· April, 2009

Stories about Armenia from April, 2009

Armenia: Shooting the Messenger

Security, in the Caucasus and beyond…. comments on the tendency for nationalist voices in Armenia and the Diaspora to shoot down any proposals intended to promote peace and reconciliation with Turkey by discrediting them and preventing any open discussion or independent thought.

Armenia: Joke of the Day

  28 April 2009

Unzipped says joke of the day in Armenia is news that the Armenian Revolutionary Federation — Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D) are now calling themselves an opposition political party. Having left the ruling coalition government yesterday in protest at talk of possible reconciliation between estranged neighbors Armenia and Turkey, the blog says that...

Armenia: Internal politics and international relations

The pro-opposition tzitzernak2 comments on speculation that the Armenian Revolutionary Federation — Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D) might leave the coalition government after last weeks announcement of progress made in normalizing Armenian-Turkish relations. The blog says the move is long overdue and blames the nationalist party for many of the problems the country...

Armenia: Obama recognizes Genocide… kinda

The Stiletto comments on yesterday's statement by US President Barack Obama on the 94th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The blog rounds up different reactions to the statement and also examines what this means for the president nearly 100 days into office.

Armenia: Maths problem

  21 April 2009

Unzipped comments on attempts by police to prevent a small march by a local political youth from heading to the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan. The blog posts a video and concludes that policemen very definitely can't count.

Armenia: Yerevan's muncipal election

  19 April 2009

Writing on The Caucasian Knot, Global Voices Online's Caucasus regional editor comments on next month's municipal election in Yerevan. With previous local, parliamentary and presidential elections haven been falsified since 1995, the blog says, the May vote will represent a test of Armenia's democratic credentials especially after last year's bitterly...

Global Recession: The world is talking. Are we listening?

  18 April 2009

There is no lack of online articles about the various aspects of the global economic crisis. Many of them are written by economic experts and policymakers. What about the perspectives of ordinary bloggers? This global roundup of blogs gathers stories of people around the world who are struggling to survive the economic downturn.

Armenia: Obama, Turkey and… Unzipped

Unzipped comments on recent reports that Armenia and Turkey might be close to finalizing the first stage of a deal to normalize relations. In particular, the blog gives its own opinion on how the long-running dispute over the massacre and deportation of as many as 1.5 million Armenians from the...

Azerbaijan: Turkish music banned?

Following reported progress towards normalized ties between Yerevan and Ankara, In Mutatione Fortitudo comments on unverified pro-government news reports and blog posts in Armenia which quote questionable sources alleging that Turkish music has been banned on Azerbaijani TV and radio. The blog, based in Baku, says that nothing could be...

Georgia: Citizen media and the Tbilisi protests

  10 April 2009

Writing on the Frontline Club blog, Global Voices Online's Caucasus editor says that the online coverage of two days of protests in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, by student and professional journalists has set new standards for citizen media in the South Caucasus.

Azerbaijan: The view from Baku

Following U.S. President Barack Obama's speech in Ankara on Armenian-Turkish relations and the need to resolve the conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh, Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines sums up and comments on the view from Baku.

Azerbaijan: Reflections on Obama visit

Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines hails Obama's recent visit to Turkey as a success and says that despite threats from Azerbaijan, a country still effective at war with Armenia, no retaliatory actions have been taken yet. The blog concludes that the visit could yet spell real change for the Caucasus.

Nagorno Karabakh: Interrogation

  4 April 2009

DispatchesFromElsewhere details being detained and questioned while visiting the unrecognized and self-declared Republic of Nagorno Karabakh. Inhabited by ethnic Armenians but situated within Azerbaijan, the blog says that the problems started while trying to enter the ghost town of Aghdam.

Armenia: Tsakharzard

  4 April 2009

Teenage DOTCOM blogger Araksya Tsaturova says the pre-Easter holiday of Tsakharzard in Armenia is one her favorites. The blog says the holiday is dedicated to the coming of spring and posts photographs to accompany the entry.

Armenia-Azerbaijan: Online peace building

  3 April 2009

Writing on the Frontline Club, Global Voices Online's Caucasus editor comments on the role social networking sites and blogs could play in continuing efforts to resolve the frozen conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh.