Armenia Assaulted by Orange

[Armenian]

Re: Armenia Assaulted by Orange

Հայաստանում «գունավոր հեղափոխության» փորձն ի սկզբանե տապալման էր դատապարտված

Կարծես թե, իրոք Հայաստանում «գունավոր հեղափոխության» փորձ կատարվեց: Սակայն այն ի սկզբանե տապալման էր դատապարտված»,-հայտարարել է Հայաստանի վարչապետ, ՀՀ նորընտիր նախագահ Սերժ Սարգսյանը «Ռոսիյսկայա գազետա» թերթին տված հարցազրույցում: Նրա խոսքերով, ի տարբերություն այն երկրների, որտեղ «գունավոր հեղափոխությունները» հաջողվեցին, Հայաստանում կան գործոններ, որոնք հաշվի չառան այդ անկարգությունների կազմակերպիչները: «Առաջին հերթին, իշխանությունները Հայաստանում վայելում են հասարակության վստահությունը: Դա հաստատեցին նախագահական ընտրությունների արդյունքները: Երկրորդը, հայ հասարակության մեծ մասը ցանկանում է էվոլյուցիոն առաջընթաց զարգացում, որը կար վերջին յոթ տարիներին: Եվ համաձայն չէ, ի տարբերություն որոշ արմատական ընդդիմադիրների, հին էլիտայի ռեվանշին: Իսկ տեղի ունեցածը հենց այն ուժերի ռեվանշի փորձն էր, որոնց ժամանակ Հայաստանը 90-ականներին վերապրեց իր ամենամութ ու ցուրտ տարիները: Ինչպես այդ խոսքերի ուղղակի, այնպես էլ փոխաբերական իմաստով»,-հայտարարել է Սերժ Սարգսյանը:

‘Color revolution’ attempt in Armenia was doomed to failure

There was an attempt to carry out a ‘color revolution’ in Armenia but it was doomed to failure,” Armenia’s Prime Minister and President-elect Serzh Sargsyan told Rossiyskaya Gazeta. “Initiators of recent disorders did not take into account Armenia’s distinction from those countries where ‘color revolutions’ were a success. First, the authorities enjoy respect of the population. Second, most of Armenian citizens stand for evolution development observed during last 7 years. The forces, which plunged Armenia into darkness in 1990-ies, tried to take revenge,” PM Sargsyan said.

Source: http://www.panarmenian.net/news/arm/?nid=25276

[Armenian]

Re: Armenia Assaulted by Orange

Armenians, wake up!

Do not spare these petty demons involved in Levon Ter-Petrosian's movement. These people are a threat to the very existence of the Armenian nation. They are playing with fire. I pray to God the fire ends up burning them. Do not argue with them, do not debate with them. Simply do what you must do to off-set their evil agenda. Contact your local embasies and express your strong support for the ruling authorities and your wish to see Levon and his street porniks punished severely.

Do not fool yourselves, open your eyes, this struggle is between Artsakh Armenians and Yerevan Armenians over the Armenia's meager economic resources. If these animals in the Levon camp succeed in overthrowing "Karabgahtsiner" from Yerevan all they will do is replace them with Yerevantsi criminals with Yerevan style corruption and oppression. Just looking at the individuals involved, Petrosian, Grzo, Manvel, Arzumanian, etc., it's quite obvious that this movement has nothing to do with democracy, fighting corruption, free elections, ect...

Their evil agenda is simply rooted in severe jealousy and revenge, nothing more. The fact of the matter is, when these demons were ruling in the 90's we saw what they were. Never again. If these people are truly against corrupt "Karabaghtsiner" let them go after the 'individuals' who are corrupt and not mix into this sociopolitical mess the entire population of Artsakh, Artsakh's name, or Artskh's geopolitical status. Nonetheless, a majority of Armenians in and out of Armenia do not support their evil agenda. However, many people simple do not understand the geopolitical/sociopolitical ramifications of this destructive movement. As a result, many of the naive folk are falling victims to their lies and manipulations.

