Armenian News... A Topalian... Unrequited Love...
lragir.am
Unrequited Love and Hatred of Armenians26 December 2015
Gallup's next survey in Armenia has caused a debate. According to its
findings, 79% of Armenians agreed with what Putin is doing, and this
is almost the highest rate in the world. This is higher than in
Russia.
Experts point to different reasons ranging from historical
circumstances and fears to the current Russian-Turkish tensions. It
should be noted that this rate overlaps with the result of other
surveys measuring the pro-Russian sentiment.
The picture would not be complete if there were not for another
finding of Gallup's survey. The liking of Obama's activity by the
Armenians is the lowest in the world.
Love and hatred go together, whether in everyday life or politics, and
this circumstance is especially obvious for peoples living with
community, not political set of values and perceptions.
What do the Armenians like and what do the Armenians dislike in this case?
It turns out that they love the supply of weapons to Azerbaijan,
social and economic misery, corruption, humanitarian and technological
recession, the gas deals, the isolation etc. In the long run, they
also love the Armenian government because this government does nothing
that Putin is against.
Because they love all this, logically they must dislike the opposite,
which is Obama. During Obama's office the United States thwarted the
Russian-Azerbaijani plans in Artsakh at least three times, which
supposed the deal `Artsakh for Russian peacekeepers'. The United
States has provided billions of dollars to Armenia to create
infrastructures that will improve people's life, to pay salaries and
pensions, and is now funding the fight on corruption.
Of course, there are more serious issues, such as the United States is
the guarantee of the security of Armenia and contains the danger
coming from Turkey but it is meaningless to talk about these things.
It is meaningless to look for the line between good and evil in
politics. There are interests, and everything depends on the ability
of a society to define its interests. Only political nations, nations
with real elites are capable of this. The others assess the world and
are guided by myths and fears invented by others and have grown into
insurmountable complexes over time.
Don't love too much or you may hate, the Armenian saying is. When
there are no other landmarks, these feelings are destructive for
societies stuck in mythology. In addition, this love is unrequited,
and this hatred is ignored.
One more important thing ` one can only imagine the sorrow of this
public if it finds out that Putin acts in accordance with Obama's
`guidelines'.
Gallup's next survey in Armenia has caused a debate. According to its
findings, 79% of Armenians agreed with what Putin is doing, and this
is almost the highest rate in the world. This is higher than in
Russia.
Experts point to different reasons ranging from historical
circumstances and fears to the current Russian-Turkish tensions. It
should be noted that this rate overlaps with the result of other
surveys measuring the pro-Russian sentiment.
The picture would not be complete if there were not for another
finding of Gallup's survey. The liking of Obama's activity by the
Armenians is the lowest in the world.
Love and hatred go together, whether in everyday life or politics, and
this circumstance is especially obvious for peoples living with
community, not political set of values and perceptions.
What do the Armenians like and what do the Armenians dislike in this case?
It turns out that they love the supply of weapons to Azerbaijan,
social and economic misery, corruption, humanitarian and technological
recession, the gas deals, the isolation etc. In the long run, they
also love the Armenian government because this government does nothing
that Putin is against.
Because they love all this, logically they must dislike the opposite,
which is Obama. During Obama's office the United States thwarted the
Russian-Azerbaijani plans in Artsakh at least three times, which
supposed the deal `Artsakh for Russian peacekeepers'. The United
States has provided billions of dollars to Armenia to create
infrastructures that will improve people's life, to pay salaries and
pensions, and is now funding the fight on corruption.
Of course, there are more serious issues, such as the United States is
the guarantee of the security of Armenia and contains the danger
coming from Turkey but it is meaningless to talk about these things.
It is meaningless to look for the line between good and evil in
politics. There are interests, and everything depends on the ability
of a society to define its interests. Only political nations, nations
with real elites are capable of this. The others assess the world and
are guided by myths and fears invented by others and have grown into
insurmountable complexes over time.
