Stories about Armenia from December, 2008
Turkey: Apology Shakes Apologia over Armenian Genocide
Challenging 90 years of institutionalized denial of the massacre and deportation of the Ottoman Empire's indigenous Armenian community during WWI, tens of thousands of Turkish intellectuals, academics, writers, journalists and dissidents have apologized online for the "Great Catastrophe."
Global Health: 2008 Blogs In Review
Bloggers in 2008 showed all the ways in which global health is interconnected with other issues, by covering health stories that touched on everything from poverty and women's rights to the environment and economics. They shared stories such as the prohibition of cannabis in Japan, how ads for children's food...
Caucasus: 2008 Blog Review
Last year ended with a state of emergency declared in Georgia, but few could imagine that the events of 2008 would eclipse those of 2007. Three presidential elections, a war, and yet another state of emergency defined the South Caucasus this year, and bloggers were there to document events from...
Turkey: An Online Apology to Armenia Campaign
According to Istanbul Calling, a new online campaign allowing Turks “to sign onto an apology for the “great catastrophe” that the Armenians suffered during World War I” has been launched by Turkish academics and intellectuals. “The apology, now signed by more than 15,000, studiously avoids the “G” word, but it...
Turkey: Campaign for a Joint-Commission on the Armenian Question
Talk Turkey urges individuals to join his new campaign to demand that “Turkey and Armenia form a joint-commission to research and investigate the facts of genocide and other claims; without any pre-existing conditions, and reservations, and that both sides promise and resolve to end this matter once and for all.”
Armenia-Azerbaijan: LGBT Cultural Icons
Unzipped: Gay Armenia writes that most Armenians are not aware of the sexuality of two of the nation's greatest cultural icons, Sergei Parajanov and Yeghishe Charents. Meanwhile, as the Azerbaijani parliament votes to lift the restriction on the number of terms a president can be elected for, IN MUTATIONE FORTITUDO...
Armenia-Azerbaijan: Muntazer al-Zaidy Reaction
The Armenian Observer rounds up reaction to Muntazer al-Zaidy's attack on outgoing U.S. President George W. Bush in Iraq. Meanwhile, IN MUTATIONE FORTITUDO asks whether such an incident could have happened under Saddam Hussein.
Armenia-Turkey: Apology Row
Talk Turkey is unimpressed by various online petitions established to apologize or not apologize for the massacre and deportation of Armenians living in the then Ottoman Empire. Known to most as the Armenian Genocide, the blog says it instead favors a joint Armenian-Turkish commission to investigate the circumstances of the...
Armenia: LGBT News
Unzipped: Gay Armenia is pleased to inform its readers that following the recent UN statement in support of LGBT rights, World Focus has quoted the blog in its report on the move which Armenia endorsed. In related news, the same blog also details the contents of a new issue of...
Armenia: Opposition Trial
Unzipped comments on news that seven prominent opposition member including one former foreign minister and three MPs are due to go on trial in Yerevan later this week charged with attempting to violently overthrow the government after the presidential election held earlier this year. The blog says that all signs...
Azerbaijan: Destruction of Ancient Cemetery Commemorated
Three years after a cemetery dating back to the 9th Century was deliberately destroyed in the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhichevan, bloggers recall an ancient culture annihilated and condemn the world for closing its eyes to what many consider to be an official attempt to rewrite history.
Armenia: Musical Prime Minister
Unzipped posts a summary in English of an informal meeting between some local bloggers and the new prime minister of Armenia. The blog notes that the posts by Alkhimik and 517design reveal the prime minister plays guitar and enjoys art-house films. All three blogs post photographs.
Armenia: Anti-Corruption Day
Armenia: Higher Education & Sciences comments on how Tuesday's Anti-Corruption Day was marked in the country. However, the blog concludes that given the amount of corruption in the education system, such an event should be held daily rather than annually and ironically notes that a recent survey of university students...
Armenia: UN Declaration Supporting LGBT Rights
Despite problems with its human rights record and being the last country in the South Caucasus to decriminalize homosexuality, Unzipped commends the Armenian government for endorsing the UN statement against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Armenia: CNN Genocide Coverage Controversy
Too short for Armenians and too long for the Turkish government, a two-hour CNN documentary by Christiane Amanpour on genocide includes a 45-second mention of the WWI extermination of Ottoman Empire's indigenous Armenian population. Premiered on December 4, 2008, Scream Bloody Murder has made many Armenian bloggers angry.
Armenia: Earthquake Anniversary
Today marks the 20th anniversary of the 1988 earthquake which devastated parts of northern Armenia including the country's second largest city of Gyumri. Unzipped says that for the estimated 7,000 families which still remain homeless the past two decades have been full of nothing more than empty promises. Meanwhile, Anush...
Armenia: Sex Education
Unzipped: Gay Armenia comments on reported changes to legislation concerning HIV/AIDS in Armenia. In particular, the blog notes, this looks likely to include mandatory sex education classes in Armenian schools.
Armenia: Referendum for Peace or War?
Unzipped comments on news that the Armenian government is considering polling citizens on policy issues, with much speculation that the initiative is linked to ongoing negotiations with Azerbaijan to resolve the conflict over Nagorno Karabakh. The blog believes such a development is fraught with dangers and says that if such...
Armenia: World AIDS Day Observed
Yesterday marked the 20th World AIDS Day, and although the event was marked on a small scale in the Armenian capital, it was nevertheless observed in a country where such subjects as sexual health and alternative sub-cultures are usually considered somewhat taboo.
Armenia: World AIDS Day Events
Pink Armenia, a local NGO campaigning for LGBT rights as well as the prevention of sexually-transmitted diseases and infections, posts details of events to be staged in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, in cooperation with other NGOs to mark World AIDS Day. The schedule includes a public march, the distribution of...
Armenia: World AIDS Day
To mark World AIDS Day, Unzipped: Gay Armenia looks back at the year and posts links to blog posts and stories regarding HIV/AIDS in Armenia. The blog also posts details of events being staged in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, and promises updates later in the day.