I keep hearing - "but Artsakh is seeking independence, that is treason."

The reason why official Artsakh at times insinuates pursuing independence, dependent of Armenia, is due to regional geopolitics. Theoretically, Stepanakert pursuing independence alone because that is more palatable for international bodies than having Armenia annex Artsakh. Mixing Armenia into the independence factor of Artsakh insinuates, on the international stage, that Armenia is attempting to annex Artsakh for its nationalistic pursuits. An example of this situation is the status of Kosovo. Why did Kosovo not join Albania and choose independence at the encouragement of Washington? Because internationally such a move would be more acceptable.

Besides the great sentimental and psychological importance of Armenian dominance in Artsakh, why is Artsakh's crucially important for the Armenian nation?

1) With its numerous monasteries and archaeological sites, Artsakh is culturally very important to us Armenians.

2) Artsakh is a breadbasket. Large percentage of the territory in question is highly fertile and can feed ten Armenia's. Armenia's arable lands are more-or-less confined to the Ararat valley and, agriculturally, the Ararat valley is very stressed.

3) Artsakh has significant deposits of minerals/metals that are crucial for Armenia's economic growth.

4) If the Armenian nation looses Artsakh it will loose along with it a significant percentage of the diaspora's most committed Armenians, Armenians who's sole emotional, psychological and physical attachment to Armenia today stems from our historic victory in Artsakh and not the third world style political situation in Yerevan.

5) Artsakh is a strategic territory that gives Armenia geopolitical importance on the international stage. World powers 'only' understand the language of might. Armenia being a tiny landlocked nation within a region like the Caucasus 'cannot' afford to give up a single square millimeter of its territory. As a matter of fact, for Armenia to truly prosper, Armenia need to gradually expand it national holdings. Therefore, instead of thinking about how it will be if we abandon Artsakh - start thinking about how will it be when Armenia gains direct assess to the Black Sea.

6) Sacrificing Artsakh for open borders and trade with Azeris and Turks only means Armenia's eventual enslavement to the Azeri and Turkish economies. Once Armenia become dependent on Azerbaijan and Turkey economically - kiss Armenia and all its national interests goodbye. In such a case, I will personally make every effort to have my children assimilate into their comfortable western existence as soon as possible for I will never look toward an Armenia as a Turkish slave.

If I had to choose between trusting Yerevan in the hands of Russophobe Turkophile gyots of Levon's camp or oppressive and aggressive Artsakh Armenians - I would choose Artsakh Armenians every single time.

And before anyone reading my commentary says - you have no right to get involved in the internal politics of Armenia if you are not an Armenian citizen living in Armenia; I have two things to say:

1) Whether you know it or not, whether you want it or not, foreign agents are already deeply involved in these types of movements. Therefore, if you don't want the opinion of diasporan nationalists, just realize that you are already allowing Western and Turkish agents to sow their seeds of destruction in Armenia.

2) What's more, the greater picture is clearer from a distance than when you are stuck in it. Ignorant and/or hungry people cannot be trusted to make the right political decisions for a nation, especially for a nation that has complex geopolitical problems such as Armenia.

[Armenian]

Re: Armenia Assaulted by Orange

Although it does not have any oil or gas reserves, Armenia today is playing an integral part within the region's "Great Game." With Moscow pressing the West with its virtual monopoly of Central Asian gas and oil distribution networks, western projects such as the Nabucco and the Baku-Ceyhan are gaining great strategic importance. So, why was did the West not jump on the Levon Ter-Petrosian bandwagon? Most probably this was because the West knew Levon could not succeed against the well organized authorities in Yerevan and the resulting chaos, if any, could potentially undermine Armenia's political stability. And in the eyes of many political analysts, an unstable Armenia could mean resumption of war in the Caucasus - a risk no one today is willing to take. These are some of the geostrategic factors that shape regional politics. These are the factors that the "people" need to be educated about.

