Beginning of Clashes

[Hellektor]

Things are not as binary as people perceive. What do you mean Artsax ...can be a federal republic with Azerbaijan, with its own tax collection, police force and other attributes of federalism. Our entire country will be lost if we maintain the status quo and the demographic picture does not improve.

Vay, vay, vay, vaaaaayyyy...

Vay mezi ga... Vay kezi yete du hye es... Vay, vay, vay...

 

Artsakh has NEVER been part of an independent fake "Azerbaijan", an artificially fabricated bogus state, counterfeited on Armenian territory in 1918, stealing its name from the northwest province of neighboring Iran for pan-Turkic purposes that when it was being faked, it included neither Artsakh nor Nakhijevan.

 

These were treacherously given by illegal dealings between the Jew-Tatar Lenin and the doenmeh Jew Kemal whose regimes were not recognized back then, along with Kars, Ani, Ardahan, Ardvin and Surmalu (with our sacred Mount Ararat that had NEVER been part of the Ottoman Tyranny before), chopping off 60% of then recognized (by League of Nations) Republic of Armenia minus the four Wilsonian provinces, equally legally part of Armenia since November 22, 1920.

 

Fake "Azerbaijan" does not have a SINGLE LEGAL document of ownership of Artsakh nor Nakhijevan. It hasn’t even been recognized by the US, which does not recognize Turkey either.

 

Even if they give the liberated territories around artificially isolated mountainous Artsakh to the sore fukking "Azeri" losers and perpetrators of genocide and war, it would be the end of Armenia. If you are unable to grasp this then do not poison the minds of other Armenians.

[elle]

I was watching Armenian Television yesterday and they had some type of a conference meeting where few of the Levonakan thugs were already caught and questioned! Some guy in his late 20's confessed that they were given the weapons and that few people passed out "pills" and said that the pills will help! I wonder what kind of pills those were!

Few of the organizers evet told them to break into the shops by saying "harustreri xanutneren irants ban chka, meka pox unen ksargen mi mtatsek". They also told all the thugs "ameninch piti anenk vor Levon@ darna naxagah"

 

This raises many questions. After all, these people still view the Armenian government as the oppressor. Is this the way Levon was planning to come to power? Through violence? Why is it that people have difficulty admitting that what Levon did to Armenia (its imagine and the rest) is the worst possible thing you could do as a politician.

 

It's very clear to me now that this was all planned. This is exactly what Levon wanted, to undermine the present Armenian government, otherwise he would not have 'planted' those weapons for the use agains the soldiers.

 

Another thing....why would any Armenian with common sense want a CIA/Soros backed Armenian to come to power? Why the hell would you support someone that's clearly does not act alone in this? As sad as March 1st was, at least it's all over now. I can't imagine there would be more idiots like that to march in the streets again and start breaking things, especially after Levon is being watched and some of the politicians who support him are detained.

 

[Twilight Bark]

Along the lines of thought expressed in this thread, one should perhaps assign a monetary, or barter value to national dignity and preservation of a meaningfully distinct identity. Would you trade those "intangibles" for any or some of the following? How about more of similar incentives?

* a big raise

* beautiful "I have arrived" trophy wife (husband), preferably European looking

* cheaper luxury cars

* bigger, shinier malls

* 20% tax cut

* bigger house

* larger TV

* cheaper food

etc.

 

Although it sounds like a rhetorical question, I would like you to reflect carefully on the choices you have made so far in life to guide you. Answer honestly, if not publicly. So, what is your national dignity and pride worth? $10,000? $50,000? $1,000,000? What would it take to sway you? What if these sums were paid every year, directly or indirectly? Please take it seriously, and don't go for a reflexive answer. Assume that a serious-looking behavioral economics researcher is conducting a survey.

So, what's your price?

It has to be understood that when we make the choice to emigrate out of Armenia or (for those who weren't born there) refrain from relocating there, we are implicitly assigning a price on national dignity and strength, unless the true motivation is completely non-material (say, you want to do some research or study an art form that has no realistic chance of existing in Armenia, or just can't imagine stomaching the nonsense the country has been mired in for two decades, in which case the price is in terms of non-material barter). And how many of us can really claim that? Most everyone living outside of Armenia has a price. This is not meant to be accusatory. Or rather, I am not accusing anyone any more than I am accusing myself. Just some food for thought, and hopefully a humbling one.