Don't love too much or you may hate, the Armenian saying is. When
there are no other landmarks, these feelings are destructive for
societies stuck in mythology. In addition, this love is unrequited,
and this hatred is ignored.
One more important thing ` one can only imagine the sorrow of this
public if it finds out that Putin acts in accordance with Obama's
`guidelines'.
arka.am
Russia donates $5 million for Armenian communities in Tavush
province
YEREVAN, December 23. The Russian government has released $5
million to finance a program designed specifically for rural
communities of Armenian Tavush province.
The program, called `Integrated support for rural development:
strengthening the resilience of communities" is being implemented in
concert with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the
Ministry of Territorial Administration and Emergency Situations of
Armenia.
Under the program until 2020, some 62,000 residents of 45 border
communities in Tavush region will be able to develop income-generating
projects.
"The residents of these communities will themselves determine their
priority projects. This is a new approach in support of people living
in border villages,' said the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP
Resident Representative in Armenia Bradley Buzetto.
He expressed hope that the program will attract additional funding and
thanked the Russian government for its support.
Oleg Shapovalov from the Russian embassy in Armenia said; `"Naturally,
Armenia is our close neighbor and closest strategic ally. We have a
number of humanitarian projects, which we are implementing in this
country."
"This is a very interesting program, which, in our opinion, will lead
to a significant improvement in living and working conditions of the
population of border rural communities. This is not only an economic,
but also a social program,' said Shapovalov. -0-
million to finance a program designed specifically for rural
communities of Armenian Tavush province.
The program, called `Integrated support for rural development:
strengthening the resilience of communities" is being implemented in
concert with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the
Ministry of Territorial Administration and Emergency Situations of
Armenia.
Under the program until 2020, some 62,000 residents of 45 border
communities in Tavush region will be able to develop income-generating
projects.
"The residents of these communities will themselves determine their
priority projects. This is a new approach in support of people living
in border villages,' said the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP
Resident Representative in Armenia Bradley Buzetto.
He expressed hope that the program will attract additional funding and
thanked the Russian government for its support.
Oleg Shapovalov from the Russian embassy in Armenia said; `"Naturally,
Armenia is our close neighbor and closest strategic ally. We have a
number of humanitarian projects, which we are implementing in this
country."
"This is a very interesting program, which, in our opinion, will lead
to a significant improvement in living and working conditions of the
population of border rural communities. This is not only an economic,
but also a social program,' said Shapovalov. -0-
RFE/RL Report
Prosecutors Investigate `Referendum Fraud"
Sisak Gabrielian
24.12.2015
Prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into what the
opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) calls evidence of serious
fraud committed in five Yerevan precincts during Armenia's December 6
constitutional referendum.
The HAK publicized last week huge discrepancies between the vote
results there released by the precinct commissions and the Central
Election Commission (CEC). The party's deputy chairman, Levon
Zurabian, showed copies of precinct protocols indicating that most
local voters rejected President Serzh Sarkisian's constitutional
changes. Final CEC figures showed overwhelming "Yes" votes in those
communities, however.
Zurabian portrayed this conflicting data as further proof that the
Sarkisian administration rigged the referendum. He went on to submit
the documents to the Office of the Prosecutor-General.
The law-enforcement agency announced on Wednesday that it has opened a
criminal case in connection with the report.
Zurabian said on Thursday that the prosecutors had no choice but to at
least launch formal criminal proceedings. "We presented concrete
evidence of fraud," he told RFE/RL's Armenian service
(Azatutyun.am). "They just couldn't act otherwise," he said, adding
that the HAK will closely monitor the probe.
The CEC chairman, Tigran Mukuchian insisted last week that even if the
official results in the five precincts were indeed falsified they
could not have had a decisive impact on the overall outcome of the
vote.
The HAK has tried unsuccessfully to contest that outcome in Armenia's
Constitutional Court. It has failed to collect at least 27 signatures
in the 131-member parliament needed for lodging such an appeal. It
hoped to present the court with more than 5 hours of video footage and
90 pages of documents purportedly proving its fraud allegations.
