Nagorno-Karabakh’s top military commanders who are alleged to have severely beaten up a local activist of the influential party opposed to the unrecognized republic’s government.

Pavel Manukian, a prominent participant of the war with Azerbaijan who is affiliated with Dashnaktsutyun, was taken to a military hospital in Stepanakert on Tuesday with what his friends and relatives described as life-threatening injuries sustained during a visit to the Defense Ministry of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR).

According to the Dashnaktsutyun leadership in Karabakh, Manukian said after regaining consciousness that he was assaulted in the office of the NKR defense minister, General Seyran Ohanian. A Dashnaktsutyun statement quoted him as saying that Ohanian himself started the beating before being joined by other senior military commanders present in the room.

ArmInfo reports that Pavel Manukian was a candidate in parliamentary elections held Sunday in the disputed territory which the ARF-D — part of the ruling coalition government in Armenia but opposition in Karabagh — claim were undemocratic. Nevertheless, most observers gave the elections a clean bill of health, unlike those held in Armenia during 2003.

Regardless, the Karabagh President, Arkhady Ghukasian has promised an immediate investigation and that those found guilty will be prosecuted.

Actually, this is an interesting case study. In countries such as those in the CIS, nobody is expecting that elections and their aftermath be as clean as those in the West for now at least. However, what people do expect is that any violations of the electoral code or violence etc is punished under the law. In Armenia, it isn’t but let’s see how Karabagh deals with this one.

It’s a real test for democracy, especially when NK is still under martial law and those accused are significant figures in the military. Anyway, the RFE/RL report can be read online here.

Desert Nights: Trafficking of Women & Children from Armenia

2005-06-22T22:11:00.000+05:00

Ara Manoogian over at Martuni or Bust reports on the press conference that he and investigative journalist, Edik Baghdasarian, held to mark Yerkir Media TV’s showing of their documentary, Desert Nights. The film represents over a year’s work looking into the trafficking of women and children from Armenia to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and implicates the government in failing to curb the problem and in some cases, actually being part of it.

Anyway, all the updates on this unprecedented investigation can be found on Ara’s blog. There’s also an interview I held with Ara on this investigation here.

Georgia Bids to Host 2014 Winter Olympics

2005-06-22T21:12:00.000+05:00

Civil.ge reports that the neighboring Republic of Georgia is bidding to hold the 2014 Olympic Games at resorts in Borjomi and Bakuriani. Seems unlikely but who knows? Would require a lot of investment in order to meet international sporting standards.

Still, if it happened it would reconfirm the republic's status as center of the South Caucasus. The full item can be read here.

Possible Sanctions against Armenia if Constitutional Ammendments Fail

2005-06-22T19:37:00.000+05:00

At long last, after missing the boat in challenging the removal of A1 Plus from the TV screens, the Council of Europe is showing its teeth. To be honest, it’s about time and to be welcomed.

The Committee on Legal Affairs has made two decisions. First: in case of failing the Constitutional reforms for the second time in Armenia the PACE has the right to raise the issue of stopping the authorizations of the delegation of Armenia, and second: after the realization of the Constitutional Referendum it must be put into execution as soon as possible.

Failure to enact a proper constitution in line with European standards, even if it still requires that society and the courts ensure it functions, will mark the end of democratic development in Armenia.

The full item from A1 Plus can be read here.

PACE Resolution on RA Draft Constitution

2005-06-22T18:32:00.000+05:00

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has worded a resolution on the imminent constitutional amendments. Interestingly, it supports most of the criticisms made by the opposition in Armenia but thankfully, it looks as though pressure from the CE might yet force the government to bring the constitution in line with European standards.

In particular, strengthening the power of parliament, promoting the independence of the judiciary and making the Mayor of Yerevan an elected official are the three main points that both the opposition and the CE want addressed. Simply, anyone living in Armenia can understand why these three points are vital for the democratic development of Armenia.