Edited March 5, 2008 by Twilight Bark

[crusader1492]

http://www.petitiononline.com/yerevan/petition.html

 

To: Whom It May Concern

We, the undersigned citizens of Armenia not affiliated with any government bodies or with the marginal opposition groups, state the following:

 

The events of March 1, 2008 in Yerevan, Armenia are an attempt of a rebellion, which had nothing to do with peaceful opposition actions. Witnesses confirm that the police and the authorities in general refrained from resorting to force as long as possible. The state authorities patiently waited for 9 days for the unauthorized demonstration to end, but the marginalized part of the opposition led by Levon Ter-Petrosyan continued illegal activities with calls to overthrow government with revolutionary means. This was a Gandhi on surface, Bolshevist in essence "singing and dancing revolution" to quote Ter-Petrosyan himself. The actions of Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s supporters ended in deaths (both among the protesters and police forces), burning and looting — something unseen even during the protests of 1988, when hundreds of thousands of Armenians were taking part in the demonstrations for the freedom of Nagorno Artsax.

 

We strongly believe that now Levon Ter-Petrosyan is a direct threat to the statehood of Armenia.

 

The feeling of revenge, personal business interests and affiliations are the motives behind Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s scandalous comeback. While we criticize our government for many weaknesses and faults we strongly believe that Levon Ter-Petrosyan is the last person in the world to be interested in strengthening democracy in Armenia. The reasons for us to think so are:

 

1. Ter-Petrosyan was the first leader of the Republic of Armenia to practice large scale electoral fraud (elections of 1996, Vazgen Manukian being the real winner).

 

2. Ter-Petrosyan was the first one to use army against the protesters (after falsifying the results of presidential elections in 1996).

 

3. Ter-Petrosyan was the first to suppress free speech, by closing newspapers (some of us remember quite well policemen throwing computers out of the office windows of the “Yerkir” daily).

 

4. Ter-Petrosyan was the first leader in the Republic of Armenia to shut down a political party and throw its members into jail (the infamous “Dro” case).

 

5. Ter-Petrosyan was the very person under whose wing the oligarchic families were born. Actually all the current Armenian oligarchs became rich during Ter-Petrosyan’s rule. Moreover, while his supporters criticize oligarchs, the major donor for the Ter-Petrosyan’s campaign is another oligarch.

 

6. Ter-Petrosyan was the person who brought to power current Armenian authorities — who are now being called criminals and bandits by the supporters of the ex-president.

 

7. Yet the most important... Ter-Petrosyan is the very person who killed Armenians’ belief in justice, law and freedom of speech.

 

With everything said above, we urge our compatriots to stay sober and do not fall for the disinformation and PR-campaign started by Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s supporters.

 

We call on the government of Armenia to conduct thorough investigation and bring to fair trial all instigators of disturbances and civil unrest. With enough evidence of complicity immunity should be lifted from Ter Petrosyan himself. In true democracy no one can be above the law.

 

Sincerely,

 

The Undersigned

 

[Aaron]

I was watching Armenian Television yesterday and they had some type of a conference meeting where few of the Levonakan thugs were already caught and questioned! Some guy in his late 20's confessed that they were given the weapons and that few people passed out "pills" and said that the pills will help! I wonder what kind of pills those were!

Few of the organizers evet told them to break into the shops by saying "harustreri xanutneren irants ban chka, meka pox unen ksargen mi mtatsek". They also told all the thugs "ameninch piti anenk vor Levon@ darna naxagah"

 

This raises many questions. After all, these people still view the Armenian government as the oppressor. Is this the way Levon was planning to come to power? Through violence? Why is it that people have difficulty admitting that what Levon did to Armenia (its imagine and the rest) is the worst possible thing you could do as a politician.

 

It's very clear to me now that this was all planned. This is exactly what Levon wanted, to undermine the present Armenian government, otherwise he would not have 'planted' those weapons for the use agains the soldiers.

