Stories about Armenia from October, 2007
Armenia: Trade with Russia
Oneworld Multimedia looks at two conflicting opinions on trade between Armenia and Russia. On the one hand, the Jamestown Foundation says that increasing trade between the two countries is political whereas an Armenian economist blogger believes that it is far from its full potential and cites the example of neighboring...
Azerbaijan: Presidential Preferences
TOL's Steady State reports that a possible candidate for the 2008 presidential election in Azerbaijan is accusing the current authorities of “selling out” territory currently under the control of ethnic Armenians. The blog also notes that Eldar Namazov has attacked the Azerbaijani government for apparently not favoring the nomination of...
Armenia: Homophobic Advert
Blogian posts a photograph of an advertisement for a rap party in Yerevan named after a historical Armenian site in the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhichevan. Hrag Vartanian says that the advert depicting an American girl in a Stars & Stripes bikini with the words “Homosexuals and Animals Not Welcome” would...
Armenia: Gender Politics
With several examples in mind elsewhere around the world, Unzipped: Gay Armenia wonders if Armenia shouldn't have a woman president. Despite the patriarchal nature of Armenia and the Caucasus itself, the blog says that a female head of state might succeed in easing “tensions in our society and act as...
Armenia: The Numbers Game
After Friday's opposition rally during which Armenia's first president, Levon Ter Petrosian, said he would run again for office, Oneworld Multimedia raises concerns with how different media outlets reported the number of people in attendance. Interestingly, the blog notes that bloggers at the rally came up with roughly the same...
Turkey: An Armenian in Istanbul
Despite warnings from fellow Armenians, Lara Aha at Life in Armenia visited Istanbul in Turkey last week to attend a seminar on women in conflict zones. The Diasporan blogger now resident in Armenia says not only did she feel more at home in Istanbul than Yerevan, but that she also...
Armenia: Parliamentary Killings Anniversary
The Armenian Observer remembers the 27 October 1999 terrorist attack on the Armenian National Assembly which left the prime minister and seven other senior officials, including the Soviet era leader of Armenia, dead. Eight years after the incident which allowed the incumbent president to consolidate power in the country, many...
Armenia: Khash Ceremony
With the winter setting in, Notes from Hairenik recounts his participation yesterday in the seasonal consumption of Khash, a “soup laden with fat slowly simmered for at least eight hours made from cow’s hoof, with cartilage and some meat still left on the bone.” Eating khash is a group event...
Armenia: Bad News Day
Raffi K at Life in Armenia says that Friday was a day full of bad news for Armenia. However, he doesn't know which was worse — former president Levon Ter Petrosian running again for office, the postponement of a bill to recognize the Armenian Genocide in the U.S. Congress, or...
Armenia: Doing Business
British ex-pat consultant Bruce Tasker reports from Yerevan on the trials and tribulations facing local businessmen who usually have to maintain close links with senior officials to ensure their livelihood. Go Armenia has more of the story, while on his second blog, Blowing the World Bank Whistle, the self-proclaimed whistle...
Armenia: Former President Makes Political Comeback
In what can be considered one of the most important political developments in the short 16-year history of Armenia as an independent former-Soviet republic, the country's first president, Levon Ter Petrosian, announced his intention to run again for office in the presidential election to be held early next year. Ter...
Armenia: Raining Cats & Dogs
Notes from Hairenik reports that it is finally raining in Yerevan. While this poses various problems and difficulties for pedestrians and motorists alike, the blogger welcomes the change in the weather after “several dry, windy and dusty weeks.”
Armenia: Condoleezza Rice Against Genocide Bill
Oneworld Multimedia says that it comes as no surprise to discover that support for House Resolution 106 recognizing the Armenian Genocide is waning, with the U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, the latest high-ranking official to urge U.S. lawmakers to drop the bill.
Caucasus: LGBT Report
After mentioning it in a previous post, Unzipped: Gay Armenia posts the text of a new report on the situation of LGBT people in Georgia and Azerbaijan. The blogger says that the comprehensive study is a “historic event” as it was conducted locally by a fact-finding mission to the South...
Armenia: Shopping Tales
Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) Dominic in Armenia recounts a few humorous stories about shopping in Armenia. The tales depict life in the country very well indeed.
Armenia: Genocide Recognition or Democracy?
Raffi K and Arshineh, both bloggers from the Armenian Diaspora writing on Life in Armenia, post letters they've written to U.S. Congress Speaker Nancy Pelosi praising her for House Resolution 106 which recognizes the Armenian Genocide. Despite increasing pressure not to do so, both hope that Pelosi will still bring...
Armenia: Opposition Detainees Released
Via Romamerda1 on YouTube, there are updates on the latest developments following the arrest of Armenian opposition leaders, Nikol Pashinyan and other members of the “Impeachment” bloc. The description accompanying the video reads: Nicol Pashinyan and other members of “Impeachment” party were unjustly imprisoned for 8 hours on 23 October...
Armenia: Opposition Activists Detained
The Armenia 2008 Election Monitor comments on media reports that opposition activists are being detained just days before Friday's rally during which the first president of Armenia, Levon Ter Petrosian, is expected to appear prior to his likely nomination for the presidential election to be held early next year.
Armenia: Iranian President Cuts Short Visit
Oneworld Multimedia reports that the Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has cut short an official two-day visit to Armenia for “unspecified reasons.” However, his unexpected return to Tehran comes as the BBC reports that over 180 Iranian MPs have signed a letter “praising” Ali Larijani, Iran's Chief Nuclear Negotiator, whose resignation...
Armenia: Rally Against Poverty
Transitions Online's The Armenian Patchwork posts a photo story with accompanying text on a rally held in an outlying district of Yerevan to protest global poverty. The event was ironically held in an area known unofficially in Armenia as Bangladesh.