7. This is a situation that can no longer be tolerated. Armenia simply cannot afford another failure of the constitutional referendum. The preservation of the status quo and the present Constitution (as we explain in detail in Chapter 3) might serve certain narrow political interests, but would have devastating consequences for the democratic development of the country. This is why we believe that this report is timely and necessary. Our Armenian friends, with whom cooperation has always been excellent, should take it as a sign of support for the so-much needed and so badly overdue democratic reforms.

The full text can be read online here.

BTW: If the government fails to incorporate the recommendations of the CE and the opposition into the amendments, the latter will be urging people to vote against the changes. In fact, the plan is to turn it into a referendum of confidence in the Armenian President and National Assembly. With only those people interested in seeing authoritarian presidential power reign in Armenia, who can blame them?

ARF-D Candidate Beaten in NKR

2005-06-22T15:44:00.000+05:00

Arminfo reports that a candidate for the Armenian Revolutionary Federation in Sunday's parliamentary elections was beaten up yesterday. He was hospitalized in Stepanakert with concussion and facial injuries.

Chief physician of the hospital Gevorgyan says that health state of Manukyan is stable, and there is not necessity of surgical operation. His life is no longer in danger. The physician refused from specifying the reason of Manukyan's injuries. Manukyan's wife is sure that her husband was subjected to bodily injuries. She says at 13:00 on June 21 Manukyan was called somewhere on phone and the information on his hospitalization was received in an hour. Representative of the opposition bloc of Gegham Baghdasaryan thinks it was the work of the authorities, Radio Freedom reports.

It's worth remembering that the ARF-D are part of the ruling coalition in Armenia but are in opposition in Karabagh. Ironically, while rationalizing the 2003 presidential and parliamentary elections in Armenia, the ARF-D are screaming foul with regards to the elections in Karabagh. That said, almost everybody -- including western observers -- say that the elections were free, fair and transparent. Even so, the beating and elections are probably connected somehow.

Oneworld Multimedia Produces New Book

2005-06-22T01:57:00.000+05:00

Finally, the artwork for the second book I've written, photographed and designed is virtually ready. Probably it will go to print next week. The first, Armenia: Poverty, Transition & Democracy, was published by the Gomidas Institute at the beginning of the year and consists of articles and photographs on poverty in Armenia and related themes such as children in institutions, psychiatric health and conflict. This book, however, is for UNICEF and consists of overviews and articles on UNICEF activities in Armenia accompanied by photographs.

After this, things will be a lot quieter although I've still a series of photos to take and posters to design for UNICEF as well as write more articles. I'm also doing some editing work for PADCO and last week photographed two pilot Integrated Social Service Centers (ISSCs) in Massis and Vanadzor. After that, I'll be looking to engage in some personal and new projects. After four years of photographing poverty in Armenia when other photographers didn't, now that money is available for photo projects on poverty everybody seems to want to get in on the act.

ISSC, Vanadzor, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian ASTP - PADCO

So, you can expect more of the very same photographers who ignored the subject matter for so long to come out of the woodwork and declare their "social conscience" through putting in funding proposals for exhibitions and photo projects for the duration of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). Now it's no longer politically sensitive to touch the issue so somehow, it's time for me to find other subject matters these guys won't touch until the next batch of money comes along.

After Shikahogh, maybe the environment sounds interesting.

Armenian - Azeri Presidents to meet in August

2005-06-21T15:32:00.000+05:00

A1 Plus and PanArmenian.net report that the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents will probably meet on the sidelines of a CIS summit in August. This will mark a continuation of the current new round of negotiations to find a solution to the frozen conflict between the two countries over the mainly Armenian inhabited territory of Nagorno Karabagh.

In related news, PanArmenian.net also reports that that the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister says that the issue of restoring and sharing road and communications networks was touched upon.