 

Another thing....why would any Armenian with common sense want a CIA/Soros backed Armenian to come to power? Why the hell would you support someone that's clearly does not act alone in this? As sad as March 1st was, at least it's all over now. I can't imagine there would be more idiots like that to march in the streets again and start breaking things, especially after Levon is being watched and some of the politicians who support him are detained.

 

Elle,

 

I'm also not for LTP, you know it, but what you saw on TV is official news, the guy's confessions and stories don't mean anything, he may have been forced to say that by the NSS (new KGB).

 

Moreover, I don't think it's all over, it's impossible that the situation will remain like this, SS will become president and everything will be forgotten! The tension in the country is extremely high regardless of what you hear from official news. I spoke to Erevan yesterday, and apparently most agree that there need to be serious, almost concessionary, actions to diffuse tension. Leaders need to understand that a sizable portion of the population "tkadz uni" on the government now and has even hostile attitude towards it! There IS a problem, and it won't go away by ignoring it. Tens of thousands of our brothers and sisters did go to the streets for a reason, even if we don't agree with it. The sooner this issue is fundamentally tackled (I don't mean by tanks and guns, politically), the better! It's a matter of national security to reduce enmity between people immediately, I still believe new elections in 6-8 months are the best way to do that ... no doubt LTP would lose though!

 

A.

 

[alpha]

The first president of Armenia addressing to the Constitutional Court today underlined his thoughts of what should be done. It's a viable course of events the authorities in Armenia can pursue. It will be interesting to read the course of events offered by the Prime Minister Serje Sarkissian.

 

http://www.payqar.net/am/80/item/182/

 

ADDRESS OF THE FOUNDING PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA LEVON TER-PETROSSIAN AT THE SESSION OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT OF 05.03.08

 

 

Honorable Chairman of the Constitutional Court, Distinguished Members of the Constitutional Court,

 

I would like to mention right away that I will refrain from the political evaluation of the situation and will concentrate exclusively on some of the legal aspects. Although my legal team has already touched upon the issue, I, nevertheless, feel obliged to do that once again. Since this is my first public appearance after the morning (6.30 a.m.) of March 1, I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep regret with regard to the tragic events of March 1, and to convey my sincere condolences to the families of the victims.

 

Now I will deliver my speech.

I would like to bring to your attention Article 78 of the Electoral Code of the Republic of Armenia. From the moment of registration the candidates for the President of the Republic who are in civil service or work in the local self-governing bodies, are dismissed from the performance of their professional duties during the election period, and have no right to use the advantage of their office. The President of the Republic of Armenia, or in conformity with the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, the acting President – the Chairman of the National Assembly, or the Prime Minister – in the event of being nomination as a candidate for the President of the Republic, continue the performance of their duties, but shall not misuse the advantage of their office. This Article is distinct and imperative. Imperative articles aren’t subject to comment. The Prime Minister could have been nominated and registered as candidate for the President only in the status of the Acting President. The incumbent Prime Minister doesn’t have that status. I consider that his registration is illegal from the very beginning, hence not legitimate.

 

My second point is Article 53.1 of the Constitution of Armenia. According to the article

during martial law or state of emergency no elections of the President of the Republic shall be held and the President of the Republic shall continue the discharge of his/her responsibilities. Election of the president refers to the entire electoral process – from the nomination till the decision of the Constitutional Court upon the appeal of the disputed results of the election.

Currently we are in the electoral process. Therefore, since we are in emergency situation, these elections can’t be valid or legitimate.

 

Third, I refuse to understand the unilateral coverage of the Constitutional Court procedure. The appealing side lacks the opportunity to cover the Constitutional Court procedure. The principle of parity has been violated. Moreover, many of the witnesses – our supporters, as well as the activists of my campaign headquarters are under arrest. They are our main witnesses. Therefore, under given circumstances, any decision of the Constitutional Court, than that of recognizing the elections not valid, will create atmosphere of deficit of legitimacy that is dangerous for the future of the country, as well as the prestige of the Constitutional Court. I can’t imagine how any decision of the Constitutional Court will be accepted by me, the people of Armenia and international community. It means that Armenia will face the challenge of having illegitimate authorities. To overcome the created situation we should act according to the recommendations of the EU Declaration of yesterday, which I am presenting to you. I fully accept the recommendations, considering them as guidelines to actions for the Constitutional Court.

