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**HayotzAmrotz** · 05-22-2008, 11:44 PM

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

Originally posted by Gevork View Post

Lik@ mart ka banderum vor es ishxanucun@ koxela tox azati yev joxovurt@ tesni ov en inch unen aselu. gites incha es ishxanucun@ rusi b o zna!!
you say we are landlocked small resourcell country well minus the landlocked part you just describes Israel. I think they are doing failry well dont you think?

Yes kardatzi qo gratsnerits voroshnere. ...Ari qez mi ban asem baitz du mi nexatsi: Du gaxapar chunes te Hayastani aisorva irakanutsian masin te Hayastan-Rusastani haraberutsuneri masin. ...Mi xoratsi yethe chgites, aperik.

Ovor bantuma qaxaqakan hotvatsnerov, manavand ais verji shrjanum dzerbakalvatsnere, nstatsen TEXIN! Der laven prtse, drantzits voroshnerin petka KAXEL!

Israel is not doing well at. Not now and not in the future. Let me tell you something about Israel. Call it a prediction if you like: One day Palestians will finally grow up and give up on that bull-xxxx two state solution thing, in other words a separate Palestine alongside Israel. Instead they will have Gaza and West Bank to be made part of Israel and them to be given Israeli passports in return for a complete peace. Then you watch in less than 30 years that state will be run by Arabs while the joos will be second class citizens and eventually disappear from Middle East except for Jerusalem where their presence will be purely religious.

**Armanen** · 05-23-2008, 12:49 AM

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

Originally posted by Armenian

Bolshevism was more "Armenian" than it was Russian.

What do you mean by this?

**Armenian** · 05-23-2008, 07:43 AM

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

Hellektor & Gevork, your dislikes, or hate, or fear, of Russians is not allowing you to see clearly. There seems to be a blurry line between reality and fantasy for you two here. You are intelligent individuals and Armenian Patriots. So tell me: what political "leverage" does official Yerevan have when it comes to dealing with Russia other than promising Moscow that Armenia will serve Russia's interests within the Caucasus? Joining the USA/NATO camp?

Please think through your answer before posting it. Many have been stating that we Armenians need to "play tough" with Russia. The complaints are that Russia is taking over Armenia. Armenia is turning into an outpost of Russia. Russian is strangling us. Etc... These complaints have been some of the major slogans for those who attack the current government in Yerevan, including the treasonous criminal, Levon Petrosian. Needless to say, these slogans are also being publicized and disseminated throughout Armenian society by western interests as well.

We need to be "tough" with Moscow and "dictate" our terms of friendship, you say. You expect Armenia to do this now? In the Caucasus? With the kind of neighbors we have? In the political, economic situation we are in? Have you people gone totally mad?!?!?!

You want to fuck with Gazprom?

The EU and the US put together have not been able to fuck with Gazprom. What if Gazprom says no gas or oil for you Yerevan until you get your act straight. What does Yerevan do in such a situation? Ask Baku, Tbilisi or Ankara for gas and oil supplies? Forget your embattled Iran, they need Russia just as much as we do, if not more. Iran will never sabotage its relations with Moscow over us, nor would they openly side with us due to the Islamic factor.

You want to sabotage Armenia's nuclear fuel provisions?

What if Moscow stops all nuclear fuel shipments to Armenia. Armenian's nuclear power plant provide 40% of Armenia's energy needs. What will Yerevan do then? Ask the US for nuclear fuel?

You want to sabotage Armenian CIS military protection?

What if Moscow decided to lift that protection, one that has essentially kept Turkey on the WEST side of the Arax.

You want to sabotage Armenia's access to low cost modern armaments?

Who will train and equip our military? USA? Turkey? Azerbaijan? Israel? Iran?

You want to sabotage the diplomatic support Artsakh receives from Moscow?

What if Russia began to side with Baku over the Artsakh issue due to Armenia's wish to "play tough" with Moscow? Who do we then ask for political help regarding Artsakh? China?

You want to sabotage the desperately needed $1 billion trade we have with Russia?

What if Russia placed an embargo on Armenian produced goods. What if Moscow pulled out their hundreds of millions of dollars of investments in Armenia. What if the trade we have with them was lost.

You want to sabotage the disparately needed money transfers Armenia gets from Russia?

What if Russian imposed visa restriction on Armenians traveling to Russia. What if Russia imposed restrictions on transferring money to Armenia. Where will the hundreds of thousands of Armenian migrant workers go work and send money home from? Iran? Turkey? EU?

It's not a happy feeling, but yeah they got us by the balls.

They also need us but no way near as much as we need them. For us, our relations with Russia is simply a matter of survival. For them, their relations with us is simply a matter of geopolitical calculation. Thus, Armenia is walking a very fine line in the Caucasus. We need to take the unique opportunity the Russian Federation is currently giving us to build a powerful nation. What we don't need now, however, are individuals like you causing undue tension between Yerevan and Moscow.

