Here’s an interesting report on the ongoing destruction of the Armenian heritage in Nakhichevan (parts of this appeared in ArmeniaNow.com last year, I think).

Here’s an excerpt of a conversation the author had with the Nakhichevan law enforcement in September 2005:

They asked me why I thought that there was a church in Shorut.
“Because a book had told me”, I said.
“It is wrong, it is lying to you. It is an Armenian book, yes?”
“Yes” I replied.
“You see, Armenians are always lying – they are lying to everyone”.
I couldn’t resist pointing out to them that there were photographs of the Shurut church in the book. To
this they responded by saying “Armenians, they came here and took photographs of Shurut village and
then they went back to Armenia and put into them photographs of a church in Armenia.”
“It is all just Armenian lies. They are lying to you! There never were any Armenian churches anywhere
in Naxçivan. There were no Armenians ever living here - so how could there have been churches here?
There never was a church in Abrakunis, there never was a church in Shurut, there never was a church
in Julfa!”

“Conciliation Resources” published in its Accord magazine an entire issue on Nagorno Karabakh conflict, called “The limits of leadership: Elites and societies in the Nagorny Karabakh peace process.” As is usual, they present ‘both sides of the story’ with submissions from Armenian and Azeri sides.

It’s a good resource, all in all.

One issue with Thomas de Waal’s entry is his repeated but unproven assertion about Sumgait’s being predated by expulsion of Azeris from southern Armenia. It first appeared in his Black Garden book, single sourced to a person unrelated to refugees in Azerbaijan, and neither he nor any organization have found any evidence for that (ICG in its report declined to endorse these claims for the same reason). Yet, it travels from one report to another.

It just shows how difficult it is for third-party observers to remain fully neutral in conflicts like this, when two sides of the story differ so dramatically.

Hetq brings a good story about a Turkish company involved in gold prospecting work in the Sotk Mines, at Armenia’s strategic corner between Lake Sevan and Kelbajar:

Certain aspects of the work of the Ararat Gold Recovery Company (AGRC), owned by Sterlite Gold, are worrisome. The principal stockholder of the company, Indian-born London billionaire Anil Agarwal, is known for questionable dealings (See also: Anil Agarwal Takes the Shine Off Armenian Gold).

In 2005 a Turkish company, Spektra Jeotek, was commissioned by Sterlite Gold and explored the Sotk mine, located in the region bordering Azerbaijan, for quite a long period of time. Although the official website of Sterlite Gold contains information about the foreign partners that work with the company, there is no information about the work done by this Turkish company in Armenia on the site.

It was a Turkish company, then, that performed the exploration of this strategically important mine. Turkey has no diplomatic relations with Armenia. Moreover, Turkey consistently defends Azerbaijan’s interests and makes various demands on Armenia. It is hard to understand why a Turkish company was chosen to explore the mine. According to our information, the National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia was not informed about the Turkish company’s stay in Armenia either. The NSS learned about it just a day before the Spektra Jeotek representatives left the country.

Liz Fuller, as always, delivers an insightful analysis of the upcoming Presidential summit in France between Kocharian and Aliev.

…Even if the two presidents succeed during the coming year in finalizing a set of “general principles” intended to serve as the blueprint for a more detailed peace plan, there is still no guarantee that one side or the other will not find it expedient to renege on them at some future date. The so-called “Paris Principles” agreed on in the spring of 2001 were elaborated on in further talks in Florida in April 2001 and during subsequent meetings between Kocharian and Ilham Aliyev’s father and predecessor, Heydar Aliyev. US diplomat Rudolf Perina, who served as the US Minsk Group co-chairman during those talks, later revealed that in 2002 the two sides came “incredibly close” to hammering out a peace agreement. But Armenian officials say Baku reneged on that deal shortly before a planned summit between Kocharian and Heydar Aliyev in June 2002 that was cancelled at the last minute.

According to Interfax, the natural gas pipeline to Georgia and Armenia has been restored:

Gas supplies to Georgia and Armenia on the North Caucasus-Transcaucasus gas pipeline in North Ossetia resumed at 10:17 a.m., Moscow time, on Sunday, Viktor Krainov, director of Kavkaztransgaz’s Mozdok gas pipeline department told Interfax. “The pipeline has been purged of an explosive gas-air mixture and the tap has been turned. Gas will flow to Georgia and further to Armenia,” he said. Earlier reports said that welding operations at the damaged stretch of the pipeline were over on Saturday evening.

One can only be glad that the Russian-Georgian ‘love-fest’ did not end up hurting Armenia. For some absurd reason, the Georgian government cut off gas supplies to teh Russian embassy in Tbilisi, and backed off only after the Russians promised to reciprocate in Moscow.

An update on last week’s blog about T.J., a transgendered Armenian attending graduate school in the U.S.