According to Zurabian, the opposition party on Wednesday submitted
those documents to the Yerevan-based embassies of European Union
member states.
Both the EU and the United States have urged the Armenian authorities
to properly investigate "credible" fraud allegations made by the
opposition, non-partisan observers and media. They have warned that
failure to do so would compromise the legitimacy of the referendum
results.
The prosecutors say that Armenian law-enforcement bodies have
investigated more than 480 fraud reports and have opened 46 cases in
connection with them. It is not yet known how many people, if any,
have been detained or charged as a result.
Prosecutors Investigate `Referendum Fraud"
Sisak Gabrielian
24.12.2015
Prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into what the
opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) calls evidence of serious
fraud committed in five Yerevan precincts during Armenia's December 6
constitutional referendum.
The HAK publicized last week huge discrepancies between the vote
results there released by the precinct commissions and the Central
Election Commission (CEC). The party's deputy chairman, Levon
Zurabian, showed copies of precinct protocols indicating that most
local voters rejected President Serzh Sarkisian's constitutional
changes. Final CEC figures showed overwhelming "Yes" votes in those
communities, however.
Zurabian portrayed this conflicting data as further proof that the
Sarkisian administration rigged the referendum. He went on to submit
the documents to the Office of the Prosecutor-General.
The law-enforcement agency announced on Wednesday that it has opened a
criminal case in connection with the report.
Zurabian said on Thursday that the prosecutors had no choice but to at
least launch formal criminal proceedings. "We presented concrete
evidence of fraud," he told RFE/RL's Armenian service
(Azatutyun.am). "They just couldn't act otherwise," he said, adding
that the HAK will closely monitor the probe.
The CEC chairman, Tigran Mukuchian insisted last week that even if the
official results in the five precincts were indeed falsified they
could not have had a decisive impact on the overall outcome of the
vote.
The HAK has tried unsuccessfully to contest that outcome in Armenia's
Constitutional Court. It has failed to collect at least 27 signatures
in the 131-member parliament needed for lodging such an appeal. It
hoped to present the court with more than 5 hours of video footage and
90 pages of documents purportedly proving its fraud allegations.
According to Zurabian, the opposition party on Wednesday submitted
those documents to the Yerevan-based embassies of European Union
member states.
Both the EU and the United States have urged the Armenian authorities
to properly investigate "credible" fraud allegations made by the
opposition, non-partisan observers and media. They have warned that
failure to do so would compromise the legitimacy of the referendum
results.
The prosecutors say that Armenian law-enforcement bodies have
investigated more than 480 fraud reports and have opened 46 cases in
connection with them. It is not yet known how many people, if any,
have been detained or charged as a result.
RFE/RL Report
Karabakh Reports Renewed Growth In Tourism
24.12.2015
The number of foreign tourists visiting Nagorno-Karabakh has risen by
almost 14 percent this year despite increased ceasefire violations
along the Armenian-Azerbaijani frontline around the disputed
territory, an official in Stepanakert said on Thursday.
The Arka news agency quoted Sergey Shahverdian, head of the local
tourism department, as telling reporters that 16,366 tourists from
dozens of countries visited Karabakh from January-November, up from
14,375 in the year-earlier period.
These figures do not include residents of Armenia, who also travel to
Karabakh in larger numbers these days.
The official number of non-Armenian tourists visiting Karabakh stood
at about 5,000 in 2007. It grew steadily in the following years until
falling by 11 percent in 2014.
Shahverdian welcomed the renewed growth in tourism. He said the
Karabakh government is continuing to promote the once war-ravaged
region as a tourist destination despite Azerbaijani obstruction.
The Azerbaijani authorities regard private or business trips to
Karabakh not authorized by them as a breach of Baku's internationally
recognized sovereignty over the territory. Hundreds of foreign
dignitaries and ordinary visitors have been declared personae no grata
in Azerbaijan for ignoring these warnings.