Push comes to shove, Moscow can take all of the aforementioned measures against Armenia and 'still' keep their control over the Caucasus. Look at Georgia, they literally have billions of dollars being pumped into their republic from USA, EU, Saudi Arabia, Turkey; they have American and Turkish military and diplomatic help; they have all the sea access they need to trade with Europe and beyond; they have free flowing oil coming in from Azerbaijan; yet due to Moscow, the nation of Georgia today is under a serious threat of breaking up. Azerbaijan is another example of how helpless nations in the Caucasus are against Russia. Baku is essentially a hostage to Moscow.

What has Russia done for us...

1) To begin with they give us geopolitical clout, crucial on the world stage.

2) They indirectly allow us maintain control over Artsakh.

3) They run our nuclear reactors and provide us with crucially needed nuclear fuel.

4) They provide us with a trade opportunity in the tune of approximately $1 billion.

5) They allow easy access (without visas) to their nation for Armenian migrant worker that in turn send back to Armenia approximately $1 billion.

6) They provide us with cheep (sometimes free) modern military hardware and training.

7) They provide us with, relatively speaking, cheep gas.

8) They pump into Armenia's economy hundreds of millions of dollars worth of investments.

9) They protect Armenia under the CIS's military umbrella.

10) They are a natural buffer against the spread of pan-Turkism in the region and they keep Turkey on the West side of the Arax river.

The aforementioned is what keeps Armenia alive today. Besides, what more do you want? Spoon feeding? Perhaps a nice massage for all Armenian citizens by Putin? What happened to your pride and intellect. Why do you demand and expect good treatment simply because you are "Armenian" when you know that such things don't exist in politics without appropriate geopolitical factors. Let me remind you two again: Regardless of how wonderful we are as a nation, regardless of how long our wonderful history is, regardless of how wonderful our cultural heritage is, regardless of how many wonderful Armenian shave served Mother Russia - geopolitically speaking, a tiny, landlocked, resource-less, impoverished Armenia, surrounded by enemies, is useless and worthless on the international scene.

So, when you pray at nights, if you pray, make sure you say a little prayer for the Kremlin, because in this very complex and unforgiving world, they have decided that Armenia's existence in the Caucasus serves their interests.

**Armenian** · 05-23-2008, 09:56 AM

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

Originally posted by Armanen View Post

What do you mean by this?

It's an abstract statement meant to make a point but in essence I mean several things:

1) Bolshevism was purely a Jewish lead movement that gained momentum in western Europe but was transfered to the vulnerable Russian Empire by the western political/financial elite of Germany, USA, Britain and France. Vast majority of the Bolshevik leadership were of Jewish decent, many of whom were not even Russian born.

2) Comparatively speaking, under Bolshevism the Russian nation by large suffered the most. They lost their empire. Russian's political/financial elite lost their immense wealth. The Russian Orthodox church was decimated. Various Russian institutions were decimated. Untold millions died in Russia and the Ukraine because of the Bolshevik revolution and the resulting chaos in the 1930s. By contrast, Bolshevism directly/indirectly saved the Armenian nation and helped Armenians eventually create a modern republic. In 1915 Yerevan was a little dusty town of around 30-40 thousand people, half of whom were Azeris, Yezdis, Persians... Under Bolshevism Armenians transformed Yerevan into a modern metropolis. Of course Bolsheviks were responsible for giving historic Armenian lands away to Turkey and Azerbaijan, but that's another story.

3) Relatively speaking, for a small nation like Armenia, numbering perhaps less than a million inhabitants, Armenians had more representation within the Bolshevik infrastructure than ethnic Russians.

4) The Soviet Union began to take on a Russian flavor only as an unintended consequence of Stalin's political purges which impacted the Jews the most, and as a result of the Second World War.

**Gevork** · 05-23-2008, 01:09 PM

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

Maybe I'm not clear, but I am for Armenia being pro russian it is in our intrest we will not exist without them. My issue is not with Russia it is with our own government in armenia. What I am simplly suggesting is that there surely are people in armenia, who can serve the armenian people AND be pro-russian. The current regime has a good foriegn policy, but domesticly it is horrible.

One more thing I hope everyone knows that Armenia prospering is not in the best intrest of Russia. So Russia would favor a government in Armenia that has the same mind set. My suggestion is we need to fix our own government it is not a matter of anti or pro russia that is not even the case. Also HayotcAmroc when i said there are people in prison you thought i ment the Levonakans. I am not talking about them. There are others in their who are not levonakans, but are put their because they questioned the authorities.

Again My point is Armenia should be Pro-Russian, BUT the government that we have today ONLY looks out for themselves by being good servants to their russian masters. We must and we can have a government that is for the Armenian people while at the same time holds ties with Russia.

**Armenian** · 05-23-2008, 01:58 PM

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

Get involved. Fax or email the following to various embassies and/or organization.

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

Levon Ter Petrosian Must be Punished!

Levon Ter Petrosian petrosianakan OV A CHOPAN@?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJg_tnX4Rjk

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

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

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.

Levon Petrosian

Alexander Arzumanian

Aram Sargsyan

Khachatur Sukiasian

Nikol Pashinian

Stepan Demirchian

Manvel Grigoryan

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

WHO IS LEVON PETROSIAN?