In his words, Baku suggests road shared use and hopes Yerevan will accept the proposal, as the parties are interested in reliable communications. Azimov reported that the common road route is planned to pass next to Aghdam, Stepanakert, Shushi, then Goris region of Armenia, Sisyan with further outlet to Nakhichevan. [...] It was also known that to make progress in the Karabakh conflict settlement a donor conference will be convened and international peacekeeping forces will secure the communication, reported Regnum news agency.

Actually, this is very interesting news with regards to Shikahogh. Although the proposed new road through the reserve is believed to be no better than that which already exists from the Iranian border to the Armenian city of Kapan, an alternate route does exist -- via Zangelan in Armenian-controlled Azerbaijan. For now, however, the fact that there is no peace deal -- phased or otherwise -- makes such a route sensitive to say the least.

However, within the framework of a peace deal, it is ideal. The route is less mountainous and long stretches of the road are flat and straight.

Desert Nights: Trafficking from Armenia

2005-06-21T01:48:00.000+05:00

Ara Manoogian, the US-Armenian now living in Nagorno Karabagh, blogs over at Martuni or Bust about the presentation of the film that he and Edik Baghdasarian of Hetq Online worked on re. the trafficking of women and children from Armenia to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

On June 22nd, 2005 at 2 p.m., we will be having a press conference where we will present our documentary “Desert Nights." We are expecting representation from government and all the NGOs that deal with trafficking issues. That evening our documentary will be aired the television station Yerkir Media TV at 9 p.m. For those interested in attending the press conference, please e-mail me and I’ll send you an invitation.

This has got to be worth attending if you're in town. Before then, check out the recent interview I held with Ara here.

Karabagh: Elections & Negotiations

2005-06-20T23:43:00.000+05:00

RFE/RL also covers the outcome of the parliamentary elections held yesterday in the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabagh. In those elections, two pro-presidential parties won 22 out of 33 seats. The opposition alliance consisting of the ARF-D and the Movement-88 bloc won only three seats. The ARF-D, itself part of the ruling coalition government in Armenia, have screamed foul. However, despite that, the ARF-D have said that they will not follow down the "path of upheavals."

In part, this might also be because the consensus of opinion from international observers -- including those from opposition parties in Armenia -- have given the elections a clean bill of health, especially when compared to the elections here in 2003. Nevertheless, it should not be forgotten that Karabagh is still under martial law and also, the stakes as an unrecognized and partly beseiged territory are very high.

Talking of which, RFE/RL also reports that the Armenian Foreign Minsiter, Vartan Oskanian, says that significant progress is being made in a new round of peace negotiations amined at settling the frozen conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the fate of ethnic Armenians living in Karabagh. Oskanian met with his Azeri counterpart in Paris on Friday. It is believed that a new peace deal will be a combination of a phased and package deal.

Key for the Armenian government, however, is the status of Karabagh and international security guarantees.

Both RFE/RL stories can be read online here.

The First Negative Opinion

2005-06-20T15:26:00.000+05:00

A1 Plus has just posted a new story saying that the first negative opinion about the fairness of the parliamentary elections in Nagorno Karabagh has been made by an observer from the Czech Republic.

The lawyer, who has also been in the OSCE Observers Mission to Azerbaijan and Belarus, substantiated his opinion with the following facts, “Before throwing the ballots into the boxes, the electors in Askeran showed whom they had votes for. The empowered person of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation wanted to complain, but the Committee head refused to admit it saying that nothing of the kind had happened."

Milan Stefanec also mentioned other violations, "In an electoral area in Martakert the validity or invalidity of the documents was decided not by the Committee head, but by the Military Commander." He added that the members of the Electoral Committee had no idea of the Electoral Code, "When we asked them who forms the Electoral Committee, they could not answer. They did not know who had appointed them. These things are menace for democratic elections."

It will be interesting to hear what the ARF-D says later. Anyway, the full item can be read online here.