Armenian

*********************************

Troubling news from the Caucasus

Bloodshed in Armenia worries both Russia and the West

THE day after Dmitry Medvedev's presidential victory, Moscow's leading papers turned their attention away from the long-predicted result to the unexpected bloodshed in Armenia. At least eight people were killed in clashes between security forces and opposition supporters protesting against alleged fraud in the country's presidential elections. “An election won with some blood”, ran the headline in Kommersant, a leading business daily. Small, complicated and with names that are hard to spell, Armenia has long been out of the mainstream of world news. Yet what happens in this country has implications not only for the whole of the Caucasus, a region vital for Europe's energy security, but also for Russia. The story of rigged elections, corrupt officials and dead protesters is particularly unnerving for Russia, a country that prides itself on its stability. On February 19th Armenia held presidential elections. The incumbent prime minister, Serzh Sarkisian, assisted by a biased media and occasional stuffing of the ballot boxes, won 53% of the vote. If the election had been conducted fairly, there is a good chance he would have faced a second round and a possible defeat. But Mr Sarkisian had the backing of Robert Kocharian, the current president, which swung the result. (Mr Kocharian, it is said, fancies the job of prime minister—not unlike his Russian counterpart.)

International observers did not cover themselves in glory. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe pointed out many shortcomings, yet said in an initial statement that the ballot was “mostly in line with the country's international commitments”. The opposition, led by Levon Ter-Petrosian, an academic and Armenia's first president, demanded a re-run of the election. His supporters took to the streets. Mr Ter-Petrosian is no democratic angel. In 1996 he is widely believed to have rigged the presidential election in his favour. Still, those who voted for him this time did so largely in protest against the local mafia, corruption and unemployment now associated with Mr Kocharian. For 11 days the government put up with the peaceful protest. But on March 1st, the police moved in on the pretext that protesters were carrying firearms, which some observers say were planted. Mr Ter-Petrosian was placed under de facto house arrest and the crowd was dispersed. Predictably it regrouped and gathered in front of the French embassy in Yerevan. Mr Kocharian sent in the army, and the area was soon lit up with tracer fire. Eight people were killed, cars were torched and shops were looted. Many protesters were armed with stones and metal poles. But the responsibility ultimately lies with the government which allowed the situation to deteriorate into chaos. The state of emergency now imposed by Mr Kocharian for 20 days, including a media blackout and the arrest of opposition figures, may temporarily suppress the protests, but it is unlikely to resolve the underlying problems. These include corruption, low living standards and an economic blockade by Azerbaijan and Turkey because of Nagorno-Karabakh, the Armenian-populated enclave inside Azerbaijan that was conquered by Armenia in 1994. This conflict has long been frozen. But three days after the violence in Yerevan, Armenian and Azerbaijani forces were involved in their worst firefight in a decade. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan accuse each other of starting the skirmish, which caused a disputed number of deaths on both sides.

Claiming that Kosovo's declaration of independence last month has emboldened Armenian separatists, Azerbaijan's president, Ilham Aliev, has given warning that he is buying weapons to retake Nagorno-Karabakh by force, if necessary. A renewed war could destabilise the region and jeopardise a strategic oil pipeline to Turkey that runs only 15 kilometres (ten miles) from the ceasefire line. Nagorno-Karabakh remains an open sore. Mr Ter-Petrosian's downfall in 1998 was mainly caused by his hints of a more flexible approach to a peace settlement with Azerbaijan. Both Mr Kocharian and Mr Sarkisian are from Nagorno-Karabakh and fought in the war, but they have done little to move towards peace. In a recent commentary in the Washington Post, Mr Ter-Petrosian dismissed the notion that only hardliners from Nagorno-Karabakh can solve the conflict. Indeed, he argues that Mr Sarkisian, whose presidency is now marred by bloodshed and incompetence, will be even less able to govern. Russia and the West have an interest in Armenia's stability, and they need to work to maintain it. This could be Mr Medvedev's first foreign test as president.

