Armenian Red Berets Protect College Students?

[ 1 September, 2010 | 17:37 ]

This morning as I drove past the State Economics Institute on Nalbandyan Street in Yerevan I saw two Red Berets standing on the corner in front of the entrance.

Today is back to school day across Armenia and students were flocking in front of their college buildings waiting for class to start while smoking slim cigarettes and playing with cell phones, as they do every day. (Read more in Footprints)


Gtchavank Monastery – A Karabakh Gem Marred by Graffiti

[ 30 August, 2010 | 15:40 ]

Viktor, Seko and others have left their mark on church walls. Will today’s visitors be as disrespectful?

The Gtchavank monastery complex high up in the distance. »»»»»


Have You Climbed Mt. Ararat, Lately?

[ 30 August, 2010 | 15:00 ]

For some Diaspora Armenians it’s the “ultimate high”

By Edna Baghoumian

It is mid August again and the heat has been unbearable, here, in Yerevan, but the conditions for climbing Mt Ararat (elevation 5,165 m/16,946 ft) are perfect – the best time of the year for such an undertaking. »»»»»


The Illusion of Inviolable Borders

[ 30 August, 2010 | 14:30 ]

Georgia Seeks to Regain “Paper” Control of Lost Borders

See also: Inviolable Borders: Georgian Court Sentences Armenian to One Year, Inviolable Borders: Georgians Arrest Armenian for Abkhazia Visit

Hetq has already covered the case of RoA citizen Arman Ghazaryan, who was arrested by Georgian authorities and sentenced to one year imprisonment for entering Georgian territory from the breakaway republic of Abkhazia. »»»»»


Inviolable Borders: Georgian Court Sentences Armenian to One Year

[ 23 August, 2010 | 15:30 ]

Family plans to send pardon plea to Saakashvili

A Georgian court has sentenced Arman Ghazaryan to one year imprisonment for entering Georgia from the breakaway republic of Abkhazia. Hetq covered the plight of the 25 year-old from Russia last week in an article entitled Inviolable Borders: Georgians Arrest Armenian for Abkhazia Visit.  Arman was given the chance to plead guilty to the charges, pay a fine if applicable, and accept a lesser sentence. »»»»»


Open Gates are Inaccessible

[ 23 August, 2010 | 13:30 ]

Armenia Tries to Adopt EU Standards to Break Into EU Market

By Suren Deheryan

According to Marina Harutyunyan, a representative of a company exporting natural juices from Armenia to the EU countries, they export to Europe more for the sake of bolstering the company image rather than for gaining profit.

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Seedlings Yield Honey and Hope for Devastated Armenian Families

[ 23 August, 2010 | 12:00 ]

Adrineh Der-Boghossian

For Armenians who lost their homes in political upheaval an innovative tree-planting scheme to restore orchards and forests is a way to earn some money while helping their country create a more comfortable environment, reports a volunteer for the Armenia Tree Project. Nat Geo News Watch profiled the project last year: How trees are restoring hope to Armenia.

Aygut, Armenia –Thirty-nine-year-old Vatchakan Tsakanyan remembers coming to Aygut Village in 1989 as a young man–a common experience since just about all the residents came here from Chardakhlu and other villages in Azerbaijan when the two states swapped non-nationals during the Karabagh conflict. »»»»»


Deforestation: Armenia’s Next Environmental Crisis?

[ 23 August, 2010 | 11:45 ]

Diana Markosian

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Armenia Thursday evening on a two-day visit. His agenda: the Russian military base, ongoing discussion on the “frozen” Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and a visit to the genocide memorial. But one thing that was not made a priority was the environmental crisis currently gripping Armenia. »»»»»


The Russians are Coming and They’re Up to No Good

[ 20 August, 2010 | 22:56 ]

The Russians are in Armenia. In the lexicon of the Armenian elite, the Russians are our “back-up”. You need such “back-up” to get ahead in business, to become a member of parliament or even find any type of work. And since their “boss” says that today our “back-up” are the Russians; that’s what they repeat. If tomorrow, their boss would come out and say that our “back-up” are the Americans; that’s what they would parrot.

Do you remember during the time of the Armenian-Turkish protocols how the representatives of the ruling regime tried to convince people as to the necessity of signing the protocols? Today, you hear those same individuals cursing the Turks. »»»»»


Reader Forum: Should Armenians Go to Akhtamar?

[ 17 August, 2010 | 17:37 ]

On September 19, the Holy Cross Church on the island on Akhtamar, Lake Van, will be open for church services sanctioned by the Turkish government. The church will remain a museum for the rest of the year.