OVE LEVON TER PETROSIAN: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AQMEEjOBpk

Levon Ter Petrosian HAYRE TURK? VAY VAY!! DAVAJAN LEVONIG!!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4c8T...eature=related

Very important television interview with Armen Ayvazian, please watch both parts:

Մարտի 21-ի Հանրային ալիքի �Եվրապոլիս� հաղորդման հյուրերն են, քաղաքագիտության դոկտոր Արմեն Այվազյանը, քաղաքագետ Սուրեն Զոլյանը, հոգեբան Ալբերտ Նալչաջյանը: Վարող Արթուր Սահակյան: Մաս 1-ին և մաս 2-րդ: http://blog.ararat-center.org/?p=11

**Armenian** · 05-23-2008, 01:59 PM

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

Armenians, wake up!

Levon worshipers today are a serious threat to the very existence of the Armenian nation. Do not argue with them, do not debate with them. Simply do what you must do to off-set their suicidal agendas. Contact your local embasies and express your strong support for the ruling authorities and your wish to see Levon and his street whores 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 "Karabaghtsiner" 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 and suicidal agenda is simply rooted in severe jealousy and revenge, nothing more. The fact of the matter is, when these petty 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 is due to regional geopolitics. Theoretically, Stepanakert is 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.

I also keep hearing - "why do we even need Artsakh?"

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

1) With its numerous monasteries and archaeological sites, Artsakh is culturally very important to the Armenian nation.

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 the Ararat valley is very stressed agriculturally speaking and somewhat polluted.

3) Artsakh has significant deposits of minerals/metals that can potentially benefit Armenia's economy.

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, resource-less landlocked nation within a region like the Caucasus 'cannot' afford to give up a single square meter of its territory. As a matter of fact, for Armenia to truly prosper, Armenia needs to gradually expand it national holdings. Therefore, instead of thinking about how it will be if we abandon Artsakh - we need to 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 economic infrastructure. 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 existence in the western world as soon as possible, for I will never accept 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.

Anyone that claims the recent crisis in Armenia has nothing to do with an agenda against Artsakh Armenians is either a liar or an idiot. Promoting Artsakhtsi versus Hayastantsi sentiment is one of the main elements within Levon Ter-Petrosian's struggle. The following article, posted in ArmeniaNow to thwart criticism that it is a deeply biased anti-government media outlet, highlights the anti-Artsakh agenda of Levon's camp quite well.

Armenian

**Armenian** · 05-23-2008, 01:59 PM

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

In an attempt to silence its critics ArmeniaNow exhibited several accurate articles regarding the current socio-political crisis in Armenia. I want to bring them to the attention of those who are still in denial about the serious rift that exists between Armenians from Artsakh and a significant portion of Armenians in Armenia. Some claim that this rift does not exist in reality. Well, in my opinion, wishful thinking does not constitute reality, nor does it make bad situations go away. Incidentally, I have never claimed that anti-Artsakh sentiments in Armenia are prevalent amongst a majority of Armenians. However, there is 'significant' amounts of anti-Artsakh rhetoric within Armenia today, as well as amongst Armenians of Los Angeles. Naturally, all these are derived from socio-economic factors. Nevertheless, this does not change the fact that today a portion of Armenians in Armenia blame Artsakh for their economic plight. This situation has to be acknowledged and it has to be taken seriously if we are to remedy it and eradicate it. I suggest naive individuals in denial, like Mr. "Federation," to pay close attention to the contents the articles below. I also suggest Mr. Federation to spend time with the average folk in Los Angeles and Yerevan and pay close attention to the incendiary rhetoric that was coming out of the Levon Petrosian camp until recently.

Armenian

Internal Bleeding: Crisis has turned �Armenians� against �Karabakhis�

�For the first time in my life I did not say I am Karabakhtsi [Karabakh Armenian]. They asked me where I am from, I told from Abovyan,� ArmeniaNow photographer Anahit Hayrapetyan tells about how every photographer and journalist in the neighborhood of the Myaskinyan monument on March 1 was asked about their descent in a fierce search for Karabakhtsis. Disinformation was spread that the troops that dispersed the sitting strike in the Liberty Square spoke the Karabakh dialect. But it was not an occasional matter: it was the expression of xenophobia generated by LTP�s movement, whose number one enemy turned to be the Karabakhtsis.

The next day, March 2 a taxi driver crossing the damaged Mashtots avenue was showing me the shops explaining which belongs to whom, trying to justify the looting: �this is Lfik�s, this one belongs to a Karabakhtsi.� Lfik is oligarch Samvel Alexanyan who is from Aparan [town in the North-West to Yerevan]. But what do the Karabakhtsis have to do with this? The driver continued � the Karabakhtsis have to be driven out. On March 2 morning near the site of the fighting a man surveying the rubble saw soldiers on guard and said to no one in particular, but in their direction: �Karabakhi dogs�. This is not a single case as it has become a common point of view during the last commotion. The negative attitude toward the Karabakh Armenians appeared when the politicians from Karabakh who were brought by Ter-Petrosyan to solidify his power against the oppositional forces, overtook it and began using the fruits of the clan system Ter-Petrosyan had created. If the system is based on clans people protest against the clan in power. In former times the target of protests was the All-Armenian Movement and its leader, then those who forced Ter-Petrosyan�s resignation. The system remains the same; if tomorrow the Akhakalaktsi Armenians [Akhalkalak is the provincial center of the Javakhq region in Georgia, populated predominantly with Armenians] overtake the power they will get the use of it.