Source: http://www.economist.com/world/europ...ry_id=10809006

[Armenian]

Re: Armenia Assaulted by Orange

Fax or email the following to various embassies and/or organizations.

*******************************

Levon Ter Petrosian Must be Punished!

The treasonous criminal Levon Ter Petrosian and his team of bloody usurpers need to be punished for their crimes against the Armenian state. We expect to see Levon Ter Petrosian and his team imprisoned for life, exiled or executed for their crimes. President Robert Kocharyan waited far too long to crack down the masses of absolute idiots pursuing suicidal political agendas. If Armenia is to be respected as a viable nation serious about protecting its national interests, every single one of the organizers of last weekend's failed coup d'etat need to be imprisoned, deported or executed for treason against the state. There can be no sane excuses for supporting a treasonous criminal like the turkophile Levon Ter Petrosian, especially after having observed eight years of his corrupt and ruinous presidency. If the Armenian electorate was dissatisfied with Serzh Sargsyan they should have given their support to any of the other presidential candidates - not Levon Ter Petrosian. Sadly, a significant portion of the Armenian nation today has revealed severe political immaturity and social irresponsibility. Consequently, a significant portion of Armenia’s citizenry has revealed that they are unable to govern themselves via democratic means.

Nevertheless, we expect the Armenian state to:

Ruthlessly crush the bloody rebellion and severely punish its leadership.

Summon the Russian FSB to help hunt down and eliminate anyone involved in the funding and/or the organization of this attempted coup d'etat.

Shut-down western funded anti-state media outlets such as A1 Plus, Hetq, Armenianow and Radio Liberty.

Subject to closure various NGOs in Yerevan that are engaged in anti-state activities.

Deport foreign agents such as Onnik Krokorian and Richard Giragosian back to where they came from.

Deport the brainless pig Raffi Hovanisian back to his stinking hole in California.

Up hold the rule of law and order in Armenia.

Protect at all costs the territorial integrity of Armenia and Artsakh.

Protect at all costs Armenia's alliance with the Russian Federation.

Serzh Sargsyan's presidency will be judged by whether or not he is able to eradicate the HHSh party within the Armenian Republic. The HHSh party is a cancer in Armenia serving American and Turkish interests. This dangerous cancer needs to be eradicated as soon as possible.

Signed,

Concerned Armenians

[Armenian]

Re: Armenia Assaulted by Orange

Russia hopes for "peaceful settlement" of violence in Armenia

Russia said Monday it hoped for a 'peaceful settlement' in Armenia after violent clashes between police and protestors that left eight dead. The Foreign Ministry statement expressing 'heartfelt condolences' was the first comment from Moscow on the 14-days of mass unrest in the post-Soviet state that is Russia's closest ally in the Caucasus. President Vladimir Putin was the first foreign leader to congratulate Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian - seen as the establishment and Moscow-friendly candidate - for his outright victory in the first round of presidential elections. Putin described Sarkisian's win as 'contributing to the stability in the Caucasus.'

Days of thousands-strong opposition protest calling the February 19 vote rigged culminated in overnight clashes with security forces that left eight people, including one policeman, dead on Sunday. Armoured vehicles and troops with assault rifles were patrolling the capital Yerevan after outgoing President Robert Kocharian declared a 20-day state of emergency, in the wake of the violence. The Russian Foreign Ministry said Monday it 'hoped that the measures taken by the Armenian leaders will bring about the settlement of the domestic political situation ... ensuring the security of the Armenian people and the country's stable development.' The Russian embassy in Yerevan said Russian citizens were among those injured on the weekend, news agency Interfax reported. Local media reported dozens of injured opposition supporters of failed presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian, while the police said 33 of its members were hurt. The small Caucasus state of 3.2 million has emerged as a strategically important region, lying along gas routes from the energy-rich Caspian Sea region to Europe.

