We're Pirates, Ape!

Once in a while we hear about Armenians and their involvement in shady endeavors, no doubt obvious propaganda by the Turkish government. Surely we are incapable of fraud, crime, and dishonesty in general! Other times, we realize it's all too true.

[Software] Piracy was most prevalent in Armenia, Bangladesh and Azerbaijan, where more than 90 percent of PCs had unlicensed software.

Software piracy not only hurts software developers, it also harms local resellers, reduces government tax revenues and increases the risk of computer security problems and crime...

Weighed against the fact that it's free? I think this is one time we are agreed with our evil neighbors to the East.

Source: Orlando Business Journal

Chocolatier Nestle Upsets Azerbaijan

What can an international candy company possibly do to upset Azerbaijan? This one is sweet in more ways than one:

The CD-ROM [attached to a breakfast ceral as a gift] featured information about countries around the world but the data on Azerbaijan caused outrage there.

It said that Azerbaijan had started a war against neighbouring Armenia and that the hotly disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh belonged to Armenia.

Nestle has now issued a formal apology but some Azeris are still not happy. They accuse Nestle of playing Armenia's hand, and are demanding more than just an apology to chew on.

It looks like my choice of snack on those long days prank-calling the Azeri embassy is firmly and deliciously decided.

A free t-shirt to anyone who can produce an original CD from Azerbaijan for publication on TheArmeniaBlog.com and elsewhere!

Source: BBC News

Remembering Sumgait, 20 Years On

More information about the Sumgait pogroms in English and Russian.

Levon Ter Petrosyan - Dictator of the Month

It seems some four and a half years ago Levon Ter Petrosyan was chosen as the Dictator of the Month by a website called, wait for it, dictatorofthemonth.com. The website, which appears to be of German origin, brings to its audience, "the greatest and smallest dictators, autocrats and monarchs of the world since 1900!"

You may have noticed that I've kept from reporting on developments in the run up to the Armenian elections. Call me jaded, if you will, but reporting on one scum or another, essentially the same type of feces in different pots, won't change the outcome of the election. Knowing Armenia, even a direct vote will result in the same fate for the country.

That said, here are the charges against Levon:

His popularity waned during his rule as he sold Armenian electrical capacity to Georgia while limiting electricity's availability to Armenia to 4 hours per day in order to fund the war against Azerbaijan, a move regarded as necessary by the Armenian Army. He was also unpopular with many because he banned the nation's leading opposition party, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF- Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutiune), jailed its leadership, and shut down Yerkir, the country's largest daily newspaper.

He was forced to step down in February 1998 after advocating additional concessions to Azerbaijan in the resolution of the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. Ter Petrosyan's key ministers, led by then-Prime Minister Kocharyan, refused to accept a peace plan on Karabakh put forward by international mediators in September 1997. The plan, accepted by Ter-Petrosyan and Azerbaijan, called for a "phased" settlement of the conflict which would postpone an agreement on Karabakh's status, the main stumbling block. That agreement was to accompany the return of most Armenian-occupied Azerbaijani territories around Karabakh and the lifting of the Azerbaijani and Turkish blockades of Armenia.

Hefty charges indeed. As someone who lived through the early 1990s in Armenia, anyone who considers voting for him because he is a voice of change, reason, or otherwise the lesser of two evils, is simply insane.

Stealing Armenia's Gold, Again

Ah, gold. What self-respecting Armenian doesn't have at least a few pounds of it stashed somewhere? As of this very moment, the price of Gold stands at $833.20, having made a mad rush to that position in the last few years, no thanks to the present economic uncertainties. So where does Armenia fit in all of this, you ask?

In the town of Ararat - about an hour's drive south of Yerevan, Armenia's capital - investors from Russia have moved in to take control of what is believed to be one of the biggest gold-mining operations in the country.

But there's more to it than that.

Azerbaijan says a considerable amount of the Zod mine is in its territory, at present occupied by the Armenian military.

And let's not forget the previous owners:

In 2002, AGRC was taken over by a company controlled by the family of Indian mining billionaire Aneel Agarwal. But its operations were closed down after the Armenian authorities accused the company of reneging on various licensing agreements. The company was charged with tax fraud and environmental violations and ordered to pay millions of dollars in fines.

Besides the laughable notion of the Armenian government charging anyone with tax fraud, this is yet another nail in the coffin that is Armenia's economic future. We've given away nearly everything in the name of short term profits, but what of the future?

Critics will contend that some of the assets are actually on a long-term lease, but this isn't the case with all of them. Besides, how absurd is it that to revitalize the economy and move it forward means giving control of important assets to foreigners? We only have so much left!

