Russian Troops in Armenia?
Kommersant says this article that Russian troops in Georgia may move to bases in Armenia. I’d love to see some more evidence of this before I buy this completely.
Putin Tries to Keep Armenia as the Last Ally of Russia
Kommersant reports that Vladimir Putin’s visit to Armenia last week should be seen in the context of Russia’s weaking influence throughout its former territory rather than simply as a scheduled visit by a head of state.
The President of Russia, together with his Armenian colleague, Robert Kocharyan, will take part in the official opening of the Year of Russia in Armenia and attend a gala concert. The pompous protocol functions serve as a smokescreen for a very important dialogue on the burning issues of the day. Alarmed by a whole series of “Rose”, “Orange” and other revolutions, Russia is afraid of losing one of the last of its bulwarks in the area of the former USSR.
The full article can be read here.
In related news, given that it is believed that Putin and Kocharian discussed the latest developments over Karabagh, AFP reports that the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents will meet on the sidelines of a Council of Europe meeting in Warsaw on May 16 .
Israel and the Genocide
This article (Via Azad-Hye.com) from Knesset member Yossi Sarid goes to the heart of paradox that has long irked me, namely Israel’s denial of the Armenian Genocide.
As opposed to many other nations, Israel has never recognized the murder of the Armenian people, and in effect lent a hand to the deniers of that genocide. Our official reactions moved in the vague, illusory realm between denial to evasion, from “it’s not clear there really was genocide” to “it’s an issue for the historians,” as Shimon Peres once put it so outrageously and stupidly.
Yossi Sarid will be in Yerevan on April 24th, invited by the Armenian government.
Read the full article.
Armenian Opposition Seeks US Support
Armenian Opposition Seeks US Support
Eurasianet has published an interesting analysis of current attempts by the Armenian opposition to seek support from the US in attempts to remove Kocharian from power. However, most analysts remain unconvinced that this new geopolitical shift will be considered genuine or likely to succeed.
It remains open to question whether the United States will respond to overtures from the Armenian opposition. The US government lent little support to the opposition-led protest movement last spring and has not given any indications of a policy shift. Some observers doubt that Washington would be willing to undercut Kocharian now that there are fresh hopes for the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, a key US goal in the region.
The full article can be read online here.
Pamuk Book Burning
In a follow up to my post on the book Snow, the TDN reports that there are book burnings of Snow and other books by Orhan Pamuk happening outside of Ankara. All these protesters are doing is generating more support.
Only the Poor Dance?
The Minister of Culture Hovik Hoveyan stirred up trouble when he stated that a disproportionately large number of Armenians are practicing folk dances as a result of socioeconomic hardship.
I’ve heard the idea that socioeconomics causes increased smoking, but dancing?
Painful Concessions Needed For Peace
RFE/RL’s Armenia Service reports that on the second day of a Parliamentary hearing on resolution of the Karabagh conflict, the Armenian Defense Minister, Serzh Sarkisyan, has said that “painful” concessions from both sides are necessary in order to secure peace. In particular, he appears to confirm rumors regarding details of a proposed settlement currently being discussed through the OSCE Minsk Group.
According to those rumors that have been circulating around Yerevan for quite some time now, a phased rather than package deal is on the table that offers some security guarantees for Armenians living in Karabagh.
The remarks appeared to be an indirect confirmation of the Armenian side’s readiness to embrace a peace formula that would contain at least some elements of a gradual resolution of the conflict. The parties allegedly discussed last year a deal calling for an Armenian troop withdrawal and a future referendum in Karabakh.
The full text of this news item can be read here.
Although Sarkisyan isn’t reported to have provided in depth details of this plan, unconfirmed rumors suggest that three regions surrounding Karabagh currently under Armenian control would be immediately returned to Azerbaijan and Karabagh would be considered an Armenian protectorate until a referendum is held 5-10 years later.
The timetable for the return of other territories, but presumably not Lachin, would be determined during this period while confidence-building measures are implemented.
Armenia Warns Of Azeri War Preparations
RFE/RL’s Armenia Service reports that the Armenian Foreign Minister, Vartan Oskanian, has warned that Azerbaijan is moving its troops closer to Armenian positions along the frontline.
“They have been bringing their trenches closer to ours and more casualties are suffered as a result,” Oskanian told reporters. “We just don’t see the rationale for that and are starting to think that maybe they want to torpedo negotiations, maybe they have a serious intention to start military actions.”
http://www.armenialiberty.org/homepages/en/2005/03/20050329.asp
It is difficult to say whether there is the possibility of renewed fighting over Karbagah especially when the Azerbaijani military is still considered to be weaker and not as well trained as that of the combined forces of Armenia and Karabagh. Others such as Samuel Babayan, in an interview with Aravot and quoted by RFE/RL’s Press Review, do not rule out the possibility of renewed conflict in the future.
Babayan believes that a Karabakh settlement is important for economic development in the region. “The sooner, the better for us,” he says. “I think that Azerbaijan is preparing to take steps in the military direction. They constantly try to improve their military positions and are accumulating artillery and other hardware.”
Babayan’s interview can be read online here.
Where will you be?
It’s less than a month before the annual Genocide commemorations. This year, of course, it marks 90 years since 1915. There are a series of events scheduled around the world, and ArmeniaDiaspora.com has a comprehensive listing of them.
