Armenia: A Slow Slide Into Fascism? (Huffington Post)

Very powerful post by Christopher Atamian on Huffington Post. A must read that should act as an alarm bell.

"Now of course is not the time to abandon Armenia. Armenia continues to be a strong ally of the United States. Armenians around the world, in spite of the oligarchs' best efforts to destroy their people's reputation as an educated, hard-working minority, continue to be a symbol of survival and success. But LGBT organizations, the American government and the relatively powerful Armenian diaspora must unite in putting real pressure on the Armenian government to reverse the worrying anti-democratic and fascistic developments that threaten to completely engulf the country. The Armenian government must not only fight corruption, it must publicly oppose attacks on all minorities, particularly LGBT people, and promote an atmosphere of democracy and tolerance in the country. Not to do so is to shame Armenians around the world, not to mention the memory of 1.5 million people who lost their lives during the Armenian Genocide."

***

Read it following the link below; also re-posted on Unzipped: Gay Armenia.

Huffington Post

Armenia: A Slow Slide Into Fascism?

Christopher Atamian 

Writer, director, producer and translator 

Scarface: "The government is your government. What are YOU going to do about it?"

Was watching the old version of classic Scarface (director Howard Hawks, 1932) and was amazed that the film begins with the message demanding government to take actions re gang culture and calling viewers to act as "the government is your government”:

“This picture is an indictment of gang rule in America and of the callous indifference of the government to this constantly increasing menace to our safety and our liberty. 

Every incident in this picture is the reproduction of an actual occurrence, and the purpose of this picture is to demand of the government: “What are you going to do about it?” 

The government is your government. What are YOU going to do about it?”

Exposed: racism and 'blood purity' part of ideology of Armenia ruling Republican party?

Thanks to a Facebook friend of mine, I did something I have never done before (or never had any desire whatsoever to do). I looked at the library of ideological publications produced by Armenia's ruling Republican party. In particular, one ‘fundamental’ and pretty 'mind-blowing’ publication. Trust me, that was more than enough for me. What I read there is disgusting, and believe you me, "disgusting" is an understatement.

It's a publication about ‘foundations’ of Armenian family and gender roles (published by Republican party in 2002 and available under the “library” section of their official website).

It uses N-word to refer to black people and 'justifies' the notion of 'purity of blood' calling for no mixed marriages in order to preserve... yes, that very same 'purity of blood' + more racist rant. I am not even going further into their 'defining' of gender roles etc. If this is not a Nazi and racist ideology, then what is it?

For a country with European inclination, or in fact for any country, this is an appalling display of what should have no place in modern world, let alone as part of the ideology of ruling party.  I wonder if Armenia president and PM, as party leaders, are aware of these ideological 'pearls' and whether they share what is supposedly part of their own party ideology? Either they should immediately ditch them from their 'library' and distance themselves from what was expressed in this and similar party publications or people associated with the Republican party risk putting shame on themselves and on Armenia's reputation.

Just to illustrate the point, below are only few extracts from the “Armenian Family” (“ՀԱՅ ԸՆՏԱՆԻՔ” - AM) publication (Republican Party of Armenia, Yerevan 2002):

Երբ մի քանի տարի առաջ ժառանգաբան Նվարդ Քոչարին հարցրեցինք, թե արդյոք ինքը համաձայն կլիներ, որ հայը, օրինակ, նեգրի հետ ամուսնանար, նա պատասխանեց.

- Եթե ընտրեց, ամուսնացավ, այո, համաձայն եմ: Կարեւորը որ նա հայկական միջավայրում ապրի եւ հայանա: Ինչ վատ կլինի, եթե նեգրի երաժշտականությունը, ռիթմի զգացողությունը ներմուծվի:

Թե ինչպես պիտի նեգրը հայանա, նույնիսկ երեւակայությունը թույլ չի տալիս պատկերացնել: Իսկ որ հայերս երաժշտականության բնածին պակաս ունենք եւ ստիպված պիտի ուրիշից ներմուծենք, շատ անլուրջ է:

Ներկայումս խառնազգի ամուսնությունները մեզանում (լինի Հայրենիքում, թե Սփյուռքում) առավելապես կատարվում են հաշվենկատորեն, երբ, բարեկեցիկ կյանքի ակնկալիքով, շատ հայեր “ամուսնանում” են եվրոպացիների, ամերիկացիների, արդեն` նաեւ պարսիկների, արաբների հետ:

Արյունախառնության կողմնակիցները գտնում են, որ իբր խաչասերումից առաջացած սերունդն ավելի ոժեղ և խելոք է լինում: Դժվար թե: [...] օրինակ, մուլատների մոտ ակնհայտ են մտավոր պակասությունները:

Armenia crushed Macedonia 4:1 in a perfect display of team spirit at Euro 2012 qualifier

*pictures - by PanARMENIAN Photo

After a decade of post-Soviet malaise, Armenia national team started showing up a type of professional and exciting football that I love.

Below are pictures of 5 players of the day. But the real heroes of the day - Armenia national team as a whole. See their faces here.