LTP turned the negative attitude toward the Karabakh Armenians into hatred, declaring the authorities Tatar-Mongols and saying: �Because of these two, 15,000 people have moved from Karabakh to Armenia, mainly Yerevan, within the last ten years. Each of them has been given a position. It did not suffice, and now it�s the sphere of business given to them (it�s unclear who has checked the figures).� Enmity was the main weapon of the leader for five months, when he stated the only mistake of the years of his rule was bringing the two politicians from Karabakh, the only thing he apologized for (he even defended the clan system he created by saying the 1995 Constitution was better than the amendments adopted in 2005); he declared all the deficiencies in Armenia originated in 1998, he refuted there were election frauds and state robbery before that, presenting the years of his rule as ideal times. For a protesting crowd the words of the charismatic leader were unquestionable and undisputed truth.

The anti-Karabakhi prejudice reached its climax during the post-voting rallies in February, when a professor in Opera Square [the Liberty Square, the Theater Square] underlining their Karabakhi descent publicized the names of those rectors of universities who have to be punished amid the ardent shouts of the mass. And another speaker stated: �The Armenians in this square are thrice more in number that the Karabakh citizens. Long live the Armenians!� Armenians of non-Karabakhi descent began writing in blogs as a means of protest calling themselves Karabakhis as Turks called themselves Armenians after Dink�s assassination. The 5 month-long political trainings resulted on March 1 taking the form of the Molotov xxxxtails and metal bars. The mass attacked the police shouting: �Turks, Karabakhis go away!� They say the spirit of the Armenian people was broken that day; but if something was broken then maybe that was the spirit of xenophobia.

Unlike Germany, where xenophobia was targeted against an external element, the �other� for Levon is his native � xenophobia aimed against part of a mono-ethnic nation. Just like nationalism searches for enemies for crises among other ethnicities, similarly the �pragmatists� radically denying national projects, search for an enemy to blame the crisis on, inside the nation. A poet woman, renowned intellectual inspired by the hatred of hundreds of thousands says Karabakhis are unable to run a state (LTP openly hinted on giving back Karabakh stating Karabakh is not a Kosovo and is unable to reach independence; he told in an interview Armenia has to restitute the damage caused to Azerbaijan). Thus, LTP supporters appearing in the name of liberalism became enemies of self-determination simply because those self-determined belong to their own ethnic group and because helping them �makes the country�s conditions hard.�

The times of slaughtering one�s own people have passed, but the possibility of persecutions and losses still remains and it is predictable, LTP would begin a hunt for �traitors� and thousands of Karabakis would become deprived of homeland and would wonder to the country that would not accept them with pleasure if the region is returned. And the danger remains: two days ago a neighbor to an acquaintance of mine refused to allow a nurse to give her an injection because the nurse appeared to be of Karabakh descent. As long as Armenia of the 1995 Constitution (as the Weimar one) has not been reformed, as long as the clan, corrupt and oligarchic system persists, the energy of hatred and zeal to destroy the �enemy� still threatens the country and the threat of war with Azerbaijan grows in parallel.

Source: http://www.armenianow.com/?action=vi...D=2922&lng=eng

Echo of March 1 in Karabakh: The events in Armenia are viewed in Stepanakert exclusively in terms of Karabakh�s future.

Everybody in Karabakh follows closely the events in Armenia, but makes their judgments about who is guilty or not solely in the context of Karabakh�s safety. Karabakh obviously hears speculations about deteriorating attitude to Karabakhis on the part of residents of Armenia. But that�s not the most talked-about topic in Karabakh; and not because it�s not actual, but because many prefer not to discuss it aloud. �In 1970s I was a student at Yerevan Polytechnic Institute,� tells a resident of Stepanakert Vladimir Khachatryan. �Then too there was somehow peculiar attitude to Karabakhis. I can�t say they didn�t like us, but somehow separated from all. As years passed that attitude changed more than once- getting better, getting worse, based on the political situation. I think the current slump will soon pass too. Yerevanians are simply seeking who to blame, and decided that this time too, as always, Karabakhis are to blame.�

People interviewed by ArmeniaNow in Stepanakert at first would refuse to talk on the topic at all, then would say that all Armenians have to be called upon not to divide. �I was in Yerevan last summer and learned about Yerevanians� opinion of Karabakhis from an acquaintance,� says Marina Mkrtchyan, 53. �It turns out that people in Yerevan think that Karabakhis wallow in luxury; that �karabakhi� Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan supposedly send to Karabakh all Armenians earn; that pavements are made of marble, restaurants are God knows what kind, everybody drives jeeps. I simply invited her to pay my place a visit. Of course she didn�t come, but I think she started doubting the talks spread in Yerevan.� After the March 1 events in Yerevan panic spread among certain people- especially those who have relatives living there. There were talks that cars coming from Karabakh were pebbled. However nobody said whose car was pebbled or who suffered as a result.