Karabagh Elections

2005-06-20T13:23:00.000+05:00

A1 Plus reports that parliamentary elections in the unrecognized and breakaway territory of Nagorno Karabagh were held yesterday. According to the Central Elections Commission (CEC) of the self-declared republic situated within Azerbaijan, 73.6 per cent of eligible voters took part. However, results will not be known until later today or even tomorrow.

The course of the elections was relatively quiet. There were no written complaints from the candidates or from the electors.

Still too early to say but it would appear that once again, for reasons which are too long to list here, the elections were considerably more democratic than parliamentary elections that took place in Armenia during 2003. As long as this remains the case, Karabagh can present to the outside world the idea that it has the ability to establish a democratic state in the region.

Of course, the international community might not recognize these elections or even monitor them that closely but given that parliamentary elections are scheduled for November in Azerbaijan proper, it is vital that democratic conditions, in regional terms, remain intact. That said, preliminary reports from ArmInfo indicate that the Armenian Revolutionary Federation - Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D) did badly.

As part of the official opposition in Karabagh, I wonder whether they will concede defeat or instead claim that the vote was rigged. It's hard to say as there is no OSCE observation mission in the territory for the elections. Incidentally the BBC also covered the elections. Anyway, the A1 Plus report can be read online here.

Serzh Sarkisyan for President

2005-06-19T19:40:00.000+05:00

The Armenian News Network-Groong has posted what it calls an "unattributed report by the Armenian newspaper Iravunk." The article suggests, as many people have speculated, that the Defense Minister, Serzh Sarkisyan, might well have his sights on the presidency. Interestingly, according to the head of one major international organization, the former Armenian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Armen Sarkisyan (no relation), is already actively campaigning on his behalf in western circles. However, there has been no other reports of this and certainly, no confirmation.

According to a source close to Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan, he is going to form a new party on the basis of the People's Deputy parliamentary faction with the aim of using the party as a means of political support.

The source said that in doing so, Sarkisyan intends to secure massive representation in the parliament during the parliamentary elections of 2007. He hopes that the party will win a great number of seats in first-past-the-post constituencies and become the biggest faction in the National Assembly. In turn, the faction will back Sarkisyan's candidacy in the presidential elections of 2008.

Interestingly, many analysts suspect that if the Armenian President, Robert Kocharian, doesn't try to wangle an unconstitutional third term in office, his most obvious choice for successor is Sarkisyan -- sorry, please forget the idea that elections are decided by the popular vote (for now at least). After Artur Baghdasarian sat on the fence last year during the spring 2004 opposition protests, the powerful Defense Minister is perhaps the only man he can trust in Armenia today.

The same would be true for the oligarchs fearful of any anti-corruption drive that resulted in wave after wave of arrests in neighboring Georgia after the November 2003 "Rose Revolution."

The one uncertainty, of course, is how the population would take such an eventuality. Assuming that the next elections are going to be falsified, the general consensus is that most people would not stand for Sarkisyan as President. Indeed, if this scenerio looks more and more likely, one guesses that first, the Council of Europe and the US must really insist on democratic elections in Armenia and secondly, that such news is more likely to mobilize the opposition and strengthen their standing in the eyes of the people.

Personally, I think that the West can't allow the next elections to be anything other than democratic but we'll get a clearer idea of that when we see what happens in the November Parliamentary Elections in neighboring Azerbaijan.

Time to Switch: Linux in Armenia

2005-06-19T16:55:00.000+05:00

When I first started to live in Armenia from October 1998 onwards, one of the first things I missed was my Apple Macintosh Power PC that I had to leave in England. However, when I returned to the UK for a short break last year, I dusted it off and started it running again. Man, how I missed it. Still has a nicer OS than XP. Unfortunately, however, Apple Macs are in very short supply in Armenia, and certainly software is lacking, although there is an official distributor in Georgia.