The United States also has an interest in competing with Russian influence in the country because of Armenia's proximity to Iran and the presence of a Russian military base. Western powers fear instability in the region could disrupt gas routes and further undermine a fragile security situation with Armenia's neighbours. Landlocked Armenia faces blockades along two of those borders with Azerbaijan over a protracted territorial dispute and with Turkey, which has been angered by Yerevan's lobbying for international recognition of the killing of Armenians by the Turkish Ottoman Empire as a genocide. Sarkisian is expected to keep the line set by his political mentor incumbent Kocharian during his decade at the helm, particularly strong ties with Russia, to offset its difficult relations in the region. Kocharian on Monday congratulated Kremlin favourite Dmitry Medvedev on his landslide victory in Russian presidential elections. 'Armenia highly appreciates partnership relations of the two countries and their strategic cooperation in all directions,' Kocharian was quoted by Interfax as saying.

The weekend violence was the worst in Armenia's post-Soviet history, causing opposition leader Ter-Petrosian to call for a 20-day halt to demonstrations, abiding by the rules of the emergency law. But he promised to renew protest at the end of the interval. Ter-Petrosian refuses to accept official results which showed him with 21.43 per cent of the vote, far behind Sarkisian who won just over the 50-per-cent hurdle needed to avoid a run-off with the second-place finisher. The opposition has lodged an appeal with the Constitutional Court to invalidate the results, complaining of mass voting violations, including the beating and kidnapping of its supporters at the polls. Meanwhile, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's vote-monitoring arm declared the elections mostly in adherence with international standards.

Source: http://news.monstersandcritics.com/e...nce_in_Armenia

[Armenian]

Re: Armenia Assaulted by Orange

Armenian scenario

On February 19, a head of state will be elected in what is for us a friendly and very important country. The elections in Armenia are very similar to those Russia will hold in March. The successor of the current president will run for the top position; he is being opposed by representatives of the former government, and his long standing opponents. As in Russia, the current government's nominee - Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian - has every chance of success. As in Russia, the popularity of the current government in Armenia rests on economic success. When Robert Kocharian's team came to power ten years ago Armenia was in a desperate position. It had suffered several years of economic dislocation, absence of electricity and heating. Today, Armenia, a country with no energy resources or any other tangible natural resources, has one of the world's most dynamic economies. Its economy grew by 13.6% last year, one of the fastest rates in the world.

But statistics as such are of little interest to the voters. What matters for them is how those statistics reflect their well-being. During the past year, average incomes increased by 24.7%, while inflation did not exceed the Russian old dream rate of 6%. Last year's parliamentary elections testified to serious public support for the current government. The ruling Republican Party, led by Sarkisian, together with its ally and rival Prosperous Armenia, headed by Gagik Tsarukian, received more than half of all votes and two thirds of seats in parliament. Now this alliance has shored up its power even further - at the presidential elections Tsarukian will support Sarkisian. This partnership is as hard hitting as that between Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev in Russia. The latest polls give Sarkisian 47.5% of all votes, which are likely to guarantee his victory in the first round.

Today, Yerevan looks like an enormous construction site. The prime minister and his political consultants do not have to ponder over election scenarios - Sarkisian is travelling all around the country, and telling his compatriots about ambitious plans for spreading the gas network, road and house construction, and the eradication of poverty. He does not need a detailed program, and has drafted a short document on the consolidation of statehood and promotion of the principles of justice. Sarkisian cannot be accused of weakness or lack of experience - before heading the government, he served in various positions in security-related ministries, and his name is associated with military victories in Karabakh. Relations with Russia and the West are a big part of the election campaign. It is hard to notice anti-Russian attitudes in Armenia - Russia is associated with hope and support. But the same is true of anti-Western sentiment, which is only natural considering the existence of the influential Armenian Diaspora countries such as the United States and France. Sarkisian has a well-deserved reputation of a pro-Russian politician. He has known Putin for a long time, since he worked in CIS security-related agencies. But he is quite open to cooperation with the West, which practically eliminates the possibility of a foreign country conducting a large-scale campaign against him, as has sometimes happened in post-Soviet republics.