Recent years' expansion of Karabakh's tourism sector is evidenced by
the emergence of new hotels and guesthouses not only in Stepanakert
but also Shushi (Shusha), Karabakh's second most important town that
was mainly populated by Azerbaijanis before the 1991-1994 war.
Karabakh's main tourist attractions are mountainous scenery, medieval
Armenian monasteries as well as a cave complex thought to be the site
of one of the most ancient proto-human habitations in Eurasia. They
are located several dozen kilometers away from the heavily militarized
"line of contact" separating the Karabakh Armenian and Azerbaijani
armies.
24.12.2015
The number of foreign tourists visiting Nagorno-Karabakh has risen by
almost 14 percent this year despite increased ceasefire violations
along the Armenian-Azerbaijani frontline around the disputed
territory, an official in Stepanakert said on Thursday.
The Arka news agency quoted Sergey Shahverdian, head of the local
tourism department, as telling reporters that 16,366 tourists from
dozens of countries visited Karabakh from January-November, up from
14,375 in the year-earlier period.
These figures do not include residents of Armenia, who also travel to
Karabakh in larger numbers these days.
The official number of non-Armenian tourists visiting Karabakh stood
at about 5,000 in 2007. It grew steadily in the following years until
falling by 11 percent in 2014.
Shahverdian welcomed the renewed growth in tourism. He said the
Karabakh government is continuing to promote the once war-ravaged
region as a tourist destination despite Azerbaijani obstruction.
The Azerbaijani authorities regard private or business trips to
Karabakh not authorized by them as a breach of Baku's internationally
recognized sovereignty over the territory. Hundreds of foreign
dignitaries and ordinary visitors have been declared personae no grata
in Azerbaijan for ignoring these warnings.
Recent years' expansion of Karabakh's tourism sector is evidenced by
the emergence of new hotels and guesthouses not only in Stepanakert
but also Shushi (Shusha), Karabakh's second most important town that
was mainly populated by Azerbaijanis before the 1991-1994 war.
Karabakh's main tourist attractions are mountainous scenery, medieval
Armenian monasteries as well as a cave complex thought to be the site
of one of the most ancient proto-human habitations in Eurasia. They
are located several dozen kilometers away from the heavily militarized
"line of contact" separating the Karabakh Armenian and Azerbaijani
armies.
armenpress.am
72.000 VISITORS GOT INTRODUCED WITH THE DEMONSTRATION
OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MUSEUM-INSTITUTE IN 2015
25 December, 2015
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 25. 72.000 visitors got introduced
with the new and equipped demonstration of Armenian Genocide
Museum-Institute. As "Armenpress" reports, Armenian Genocide Museum
Deputy director Lusine Abrahamyan informed about this during the final
meeting of the year with journalists. "The year was unprecedented
with the number of Turk visitors. After reopening of the museum,
Turkish 1000 citizens visited the museum," Lusine Abrahamyan said.
According to her, 71 delegations from various countries visited the
museum, including delegations from Russia, France, Cyprus and Serbia
led by their presidents during their visit on commemorating the memory
of Armenian Genocide victims.
This year, the Memorial to the Armenian Genocide and Museum-Institute
was attended by 16 thousand pupils and students from Armenian Republic
and Diaspora.
25 December, 2015
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 25. 72.000 visitors got introduced
with the new and equipped demonstration of Armenian Genocide
Museum-Institute. As "Armenpress" reports, Armenian Genocide Museum
Deputy director Lusine Abrahamyan informed about this during the final
meeting of the year with journalists. "The year was unprecedented
with the number of Turk visitors. After reopening of the museum,
Turkish 1000 citizens visited the museum," Lusine Abrahamyan said.
According to her, 71 delegations from various countries visited the
museum, including delegations from Russia, France, Cyprus and Serbia
led by their presidents during their visit on commemorating the memory
of Armenian Genocide victims.