We would like to know what our readers think. Should Armenians travel to Akhtamar to participate in this event or not, and why? Opinions widely differ and many individuals and organizations in Armenia and the Diaspora have come out for or against going. What do you think? Will you be going? »»»»»


High Profile Court Case Continues

[ 16 August, 2010 | 15:20 ]

Ten individuals indicted for assaulting Custom’s Committee President

The case of the break-in and burglary at the home of Armen Avetisyan, former president of the RoA Customs Committee continues at the Kentron and Nork-Marash District Court. An indictment has been handed down to ten individuals, of which two, Ara Karapetyan and Armen Nikoghosyan, have been named as the ringleaders. »»»»»


Ruben Hakhverdyan: “If they want to kill me they can. I am ready”

[ 16 August, 2010 | 15:15 ]

Ruben Hakhverdyan’s recent “controversial” interview with the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet has been a topic of debate and discussion in the Armenian press.

In an interview with Hurriyet reporter Vercihan Ziflioglu, dated August 3, the popular Armenian singer-songwriter is alleged to have said, “What we call unique Armenian culture has been created by Istanbul-based western Armenians and Anatolian Armenians. »»»»»


Inviolable Borders: Georgians Arrest Armenian for Abkhazia Visit

[ 16 August, 2010 | 15:10 ]

Those entering Georgia from Abkhazia are breaking the law

The family of 25 year-old Arman Ghazaryan took up residence in Russia in 1992. Arman’s parents soon acquired Russian citizenship but Arman is a RoA citizen. He lives in Russia with temporary residency status.

This year, Arman decided to come to Armenia. On the way, he wanted to visit his brother’s family vacationing in Abkhazia. »»»»»


Dream House Come True

[ 16 August, 2010 | 15:05 ]

Neighbor’s generosity helps single mom with three daughters live “normally”

Sona Sargsyan and her three daughters have been living in a “vagon” (temporary hut on wheels) for the past seven years. They have gotten used to living in such conditions and never dreamt of once owning a house of their own with warm stone walls in the winter rather than cold metal ones. »»»»»


Whose “State Needs”? Artists Take to the Streets to Counter Forced Gentrification in Yerevan

[ 16 August, 2010 | 15:00 ]

Roger Colombik

Where is Bangladesh?

This is the first question of the day after three hours of sleep and confusion as to our whereabouts now that daylight is upon us. We learn that the hostel for the Art & Culture Studies Laboratory (ACSL) is on the second floor of an elementary school in a neighborhood in Yerevan colloquially referred to as Bangladesh. »»»»»


Commentary: Senator Boxer’s Shortcoming

[ 13 August, 2010 | 16:32 ]

By William A. Bairamian

The decision of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to delay the Bryza vote should not be welcomed by the Armenian-American community.

It should be no surprise that Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) urged the committee to delay the confirmation vote for Matthew Bryza, who has been nominated by President Obama to serve as United States Ambassador to Azerbaijan. It must have been very clear to Sen. Boxer, and the other members of the committee, that the Armenian-American community strongly opposed the nomination of Mr. Bryza to the top American diplomatic post in Azerbaijan. Despite her indubitable awareness of this, she opted to request a delay of the vote rather than placing a hold on his nomination, which she would have had the ability to do. »»»»»


Yasser Arafat: “We admire Armenians in all things but one”

[ 10 August, 2010 | 10:12 ]
By Minas Kaynakjian

The other day on Armenian TV, there was a program dealing with the two visits of Yasser Arafat to Armenia back in the 70’ and 80’s. Arafat would spend several hours in Yerevan on his way from Beirut to Moscow for consultations with the leaders of the Communist Party.

Before parting he laid a bombshell at the feet of his Armenian hosts on his second such visit. »»»»»


What Social System is Needed for Armenia?

[ 9 August, 2010 | 14:30 ]

Alec Yenikomshian

See also: The Looming Demographic Catastrophe, the Ruling Regime and the Question of Armenia’s Future Existence – Part V

In addition to being a necessity in and by itself, the establishment of a healthy and just system and an adequate social structure in Armenia is, as previously mentioned, the only way to remove the country and the people from the unavoidable path leading to dissolution. »»»»»


Old-Age with Dignity: A Visit to the Hagktanak Home for Seniors

[ 9 August, 2010 | 14:00 ]

Where the food isn’t great and ants come and go as guests

You can get to the old age home located just over the border of Yerevan, in the village of Haghtanak, by taking the #56 mashkrutka (minivan). After alighting, you still have to walk about the distance of two bus stops to get to the home. Sitting on a piece of land that is fenced in with an old guard house, the place resembles a military camp, even though you can freely walk inside. »»»»»


Caucasian Challenge: A Race for Charity

[ 9 August, 2010 | 13:30 ]

An interview with Ric Gazarian, an American-Armenian participant in the 7,000 kilometer race staring from Hungary and ending in Yerevan

Ric, this idea of a charity car, the Caucasian Challenge, rally starting in Hungary and ending up in Armenia is novel to say the least. Who came up with it and why? »»»»»


Growing Up in the “Grey Zone”

[ 9 August, 2010 | 13:00 ]

According to official statistic 35 children in Aragatzotn were never born

From the minute of birth, each child in Armenia has the right of citizenship. The birth must be duly registered by Civil Acts Registration Agency. However, in many cases, when it is time for the child to attend school, it turns out that he or she hasn’t been issued a birth certificate. »»»»»