In this position it will be difficult not to win. No opposition candidate stands a chance, unless the government makes the mistake of paying too much attention to them. For the time being, the most prominent rival is the recent Speaker of Parliament and close associate of the current leader Artur Bagdasarian, who the polls put in second place with 13.4% of votes. He has suddenly turned into a vociferously pro-western critic of the regime. An active participant in every recent campaign, the leader of the National Unity Party, Artashes Gegamian, is in fourth place with a rating of 4.7%. Ex-Prime Minister Vazgen Manukian, and the leader of the historical Dashnak Party Vice-Speaker of Parliament Vaan Ovannesian are well known in the country. But the biggest sensation was the decision of the first Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosian to run for the presidency. It has given not quite understandable hope to many opponents of the current government to defeat it. It is comparable to Mikhail Gorbachev running in the election race in Russia (he ran for the presidency in 1996 but with no success).

Ter-Petrosian is trying to prove the unprovable - that he was a more successful leader than Kocharian and Sarkisian. But his compatriots have not forgotten the first half of the 1990s. Moreover, Ter-Petrosian had to resign when under Western pressure he displayed readiness to make tangible concessions on Karabakh and relations with Turkey. Such conduct is not forgiven in Armenia. It will be difficult for him to prove his good attitude to Russia. It was he who shut down all the Russian schools in the country. Half of the voters will not support him under any circumstances, and he can hardly hope for more than third place and 7% of votes.

Could the consolidation of the opposition change the situation before the elections? It seems unlikely, primarily because none of the opposition leaders is accepted by the others. Ter-Petrosian, who is the loudest in claiming the leadership of the opposition, is also the most resented by the others. Sarkisian's opponents will not form a political alliance. The West is not likely to support an oppositionist, either. Moreover, now that international observers have, with a few reservations, declared the elections in neighboring Georgia quite legitimate, they will find it rather difficult to give the Armenian elections a lower rating for fear of looking ridiculous. Unlike in Georgia, the elections in Armenia are being held according to schedule; TV channels have not been shut down; opposition supporters are not behind bars or in exile, nor under criminal investigation. International monitoring will be very serious - almost 300 observers in 1,923 constituencies.

Russia would like to see Armenia a stable and dynamically developing country with a responsible government oriented towards constructive relations with it. Strategically, Sarkisian's nomination suits Moscow, which has given him support at the top level. It would be appropriate to take steps that would demonstrate our readiness to render Armenia substantial economic assistance. Regrettably, the pro-Russian forces in Armenia have been recently weakened by Moscow's decision to increase prices on gas exports. Considering our financial capabilities Russia should list Armenia as a priority recipient of its direct foreign aid. The main thing is not to overdo with the public demonstration of our support. The United States has been giving tangible assistance to Armenia for a long time. Our policymakers should consider the role Armenia could play in building relations with Georgia. For Armenia, which is under transport blockade, transit via Georgia is a lifeline. The more tense Russian-Georgian relations are, the more this lifeline is threatened.

Source: http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20080207/98622236.html

[Armenian]

Re: Armenia Assaulted by Orange

I strongly advise you all to watch this news report from Yerevan in its entirety:

Երևան. մանրամասն մարտի մեկի իրադարձությունների մասին (1): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQlXx...eature=related

Երևան. մանրամասն մարտի մեկի իրադարձությունների մասին (2): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU__v...eature=related

Երևան. մանրամասն մարտի մեկի իրադարձությունների մասին (3): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccYoo...eature=related

Երևան. մանրամասն մարտի մեկի իրադարձությունների մասին (4): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tI2E...eature=related

[Armenian]

