Azerbaijan - Internal Political Affairs

[Artashes]

Re: Azerbaijan - Internal Political Affairs

Still a lot of bright minds yet. The IT sector is growing and you have some excellent schools being opened. The idea is also to utilize the minds in the diaspora to contribute and that is happening.

Wow , gotta be one of the best conversations I've seen on this forum to date .
The last four contributors all had stuff that needs be on the table and given its do recognition and what that recognition should lead to .
By Bells recollection of 8 years ago , and Mher's recent experience , Vahram and others recognition of the truly impressive strides Armenia has made and the surprisingly short time these strides have been made rings true.
Armenia has come a long way baby and smoking fast too.
The difference between constructive criticism and destructive criticism needs to be recognized .
We need ( greatly ) constructive criticism , for our health , growth , and well being .
Got no use for destructive criticism of Armenia .
Artashes

[Mos]

Re: Azerbaijan - Internal Political Affairs

Brain drain after brain drain has depleted much of the asset you speak of.

Still a lot of bright minds yet. The IT sector is growing and you have some excellent schools being opened. The idea is also to utilize the minds in the diaspora to contribute and that is happening.

[Haykakan]

Re: Azerbaijan - Internal Political Affairs

Brain drain after brain drain has depleted much of the asset you speak of.

There's no perfect economic system. Economic systems need to be tailored to each country's needs and capabilities. For some countries a more socialized economy works better, for others a more capitalist economy. No system is perfect, but certain compromises and mixes will lead to more efficient economic ability. Armenia needs more domestic economic competition. There needs to be an environment to open business and promote free trade more. Many other countries in our situation would have given up by now, but we are looking forward. I personally believe we should aim at becoming the silicon valley of the region, we should become a country with a good tech industry and good education. Our number one asset is our own Armenians and their intellect. We can innovate and become a innovating country.

This is much more self-sustaining then relying everything on oil and gas money.

[Mos]

Re: Azerbaijan - Internal Political Affairs

There's no perfect economic system. Economic systems need to be tailored to each country's needs and capabilities. For some countries a more socialized economy works better, for others a more capitalist economy. No system is perfect, but certain compromises and mixes will lead to more efficient economic ability. Armenia needs more domestic economic competition. There needs to be an environment to open business and promote free trade more. Many other countries in our situation would have given up by now, but we are looking forward. I personally believe we should aim at becoming the silicon valley of the region, we should become a country with a good tech industry and good education. Our number one asset is our own Armenians and their intellect. We can innovate and become a innovating country.

This is much more self-sustaining then relying everything on oil and gas money.

[Haykakan]

Re: Azerbaijan - Internal Political Affairs

You make good points that i agree with but criticism can be a healthy thing. We are indeed fortunate just to be here as a country but that does not mean we should turn a blind eye either. Making valid criticism is not draging Armenia through the sewers but i see how some can see it that way. I try to point out unfair criticism when it is fair it is best to adress it.

We are only looking at the bad, as well as not giving enough credit to a country that is in a blockade. We don't give enough credit to country that has suffered so much in the 20th century. To have came out of Soviet control right after a devastating earthquake and right into a bloody conflict followed by blockade. In this 20 short years she has come a long way despite all that was done to her, and I wonder if we are really trying to help her, or knock her down some more!

Capitalism has now 50 Million Americans on food stamps, a giant country that has won the cold war can't even manage to take care of her people. With the wealthy few who control everything, dare not say they are oligarchs call them Capitalists please they prefer this term. For if you question the great wealth divide you will be called a commie! With all this double standards, printing of money unchecked, millions without healthcare I wonder what some of the guys are smoking?

I see nothing that is objective or positive when the word Armenia hits some of you. All I see is people that are living in a daydream and expecting a country in a state of war, under blockade that has the same problems that exist in every corner of the world. Be fair, have some sense of balance, have a little bit of brains to know that some are not pointing this out for the good. For if we start to truly be honest and begin we really have to be talking about the ills of humanity. If Armenia were only judged by human terms, and not a fantasy we expect Armenia to be. Perhaps 20 more years will yield even more fruit but for these 20 short years in these conditions what were you guys expecting?

I challenge any one of you to answer why we can't even discuss the internal issues of baboonistan without dragging Armenia through the dirt in the process? Why must we do so at every turn? While Giant nations can't even say the G word! Yet the argument is not about how Armenian's were and are still cheated, all we know is that there is a mobster in Armenia that has a hotel. ..Wow really? I mean the mob does not own anything in the US? You can't find a ho anyplace in the world except in Armenia?

[Vahram]

Re: Azerbaijan - Internal Political Affairs

I think the kitty does us great service by pointing out the bad things that happen but don't forget good things happen to. So long as capitalism reigns supreme things will never ever be the way they should.

