Marco Grigor(Marcos Grigorian), the well known Armenian-Iranian artist died in yerevan yesterday. I have not seen any armenian news website covering his death.
He is considered a pinonner of modern Iranian art. He organized the the first Tehran Biennial.
more…
Today as I read the newspaper, Serzh Sarkisyan’s comments struck me as unbelievably short sighted and almost comical. I was reading a week old paper and in it Serzh said that he does not see Russia’s acquiring of Armenia’s utilities as dangerous. He continued to say that he does not see Russia using its economic interests, implying that Russia is not using its economic power to control Armenia. What? Serzh, are you living in the same country as I am?
On October 18, the “Haykakan Zhamanak” newspaper published a report by Hayk Gevorgyan, entitled: “They are deceiving us again”. In this article, we read: “The regular session of the inter-parliamentary commission of the Armenian parliament and the Russian Federation Council was held in Yerevan in recent days and a delegation led by the chairman of the commission, Nikolay Ryzhkov, arrived in Yerevan to take part in the session. They brought a document called “Trade and economic relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia”. The fifth page of the document says: “ArmRosgazprom will buy from the Armenian government a 40km sector of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline which is under construction and the incomplete 5th unit of the Razdan power plant… The deal should be implemented by 1 January 2007.”
more…
Armenia is in a very interesting part of the world. As most of you know it is in the Southern Caucuses but this is a new designation. As I travel around the country and see the 1000 year old monuments of the silk trail with Armenian and Arabic languages, it brings up a time when Mother Russia was an unknown neighbor and Armenia was very much part of what is today called the Middle East.
…that probably wasn’t the first point in Sahakashvili’s agenda. Still, that’s what Georgia is clearly getting out of the scandal: according to data from the Regional Electoral Committee of Akhalkalaki (the predominantly Armenian populated town in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region in Georgia), Akhalkalaki with 7052 voters will have 1 delegate to the regional sakrebulo (the local representative self-government body), which is as many as the Georgian village Ptena with 204 voters. The elections in Georgia certainly look promising… and will probably go by unnoticed, lost in the overall spy-scandal fuss!!!
more…
TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Armenian Energy Minister Tuesday met with Iranian Foreign Minister and discussed avenues available for consolidation of the two countries’ ties.
A statement released by the Foreign Ministry’s Information and Press Bureau said that during the meeting, Mottaki noted the common interests shared by the two states and their profound relations and stated that the visit to Iran by the Armenian Energy Minister could pave the way for future agreements in the two countries’ 6th joint commission meeting.
Noting the necessity for promoting the two countries’ relations, the Iranian Minister underlined that the two sides should study new ideas and grounds of cooperation very actively.
He also stated that the two countries should prepare the grounds required for the promotion of relations through cooperation in areas of road communication, tunnel excavation, railroad, activation of private companies, providing more business facilities, reducing trade risks and facilitating of exchanges.
Mottaki said that the two states’ cooperation could reach a desirable level through upgrading of the existing trade balance, adding that Iran and Armenia should build more and more capacities.
For his part, Armenian Energy Minister Armen Mousisian expressed pleasure with the performance of the two countries’ joint commissions and welcomed the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s taking up of the responsibility of the said commissions.
“In light of the two countries’ profound ties, we have succeeded in implementing all the approvals of the joint commission,” he said.
Viewing exchange of visits by the two countries’ officials significant, he said that the upcoming visit to Tehran by the Armenian president could open a new chapter in the two states’ interactions. 
Mousisian further stated that talks by the two countries about construction of the gas pipeline project, exchange of electricity and construction of new link roads could serve to be a turning point in mutual cooperation.
Via PanArmenian.net:
Armenia and Iran have launched a project of building of the 5th block of Hrazdan thermal power plant, Armenian Minister of Energy Armen Movsisyan stated during a press briefing December 8. According to some data, Iran will invest $150 million into the project. When commenting on a statement of Russian Premier Mikhail Fradkov, who reaffirmed Russian party’s interest in participation in that project, Mr. Movsisyan said, «Fradkov wants that, but that desire is not supported by a specific proposal. Thus, we have nothing to consider. On the other hand Russia takes part in the project anyway. In particular, we actively work with the Project Institute, which has arranged the project of building the 5th block of Hrazdan thermal power plant». Meanwhile, it should be reminded that the Russian party in the person of RAO UES of Russia and Gazprom Corporation initially claimed the right for building of the block, as well laying the Armenian part of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline. The Armenian Government preferred two Iranian companies Sanir and MAR.
Strong stuff - that’s the first time in recent memory the Armenian government turned down a “friendly” Russian proposal.
WELCOME TO THE CARNIVAL OF REVOLUTIONS, the blogosphere’s weekly roundup of news related to the global struggle for democracy and freedom.
First, some advice to our revolutionaries out there: Revolution is not a onetime event. - Audre Lorde
And second, some advice to those who oppose: Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable. - John F. Kennedy, 1962
And finally, seeing as this is a carnival, Democracy is the art of running the circus from the monkey cage. - H. L. Mencken
On with the show!
The three most important sources for the world of revolutions must be, IMHO: Gateway Pundit, Publius Pundit, and Global Voices Online. Thanks to all three for constant inspiration.
A few general links:
As a start, the Foreign Policy Institute released its Failed States Index this week.
What are the clearest early warning signs of a failing state? Among the 12 indicators we use, two consistently rank near the top. Uneven development is high in almost all the states in the index, suggesting that inequality within states—and not merely poverty—increases instability. Criminalization or delegitimization of the state, which occurs when state institutions are regarded as corrupt, illegal, or ineffective, also figured prominently. Facing this condition, people often shift their allegiances to other leaders—opposition parties, warlords, ethnic nationalists, clergy, or rebel forces. Demographic factors, especially population pressures stemming from refugees, internally displaced populations, and environmental degradation, are also found in most at-risk countries, as are consistent human rights violations. Identifying the signs of state failure is easier than crafting solutions, but pinpointing where state collapse is likely is a necessary first step.
And IEFS has a useful Election Watch reference page.
Some elections to keep your eyes on in the next month:
Burundi Presidential Aug 19, 2005
Singapore Presidential Aug 2005
Egypt Presidential (First Round) Sept 7, 2005
Egypt Presidential (Second Round) Sept 17, 2005
Afghanistan Parliamentary Sept 18, 2005
more…
Oh, Armenia… why do you do such silly things sometimes?
RFE/RL has quotes from an interview with the Chief of the Military Intelligence Service, Basentsi Azoyan that says:
Armenia ‘Immune To Terrorist Attacks’
“I am confident that no terrorist acts and especially international terrorist acts will take place in Armenia.”
Sure, Armenia is pretty safe, but don’t taunt the terrorist/extremist groups, Baso. Remember when Osama Bin Laden got involved with NK? What about the mujahedin? They know where Armenia is.
What about the PKK in Turkey? Extremist in Iran?
Armenia may not be a target, but there are certainly some folks in the neighborhood capable of doing some damage.
I don’t think that ordinary Armenian citizens need to live in fear. I think I’m safer in Armenia than in Vermont (and Vermont is one of the safest U.S. states!).
And just when you weren’t worried:
“There have been numerous attempts by sabotage or intelligence groups to enter Armenia,” he said. “There have even been cases where some agents reached Yerevan. But they were all exposed and rendered harmless.”
The official claimed that the most recent such incident took place last year. But he refused to given any details.
Oh Baso!
This week’s Carnival of Revolutions is up! Next week, we’ll be hosting, so please share your democracy-related news with us here.
Powered by WordPress