Anyway, not much you can really do about it here. All the CD shops in Yerevan sell pirated copies of Windows and the latest applications in Russian and English versions for just 1,500 drams ($3) while every computer shop stocks the latest Pentium PCs although generally put together in kit form. Which is fine but because most of the software is pirated and often comes pre-installed, it's no wonder that computers crash from time to time, and when they do, they often take with them a lot of important information. Keeps on happening to me and I've had enough of it, to be honest.

But as, Jon, a friend in England, says constantly, there is another option -- Linux. In fact, even over there it is his preferred OS of choice. The Windows box running Win 2000 is only kept around for music software. So, today, after having my fill of XP, I went out and bought a copy of Redhat Linux. It's installed on a separate partition and albeit slowly, I will try migrating over. Personally, I think it's a great option for countries like Armenia because unlike Windows, you are allowed to distribute and install it freely.

Secondly, there are more and more applications for most computer user's needs available -- also free of charge -- and let's face it. It is unlikely that incomes and the economy in Armenia will grow enough for most computer users and even small to medium sized businesses to purchase legitimate western-produced software from the likes of Microsoft, Adobe or Macromedia.

Instead, because it is not hacked or require a crack, open source software is likely to be more stable (famous last words!). Of course, the mainstay of my computer use are not available under Linux -- Quark Xpress, Adobe Photoshop and Macromedia Flash. Even so, I can at least keep a Windows XP partition for when I need to run those packages if Linux Windows APIs run too slow or not at all. My Nikon Coolscan will at least work as there's a Linux version of the excellent Vuescan.

However, there are other reasons why Linux is a good choice for countries like Armenia. Sooner or later, the World Trade Organization and anti-copyright watchdogs are going to come down hard on Armenia for the huge market in pirated software. Secondly, because this software is generally hacked, the idea that government will be running unstable software is really quite worrying. Moreover, rather than running Armenian versions of software, people have to run English or Russian.

That situation might change, however. Already there is an organization, Open Source Armenia, that has produced a localized Armenian version of Open Office, Linux's equivalent of Microsoft Office. According to their web site, they are now in the process of localizing Armenian versions of Thunderbird and Firefox, an email client and web browser I am running anyway under XP because IE6 is so full of security holes and underpowered anyway.

There's even a joint Children's Internet Gateway Project by Open Source Armenia, Yerevan State University and SpiTux, a Linux project based in Spitak close to the epicenter of the tragic 1988 earthquake. Personally, I think this is the way to go and it was interesting to see that countries like Iraq are already orientating themselves in this direction.

One problem, however. Because of all these damn winmodems in Armenia, it is nearly impossible to find a driver to run under Linux. The best I've managed to find so far is a cut down shareware driver for the conexant chip set but which only crawls around at 14.4K. Still, perhaps Open Source Armenia have a solution or can recommend a different modem. Best email them, I think so that this transition happens sooner rather than later.

Incidentally, there's an interview by ArmInfo with the Director of Open Source Armenia here.

Another Opposition Rally in Baku

2005-06-19T11:09:00.000+05:00

AP reports that the opposition in Azerbaijan have staged another rally in Baku, the capital. According this report, the rally was huge at aproximately 20,000 people and organized by three opposition parties getting ready to contest the November Parliamentary Elections. Interestingly, following the example of Ukraine, the demonstrators all wore orange.

The opposition bloc has chosen orange as its campaign color - the color that was also used by the Ukrainian opposition during mass protests dubbed "Orange Revolution'' that helped pave way for the victory of a Western-backed candidate over a Russia-backed rival.

Many participants in Saturday's rally wore orange T-shirts and baseball caps and carried orange flags.

Well, it's not a revolution but rather the opposition demanding that in the wake of Georgia and Ukraine, the elections are free, fair and transparent. There were again some minor skirmishes when protestors tried to disperse riot police (now that's a turn up) in Liberty Square but so far at least, no reports of the kind of tactics we saw during the 2003 Presidential Elections in Armenia or when the opposition took to the streets here last Spring.

Obviously, after a wave of "revolutions" and George Bush's high profile visit to the Republic of Georgia last month, it will be interesting to see what develops. Can Azerbaijan hold better elections than it has and if it doesn't, will interests in its oil result in the US, in particular, looking away. So far at least, the US Embassy in Baku has shown itself to be on the ball.

The full article can be read online here.

Incidentally, The BBC also covers the story and talks of a "sea of orange flags and T-shirts" in Baku. In the photo accompanying the piece, however, I can see just two orange balloons and one orange flag so I either the photo is out of their archive or they need to hire a new photo editor.

Ishkan is Dead

2005-06-18T15:58:00.000+05:00

Today, a fifty one year old man was buried. Sick with Multi Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (TB), he had been in and out of the Abovian TB Dispensary since god knows when. Although the law says that TB is treated free of charge, nothing is ever that simple in Armenia. At most hospitals, including in the capital, even if you shouldn't have to pay, most of the time you generally do -- for syringes, medication, informal payments to doctors and nurses, for any kind of treatment -- you name it.

Ishkan, Nor Kharberd, Ararat Region, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian

In the case of MDR TB you would have thought that the priority would be to treat the patient rather than making it all dependent on whether you have money or not, especially as those with the disease or the poorest in the country and the disease spreads if treatment is not completed. Hardly surprising, therefore, that Ishkan died but not before his nephew was also diagnozed with TB.

In 2004, I took Edik Baghdasarian of Hetq Online to meet Ishkan. The investigative journalist wrote an article but as Ishkan was frightened of what would happen if anyone found out, Edik changed his name and I made sure that his face was obscured by shadow in the photograph above. That didn't work, however, and before we knew it, Ishkan had apparently been forced to write a "confession" by someone in the health authorities.

He hd been told to write that Edik and I promised to take him to Germany for treatment if he criticized the system in place for treating TB in Armenia and accused them of corruption.

“But if there is no drugs, why is it so good? They signed out the drugs in my name, but I didn't get them—I bought most of them. It cost me 180,000 drams. How am I supposed to pay? I have been sick for twelve years and haven't worked in all those years."

Well, it probably doesn't matter. Like another TB victim in Yerevan who was also unable to receive proper treatment in Abovian (although the reasons for this are still uncertain), Ishkan died two days ago even though the government has signed an agreement with MSF-France to start a massive multi-million dollar programme to tackle MDR-TB in Armenia. However, the agreement should have been signed towards the end of last year but for some reason was delayed by the MoH until a month or so ago. Nice one.

In the meantime, despite what the law says about the government's responsibility towards its citizens, my wife is currently collecting money from friends and relatives to pay for the cost of treatment for Ishkan's nephew that should be free but isn't because the state budget can't meet the needs of the country. Tax the oligarchs and maybe even prosecute officials for corruption and perhaps one day it could. Unfortunately, however, there is no political will at the highest levels of the government to do so.

South Caucasus Parliamentary Assembly

2005-06-18T01:54:00.000+05:00

ArmenPress reports that Nino Burjanadze, Speaker of Georgian parliament, Deputy Armenian National Assembly Speaker Tigran Torosian and Siyavush Novruzov, a parliament member from Azerbaijan's ruling Yeni Azerbaijan party, have signed a tripartite memorandum to establish a regional Parliamentary Assembly.

Speaking to journalists afterwards, Nino Burjanadze said that despite the existing problems between Armenia and Azerbaijan, politicians of these countries sat side by side to discuss their differences in various issues. She also stressed the importance of this initiative saying it would promote regional stability and solution of a range of complicated problems.

Interesting to note that while Burjandze signed the memorandum on behalf of Georgia, the Speakers of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Parliaments instead sent along their deputies or even MPs. Neverthess, A1 Plus reports that the South Caucasus Parliamentary Assembly will start functioning from January 2007.