�My sister lives in the center of Yerevan. We are from Baku,� says Vyacheslav Seroyan, 46. �The day the emergency state was to be imposed my sister called and told me that there were rumors in the city saying Karabakhis� houses would be destroyed at night. She was crying and recalling the pogroms in Baku. I calmed her down and said that it was pure invention and that nothing of the kind was possible. In any case, an aftertaste is left. � Those residents interviewed on Karabakh-Yerevan relations were reluctant to talk and advised to be careful with those subject-matters. Especially that those talks about the �Armenian-Armenian� conflict never transferred from street to news level.

�Everybody says people in Armenia blame Karabakhis. Neither in opposition nor in pro-government press have I seen such accusations. There was only Levon Ter-Pterosyan�s speech where he said that �karabakhis� have to go. But he obviously meant the two well-known ones. I think everybody understands the futility of such accusations that is why it can�t be found in the press,� says reporter Anahit Danielyan. In an interview with ArmeniaNow, former soldier Armen Sarkisyan said: �Only one question concerns me- Karabakh�s future. Even if Serzh is a bad president, but promises to keep Karabakh, I am for him. If Levon says he won�t concede Karabakh, let him be a president. So far neither of them has said so.�

Source: http://www.armenianow.com/?action=vi...D=1180&lng=eng

�What Hatred they Felt�: A policeman�s account

�Soldiers with truncheons and shields blocked the whole street and began to go forward to press the people against the embassy [building] believing they will disperse learning the soldiers have come. We went some 20 meters and calmed down, I even lit a cigarette thinking they would not resist and heard the first blast, just in front of the soldiers. One of our specialists said that was definitely a hand grenade,� tells a police troops officer, participant to the March 1st events, who preferred to stay anonymous.

He took part in the operations held by the police beginning the morning, except for the operation of dispersing the sitting strike in the square. He tells their unit was located in front of the Myasnikyan monument from the midday. After former head of the National Security Service, oppositional activist Davit Shahnazaryan called upon the people to go to the square by Matenadaran for a rally, the unit was moved to the area by the Opera House. However, they returned in the evening: �Information was received LTP had ordered the demonstrators not to move, because the place [by the embassy] was the most convenient, otherwise the demonstrators would appear in a trap if they moved to Matenadaran. When we got there, the disturbances had already begun.�

The officer says the grenade explosion raised havoc among the soldiers, because they were not prepared for a use of fire arms against us: �I saw our commander on the right wing taken out, one trying to fix a tourniquet to dress his foot. The second one was also in blood, the one who was trying to set the tourniquet was injured at his head; then all of a sudden [I saw] one of the soldiers, his feet weakened, being dragged aside. A panic began in our rows, and then a bullet hit another soldier penetrating his neck.�

�We began to retreat, retreat-attack, retreat-attack, but they [the people] were enraged. If you saw the blasts! Pushing, we reached the Leo Street and then, all of a sudden, they began to throw stones from behind, from the side of the Paronian Street.�

The officer says the police special detachment came at the hottest moment of the fight and began shooting in the air with tracer bullets. �They were shooting the tracer bullets on purpose to show the direction of the shots; so that they [the mob] see them [the police] shoot in the air. But the shooting did not calm them down, they were attacking fiercely.�

�A mad mob, I had never seen a thing like that, [they were] like a pack. What hatred they felt! They would heavily curse us saying �you Turks, you go to your Karabakh�. I must say they lie when they say troops were brought from Karabakh. There were only the police troops and its special detachment. And the Army has appeared only after the state of emergency was imposed.�

He insists the police fired no shots on the people, although the soldiers blamed them [the officers] for not giving them weapons to defend themselves: �They would say give weapons, why not give weapons, look they have hurt Mkho, and they hurt another one!�

Source: http://www.armenianow.com/?action=vi...D=2891&lng=eng

**Armenian** · 05-23-2008, 02:02 PM

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

Finally, some very encouraging signals from Yerevan. The recent naming of Tigran Sargsyan (no relations to Serzh) as Prime Minister and Edward Nalbandyan as Foreign Minister has great significance because Serzh Sargsyan has picked non-party affiliated professionals, essentially technocrats, to represent the Armenian Republic upon the world stage. This approach is in an way similar to the political evolution occurring within Moscow where another technocrat, Medvedev, was chosen to become president of the Russian Federation. Moreover, the coalition formed recently between the majority Hanrapetutyun party, the ARF, Orinats Yerkir and Bargavaj Hayastan, is yet another signal from Serzh Sargsyan that he is serious about political power sharing, cooperation and dialogue. The appointment of General Seyran Ohanian as Defense Minister was an excellent choice, as well. There are also some indications that the Artsakh dispute may be settled. Armenia's recognition of Artskah may happen within Serzh Sargsyan's first term. Taking all of the above into consideration it now seems obvious that Serzh Sargsyan is working hard to stabilize his political power and solidifying his credibility. In my opinion, these are very positive signs. However, I am still unhappy with the way in which the authorities have been handling Levon Ter Petrosian and his close supporters. I see the authorities being too hesitant in executing punishment. Levon and his HHSh party are cancers in Armenia that need to be eliminated totally, sooner the better. Nevertheless, I have said that recent events in Yerevan will either set Armenia on a positive track or a negative track. These developments are perhaps signs that the recent blood shed in Armenia will not have been in vain. Mr. Srgsyan has so far done a great job in putting together an effective government.

