Latest posts by Onnik Krikorian from May, 2008
Armenia: Sirusho Eurovision Update
Unzipped Gay Armenia says that Sirusho, the country's entry in this week's Eurovision Song Contest, is the best yet and stands a good chance of winning the international song contest. The blog also says that if she does, next year's Eurovision would be held in Yerevan and attract the attention...
Armenia: HIV Awareness
Armenia and Me reports and posts photographs from Sunday's annual HIV Awareness event held in Yerevan. The blog says that over 60 Red Cross youth volunteers marched through the center of the capital with candles. The event ended by creating an illuminated HIV ribbon by one of the city's most...
Armenia: Global Food Crisis
The Armenian Observer says that despite the global food crisis, the country is self-sufficient in most foods and so seems likely to be spared shortages in the future. However, figures for the import of wheat and sugar are high. It also says that rising prices are also starting to hit...
Caucasus: Eurovision Countdown
With the first of the semi-finals in this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade, Serbia, just days away, the countries of the South Caucasus are becoming increasingly excited about the international song contest and how their representatives will fair. Global Voices rounds up the reaction to the three songs in the Eurovision blogosphere.
Armenia: “Non-Armenians”
Seetizen, the blog of a youth activist in Armenia, decries the latest action by the pro-radical opposition Hima youth movement — a list which labels various celebrities, political figures and others as “non-Armenian” because of their support for the authorities. And Nothing Else Matters also weighs in with its own...
Armenia: Sirusho Eurovision Interview
Krik! Music Corner posts an interview it held with Armenia's entry into the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest, Sirusho, while she was on promotional tour last week. The blog was impressed by the young singer who it says was beautiful, kind and friendly.
Armenia: Sirusho Eurovision Rehearsal, Opposition Urges Boycott
The Armenian Observer posts video of the first rehearsal by Armenia's entry into next week's Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade, but also reports that opposition plans to urge a boycott of the young local pop star, Sirusho, continue. Regardless, with interest in Eurovision and Sirusho eclipsing local political frictions, my...
Diaspora: Armenian-American Homophobia
Writing on its blog, The Armenian Gay & Lesbian Association of New York reports on a recent anti-homophobic event at a Glendale school and the ensuing battle of words that materialized in the local press between ethnic Armenians living in the United States.
Armenia: News Roundups
The Armenian Observer rounds up and comments on the news headlines of the week. Not unpredictably, the main topic discussed in the local media was the post-election situation in Armenia although interestingly, the focus is more on the personal conflict between the first two presidents rather than the new elected...
Armenia: International Day Against Homophobia
To mark International Day Against Homophobia, Unzipped: Gay Armenia posts its Unzipped: Gay Armenia List 2008 which recognizes individuals, organizations, media outlets, blogs and events which have worked towards promoting gay rights and equality in Armenia and the Diaspora. The blog, which coincidentally celebrates its first anniversary today, also posts...
Caucasus: Creative Commons
Social Science in the Caucasus posts more details, including a video, on Creative Commons and comments on the importance of introducing the licensing concept to the South Caucasus. My Caucasus Knot also weighs in on the significance of promoting Creative Commons in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Armenia: Sardarapat Anniversary Extravagance
Unzipped comments on local press reports that celebrations planned to mark the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Sardarapat will cost $1.1 million. The blog says that while such an event should be marked, it considers the amount of money being spent by such a cash-strapped nation currently experiencing a...
Georgia: Abkhazia Crisis Drones On…
Steady State is confused by the ongoing crisis between Georgia and Russia over the breakaway region of Abkhazia. The blog says while Abkhazia claims to have shot down numerous drones monitoring troop movements in the region, Georgia denies that more than one was downed. Even then, Tbilisi lays the blame...
Caucasus: US Immigration
Social Science in the Caucasus examines statistics released by the US Citizenship and Immigration Service on the number of immigrant and nonimmigrant visas issued to citizens from the three South Caucasus countries. According to that data, Armenia has the most number of visas issued with Georgia second and Azerbaijan third.
Georgia: Political Advertising
My Caucasus Knot comments on the price of political advertising ahead of this month's parliamentary election in Georgia and compares the situation with that during elections in Armenia. Despite concerns with higher than normal rates for the pre-election campaign period in Armenia, the costs in Georgia are comparatively astronomical.
Georgia: Needless Confrontation?
Penny for your Thoughts comments on the opinion that support for Georgia in its current conflict with Abkhazia risks bringing the United States into needless confrontation with Russia. The blog says that contrary to that view, there are strategic reasons why Washington should support Tbilisi in its continuing spats with...
Azerbaijan: Cleveland Cultural Garden
Blogger Interrupted comments on the opening of an Azerbaijani cultural garden in Cleveland. The blogger wonders why with a 100-strong Azerbaijani community such an initiative was taken.
Armenia: Sirusho Soundcheck
All Kinds of Everything comments on the soundcheck by Armenia's entry to the Eurovision Song Contest, Sirusho. Although reporting that her initial soundcheck was “absolutely dreadful,” the blogger says that it improved although the young singer still had problems with the high notes.
Armenia: Royal Visit to Turkey
Unzipped covers the Queen and Prince Philip's first visit to Turkey since 1971. As the official state visit has been taken as signifying the importance of Anglo-Turkish relations, the blog makes reference to concerns that it could also impact on the international campaign to have the 1915 massacre and deportation...
Armenia: Iranian Trade Relations
The Armenian Economist reports on the state of trade between Armenia and Iran. The specialist blog says that actual economic turnover between the two countries is very low and pales into insignificance when compared with the amount of trade between Iran and Turkey.
Armenia: Hunger Strike
Nazarian reports that the whole adult population of Dzorakap has gone on hunger strike in support of two men detained following the 1 March clashes between the radical opposition and the authorities in Yerevan. The detainees, Mushegh and Shota Saghatelian, hail from the village.