In related news, A1 Plus also says that the Armenian Foreign Minister, Vartan Oskanian, met with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Elmar Mamedyarov, in Paris on 17 June within the framework of ongoing negotiations to resolve the conflict over the mainly Armenian-inhabited territory of Nagorno Karabagh. Interestingly, no details are known.

Last chance for the forests of Armenia

2005-06-17T17:03:00.000+05:00

Oneworld.net, the leading portal for human rights and sustainable development issues, has just published my story on the battle to save Shikahogh and the public meeting held earlier today.

The World Wildlife Fund surveys the route of the proposed new highway, Mtnadzor, Siunik Region, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian

Incidentally, just in case there's any confusion, there is no direct connection between Oneworld Multimedia and Oneworld.net apart from the fact that in 1997, they published my photo essay on the Kurds and Human Rights in Turkey. That said, since the beginning of 2005, I have been Oneworld.net's volunteer editor for Armenia.

Government-connected businessmen and state officials engaged in the illegal export of timber from Armenia are mostly to blame for the former Soviet republic’s dwindling number of forests. Whereas 11 per cent of the republic was covered by forests in 1991, the figure stands at below 8 per cent today. Environmentalists warn that unless current trends are reversed, Armenia will be forestless by 2024.

In recent weeks, such concerns have have been reinforced by plans to build a highway through the Shikahogh Nature Reserve situated in the southern-most Siunik region of the republic. Tens of thousands of trees in the reserve will be felled in government plans to build a second, 90-kilometer road leading to the Iranian border. Shikahogh is habitat for over 1000 species of plants and fauna such as leopards.

Environmental activists and NGOs in Armenia are up in arms against this latest threat especially as work on the $16 million project has already begun.

The story can be read online here.

Shikahogh Update

2005-06-17T13:07:00.000+05:00

Garo over at Blogrel has just come back from the public hearing on plans to build a road through the Shikahogh Nature Reserve and Mtnadzor Forest. Ironically, after reminding people that this meeting was due to take place today, I didn't manage to make it. Was up working until the early hours again and overslept for the first time in many months.

Still, we know that for the government, attending this meeting was simply a matter of formality. Anyway, this is what Garo has to say on what was said.

According to the minister of transport and communication Andranik Manukyan, 30,000 trees would be cut from the reserve. Minister Ministry of Environmental Protection Vardan Ayvazyan naturally downplayed the extent of damage to the reserve and its surroundings. All of the proposals that were received were rejected as being economically unfeasible, since they called for the road to be stretched an additional 20 kilometers or more to avoid cutting the reserve, thereby costing millions more to construct.

Garo goes on to say that the Ministry of Transport of Communications says that it is unable to take an alternate route because of the extra cost involved. However, this seems absurd given that firstly, there should be no excuse at all for destroying a centuries old forest and cutting through a Nature Reserve, thus opening it up to illegal logging, poaching, hunting and other commercial activities.

Secondly, one thing that the government is very good at is begging from the Diaspora to get money to build roads and when large organizations such as the Armenian Assembly of America have offered to help make alternate routes viable, why hasn't the government tried to secure the additional funding necessary? And what about Lincy or the World Bank? Hell, even the Georgians put in a road building and infrastructure rehabilitation project to the MCA.

Anway, as we all know, the government had no intention of looking at alternate routes. We know that because while they promised to suspend construction for 15 days, when we went down to Shikahogh last week, construction was still continuing.

Garo's blog can be read online here.

Shikahogh Last Reminder

2005-06-17T02:04:00.000+05:00

The Environmental Public Alliance of Armenian NGOs has organized a Public Forum to discuss possible alternatives to the construction of a highway through the Shikahogh nature reserve and Mtnadzor forest.

Carolyn Mugar, founder of the Armenian Tree Project and Executive Director of Farm Aid, sitting alongside the current Agarak-Kapan Highway, Siunik Region, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian.