Armenian

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President Sargsyan names Prime Minister Sargsyan: PM slot goes to Central Bank chairman

Armenia�s President-elect Serzh Sargsyan, who is due to assume office tomorrow (April 9), has named current Central Bank Chairman Tigran Sargsyan (no relation) as the next Prime Minister of Armenia. The country�s ruling Republican Party�s Board, which has a commanding vote in the Armenian parliament, on Tuesday made a unanimous decision to second Serzh Sargsyan�s nomination. Under point 4 of Article 55 of Armenia�s Constitution the President of the Republic �shall, on the basis of the distribution of the seats in the National Assembly and consultations held with the parliamentary factions, appoint as Prime Minister the person enjoying confidence of the majority of the Deputies and if this is impossible the President of the Republic shall appoint as the Prime Minister the person enjoying confidence of the maximum number of the Deputies. The President of the Republic shall appoint the Prime Minister within ten days after acceptance of the resignation of the Government. The Government shall be formed within 20 days after the appointment of the Prime Minister.� In view of the fact that the Republican Party holds control of more than half of seats in the country�s legislature, consultations with parliamentary factions are expected to be a pro forma procedure. Tigran Sargsyan, 48, is not affiliated with any political party. He has held the position of Central Bank Chairman since early 1998 (reelected for a second seven-year term by the National Assembly in 2005). From 1980 to 1983 Tigran Sargsyan attended Leningrad�s (currently St. Petersburg) Financial and Economic Institute after Voznesenski. From 1983-1987 - postgraduate education ended in obtaining PhD degree. From 1987 to 1990 he worked as the Chief of Department for Foreign Economic Relations of Scientific Researches Institute of Economic Planning in Armenia. From 1988-1993 he worked at the post of Chairman of republican Council of Young Specialists and Scientists. From 1990 to 1995 - a member of Supreme Council of the Republic of Armenia and the Chair of Standing Commission for Financial, Credit and Budget Affairs. From 1995 to 1998 - Director of Scientific Researches Institute of Social Reforms. From 1995 to 1998 - the Chairman of Armenian Banks Association. Tigran Sargsyan is a native of Vanadzor, formerly Kirovakan. He is married, has two children.

Source: http://www.armenianow.com/?action=vi...g=eng&IID=1181

S. SARGSYAN: �COALITION CREATED FOR FUNDING EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT�

The political coalition in Armenia has been created for establishing effective government, for conducting human rights and democratic reforms, said the president-elect Prime Minister of the RA Serzh Sargsyan in an interview given to Russian �Novoye Izvestia�. According to him the new government will present the interests of the nation. �Now we are drafting the selection of the new government staff which should provide single project for the whole government,� said S. Sargsyan. S. Sargsyan mentioned that all the parts of the coalition are responsible for the improvement of the last years� achievements, for the sustainable development, for improving the quality of life of our people, for meeting the foreign and inner problems and challenges of the country. �The society will feel the positive and qualified changes in the nearest future and the first step should be against corruption,� said S. Sargsyan.

Source: http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2.../07/coalition/

SEYRAN OHANYAN APPOINTED DEFENSE MINISTER

Today the president of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan represented the new appointed Defense Minister of the RA Seyran Ohanyan to the Army high-ranking officers. The information is provided by the public relations department of the president�s administrating. The president said that he has known Seyran Ohanyan for over 20 years and he is not aware of any attempt which could dishonor the officer. He highly evaluated S. Ohanyan�s participation in forming and improving army. According to the president, the army will remain in the special interest of the governing bodies and the armed forces have serious problems to deal with. Serzh Sargsyan expressed his attitude that having such officers and leaders as the head of the army and armed forces all the necessary reforms will be met and improved. The president expressed his gratitude to the former minister Michael Harutyunyan and said that his skills and experience will serve in the improvements of army challenges. Seyran Ohanyan said that he is thankful for trusting the position to him and mentioned that he accepts the post of Defense Minister by high level of consciousness and responsibility.