Re: Armenia Assaulted by Orange

Notice how this piece by "Radio Liberty" attempts to tie the "Karabagh Oligarchs" to "closed borders"... They are using the peoples dissatisfaction against the Armenian state. This is all part of the plan to place a wedge between Armenia and Artsakh. Sadly, we have significant numbers of low-lives amongst us that happily and proudly go along with this agenda. What a sad-sad situation we are in... What did that pornik Levon and his xxxxed up followers do to us... I ask you all to please refrain from "debating" this topic with Levon supporters. These people are mentally retarded demons and low-class street porniks. xxxx them all - literally, physically and metaphorically. These people have damaged Armenia and they have pushed many of us reluctantly into the Serzh Sargsyan camp.

Armenian

*********************************

Armenia: Crisis Spotlights 'Karabakh Clan'

By Brian Whitmore

Sarkisian, Serzh; "Yes I am Karabakhian, but I am Armenian first" As Armenia's first post-Soviet president in the 1990s, Levon Ter-Petrossian brought in top officials from Nagorno-Karabakh to serve in his government. Today, as an opposition leader, Ter-Petrossian is the most outspoken critic of what he and his allies call the "Karabakh clan," lambasting his former proteges for raiding the country's treasury, strangling the economy, and stifling democracy.

The main targets of the broadside have been outgoing President Robert Kocharian and his preferred successor, Serzh Sarkisian, the current prime minister who defeated Ter-Petrossian in Armenia's February 19 presidential election. Both Kocharian and Sarkisian hail from Nagorno-Karabakh, an Armenian-controlled and populated enclave within Azerbaijan over which Baku and Yerevan fought a war in 1988-94. Speaking on the campaign trail in February, Ter-Petrossian accused Kocharian and Sarkisian of bringing their Karabakh allies to Armenia and handing them the crown xxxels of the economy.

"Because of these two persons, 15,000 people have moved from Karabakh to Armenia, mainly Yerevan, in the past 10 years," Ter-Petrossian said. "Each of them has been given a position. As if that wasn't enough, now the business sphere is also being given to them." Sarkisian's pat response to the criticism has been to say: "Yes I am Karabakhian, but I am Armenian first." Armenia's controversial election has led to allegations of fraud, government resignations, violent street protests, a deadly police crackdown, and a state of emergency. It has also exposed a deep rift in society between those born in Armenia proper and those from Nagorno-Karabakh who have resettled in the country.

Critics allege that Karabakh Armenians have benefited from government favoritism and that Kocharian and Sarkisian have dragged their feet on formally ending the conflict to advance their cronies' business interests. Yerevan-based political analyst Stepan Grigorian, who is sympathetic to Ter-Petrossian and the opposition, says having a president from Nagorno-Karabakh "who governs Armenia very badly" has fueled resentment. "Certain negative feelings exist," Grigorian says. "They do not extend to ordinary people of Karabakh, but refer to those people who came to Armenia from there. Robert Kocharian brought many people with him, and appointed them to high positions. This created more caution. So yes, certain tension exists, of course."

The Karabakh Oligarchs

Armenia had control of Karabakh when a cease-fire was reached in 1994. But the victory came with a price, as Armenia's borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey have remained sealed. Ter-Petrossian, who became Armenia's first post-independence president in 1991, brought Sarkisian -- who was a senior military official in Nagorno-Karabakh -- to Yerevan in 1993 to serve as defense minister. In 1998, he named Kocharian, who served as chairman of Nagorno-Karabakh's State Defense Committee and later as president, Armenia's prime minister.

It was a decision Ter-Petrossian soon regretted. He proposed a compromise solution to Azerbaijan on Nagorno-Karabakh that Kocharian staunchly opposed. Ter-Petrossian was forced to resign over the issue in February 1998 and Kocharian won a special election to succeed him. Under Kocharian, Sarkisian served in a number of posts including defense minister, interior minister, national-security minister, presidential chief of staff, and most recently, prime minister.