 

Those recommendations call upon the authorities to lift the state of emergency, release all the detained citizens, provide equal opportunities for media coverage, conduct an independent international investigation of the events of March 1, engage in constructive dialogue with the opposition.

 

As I have already mentioned, I fully accept these recommendations, and consider them to be the basis of our actions in the Constitutional Court and in public.

 

Thank you.

[Aratta-Kingdom]

 

 

Nikol Pashinyan: Hanrahavaqi 400 hazar masnakicneri anunic radiokapov dimum em zinvornerin, ancek mer koghm@, mi tsarayeq...

[Aratta-Kingdom]

 

FM Oskanian: The state of emergency was necessary

[Aratta-Kingdom]

 

 

Throwing casoline bombs at the police

[Aratta-Kingdom]

 

Destruction of Yerevan

[Aratta-Kingdom]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ro6qGv7WaDg

 

 

Supporters of Levon beating an azatamartik before the clashes

[MosJan]

yete mek@ dipresya chi unetsel menak sa nayel@ heriqa

[garmag]

.....

Third, I refuse to understand the unilateral coverage of the Constitutional Court procedure. ....

Therefore, under given circumstances, any decision of the Constitutional Court, than that of recognizing the elections not valid, will create atmosphere of deficit of legitimacy that is dangerous for the future of the country, as well as the prestige of the Constitutional Court. I can’t imagine how any decision of the Constitutional Court will be accepted by me, the people of Armenia and international community. ...

 

If this was a farce we would be laughing... unfortunatly a glaring blackmail is thrown at Armenia's highest judicial authority.

What's the point appealing to the courts if at the onset, you dispute the validity of the judgment to be rendered?

 

[Nazarian]

To: Whom It May Concern

We, the undersigned citizens of Armenia not affiliated with any government bodies or with the marginal opposition groups, state the following:

 

The events of March 1, 2008 in Yerevan, Armenia are an attempt of a rebellion, which had nothing to do with peaceful opposition actions. Witnesses confirm that the police and the authorities in general refrained from resorting to force as long as possible. The state authorities patiently waited for 9 days for the unauthorized demonstration to end, but the marginalized part of the opposition led by Levon Ter-Petrosyan continued illegal activities with calls to overthrow government with revolutionary means. This was a Gandhi on surface, Bolshevist in essence "singing and dancing revolution" to quote Ter-Petrosyan himself. The actions of Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s supporters ended in deaths (both among the protesters and police forces), burning and looting — something unseen even during the protests of 1988, when hundreds of thousands of Armenians were taking part in the demonstrations for the freedom of Nagorno Artsax.

 

We strongly believe that now Levon Ter-Petrosyan is a direct threat to the statehood of Armenia.

 

The feeling of revenge, personal business interests and affiliations are the motives behind Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s scandalous comeback. While we criticize our government for many weaknesses and faults we strongly believe that Levon Ter-Petrosyan is the last person in the world to be interested in strengthening democracy in Armenia. The reasons for us to think so are:

 

1. Ter-Petrosyan was the first leader of the Republic of Armenia to practice large scale electoral fraud (elections of 1996, Vazgen Manukian being the real winner).

 

2. Ter-Petrosyan was the first one to use army against the protesters (after falsifying the results of presidential elections in 1996).

 

3. Ter-Petrosyan was the first to suppress free speech, by closing newspapers (some of us remember quite well policemen throwing computers out of the office windows of the “Yerkir” daily).

 

4. Ter-Petrosyan was the first leader in the Republic of Armenia to shut down a political party and throw its members into jail (the infamous “Dro” case).

 

5. Ter-Petrosyan was the very person under whose wing the oligarchic families were born. Actually all the current Armenian oligarchs became rich during Ter-Petrosyan’s rule. Moreover, while his supporters criticize oligarchs, the major donor for the Ter-Petrosyan’s campaign is another oligarch.

 

6. Ter-Petrosyan was the person who brought to power current Armenian authorities — who are now being called criminals and bandits by the supporters of the ex-president.