Source: http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2...15/president1/

Azerbaijan has lost Karabakh for ever,says Armenia

Azerbaijan must accept that its breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region is an independent republic that will never be returned to Azeri control, Armenia's president said on Wednesday. Nagorno-Karabakh, in the Caucasus mountains, broke away from Azerbaijan as the Soviet Union fell apart, sparking a war which killed about 35,000 people. A ceasefire was agreed in 1994 but the search for a lasting peace is stalled. The region's ethnic Armenian separatists run their own affairs, with support from Armenia. The region has declared its independence from Azerbaijan, but this has not been recognised by any state. "Azerbaijan must understand the simple reality that the existence of the republic of Nagorno-Karabakh's independence is irreversible," President Serzh Sarksyan, who was sworn in this month, said in comments supplied by his press service. "It is impossible to even imagine that the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh could be subordinate in any way to Azerbaijan," said Sarksyan, who is a native of the region. "The people of Nagorno-Karabakh have won their right to a free and independent life. And through our efforts, that right must be recognised by the international community." Azerbaijan says Armenia has illegally occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, and a number of Azeri districts surrounding the region. Baku, which announced a 53 percent rise in military spending this month, says it is committed to stalled peace talks but has refused to rule out using force to restore its control. Azerbaijan and Armenia are still officially at war and their troops frequently fight skirmishes along a heavily mined front line. Up to 16 soldiers were killed in a clash earlier last month.

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/europ.../idUSL16902768

EDWARD NALBANDIAN IS EXPECTED TO REPLACE VARDAN OSKANIAN

Yerevan- APA. Armenian foreign minister Vardan Oskanian has taken leave of the staff of his office. APA quotes Arminfo, Armenian ambassador to France, Israel, Vatican and Andorra Edward Nalbandian is expected to replace Vardan Oskanian in this post. Edward Nalbandyan was born in 1956 in Armenia. He graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in 1978 and post-graduated from the Oriental Studies Institute of USSR Academy of Sciences in 1988. He was working for USSR embassy in Libya in 1978-1983 and USSR foreign ministry in 1983-1986. He was counselor of USSR, later Russian Embassy in Egypt in 1986-1992 and Armenian charge d'affairs in Egypt, Morocco and Oman in 1992-1993. He was appointed the Armenian ambassador to France in 1999. Edward Nalbandyan was decorated with USSR order of Friendship of Peoples and Vatican's St-George Grand Cross order. He is a knight of French Legion of Honor. He speaks French, English and Arabic. He is married and father of one daughter.

Source: http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=46849

**Armenian** · 05-23-2008, 02:04 PM

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

Russo-Armenian relations according to a US based Think Tank.

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Armenia: Russia's Strengthening Hand

Summary

Armenia�s Feb. 19 presidential election pitted two pro-Russian candidates against each other. Armenia is crucial to Russian strategy in the Caucasus, and Russian political and economic influence there has been on the rise.

Analysis

The presidential election held Feb. 19 in Armenia is over, and Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan has emerged as the clear victor. His main opponent was former President Levon Ter-Petrosyan. Both candidates are pro-Russian, and each recently paid political �tribute� to Moscow: Ter-Petrosyan met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Feb. 11, and Sarkisyan hosted Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov in Yerevan on Feb. 6. Of the two candidates, Moscow prefers Sarkisyan. As a war hero and a native of the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region, he is not looking to give an inch of ground in Armenia�s dispute with Azerbaijan over the territory. Russia wants to keep its options open regarding Nagorno-Karabakh, especially now that it is deciding how to respond to Kosovo�s independence declaration � and, therefore, Ter-Petrosyan, who has a history of attempting to resolve the conflict, is not the best man for the job, in Moscow�s opinion. Armenia is a crucial piece of Moscow�s geopolitical puzzle in the region: It is a Russian �advance post� in the South Caucasus and the central cog of Iranian-Russian cooperation. Indeed, Russia�s influence is on the rise in Armenia, with both political and economic trends pointing to an ever-tighter alignment between the two.

No matter who won Armenia�s election, it would not have changed Yerevan�s geopolitical imperatives. Armenia is flanked by a hostile Azerbaijan and an equally hostile Turkey, and thus has to develop close relations with its powerful neighbors Iran and Russia. Considering the recent and ongoing Azeri military buildup, neither presidential candidate had any intention of abandoning the alliance with Russia. Armenia has rejected NATO membership as a goal and has strained relations with the United States over its own close economic relationship with Iran. (However, the strong Armenian lobby in Washington has thus far prevented any substantial cuts in U.S. military and economic aid, something the Bush administration has pushing for since March 2007.) In addition to political affinities, the strong geopolitical pull between Moscow and Yerevan has produced a considerable increase in Russian economic influence in Armenia, through both infrastructural investments and business ventures:

* Russia now controls ArmRosGazprom, operator of a pipeline that transports Iranian natural gas to Armenia to operate Armenian power plants � which produce electricity on which Iran depends.
* Gazprom oil subsidiary Gazpromneft is planning to construct an oil refinery near the municipality of Megri, in southern Armenia, that also will supply Iran with much-needed gasoline and oil derivatives.
* Russian state-owned nuclear energy company Rosatom has proposed its services for the construction of a new nuclear power station in Armenia to replace or supplement the aging Metzamor plant.
* Russia and Armenia signed a deal Feb. 6 to create a joint uranium exploration venture.
* Through Rusal, one of the world�s largest aluminum producers, Russia also controls Armenal, an aluminum foil mill in Yerevan that accounts for 40 percent of total Armenian annual exports.
* Russian state railway monopoly Russian Railways has a 30-year contract to run Armenia�s national railway network � which, crucially, extends into Iran.
* Russian mobile telephony operators Vimpelcom and Mobile TeleSystems essentially own Armenia�s entire cellular network.