This year, the Memorial to the Armenian Genocide and Museum-Institute
was attended by 16 thousand pupils and students from Armenian Republic
and Diaspora.
armenpress.am
60% OF ARMENIA HOTELS IS IN REGIONS
25 December, 2015
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 25. There are over 340 accommodation
establishments in Armenia with about 20 thousand beds in 10 thousand
hotel rooms. Apart from that, there are more than 200 house-hotels and
over two tens of hostels in the republic. 4 big hotels have opened
this year, 2 - in Yerevan, 2 - in the regions. Head of Department
of Tourism Development Policy of Armenia Ministry of Economy Mekhak
Apresyan said the aforementioned during the press-conference organized
in "Armenpress" news agency.
"If we regard the data of 2000, we'll see that we had only 3-4 hotels
that could host foreign tourists. By the way, all those hotels were
in Yerevan. More than 60% of our hotels is in the regions of our
republic. This is an obvious indicator of a balanced territorial
development," Apresyan said.
"Hostels are popular among the youth. As the number of young people
visiting our country increases, hence that direction must also be
developed. The number of young tourists coming to Armenia aged 18-35
amounted to 6% in 2007. The figure reached 34% in 2013," he added.
Armenia is expected to host two big events in the sector of tourism
in 2016. Armenia will host the annual conferences of WTO. According
to Apresyan, this is very important for the image of the country,
as well as introducing Armenia in business circles.
Apart from that, Armenia will host EURHODIP organization. EURHODIP is
a leading international association with the main focus on the quality,
vitality, and public standing of hospitality and tourism education.
armenianow.am
MASIS DELIGHT: BENEFACTOR SPLASHES OUT ON NATIVE
TOWN'S NEW YEAR DECORATIONS
25.12.15
GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
A provincial Armenian town has become the main newsmaker of the
current holiday season as a local benefactor has made a generous
donation for its New Year lights and decorations, including a splendid
Christmas tree.
Masis, a community of about 20,000 residents in Ararat Province,
situated some 15 kilometers southwest of capital Yerevan, is enjoying
rare attention from the rest of the country these days thanks to
Gagik Adibekyan who has decided to provide $60,000 to the town for
the main New Year tree and other decorations.
With exotic foods like crocodile meat and New Year food loans from a
Yerevan supermarket chain still remaining the talk of many in Armenia
these days, the main headlines appear to have been grabbed by the
Masis tree that has been brought from Germany and has already become
a topic for anecdotes among the townsfolk.
People in Masis joke that the reason why their traditional green tree
this year looks yellowish is that it got "frozen" on its way.
New Year lights were ceremonially turned out in Masis on December
20, giving a festive look to the town amid continuing speculation
that the money could have been spent more wisely - for instance,
on helping the local social vulnerable families.
Debate about New Year "extravagance" routinely goes on in Yerevan as
well. This year the Armenian capital's New Year lights (including on
the main New Year Tree in Republic Square) were turned on December 21.
This year, the Yerevan Municipality again announced a competition
for "the most beautiful holiday decoration" as part of which in each
administrative district of the city an organization and a family will
be selected for their outstanding effort.
The Ministry of Culture, which highlights the importance of developing
wintertime tourism and accommodating for the possible influx of
tourists, has decided to keep a number of museums open throughout
the holidays for people to be able to visit them.
In the meantime, typically for this time of the year, ordinary people
are also getting ready for the New Year feasts. Despite a fairly
high level of prices (compared to the relatively low incomes of the
population), goods like sugar, eggs, butter make good sales these days.
And all those who do not want to get bogged down in the traditional
Armenian "New Year feasts", have already made reservations at hotels
and rest homes at local resorts or purchased plane tickets for
vacations abroad.
Susanna Sargsyan, a representative of one of the local travel agencies,
says that unlike last year very few tours to Egypt were sold in Armenia
this time around, which reflects the tensions in the region following
the October 31 terrorist attack against a Russia-bound passenger jet.