Aram Abramian, editor in chief of the Yerevan-based daily newspaper "Aravot" and who has roots in Nagorno-Karabakh, says Kocharian and Sarkisian brought in associates from the territory who took over state posts and dominated the business elite. "There are 20, 30 families -- oligarchs -- people who, thanks to the opportunities that are provided to them by the authorities, became rich, and have wide possibilities of avoiding taxes and custom fees," Abramian says, adding that well-connected moguls were able to gain "monopolies" over fuel, sugar, and other commodities.

"Others, who are less powerful, do not have this right," Abramian adds. "Not all of these people are from Karabakh. It does not matter where they come from -- the most important thing is for them to serve the authorities." Among those identified by analysts as part of the Karabakh clan are Kocharian's son, Sedrak, who reportedly controls mobile-phone imports; Barsegh Beglarian, who dominates the gas-station market; Mika Bagdasarov, who controls oil imports and heads the national airline; and Karen Karapetian, head of the Armrusgazard gas company, a joint venture with Russia's Gazprom.

Closed Borders

Abramian and other analysts say these oligarchs benefit from the lack of a final resolution to the Karabakh conflict and the closed borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan. "This is one of the reasons why these issues are not being solved, because to have open borders with Europe, Asia, and so on -- in [that] case, the flows of goods, in either direction, will be wider, and it will be more difficult to control them," Abramian says. "Now, however, when one narrow flow comes through Georgia and another, even narrower, comes via Iran, controlling these flows of goods is much easier."

Observers say such arrangements also stifle local production, hinder small business development, and ultimately harm the country's economy. And that is a major reason why one of Ter-Petrossian's main bases of support is among small and mid-level entrepreneurs. "This kind of economy -- when the high-ranking officials are importing goods -- leads to these same officials not being interested in promoting local production," Grigorian says. "And, because of this, it is in very difficult shape now. So during the elections, mid-size and big business wholly supported Ter-Petrossian."

There are slight cultural differences between native-born Armenians and those from Nagorno-Karabakh, according to analysts. Abramian says Karabakhians are more "favorably oriented toward Russia," are more likely to speak the Russian language, and are less religious than Armenians, for example. He adds, however, that it is the dominance of Kocharian and Sarkisian's allies that has fueled resentment against people from Nagorno-Karabakh, few of whom have benefited from the largesse.

"Armenian people, our compatriots who live in Karabakh -- or, like me, have roots there -- have nothing to do with this," Abramian says. "They are Armenians just like everybody else. However, two people who have kept power throughout a decade -- and plan to do so for many more decades -- they indeed provoked certain negative attitude within the Armenian population. For it was not only them, but their relatives, acquaintances -- tens, hundreds of them -- arrived here, and occupied high-ranking positions and had successful business careers. This triggers a natural reaction."

Source: http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle...F28755717.html

[Armenian]

Re: Armenia Assaulted by Orange

I strongly advise you all to watch this news report from Yerevan in its entirety:

Երևան. մանրամասն մարտի մեկի իրադարձությունների մասին (1): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQlXx...eature=related

Երևան. մանրամասն մարտի մեկի իրադարձությունների մասին (2): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU__v...eature=related

Երևան. մանրամասն մարտի մեկի իրադարձությունների մասին (3): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccYoo...eature=related

Երևան. մանրամասն մարտի մեկի իրադարձությունների մասին (4): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tI2E...eature=related

[Armenian]

Re: Armenia Assaulted by Orange

The following individuals are the main ringleaders of bloody coup d'etat attempt in Yerevan. After what they did, at the very least, these bastards have to be executed, or jailed for life, for their crimes against the Armenian state. These types of filthy criminals are a cancer in the nation, they have to be eliminated now before they are able to pose a serious security risk to the republic. F*** every single supporter of these filthy demons. Spill their blood...

Levon Petrosian



Alexander Arzumanian



Aram Sargsyan



Khachatur Sukiasian



Nikol Pashinian



Stepan Demirchian



Manvel Grigoryan