 

7. Yet the most important... Ter-Petrosyan is the very person who killed Armenians’ belief in justice, law and freedom of speech.

 

With everything said above, we urge our compatriots to stay sober and do not fall for the disinformation and PR-campaign started by Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s supporters.

 

We call on the government of Armenia to conduct thorough investigation and bring to fair trial all instigators of disturbances and civil unrest. With enough evidence of complicity immunity should be lifted from Ter Petrosyan himself. In true democracy no one can be above the law.

 

Sincerely,

 

The Undersigned

 

What an idiotic petition. Who came up with it - the KGB?

Edited March 6, 2008 by Nazarian

[AVO]

very patriotic and wise man actually.

[elle]

Peoples reactions in Yerevan:

 

 

 

 

 

 

This one is funny and true!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2Oz9AgXkYY...feature=related

Edited March 7, 2008 by elle

[Boghos]

This is Armenia in transition. Cleptocracy, a term applied to several emerging countries is probably a good but incomplete way of defining Armenia. One can still have a very dishonest government but with some sense of purpose that has constructive elements in it.This was clearly not the case of the Kocharian government.I am not inclined to believe that Serge Sarksian will be any better.

 

The Armenian governments, from LTP led to the largest wave of immigration out of a country that, on a percentage of the population basis and in this time frame, has no parallel that I know of.This is one of the most meaningful symptoms that things are much worse than just your usual Caucasus/M.East corruption.

 

I am obviously not condoning the plundering of the state coffers.But I think far worse than that is running the country in such a way that all hope is lost.That any sense that the country and hence the nation is making progress, is nonexistent.

Part of the popular discontent is a result of widespread corruption and red tape.Features also present in the Soviet era.At that time however national pride was much stronger and Armenia was a formal province of Russia, not a somewhat independent country.

 

So what has changed?

Edited March 7, 2008 by Boghos

[KnightOfArmenia]

What an idiotic petition. Who came up with it - the KGB?

 

No, just people who actually care for their country, rather than for the aspirations of a powerhungry individual.

[Twilight Bark]

Hi Boghos,

I was hoping you would chime in. I agree with you about the "benevolent thieves" scenario being a significant improvement on the current and past government. As I indicated before, I think the ordinary republican form of government is a poor match for Armenia. A parliamentary system (republican-lite?) with strong elements of direct democracy would avoid a lot of the mess, patronage, and corruption. Unfortunately with the tragic degree of brain-drain from the country, the initial state of a direct democracy would still be superficially pathetic if implemented tomorrow because of a population and intelligentsia that apparently aren't used to dispassionate, analytical thinking except for perhaps during the escapist activity of chess. That's why I think those with resources should engage in improving the "intellectual infrastructure" (schools, think-tanks, publishing, the arts, etc) of the nation, all the while rigorously avoiding explicit politics. Change must come from the ground up, but the ground needs to be watered and fertilized from the "top", by wealthy and visionary individuals outside the current political system. Armenia doesn't need a revolution in terms of political personalities. It needs a quick evolution.

Looking forward to hearing more of your thoughts,

TB

 

This is Armenia in transition. Cleptocracy, a term applied to several emerging countries is probably a good but incomplete way of defining Armenia. One can still have a very dishonest government but with some sense of purpose that has constructive elements in it.This was clearly not the case of the Kocharian government.I am not inclined to believe that Serge Sarksian will be any better.

 

The Armenian governments, from LTP led to the largest wave of immigration out of a country that, on a percentage of the population basis and in this time frame, has no parallel that I know of.This is one of the most meaningful symptoms that things are much worse than just your usual Caucasus/M.East corruption.

 

I am obviously not condoning the plundering of the state coffers.But I think far worse than that is running the country in such a way that all hope is lost.That any sense that the country and hence the nation is making progress, is nonexistent.

Part of the popular discontent is a result of widespread corruption and red tape.Features also present in the Soviet era.At that time however national pride was much stronger and Armenia was a formal province of Russia, not a somewhat independent country.

 

So what has changed?

 

[garmag]

......So what has changed?