We are only looking at the bad, as well as not giving enough credit to a country that is in a blockade. We don't give enough credit to country that has suffered so much in the 20th century. To have came out of Soviet control right after a devastating earthquake and right into a bloody conflict followed by blockade. In this 20 short years she has come a long way despite all that was done to her, and I wonder if we are really trying to help her, or knock her down some more!

Capitalism has now 50 Million Americans on food stamps, a giant country that has won the cold war can't even manage to take care of her people. With the wealthy few who control everything, dare not say they are oligarchs call them Capitalists please they prefer this term. For if you question the great wealth divide you will be called a commie! With all this double standards, printing of money unchecked, millions without healthcare I wonder what some of the guys are smoking?

I see nothing that is objective or positive when the word Armenia hits some of you. All I see is people that are living in a daydream and expecting a country in a state of war, under blockade that has the same problems that exist in every corner of the world. Be fair, have some sense of balance, have a little bit of brains to know that some are not pointing this out for the good. For if we start to truly be honest and begin we really have to be talking about the ills of humanity. If Armenia were only judged by human terms, and not a fantasy we expect Armenia to be. Perhaps 20 more years will yield even more fruit but for these 20 short years in these conditions what were you guys expecting?

I challenge any one of you to answer why we can't even discuss the internal issues of baboonistan without dragging Armenia through the dirt in the process? Why must we do so at every turn? While Giant nations can't even say the G word! Yet the argument is not about how Armenian's were and are still cheated, all we know is that there is a mobster in Armenia that has a hotel. ..Wow really? I mean the mob does not own anything in the US? You can't find a ho anyplace in the world except in Armenia?

[Haykakan]

Re: Azerbaijan - Internal Political Affairs

Alot changes in Hayastan in 8 years. I agree valuable sites are not properly taken care of but the people to me are more valuable then any stuff. I think the kitty does us great service by pointing out the bad things that happen but don't forget good things happen to. So long as capitalism reigns supreme things will never ever be the way they should.

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Azerbaijan - Internal Political Affairs

ironically enough, that is where I spent my entire stay, in the 58th (Ani) District, which was where I lived and also volunteered. The Birthright Armenia organization assigned all of the volunteers in Gyumri to that district specifically for homestays, though most volunteered at sites outside of the district. Their reasoning was that it was newer and more modern (everything was built following the earthquake). I never saw or heard of any criminal activity in the area. I don't think there was anything, because from what I saw it was a very decent and family friendly neighborhood.

I remember it being full of people compared to the near deserted sidewalks of central Gyumri - but even when in that district a local who spoke English told me it was unwise to be wandering around there, and suggested I take a taxi back to the centre of town rather than stand waiting to get a minibus back. I also asked him about a hotel that my guidebook said was in the area and he said there wasn't one except for a mafia-controlled place at the very edge of the district, beside the road going to the north. This was about 8 years ago.

[Artashes]

Re: Azerbaijan - Internal Political Affairs

Mher, your volunteering for our homeland is inspiring .
I've read your posts and you seem to me to be a thoughtful , considerate , caring , and intelligent person .
We may not have the same opinions on every issue , but I find no reason ( none at all ) to be rude , obnoxious , or any other foul thing towards you just because we don't agree on everything .
I wish you well in your endevours and think Armenia is fortunate to have a son like you .
Art ashes

[Mher]

Re: Azerbaijan - Internal Political Affairs

Which, if true, shows the political backwardness of voters in Gyumri. I don't think he had that much wealth before coming to power. Didn't the guy grow rich by ripping-off the people of Gyumri by creating a monopoly situation in Gyumri and then overcharging the municipality for the services his various businesses provided, from car imports to asphalt? Though his divide and conquer technique to blame Yerevan for the problems his activities were causing, and his unabashed "I'm a rich bastard, but at least I'm your bastard" attitude didn't stop him losing power in the end - showing that there are some limits to excesses. The completely over-the-top activities of his son probably had a lot to do with this though: at least two murders (including the case where, after a street shootout, a young boy is killed by some stray bullet, his body removed from the scene and placed in an abandoned building far away from his home, then mutilated with a grenate explosion to hide the evidence he was shot, and his death blamed on him playing with the grenade).

Oh, do you know if it true that the criminal elements in Gyumri tend to live in the Ani district and similar districts at the northern end of the city. When I was in Gyumri (was there for about a week) I was warned not to go to those parts (though I did anyway, to photograph the new church there).

ironically enough, that is where I spent my entire stay, in the 58th (Ani) District, which was where I lived and also volunteered. The Birthright Armenia organization assigned all of the volunteers in Gyumri to that district specifically for homestays, though most volunteered at sites outside of the district. Their reasoning was that it was newer and more modern (everything was built following the earthquake). I never saw or heard of any criminal activity in the area. I don't think there was anything, because from what I saw it was a very decent and family friendly neighborhood.