Still, according to Sargsyan, nearly all New Year holiday tour offers
have been purchased, with the most popular destination being Georgia
due to its being affordable in terms of prices and safe in terms
of traveling.
GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
A provincial Armenian town has become the main newsmaker of the
current holiday season as a local benefactor has made a generous
donation for its New Year lights and decorations, including a splendid
Christmas tree.
Masis, a community of about 20,000 residents in Ararat Province,
situated some 15 kilometers southwest of capital Yerevan, is enjoying
rare attention from the rest of the country these days thanks to
Gagik Adibekyan who has decided to provide $60,000 to the town for
the main New Year tree and other decorations.
With exotic foods like crocodile meat and New Year food loans from a
Yerevan supermarket chain still remaining the talk of many in Armenia
these days, the main headlines appear to have been grabbed by the
Masis tree that has been brought from Germany and has already become
a topic for anecdotes among the townsfolk.
People in Masis joke that the reason why their traditional green tree
this year looks yellowish is that it got "frozen" on its way.
New Year lights were ceremonially turned out in Masis on December
20, giving a festive look to the town amid continuing speculation
that the money could have been spent more wisely - for instance,
on helping the local social vulnerable families.
Debate about New Year "extravagance" routinely goes on in Yerevan as
well. This year the Armenian capital's New Year lights (including on
the main New Year Tree in Republic Square) were turned on December 21.
This year, the Yerevan Municipality again announced a competition
for "the most beautiful holiday decoration" as part of which in each
administrative district of the city an organization and a family will
be selected for their outstanding effort.
The Ministry of Culture, which highlights the importance of developing
wintertime tourism and accommodating for the possible influx of
tourists, has decided to keep a number of museums open throughout
the holidays for people to be able to visit them.
In the meantime, typically for this time of the year, ordinary people
are also getting ready for the New Year feasts. Despite a fairly
high level of prices (compared to the relatively low incomes of the
population), goods like sugar, eggs, butter make good sales these days.
And all those who do not want to get bogged down in the traditional
Armenian "New Year feasts", have already made reservations at hotels
and rest homes at local resorts or purchased plane tickets for
vacations abroad.
Susanna Sargsyan, a representative of one of the local travel agencies,
says that unlike last year very few tours to Egypt were sold in Armenia
this time around, which reflects the tensions in the region following
the October 31 terrorist attack against a Russia-bound passenger jet.
Still, according to Sargsyan, nearly all New Year holiday tour offers
have been purchased, with the most popular destination being Georgia
due to its being affordable in terms of prices and safe in terms
of traveling.
armenpress.am
EVERY SECOND AND THIRD COMPUTER IN ARMENIA IS INFECTED
BY MALWARE, SAYS SPECIALIST
December 25,2015
Sixty percent of Armenia's population uses the Internet, information
security expert Samvel Martirosyan said on Friday.
According to Kaspersky [antivirus technical support & customer
service], every second and third computer in Armenia is infected,"
he said.
"Today one country can block another country's access to the Internet.
For example, in 2007, a series of cyber attacks occurred in Estonia
and the country was disconnected from the Internet by Russian hackers.
As a result, the activities were paralyzed in the entire country. If
the US government wants, it can instruct to delete a domain name. Now
attempts are being made to attack the global internet satellite,"
the expert added.
December 25,2015
Sixty percent of Armenia's population uses the Internet, information
security expert Samvel Martirosyan said on Friday.
According to Kaspersky [antivirus technical support & customer
service], every second and third computer in Armenia is infected,"
he said.
"Today one country can block another country's access to the Internet.
For example, in 2007, a series of cyber attacks occurred in Estonia
and the country was disconnected from the Internet by Russian hackers.
As a result, the activities were paralyzed in the entire country. If
the US government wants, it can instruct to delete a domain name. Now
attempts are being made to attack the global internet satellite,"
the expert added.
