Armenian News - A Topalian

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Clashes in Damascus claim life of Armenian man

August 18, 2012 | 12:22

YEREVAN. – Syrian Armenian Arsen Ghshpoladian, 38, was wounded

during Saturday morning clashes, between the Syrian government troops

and the armed opposition, in the vicinity of the Armenian cemetery of

 Damascus’ Bab Sharkgh district.    

Subsequently, Ghshpoladian was transferred to hospital, but the doctors

were unable to save his life.   

Arsen Ghshpoladian was a civilian, Armenpress News Agency informs.

According to the source, another Syrian Armenian, namely, Mesrob Chinchinian

—who was seriously injured as a result of a bomb blast two days ago—is

in stable condition following a surgery.   

To note, around 60,000 Armenians live in Syria, and great majority of them

reside in Aleppo and Damascus.

Seismologist: A powerful earthquake will destroy 80% of buildings in Yerevan

arminfo

Wednesday, August 15, 18:27

 Actually, Armenia lucks earthquake resistant buildings, which is an

issue of national security, since the country is prone to earthquakes,

Vladimir Balasanyan, a seismologist, told media, Wednesday.

He said that a powerful quake will destroy 80% of buildings in

Yerevan. "Nearly 70%-80% of buildings in Yerevan were built in the

Soviet period of time and are resistant to 7-point quake on Richter's

scale," he said.

He said that the buildings that are reconstructed without reckoning

with seismic danger are especially prone to earthquakes. Very often

residents add floors, porches, and dig basement neglecting seismic

risks. Considering the current situation, Balasanyan urges the

government to tackle the problem and start fortification of buildings

throughout the country and launch construction of new earthquake

resistant buildings.

By data of the Armenian Emergency Situations Ministry, on August 11 a

magnitude 6.3 quake struck northwestern provinces of Iran killing 205

and injuring over 2,000 people.

London FC Arsenal focuses Armenian midfielder Henrik Mkhitaryan,

Russian media

tert.am

11:42 - 17.08.12

Armenia's national football team and FC Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder

Henrik Mkhitaryan has an opportunity to play in FC Arsenal, Russian

Koresspondent writes, citing protransfers.ru.

According to the source, Mkhitaryan has appeared in the focus of

Arsenal chief coach Arsene Wenger who is seriously considering

Mkhitaryan's candidacy.

Voice of Russia

Aug 16 2012

Armenia, Azerbaijan continue saber-rattling

Avigdor Eskin

War rhetoric is raising tensions in the South Caucasian region.

Several days ago the Defense Minister of Azerbaijan Safar Abiev told

Myles L. Deering, the Adjutant General of Oklahoma visiting Baku, that

`Armenia is not giving us back the occupied territories' and that `war

is becoming closer every day'. Officials in Baku are certain that

Armenia is just trying to win time and that the current negotiations

framework has ceased to be effective.

The Azeri side is emphasizing the three Security Council resolutions

demanding the restoration of prewar borders and the return of all

refugees.

The Armenians insist that a national group has a right for

self-determination, especially when there is a high level of tension.

They reminded Russian diplomats of their position on Abkhazia and

Southern Ossetia and brought up the precedent of Kosovo while

negotiating with the US and other Western countries, demanding an

independent status for Karabakh.

Despite the growing tension there is no real threat of a new war in

the region because both regimes of Baku and Yerevan can benefit from

the aggressive rhetoric but have no interest in a war as such. The

growing dissatisfaction with the ruling system in both places could

have brought widespread outbursts of anger on the streets if not for

the war propaganda in both places which puts away severe economic and

social problems. This is especially true in the case of Azerbaijan,

which could have fallen prey to the mood of the `Arab Spring' with the

help of a hostile neighboring Iran.

In other words, the ruling Aliyev clan is not interested in a war

despite the chances of winning it. Azerbaijan is considered to be a

rich country because of the oil resources, but the corruption of the

ruling elite prevents the country's wealth from benefiting its

citizens. The anti-Armenian sentiments help to keep the regime in

power for the time being, but any sort of solution to the conflict can

endanger the current ruling system. This is true even after the $1.5

billion arms deal with Israel which makes Azerbaijan the strongest

military power in the area.

Armenia is not interested in a war either. The population had

decreased there by almost twice during last twenty five years. The

precise numbers are not clear, because a significant part of capable

and healthy males are working in Russia and thus supporting their

families in Armenia. There are some minor radical groups in Karabakh

dreaming about a takeover of Baku; 50,000 residents of this area will

not go to fight on their own without backing from Yerevan.

We can find many well-versed peace proposals for the area, but these

initiatives are destined to fail until both sides see peace as a real

strategic interest. Today the level of hatred is so high that no

rational solution, which will demand compromises from both sides, can

be implemented. Just to illustrate it we will remind that the Azeri

officer Ramil Safiev had murdered his Armenian colleague Gurgen

Markarian during the English language courses in Budapest sponsored by

the NATO `Partnership for Peace' program.

This is the time for Russian diplomacy to explain to both sides that

they both lost the war. It is clear in the case of Azerbaijan, who

lost territory, yet it was also extremely counterproductive for

Armenia. As a result of the war the whole `Armenian dream' was

challenged. After gaining independence, the Armenians hoped to bring

millions of their folk mates and to repeat the path of Israel. But

instead of massive repatriation there was massive emigration, bringing

the demographic situation in the country to catastrophe. More than

that: if not for the war, Baku could be a convenient port for the

isolated Armenia. And even more - three hundred thousand Armenians

lived in Baku before the war, constituting a very significant part of

the local elite. If they would not have fled today Armenia could

benefit so much from their presence.

Through understanding these realities one can draw a conclusion: only

real peace can be a solution. We can see that there is a growing

understanding in Russia of the need for active peace diplomacy and for

some new and flexible approaches. The Russian Ambassador to Baku

Vladimir Dorokhin had emphasized the importance of new initiatives

just recently. He also confirmed that this will be one the priorities

of Russian President Vladimir Putin.