Source: BBC News

Azerbaijan Boosts Military Budget...Again

Frankly, reporting on Aliyev's threats and his ever-skyrocketing defense budget is tiresome.

He [Aliyev] told a government meeting that the military budget will grow by $300 million to $1.3 billion in 2008.

"The insincere behaviour of Armenian occupation forces, dragging out the negotiation process, forces us to devote greater attention to military issues," Aliyev said. "Azerbaijan must be ready to liberate its lands by any means."

Good ol' Ali hasn't lost his sense of humor, even if he may have lost 20% of "his" country.

Source: Reuters

Armenia-Azerbaijan Soccer Games Cancelled

What a match it would have been!

"As no suitable compromise could be found between the two associations it was decided to cancel the two matches, namely Azerbaijan-Armenia scheduled for Sept. 8 and Armenia-Azerbaijan scheduled for Sept. 12," UEFA said in a statement.

Armenia wanted the games played on a normal home and away basis but Azerbaijan refused to host the Armenians and proposed a neutral ground for both matches.

Sadly, both teams were awarded zero points.

Source: PanArmenian

Azeris Attack Armenian, Nagorno Karabakh Flag

Yet another typical display of Azeri aggression & barbarity.

According to eyewitnesses, representatives of Azeri youth took aside a young Armenian who was holding the banner of Nagorno Karabakh. Azeris attacked the Armenian fellow, causing him physical injuries. They tried to take away the banner but couldn’t, after which Azeris tore it up.

They must be bitter about something, but I can't imagine what!

On a serious note, all they are doing is showing the world the sorts of people they really are. Not only do they fill the world with their lies and systematic propaganda, they turn any attempt at peace and normality into one of chaos and hatred.

Source: PanArmenian

Azerbaijan Wants the 2016 Olympics!

Lots of fun stories are coming out of Azerbaijan lately. Armenia Blog brings you the latest!

Azerbaijan wants to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, President Ilham Aliev said Monday.

The nation receives revenue from abundant oil and gas resources from the Caspian Sea, but is locked in a dispute with neighboring Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous area controlled by Armenian forces since the end of a six-year war in 1994.

This is as likely to happen as the Gaza Games of 2012.

Source: Sporting News

Ramil Safarov's Appeal Denied

On February 19, 2004, Azeri Ramil Safarov - pictured above - hacked to death an Officer of the Armenian Army, Gurgen Margarian. As a result, a Hungarian court has sentenced him for life.

...the lower court's verdict and its assessment of the crime was correct. The Azeri side can appeal this decision within 8 days in the Supreme Court, but...the highest court of Hungary does not take up all cases.

You can't see this kind of justice in Turkey or Azerbaijan, that's for sure!

Source: ArmenPress

Azerbaijan Planning to Resettle Shahumyan

Bet you didn't see this one coming.

Balayan said he had obtained copies of an Azeri government decision and a decree signed by the government of this covert plan. The documents clearly delegate responsibilities to various Azeri ministries and government organizations to steer the plan.

The plan calls for resettling 30,000 to 35,000 Azeris in Shahumyan, which was once home to 21,000 Armenians who were either massacred or forcibly evacuated from the region during the Nagorno-Karabakh movement.

What's next?

Source: ArmenPress

Farming Mines in Armenia

In times of war, mines are placed to trap the enemy. But what happens in times of peace, when those mines remain?

"I have a pear orchard of seven thousand square metres on the border," said local farmer Vachagan Simonian. "Every year this orchard could bring in a crop of around seven thousand tonnes and I could sell it for around two thousand dollars - but I can’t."

"People cannot till their land, they have no income, which is why they have to leave to work in Russia," said Aharon Asilbekian, deputy head of the village administration.

An estimated 69,000 residents in 60 villages in Armenia are afflicted by the problem.

Pretty tragic. If you remember, the issue was previously covered on Armenia Blog.

Source: IWPR

Armenia Surrenders to Turkish Demands

As you know, I disapprove of Armenia's insistence to develop relations with Turkey without precondition. But now, all is lost.

Robert Kocharian rejected Turkey's offer to set up a joint panel of historians to debate the issue and called on Ankara to accept his suggestion of an intergovernmental commission. "The normalization of bilateral relations is the responsibility of governments, not historians," Kocharian was quoted by Reuters as saying.

"That is why we are ready to establish diplomatic relations with Turkey without preconditions, create an intergovernmental commission and to discuss all issues, including the most sensitive," he added.