An organization, Eats4Education has set up a scholarship fund for T.J. to get through the rest of the school year financially. (Ironically, this organization happened to start at my high school hang out diner, oddly enough!)

If you’re interested in making a donation to T.J.’s education, please click here. They’ve raised enough to cover T.J.’s fall semester, but he still has to finish up the winter term.

Via Notes from Hairenik, the Armenian Freenet, which has been around since 1997 (I myself was one of their first 1000 users!!), is in the middle of a crisis. It has always been funded by UNDP. UNDP no longer wants to fund it. I’d bet that there is something going on — either there was only a 10-year plan for support OR UNDP needs to put more money toward Millenium Development Goal attainment.

I’m doing a little research to see what’s up.

Garo’s page has more information on the current situation. Thanks Garo for sharing the news.

UPDATE: One explaination may be that 2005-2009 is a new funding cycle for UNDP. The guide to UNDP activity in Armenia, located here, is of some assistance in understanding.

- they mention the PRSP and MDGs… very important. How do they justify the freenet in terms of poverty reduction? Since that is the worldwide development focus at this time, a lot of their funding has to go towards it. (I’m not saying that I agree with that, but this is the way that development aid works.) Here’s one illustrative quote:

“…goal of reducing economic, social and political inequality by focusing on three national priorities: a) laying the foundation for sustainable socially-oriented growth; b) promoting accountable, transparent and effective governing institutions; and c) supporting sound management of natural resources.”

The rest of the document reads like a anthology of songs in praise of supporting PRSPs and MDGs.

The last 2 pages of the document give a basic budget for UNDP Armenia activities.

As such, I can see, sadly, why the freenet can’t be funded anymore by UNDP. Don’t blame them - blame the World Bank, IMF, and the UN for having this be their development agenda… at least in this era of development they’re actually talking with the government and NGOs about planning and implimentation.

Garo gives more information about possible brainstorming on other sources of funding. It doesn’t look like any of the major funding agencies are going to be able to put it on their plates… perhaps a private donor will come out of the woodwork? I can only hope so.

This product has been bragged about for awhile, but is finally here:

And an Armenian word enters the mainstream: welcome to the Nabaztag!

Now this new version of the Internet-connected 9-inch-tall Wi-Fi Bunny has learned how to talk and sing, and will certainly annoy you to no end, reminding you that your stocks are dropping, you’ve got no mail, it’s raining outside, you’re blind and your dog is dead. Looking for some bunny-love via Wi-Fi? Shell out $114 for the privilege.

More details

UPDATE: I couldn’t help it. I bought one as a birthday present to myself. It is cheaper in Europe than in the US. I will bring her home with me, certainly.

Any ideas on a good Armenian name? I already own a (real) cat Bachig.

Okay, so this NGO International Crisis Group puts out press releases on NK occasionally.

Their website says:

Crisis Group’s approach is grounded in field research. Teams of political analysts are located within or close by countries at risk of outbreak, escalation or recurrence of violent conflict. Based on information and assessments from the field, Crisis Group produces regular analytical reports containing practical recommendations targeted at key international decision-takers. Crisis Group also publishes CrisisWatch, a 12-page monthly bulletin, providing a succinct regular update on the state of play in all the most significant situations of conflict or potential conflict around the world.

Crisis Group’s reports and briefing papers are distributed widely by email and printed copy to officials in foreign ministries and international organisations and made generally available at the same time via the organisation’s Internet site, www.crisisgroup.org. Crisis Group works closely with governments and those who influence them, including the media, to highlight its crisis analyses and to generate support for its policy prescriptions.

And, more importantly, here’s what Wikipedia says:

Crisis Group is chaired by former British politician and European Commissioner for External Affairs, Chris Patten (Lord Patten of Barnes). Its President and Chief Executive since January 2000 has been former Foreign Minister of Australia, Gareth Evans.

Crisis Group is funded through donations by western governments, various foundations and organisations (many based in the US), corporations, and individuals.

So far, doesn’t sound so bad, does it?

Well, defacto.am reports in ICG today:

From the very beginning the Group’s representatives have behaved very cool. For a short period of time they managed to “deal” with an ancient bloody conflict and presented a report with their recommendations. Moreover, the ICG representatives’ reports are becoming more and more imperative, categorical and even provocative. What kind of organization is International Crisis Group that it actually speaks on behalf of RA government?

What’s the crime in being cool? When has it spoken on behalf of the Armenian government?

MORTON ABRAMOVITS, one of the founders of ICG: former Assistant of the U. S. State Secretary, the U. S. ex Ambassador to Turkey. Morton Abramovits visited Ankara as a member of International Crisis Group. A quotation from an article published in Hurriet:”Till Turkish soldiers are in Cyprus violation is ruled out there”.

So what? That quote sounds badly translated. It doesn’t even make sense.

ZBIGNEV BZHEZINSKI, former National Security Adviser to the U. S. President, a member of American – Azeri Trade House Honorable Board.