 

Armenia was achieving stability and attracting more tourists ($s) according to last years records.

 

As a land locked country devoid of oil/gold wealth, she had interesting historical background and caucasian landscapes...to attract clients other then Armenians from the diaspora. Who still form the majority of visitors.

Tourism was growing and contributing to the nations coffers without any strings attached!

This fact was not overlooked by the international Tourism industry.

 

Armenia prospering in this highly competitive forum was not acceptable to our enemies.

To undermine tourism anywhere, all you need is inseminate and propagate instability and lack of security in the international news media.

We have witnessed this phenomenon since Sept. 07 perpetrated against Armenia.

Indeed, what has changed? You can deduce an answer by asking, Who benefits from the demise of Armenian Republic?

[Twilight Bark]

About tourism:

It's fine to have a thriving tourism industry, but Armenia can never be anything other than an "unusual"or "exotic" destination for a relatively small, elite part of the traveling public. As such, tourism's economic potential is not significantly higher than what an "agrarian economy" can achieve. This is about the "traditional" forms of tourism. However, in line with the "intellectual infrastructure building" I mentioned earlier, one can create high-value-added sectors that could loosely be lumped in "tourism". By reforming medical schools and the health care system, Armenia can become a destination for affordable health care. By nurturing and reforming the universities, it can be a destination for hard-currency paying foreign students. By having a vibrant arts scene, it may even keep some of that brain capital in the country. When a country has a good number of relatively well-off and well-educated foreigners who want/need to stay for extended periods and having a stake in the true well-being of that country, it has the best form of "protection" from the "west". Much better than getting stuck in a "protection racket" paid for in tangibles and intangibles as well as the future of our children. And remember, as you indicated, tourists can disappear overnight, not that we would ever attract enough of them to be a (however fragile) locomotive of the economy.

 

 

Armenia was achieving stability and attracting more tourists ($s) according to last years records.

 

As a land locked country devoid of oil/gold wealth, she had interesting historical background and caucasian landscapes...to attract clients other then Armenians from the diaspora. Who still form the majority of visitors.

Tourism was growing and contributing to the nations coffers without any strings attached!

This fact was not overlooked by the international Tourism industry.

 

Armenia prospering in this highly competitive forum was not acceptable to our enemies.

To undermine tourism anywhere, all you need is inseminate and propagate instability and lack of security in the international news media.

We have witnessed this phenomenon since Sept. 07 perpetrated against Armenia.

Indeed, what has changed? You can deduce an answer by asking, Who benefits from the demise of Armenian Republic?

Edited March 7, 2008 by Twilight Bark

[Boghos]

Hello TB, nice to hear from you,

 

Armenia was unfortunate not to have as a leader someone that embodied "high moral values", whatever those may be. That figure would have been a very important counterpart to the emerging economic elite, the so called oligarchs that have a very relevant role in developing the country but should be reined in.I can´t see any signs of that.

 

Unsurprisingly, Armenia seems to follow the Russian model but with a much weaker central government led by a not exactly enlightened prince in cohort with local capitalists. Politically speaking, Armenia is a province of Russia and its elite is not too dissimilar from provincial nobles of the Russian Empire in behavioral terms.However this involuntary immitation of Russia is a tragicomic one both because of differences in political culture and geopolitical realities.

 

I wholeheartedly agree that without intellectual infrastructure a real country cannot be established. Some diaspora institutions, notably the AGBU have tried to move into that direction with the establishment of the AUA and other initiatives. I do not have enough evidence to judge these efforts, but it would be hard not to see them as positive ones.But of course this is just a drop in the ocean. What we cannot do, is just borrow the vices of the Russian system and ignore its virtues, and that´s exactly what´s happening now.

 

People will only remain in Armenia if they see the potential for a better future. I am skeptical of saying what ought to be done and other similar social engineering solutions.One can only hope, as sad as that sounds that whatever is left of the intelligentsia abandons its traditionally pessimistic behaviour and assumes a more positive posture.

 

As usual my thoughts are not as well organized and articulated as yours, thankfully you can translate it well.

[garmag]

 

About tourism:

qu[ote]

 

Your approach is wonderful but requires time...and fortunes of investments.