New Central Asia Site
Check out http://www.centralasiawatchdog.com/ for the latest going on in the region. It is new, but quickly growing.
Upcoming votes in ex-Soviet nations gain urgency
Agence France Presse reports on potential flashpoints for further “revolutions” in the post-soviet space. Perhaps the most interesting and imminent set of elections will be in Azerbaijan in November 2005.
Observers say it could be ripe for a revolution, fed in part by the fact that half the population lives below the poverty line despite the country’s wealth of natural resources. Demonstrations that flared after the younger Aliyev’s election were put down by riot police and left at least two people dead, dozens injured and nearly 200 arrested.
On April 2
A1 Plus | 11:31:28 28-03-2005 | Social |
The TV company “A1+” has been deprived of ether for 1090 days already. April 2 is the 3rd anniversary of the illegal decision of the National Committee of TV and Radio.
On the initiative of several non-governmental organizations on April 2 at 12 a.m. an act of complaint will start from the address Grigor Lusavorich 15.
If the democratic values are important to you, defend you right of expressing yourself and getting information.
For information write to meltex@a1plus.am
Thank you for your support.
After the Prayer
For those of you that don’t know, Edik Baghdasarian, the investigative journalist and filmmaker, is from Karintak in Nagorno Karabagh and last week I received an email from someone in Washington asking if it was true that he served in Monte Melkonian’s detachment during the war. To be honest, I don’t know as we never speak about such things but coincidentally and also last week, Hetq published a very personal account of what conflict can really be like.
Only our lieutenant knew that the enemy was at prayer when the order was given for us to attack. That was the plan. That was the idea. Most of us, however, didn’t know and were therefore surprised to see them kneeling. There were children among them. Probably they were the children of the locals. They were sitting in between the soldiers. It was evening and they hadn’t expected an attack. Nobody in our group wanted to shoot.
We were pale from eight days and nights without sleep. Every day we waited for the order that could have come at any minute. The Turks controlled the nearby water spring and every day we had to melt snow to drink. Then, on the second day, we had stomach disorders. There was nothing to eat and so we mixed snow with doshab (mulberry sweet jam). After we ate that we had intestinal problems. Someone said it was tasty but I don’t remember who.
George W. Bush to Visit Georgia
In the wake of Russian President Putin’s visit to Armenia last week, the White House has confirmed that President Bush will visit the Republic of Georgia in May.
McClellan said Bush’s trip to Tbilisi, Georgia, will “underscore his support for democracy, historic reform and peaceful conflict resolution.”
http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=9428.
I wonder if the Georgian authorities will specially asphalt the roads on Bush’s route in Tbilisi like they did for Putin in Yerevan the same day he arrived. Taxi drivers here were not impressed…
Talking of construction…
Hetq Online posts another article on residents living in central Yerevan who are being forced out of their homes by the construction boom that is probably about the only way senior officials can invest their money in Armenia. Such articles are now commonplace in the local print media although rarely reported on TV.
According to Edward Melikyan, the projects are being developed and agreed upon with the other construction companies and will be ready, in all likelihood, by the beginning of summer. Meanwhile, people in the Red Zone are convinced that the demands put to them are un-constitutional. According to Article 28 of the Constitution, “Alienation of property in the interests of Society and the State is possible only in exceptional cases, based on the law, following prior compensation.” But this particular case does not appear to be exceptional, the interests of society are not clear, and the corresponding laws have not been passed.
Images from Armenia’s neighbors
While browsing the web this morning I came across details of the NPPA’s Best of Photojournalism 2005 awards. At first glance, I thought the winning image was from Armenia but Aaron Huey’s first prize award in the Arts category was from Svanetia in the Republic of Georgia.
Anyway, it’s always interesting (for me, at least) to see images from the two republics that border Armenia in the South Caucasus so while we’re at it, let me share two other recent prize winners in the prestigious FiftyCrows competition. The work that sticks out the most for me is Rena Effendi’s of Mahalla in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Domino Effect?
The Chicago Tribune has an article today about the unlikelihood of the other Central Asian republics recreating the events in KG.
The author briefly describes the political situations in the other republics.
Pipeline Politics in C. Asia and the Caucasus
Interesting article from an Indian/Pakistani blog about American oil interest in Central Asia and the Caucasus. The author does a nice job of summarizing the commonly cited sources on the subject. This is a worthy read for anyone not already familiar with the subject.
Bhutan Drafts Constitution via PDF
Those funny guys over at BoingBoing have a post about Bhutan’s new constitution. One line of note: “gross national happiness is more important than gross national product…”
The government also details the consitution writing process. This is a pretty interesting country, based on what I’ve read!
Tackling HIV/AIDS stigma in the classroom
Last year I wrote a series of articles for UNICEF on their activities in Armenia. Initially, the articles were for their global intranet but I’ve just discovered that one is now online. This article wasn’t intended to be about HIV-AIDs but it just so happened that the Life Skills class I attended dealt with this issue.
This is just one of many scenarios presented to children attending Life Skills classes that are now taught in most schools as part of the national curriculum in the Republic of Armenia. The classes are part of a UNICEF-developed framework to develop a rights-based, interactive and participatory educational system.
Somewhat coincidentally, I’m now writing another more generic article on HIV-AIDS and an NGO working to reduce the risk of infection among young people in Armenia.
The full article can be read online at: http://www.unicef.org/ceecis/reallives_1335.html.
