ArmYouth Blog

RA Defense Minister Serge Sargisian has been elected to chair Yerevan State University’s “Graduates Council.” He was elected to this position this past week. According to a Noyan Tapan news story, the fact that he was elected to this position was expected. [To read the entire news story, refer to the following link: http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg136008.html ] “I was already aware early today that my candidature must be nominated,” said Sarkisian in his interview with journalists. Also according to this particular article:

“Sargisian confesses that he isn’t aware of activity of the University Council, and, naturally, couldn’t have a program. ‘In my opinion, this work must be such one that it doesn’t give the Council Chairman possibility to become an official and to take the place of either Council or Rector. Thus, the possibility of diverication is excluded, I’m sure that the Council should be a body which will create the most favourable conditions for the Rector’s work,” S.Sargsian emphasized.”

Defense Minister Sarkisian must be quite a busy man at this point! Not only does he now wear one hat as the defense minister of the country, but he also wears another as the Council Chairman of Yerevan State University. I presume Defense Minister Sarkisian must have gained much experience from his current position as the head of the army, military and other defense services to now serve as the Council Chairman.

A government official who is the head of the defense and military forces in this country has now been elected as one of the leaders on the YSU Council and has much power and leverage in the decisions regarding university administration. According to an YSU graduate, from her understanding of the Council’s duties, these people make decisions regarding how to improve the daily lives of these students, their education and corruption within the university system.

“Defense Minister” and “Council Chairman” has got to be quite an interesting combination, to say the least. To what extent can a government official truly fight the corruption and improve the students’ daily lives and education at YSU? I highly doubt he will be very critical of the corrupt activities which occur at the University.

This news is quite depressing for those who are seeking reform and change within Armenia’s university system. One of the most critical proponents regarding a country’s democracy is the youth and their education, especially higher education. These young persons are supposed to be, as the cliché goes, “the leaders of the future.” What they are learning as students in Armenia’s universities now are that corrupt ways such as paying professors for a “5” (the highest grade one can get) on an exam is the way to succeed and become an outstanding student. Students are very well aware that succeeding in the university system has a lot to do with paying a professor. Zarchka at One World reported this situation in a post:

“Youth- While some students hope to pass the coming exams racking their brains over assignments, despondently ticking days off the calendar, swotting up spot questions, others will just offer a bribe and the deed will be done. Some guys hope that they will be promoted in their work, as they have worked hard during the year, but all that will go to the dogs, as other “Lav txeq” i.e. good guys, will just occupy their places as they are backed by “good dads.” The hope of these “good guys” is that dad will supply them with enough money to buy the latest model of cell phones, suits from Armani, and so on and so forth, so that they can dress up and rush through the city in their BMWs, thus attracting girls of the same type who parade down the street, trying too keep their balance on high heels. Yes, beauty demands sacrifices! Per chance a guy thinks that this will be the year when he’ll have enough audacity to confess to a gal that he has been in love with her for a long time and he’ll hope to get a positive answer to his love. Let it rip!! True love will withstand every difficulty!! And maybe a small part of youth will continue looking for means to change this world for the better…”

[ For the entire post, refer to the following link: http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2005/12/30/great-expectations/ ]

Perhaps a small portion of the youth in Armenia will continue to try to change this world Zarchka, one can only hope. As for now, those students who do continue to be successful as a result of these corrupt ways will continue to become the outstanding students and receive 5’s on their exams. Unfortunately, there will continue to be no reform and changes within the university practices as long as government officials continue to be elected as Council Chairman of the State University or other higher administration positions.

On Thursday January 26th, Civil Society Institute (www.csi.am ) through its program Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution Resource Center (www.peacebuilding.am ) held a forum in which leaders within the civil society community were invited to discuss the contents of the ICG report released in October 2005 entitled “Nagorno Karabakh:  A Plan for Peace.”  Present at this forum were both international and national representatives.  There were representatives from the NGO International Alert based in London, civil society leaders from Stepanakert and Yerevan and representatives from the ICG office.  The ICG report was the topic of the discussion and especially regarding the referendum issue. 

The discussion was an important one, as it considered many of the important points within the ICG report.  It also initiated and led to a fruitful conversation about this report by the leaders in civil society in Armenia and Stepanakert. 