Nothing prevents your ideas implementation concurrently with the efforts of Armenias tourism ministry to attract visitors.

Today the needs of our nation to prosper on a short time basis is tourism.

 

If the stability of the country as well as her attraction is sabotaged revenues (without strings attached) via tourism now,

even if insignificant compared to other tourist meccas-

is still a major revenue generator!-

then more people are apt to emmigrate and less incentive for would be investor/repatriates to return to Armenia.

 

[elle]

I think that March 1st events seem for most people as some type of a catastrophic event. I really don't see what happened in Armenia as catastrophic as they make it seem, but it sure was meaningless and took number of innocent lives, which could have been prevented.

The reason why I think that Armenian are making huge deal about this than is because these type of things happen almost every week in other places around the world, but not in Armenia. Why do Armenians have the perception that "oh that's it, we're doomed after what has happened and we have lost all our legitimacy"....it's nonsense... I do understand that we were a peaceful nation and we do not see stuff like this happen in our republic often, but go back to 1999.....wasn't the Parliamentary shootings even worse than this? Would you say that the 1999 event, which was televised around the world, make Armenia look 100 times worse than these riots? I mean you have riots every where and every week, but you do not have few people going into Parliament buildings and start shooting the politicians.... so if we have lost our legitimacy for what has happened on March 1, we have lost our legitimacy years ago!!!

 

Again, it's very saddening to see what has happened and I've said it again that LTP & his thugs must be detained for this! BUT to say that riots lowered the Armenian name is wrong because the same happened to Georgians few time in few year period, so we can conclude the same about them too. I think we have this perception that Armenia has lost its imagine because we don't see stuff like this ever week there, so we automatically think that this is it....that we are forever lost our pride in front of the rest of the world. I think that's crazy...so that must mean that the whole world has lost its legitimacy....didn't USA do the same with the Black Panthers and the LA riots of 1994 if I’m not mistaking? You can conclude that USA lost its own legitimacy and what it stands for in front of the world because those were equally horrible events if compared to what has happened in Armenia...maybe their case was even worse.

 

My point is that this was just a riot, stupid people ended up getting killed because they have no idea about anything, except to follow another idiot, and there was property destruction. When someone said that tourism in Armenia will stop or we have lowered our image in front of the world is nonsense...why would tourism stop anyways? Things are back to normal as I understand and wait until this summer to see tourism flourishing again. If this is how the Turks/Azeris are trying to make us look bad, then they should try harder because the same has happened in Turkey!

 

We're making this bigger than it seems, although it is big and we should move on and make sure that this is prevented in the future...we must understand that whenever someone like LTP comes out of his cage and announces that he, the president who screwed things up in the first place, wants to come and fight the corruption, people in Armenia must question that because he might be very much controlled from the outside just like in this case. Let this be a good lesson for Armenia for any future similar incidents.

This will be forgotten in a year; just like the horrible 1999 Parliamentary shootings are history, at least for the outside world. I listen to some Armenian talk shows (political) and they sound as if this is the end for Armenia or something.

Only if our people were a little smart....the lower class of the society that has been following LTP like crazy without any brains to stop and think for a minute who they're actually standing in the streets day and night for and for what kind of a person they're vandalizing and killing their own soldiers for. Just crazy, but it's sure not the end of Armenia. So relax It will be forgotten soon.

I just don't understand why the US Millennium Corporation canceled its $235 million rural development plan because of some riots, WHICH ENDED WITHIN HOURS! It's not like the riots went on for days and weeks that people are making such a big deal about it. I don't get why they would cancel the project. It's strange because just the day before I was writing about that project for one of my classes and then I heard that they have canceled.

Didn’t they already start toe project anyways? If they’re going to cancel a project based on riots in a country, then we don’t even need their $235 million because it’s obvious that there was no real reason why they should cancel it. The riots lasted few hours, so why would they cancel it. It would have been different if a civil war erupted, but that’s not the case and they clearly saw that the life was back to normal in the morning. Anyways, their actions didn’t seem logical for me. Why cancel the project for no serious reason!

 

 

 

[Takoush]

Not just by US.

Yeah really? Who else Elle?