Okay, worth noting, but not worth freaking out about.

STEFEN SOLARTS is also one of the founders and ICG vice President. He is one of the most influential lobbyists in the U.S., actively defends Turkish interests.

Never heard the name. I’d need to see a reference to this information.

Then there are some people who work on Turkish EU groups… not a big deal.

WILLIAM SHOWCROSS – his name is mentioned among those who unleashed a war in Iraq.

So what does that have to do with NK?

KENNETH ADELMAN – a member of American Committee for Peace in Chechnya. Isn’t it strange for the organization positioned itself as a peacemaking one?

Who cares?

Levon Ter – Petrosyan’s former press secretary is International Crisis Group representative in Armenia.

I’m glad s/he has a job!

Defacto says “due to the newspaper space’s limited character we do not make a reference to the information’s primary sources” — well, publish them on the internet then!

I’m not trying to defend the ICG, rather, question the reporting of defacto. If they’d show sources, I’d be a-okay, but not showing sources? What the heck?

a1+ headline:

ROBERT KOCHARYAN NEEDS TO REST AFTER MOSCOW

Another view from my window

Originally uploaded by _Mojuba_.

SNOWY!

The Georgian Messenger reports that there is some trade between Armenia and Azerbaijan going through Georgian hands.

Armen Avestinian, the Chairman of the Armenian Customs Office Committee, states that the amount of trade carried out between Armenia and Azerbaijan totaled USD 1,770 in 2005 [mostly food like caviar]… while exported products from Armenia to Azerbaijan totaled USD 220.

The article also has some information on the legal side of trade between the two countries.

It would be interesting to know how much unofficial trading occurs closer to the border.

Turkey and the European Union in the Broader Context of Enlargement: Michael Lake, Former EU Ambassador to Turkey and Hungary

Tuesday 24th January - 5:30pm Khalili Lecture Theatre.

I have class at 6, but I’ll try to be there for the 1st 1/2 hour.

It isn’t just us talking about Andre.

Check out the Eurovision blog!

Hoorah! Turkey has dropped the charges against Orhan Pamuk!

Turkey took advantage of a legal misunderstanding to drop its case.

The Times has great coverage.

This case was becoming an embarrassment for the Government, in Europe, at home, everywhere. The way they resolved it today was really through a convenient misunderstanding. The court trying Pamuk went to the Ministry of Justice asking permission to try him. The ministry said: actually, you don’t need permission from us. The court took that to mean that there was no case for him to answer and the trial collapsed.

The AP says that the lawyer that brought the case against Pamuk isn’t happy:

Nationalist lawyer Kemal Kerincsiz, who pushed for the trial of Pamuk, said he would appeal the court decision.

“It is a scandal,” Kerincsiz said by telephone. “Orhan Pamuk must be punished for insulting Turkey and Turkishness, it is a grave crime and it should not be left unpunished.”

[Shudder]

An update on the gas situation:

Georgia’s getting gas from Azerbaijan. Leaders in Georgia are still saying that Russia did it on purpose. [Forbes]
Jamestown has a summary of the whole thing.
RFE/RL says that the Georgians are really mad. [RFE/RL]
RFE/RL Armenia has coverage as well. They say that authorities are asking people to chill out on using gas for now. The reserves should be fine for a few days. [RFE/RL]

It is REALLY snowing in Armenia - [PanArmenian.Net]

Snowy

Originally uploaded by mkdotam.

You think that I would learn to keep my mouth shut on this topic, but I had to share: We got a great comment today with more info on Armenian hockey AND a link to a page that included the hockey team’s jersey.

#

Name: James |

Also, I just found this page, so this could explain some of the hockey difficulties face in Armenia. Sorry for the fafct you have to cut and paste, but put that link in your browser.

http://www.tampere.fi/jaakiekkomuseo/emaailma_arm.htm

This is sadly more informative about Armenian hockey than the Ice Hockey Armenia site is.

Posted Jan 22, 9:23 PM |“Armenian Hockey Update”

Thanks James - that site was more informative than most other pages around. For anyone interested, please check it out.

After having so much fun at the Girl Geek Dinner last week, I am going to attend the plain ol’ regular for everyone Geek Dinner on Monday. Once again, any readers in the London area interested in attending, just let me know!

Two explosions ripped through Russia’s main natural gas supply pipeline to Armenia and Georgia, halting supplies to the two Caucasus countries for possibly several days, Russian officials said.

They aren’t sure why the explosions occured yet.

Georgia has started importing gas from Azerbaijan. No one is sure yet what Armenia is going to do.

Kocharyan was supposed to go to Russia later this week - he’s likely not to go now.

Blogs:
Ben at neweurasia.net is covering the story. He says that Kazakhstan may benefit from this situation.
Myrthe is covering this too.

News:
Forbes
CNN
RFE/RL

Cross posted on neweurasia.