This discussion is also rather important and noteworthy because it gathered the civil society leaders from both Armenia and a few from Nagorno Karabakh to begin to consider what options there are for peace regarding this conflict.  It helps to bring up important issues and debates among the society that they need to be considering. 

An important point of discussion was made by one of the participants at this meeting.  According to her, this sort of “peace plan” is a political agreement that would be made by the presidents and that it does not necessarily bring about peace.  It is merely a political agreement and should be considered as such. 

Of course, there were many other points discussed and it would not do them justice if I were to summarize them and take them out of their context to write about in this post.  Most importantly, though, discussions among civil society leaders are important because they help to bring about various viewpoints and opinions about this NK topic.  They are made by the local population and leaders from inside that country.  This is the first step in bringing about peace.  Beginning to initiate this genuine discussion amongst the civil society leaders in Armenia, Karabakh and in Azerbaijan is most certainly a step towards the right direction. 

Could this all be exaggeration?  I do understand that Armenian media is not necessarily the most unbiased source of media to refer to regarding a report about Turkey or Azerbaijan.  On the other hand, which media source can be considered the most reliable?  Well, this is most certainly not the question I would like to take up in this post.  Yet I would like to mention this– anything I do read or encourage people to read should most certainly be taken “with a grain of salt.”  Do not hesitate to question the article or book and whatever is being stated.  That is what differentiates us as humans, we are given a brain to criticize and question.  So let’s do exactly that. 

Sorry for the tangent.  With that said though, one begins to wonder– so who do you trust and what article can be considered legitimate?  We refer to many different news sources in regards to a certain current event to get an understanding for yourself of what is actually going on. 

This is why I wanted to mention a fellow blogger’s post regarding khatchkar destruction.  Blogian writes a post  about the khatchkar destruction in Nakhichevan. 

I realize this is not a case of military torture in Armenia but I thought it still might be of interest.  As many of the former Soviet Union countries are experiencing some of the very same problems within their military institutions, this story sheds light on a particularly tragic case of torture in which a young man was so severely tortured that his legs and genitals had to be cut off. 

http://english.pravda.ru/accidents/21/96/383/16796_hazing.html

Uh-oh looks like I’ve found another food delivery online.   

Mr. Toaster Sandwich Shop  http://toaster.armshops.com/product_info.php?products_id=1&language=en  (website in English and Russian languages.)

“One million Armenians and 30,000 Kurds were killed in these lands and nobody but me dares talk about it,” said Orhan Pamuk and these were the very words that got him in trouble with the Turkish government. He was charged with “denigration to the Turkish identity” and if convicted, would have faced 6 monthes – 3 years in jail for that one comment.

Pamuk’s first hearing was held on December 16 and received international attention from the media. The hearing was adjourned to a date which would be scheduled in February. However, just recently, the courts dropped the case. It is ever so interesting that when international media focuses its attention on one particular story, it places pressure on a government. Now that the charges against Pamuk have been dropped, he is free but he has released statements saying that international attention should continue to focus on others who are facing jail time because of a comment or action that is considered to be “denigrating to the Turkish identity.” What kind of violation is this anyway? How does Turkey expect to become a part of the European Union with such laws? This should be further evidence to the European Union that Turkey is a country which is not necessarily ready to enter the EU.

This past Fall 2005, ICG issued a few reports in which they sought to describe the Nagorno Karabakh “on the ground.” One of their most recent reports which was issued on their website (in both Russian and English) was released on October 2005 and is of particular interest.

I suggest that you refer to their site in order to download the PDF in English or in Russian, as it is quite an interesting report.

http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=3740&l=1

This report is particularly interesting as it has been released at a time in which Karabakh has become a topic of discussion once again. Recently, as I discussed in an earlier post, there has been an increasingly greater number of talks scheduled between the foreign ministers and presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Even more importantly, the officials are beginning to hint that a resolution is just around the corner. The ICG Report entitled “Nagorno-Karabakh: A Plan for Peace” has a few points that are important to consider. According to this proposal, they explain that the time to reach a peaceful resolution in NK is at its prime right now and it would be better to settle sooner rather than later. Increasing violence and cross-border clashes are becoming more problematic and are decreasing the chances of a peaceful resolution. On the other hand, they explain that the terms of a peaceful resolution can be discussed right now but the status of Nagorno Karabakh does not necessarily have to be determined. They propose the following main points:

1. withdrawing the Armenian backed troops from NK and surrounding areas

2. calls upon Azerbaijan to end its statements that it will use force in regards to the NK issue

3. international peacekeeping troops entering and securing NK

4. NK status will be determined by a referendum which will be sanctioned by the international community — participants in referendum will be NK Azeris and Armenians

5. in the meantime, NK status will remain under Azerbaijan but be self-governed and “enjoy an internationally acknowledged interim status.” (page i)

These are the most important points of the report, of course, and there is much more explained thoroughly which is why it should be read.