It should be noted that many of the larger investments (such as the proposed nuclear power plant) could run into funding problems; Armenia is practically broke, and Russia has a poor track record of financing infrastructure projects. Furthermore, Moscow has in the past rarely invested money directly in Armenia, choosing instead to use Armenia�s debt to Russia as a way to foreclose on Armenian national assets. That is still the case, but now there also is an increase in Russian businesses and state-owned enterprises investing directly in the country. Russia sinking actual money into Armenia is notable and signifies that Yerevan is being further locked into Moscow�s sphere of influence.

Source: http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/arm...ngthening_hand

Armenia, Azerbaijan: Russia, the West and Nagorno-Karabakh

Summary

Azerbaijan accused Armenia of stoking unrest in the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh after a gunbattle that killed 15 people March 5. Azerbaijan is using its petroleum wealth to arm itself for a potential conflict with Armenia over the separatist region, which on paper belongs to Azerbaijan but in reality is controlled by Armenia. The West does not want to see this conflict re-emerge, but Russia does � to a point.

Analysis

Following a gunbattle in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan said 15 soldiers were killed and it accused its neighbor Armenia on March 5 of deliberately stoking unrest in the breakaway region. If true, 15 dead would mark the worst clash in recent years between Muslim Azerbaijan and Orthodox Christian Armenia, which technically remain at war. Renewed conflict in the disputed enclave would displease the West, but would suit Russia just fine unless Azerbaijan scores a decisive win � something becoming increasingly likely, however, as Azerbaijan converts its petroleum wealth into armaments. Pro-Armenian forces seized the ethnic Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in a war in the 1990s. The two sides have remained in a tense deadlock over the territory ever since, but the conflict has been relatively dormant since a 1994 cease-fire. Technically, Nagorno-Karabakh is still part of Azerbaijan, even though Armenia controls it. International pressure, lack of support from every nation but Russia and Iran, and fear of Azeri retaliation have kept Armenia from annexing the territory. Azerbaijan has been held back from retaking the land due to pressure from the West and the Azeri military�s relative weakness.

But the situation slowly has been changing as Azerbaijan has grown stronger and richer following the 2006 completion of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline, which Western companies developed to feed oil to Europe. The BTC led to a more pro-Western Azerbaijan, and the tremendous new wealth it generated has helped the country increase its defense spending from $175 million in 2004 to more than $1 billion at the start of 2008. This, of course, has Armenia more than nervous, but the much poorer country can barely increase its spending to follow Azerbaijan�s lead. In the past year, Armenia has increased its defense spending by 20 percent, from $125 million to $150 million � almost all of which was spent on boosting its defensive capabilities. The Azeris constantly speak about wanting to take Nagorno-Karabakh back by force, and now actually are closing in on the ability to do so. And there is another force pushing for a conflict: Russia.

Following the 2004 eviction from its military bases in nearby Georgia after the Rose Revolution, Russia has been slowly withdrawing its vast military equipment from Azerbaijan�s and Armenia�s fellow country in the Caucasus. Officially, Russia said the last of its equipment was removed from Georgia in the summer of 2007 and much of the hardware was shipped back to Russia. But quite a bit of it was relocated to Russia�s large base in Gyumri, Armenia. Uncertainty remains about the relocation of 40 armored vehicles and 20 tanks; Russia says they are back home, but Azerbaijan suspects they are in Armenia. Armenia has accused Moscow of helping fuel Azerbaijan�s military buildup. It alleges that quite a bit of the military equipment from Georgia found its way to Azerbaijan. Russia has myriad reasons to fuel another conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. First, the Kremlin is still smarting after the West recognized Kosovar independence from Serbia despite Russia�s and Serbia�s vigorous objections. In the run-up to Kosovar secession, Russia insisted that the breakaway province�s independence would cause flare-ups in other separatist regions. A renewed scuffle over Nagorno-Karabakh would represent a major told-you-so for Moscow.

Second, Russia is very interested in destabilizing Azerbaijan and in having the West become displeased with Azerbaijan. The United States and Europe have warned Azerbaijan not to restart conflict with Armenia � especially the United States, which has a very large Armenian diaspora with a great deal of clout in Washington. During an election year, U.S. politicians cannot afford to offend constituencies, so they are liable not to ignore pressure from Armenian-Americans. The West worries that renewed conflict could destabilize their investments in Azeri energy infrastructure. Third and last, Russia would just relish the opportunity that renewed conflict would create for it to sweep in as the great mediator. Moscow repeatedly has said it wants to send troops, perhaps as part of a peacekeeping force, into Nagorno-Karabakh. More fighting would give it the perfect opportunity to do so. Ultimately, having the southern Caucasus in flames greatly increases Russia�s leverage with every player previously mentioned. However, Moscow does have one concern: what if Azerbaijan actually wins the fight against Armenia? A victory by Baku would be a palpable blow against Russian power, allowing Azerbaijan to continue on its Westward push without fear of Moscow.

Source: http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/arm...ngthening_hand

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