The Public Forum will take place on Friday, June 17, 2005 from 10:00-13:00 at the American University of Armenia, 5th Floor Conference Hall, 40 Baghramyan Street, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia.

For background information and a presentation in Macromedia Flash format please click here.

Congrats Uncle Robert

2005-06-17T01:44:00.000+05:00

While looking through my emails, I found one from my mum sent last week which I should have read more carefully when it arrived. Unfortunately, however, things are just too hectic at the moment.

In the email, mum says that her younger brother will be receiving his CBE on 22 June 2005 from the Queen at Buckingham Palace in recognition of his role in the largest re-equipment (or something) of the British Army in recent times.

This will go nicely with the OBE he received as the British Colonel responsible for UNPROFOR logistics operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina during 1993. Anyway, congrats Uncle Robert. Not that you probably read this blog...

Nations in Transit?

2005-06-17T00:37:00.000+05:00

The US-based Freedom House has released a new study on "Challenges and Opportunities for Democracy in Former Soviet Countries." The short report says that "revolutions" in Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan offer a new hope for the democraticization of the former Soviet space. Armenia, however, didn't do so well.

Widespread corruption and weak governance remained defining features of Armenia's political system in 2004. Little progress was made in reducing the powers of the presidency, despite international pressure. The opposition continued to press for a referendum vote of confidence in President Robert Kocharian, but its weak parliamentary position and the general public's disillusionment with the political class prevented success. A disturbing rise in the number of assaults on journalists results in a deterioration of Armenia’s Nations in Transit rating for independent media. The use of so-called administrative arrests, torture within the police system, and a new Law on Demonstrations in 2004 results in a lower rating in the category of judicial framework & independence.

On a scale of 1 to 7, with a lower number representing a greater level of democracy, Armenia scored 5.18 whereas Azerbaijan and Georgia scored 5.86 and 4.96 respectively. This doesn't surprise me because I've always believed that Armenia will always be somewhere between its two neighbors in terms of democratic development. Even so, there's a long way to go for all three republics in the South Caucasus.

The press release for Freedom House's report can be read here and another longer report on Armenia can be found in the new Nations In Transit 2005 report.

Reminder

2005-06-16T11:03:00.000+05:00

The Public Forum will take place on Friday, June 17, 2005 from 10:00-13:00 at the American University of Armenia, 5th Floor Conference Hall, 40 Baghramyan Street, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia. Time is of the essence because it is reported that the authorities plan to set the dangerous precedent of changing Shikahogh's status to that of a National Park in order to "legitimize" construction on the reserve.

For background information and a presentation in Macromedia Flash format, please click here.

Youth Activism in Azerbaijan

2005-06-16T10:49:00.000+05:00

Eurasianet reports that youth groups are starting to become more active in the neighboring Republic of Azerbaijan as the November parliamentary elections approach. In fact, says Khadija Ismayilova and Shain Abbasov, pro-opposition youth activists are already being arrested.

The parliamentary election, scheduled for November, is already attracting international attention, as some political analysts believe the vote could potentially produce the same type of revolutionary pressure in Azerbaijan that ended up remaking the political orders in Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan. For example, the Council of Europe recently issued a statement that said the November ballot could be an event in which "we may become witnesses either to fair-and-free elections, or a bloody confrontation between thousands." In both Georgia’s Rose Revolution and Ukraine’s Orange Revolution, student activists played a pivotal role in bringing about political change.

Other than arrest pro-opposition youth, however, the Azerbaijani government is also following the example set by the authorities in Armenia. Instead of trying to fight young people, why not try to control them instead by establishing pro-government youth seminars, conferences and organizations not too disimilar to anything done by the Komsomol movement during the Soviet era.

In the meantime, youth in Armenia remain largely cynical and apathetic -- a point Katy recently made over at Blogrel. Then again, Armenia has hardly entered into its own run-up to parliamentary elections scheduled for 2007, so I assume that things will be different by then.

The full article can be read online here.