On a side note in regards to this general report, I would like to point out that when you open to the ICG website, they have a place in which you can be linked to individual country pages. When one opens the country page for Armenia, this ICG report on Nagorno Karabakh is not provided as a link there. Then I thought, well maybe I should look for Nagorno Karabakh as a separate page? That also does not exist. Finally, I opened Azerbaijan’s country page and sure enough, found the link to this ICG report on Nagorno Karabakh on this page ONLY. With that said, how am I supposed to have any respect for anything written in this report when it has already predetermined that a NK report should be included under Azerbaijan only? This report is obviously of concern for Armenia as well. Why not include it on both country pages?

Nevertheless, with that point aside the “Peace Plan” has a major point which needs to be considered and discussed amongst all of the different peoples and regions involved in the conflict– the determination of the NK referendum which will be sanctioned by the international community. In how many years will this referendum take place? In 5-10 years? 10-15 years? Will they actually hold this referendum that many years later? For those who are most familiar with peace resolutions, there is a very high probability that they could collapse merely 5 years after the signing. In the meantime, Azeri and Armenian refugees will have the right to return to their homes in NK. How do we know whose land and home it is anyway? When is the cutoff date in which we can consider a person’s ancestry to have originated there?

Moreover, if this is supposed to be a “peace plan” then there should be compromises made by both sides right?  Where is the compromises which will have to be made by the Azeri side?  The report makes considerable suggestions as to how the Armenian side should compromise.  Quite interesting. 

There is so much to consider in regards to this referendum issue. I only hope reports like this one issued by ICG will get people and especially the civil societies talking in the respective countries and regions involved in this issue.

Oh this one was particularly hilarious to me!  Frankly, this is globalization at its best.  Shaurma Tumanyan is quite infamous in Armenia and is quite tasty.  When you go this restaurant, you can stand there and quickly eat a shaurma.  But now there is yet another impressive addition to this restaurant’s services. 

Introducing, Shaurma Tumanyan online!  Can you imagine?  With only a  click of your mouse, you are minutes away from receiving your very own freshly made shaurma! 

Check out their website:  http://shaurma.armshops.com/default.php

I’m not trying to create advertisement for this shaurma place but I thought it was quite impressive to see this.  While the IT sector is not THAT developed in Armenia, it is quite ironic that you can order shaurmas online!  Don’t you think?  I am not aware of any other food services in Armenia that you can order online unfortunately.  But as of now, I am quite hungry and was just thinking….

This past weekend it snowed a bit in Yerevan, starting on Friday evening throughout the night and about 4-5 centimeters of snow was on the ground.  As I’m writing this post now, it’s beginning to snow again and it just made me think of a news broadcast I viewed on the state news television station “H1″. 

Frankly, the streets are not ploughed and it does not seem like the local authorities are taking quick action to clean the streets.  Thus, cars are getting stuck trying to go up the slightest hill and the snow is continuing to accumulate.  Yet, for some reason the news broadcast said something different.  They showed images of Abovyan Street and how all of the snow on the streets were melted.  The broadcaster was also explaining that it snowed in Yerevan (gosh, really?!) and that we should all be careful in this snow.  But overall, the snow is melting quickly and all the streets are clean.  I was simply shocked!  What streets was she talking about?  Because frankly all I saw were cars getting stuck on the road and I was walking around the streets around Baregamutiun metro the other day. 

It’s snowing outside and everything is fine… just fine. 

There is a lot of talk about bird flu in Armenia considering its neighboring country Turkey has been effected by it recently with a few human deaths in the past month. 

Just thought this cartoon by Agnes was ever so appropriate to lighten the mood.  Do check it out on Armenia Now’s website :  http://www.armenianow.com and in the section called “According to Agnes.”