We all know that whatever commission is in place to discuss the Armenian Genocide will only be for show. Do you really expect Turkey to discover that it indeed killed 1,500,000 Armenians after decades of lies? Come on!

Sadly, this and other calls from Armenia to open relations have been due to the Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway project, from which Armenia was excluded recently, despite attempts by Armenia and the United States to the contrary. Great! Let's sell our our history for money!

Source: ArmenPress

Azeri Loggers Set Free - Without Punishment!

Remember a couple of days back, when three Azerbaijanis were arrested for attempting to steal timber from Armenia? Well, they've been released - without paying the $2,000 fine!

The three Azeri citizens of Georgia who were arrested five days ago in the territory of Armenia have been set free and sent to their home in Sadakhlo. Nevertheless, the Azeris have been set free without paying the sum, due to an agreement reached between the Armenian and Georgian border keepers.

One of the Azeris, Hussein Mamedov, informed agency "Trend" that the attitude of the Armenians towards them was good. "We spent three days in the detachment 'Stepanavan' where we were taken. And I cannot complain of any case of bad treatment".

Hmmm. What could be the political motivation for releasing criminals without any punishment?

Source: A1+

Three Azeris Caught Attempting to Insult Treeness!

A more horrific crime I cannot imagine!

Armenian Border Guard caught three Azeris having Georgian citizenship. They were trying to pass the Armenian-Georgian borderline to realize deforesting.

The frontiers caught the third Azeri in the neutral zone between the Armenian-Georgian borderline the boundaries of which are not decided by the two sides yet.

The third arrestee was also heading to Armenia after timber.

We have enough people cutting down trees illegally as it is: we don't need any outside help. But thanks!

Source: A1+

Yet Another Armenian Soldier Killed by Azeri Sniper

Remember this a few weeks back? Well, another Armenian soldier has met the same fate.

On February 14, at about 09:30, an Azeri sniper wounded the major Ervand Pashikyan (b. in 1958), contractual serviceman, in the chest. Ervand Pashikyan died on the spot, RA Defense Ministry reports.

The investigation is under way.

I find it sad that virtually nothing is done after such killings: a few words condemning the act here, a few harsh words there, and that's it. Then again, short of an all-out war, what can be done? Obviously, we have to involve the international community, but all too often these soldiers get forgotten shortly after all is said and done.

Source: A1+

Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia Sign Railroad Agreement - Without Armenia

The United States tried to stop it, but apparently it has already begun. What has begun, you ask?

The first step for the Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway line project named "Iron Silk Road" has been taken. The Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan, the Azerbaijani president Aliyev and the state president of Georgia Saakaşvili signed the historical agreement of the rail way line of Kars-Tbilisi-Baku which drives out Armenia. The project is anticipated to be finished in two years and around $420 million will be spent.

Armenia has been trying to prevent the the Azerbaijani president Aliyev and the state president of Georgia Saakaşvili signed the historical agreement of the rail way line of Kars-Tbilisi-Baku which drives out Armenia rail way line of Kars-Tbilisi-Baku for the reason that the railway line in the country will be disposed. But the project aged 14 years which will provide railway connection from Europe to the Middle Asia is driving out Armenia.

Wow, that was a poorly worded article.

Regardless, it seems Armenia may be out for good. Armenia repetedly attempted to develop relations with Turkey - without precondition, by the way - to get a chance at reopening the Kars-Gyumri section of the railroad, as it was economically very important for Armenia. But seeing as how we would be giving up much more and gaining much less in return, in terms of the recognition of the genocide and other conditions for Turkey, I'm happy with this outcome.

Source: Sabah

Armenia & Azerbaijan Close to Peace Deal

Call me a pessimist, but I don't believe that.

"They don’t agree 100 percent on the basic principles [of a peaceful settlement,] but they are close, very close," said Matthew Bryza, a deputy assistant secretary of state and the U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group. "They agree on the philosophy of the basic principles and most of the basic principles themselves."

Presidents Ilham Aliev and Robert Kocharian were already widely expected to reach a framework agreement on Karabakh early last year. But two rounds of face-to-face negotiations between them collapsed due to last-minute disagreements.

Words are words: I won't be convinced until there is a deal that makes sense. And for that, we may have to wait - possibly indefinitely.

By the way, is Kocharyan showing the middle finger to Aliyev behind his back? Look at the picture again.

Source: ArmeniaLiberty

Bush Wants to Punish Armenia

What's the issue, you ask? In 2001, the Bush administration and Congress agreed to send Armenia and Azerbaijan equal amo