And if there was a contest for 'comment of the day', the prize would go to a friend of mine Sylvie K. who commented under my Facebook status:

“this makes me believe in miracles - that we CAN succeed in a TEAM sport...not just in CHESS”.

And perhaps the most hilarious tweet of the day (AM) ;))

Աղջիկ լինեի, կամ գեյ, էսօր մեր սաղ թիմին կտայի
@8731

*pictures - by PanARMENIAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

When opposition leaders in Armenia fail...

I have no desire whatsoever to comment in detail on the ‘hottest topic’ of discussions in Armenia now - why or whether Levon Ter-Petrosyan (LTP) should have approached another prominent oppositionist, head of Zharagutyun (‘Heritage’) party, ex-Foreign Minister Raffi Hovhannisyan who is on hunger strike at Liberty sq in Yerevan. [Read also: Liberty sq. Liberated. ‘Spring of hope’ for changes in Armenia?]

Most reactions I saw are exploiting this topic for their narrow political interests and dirty tricks under the cover of ‘care’ about Raffi or LTP or opposition or Armenia’s future... I just want to say one thing. In my opinion, regardless of political desirability, inter-personal relations, sensitivities, ‘simple’ or ‘complex’ politics, LTP should have approached Raffi. I do not care about all sorts of excuses provided. It was the only right thing to do for ethical and human perspectives. It was also right thing to do in terms of “public relations”.

‘17 March’ should have been a day of triumph for LTP led Armenian opposition. It was. For one day only. Now it's turning into a PR disaster for Levon. As if things were not bad enough, LTP comes up with an “explanation” of his actions and motives, that is beyond words ridiculous.

Armenian National Congress (HAK) leader Levon Ter-Petrossian responded to a question by local daily Haykakan Jamanak (“Armenian Times”) as to why the opposition leader didn’t approach Heritage Party leader Raffi Hovannisian during the HAK rally on Mar. 17 at Liberty Square. Recall, Hovannisian has been camped out at Liberty Square since Mar. 15, the day he began his hunger strike “for freedom.”
“Because that goes against my Christian principles. Christianity for me is before or even more than religion, it is a moral codex. And this codex categorically rejects the piety, mercy, humility, modesty, charity, including a demonstration of fasting, of Christian virtues. When a virtue is put on display, it stops being a virtue. Particularly on fasting, one of the Armenian Church’s most authoritative Fathers, Hovhan  [Hovhannes] Mandakuni, in the 5th century said the following: ‘The Devil destroys both the one fasting and his Lent, when man wants and classifies himself above others, so that his abstinence is drummed by others, and people become aware of and admire his endurance. Such a Lent doesn’t cleanse and justify, but rather pollutes and destroys’ (Matenagirk Hayots, A, p. 1170). On request, a hundred such examples can be brought forth from Armenian and world church literature.
“Anyway, if Raffi Hovannisian instead of publicly fasting, announced a hunger strike with specific political demands, I would not only welcome him, but also announce my full solidarity,” he said.

I mean. seriously, Levon. This is what you are going to do when you come to the power? To preach? And to "explain" your actions by Bible articles, Christian “principles” and “virtues” as opposed to the constitution, human rights and law?

There are few things more off-putting for me than politicians using religion to “explain”, “excuse” or “justify” their actions or inaction.

Now about Raffi’s “demands”. That Raffi started his hunger strike “for freedom” without any specific demands was a bit strange, to say the least. After all the criticism of recent days and the latest from LTP, today he finally revealed what he called Heritage party’s “political demands”. Sorry, Raffi, these are not ‘demands’, but rather empty slogans and populism:

1. Power to the people
2. No to a party state
3. The people are the country’s owner
4. Vox populi, vox Dei (the voice of the people is the voice of God)
5. A free square, free citizen, free country
6. A free citizen, a safe state
7. A dignified future for Armenian youth
8. Employment for the people
9. SOS Armenia is being emptied of Armenians
10. No to injustice, poverty and emigration
11. An end to ruling corruption
12. Strength also lies in morality
13. No to [the Armenian-Turkish] Protocols, yes to Homeland
14. Recognition of Artsakh [the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh]
15. That miraculous country which is ours and will be ours — Armenia.

"The voice of the people is the voice of God". What a ‘powerful’ ‘demand’, indeed. And so on, and so on...

Come on, Raffi, I was of much-much higher opinion of you. In fact, you were one of the most respected (if not the most) Armenian politicians for me. But this? You can’t be serious. This is a joke. Honestly, when I started reading these points, I burst into laughing. But then I stopped as I realised how sad the reality is.

Yes, I know, I’ve been reminded that this is not specific to Armenia, that politicians suck everywhere, but have to repeat what I’ve said on Twitter and Facebook today. Politicians in Armenia suck... even the good ones.

‘Top’/’bottom’ Arthur Baghdasaryan, homophobia, political prostitution and ‘European values’ in Armenia

Read more on Unzipped: Gay Armenia

*source of photo: Photolur, via A1+ (from my archive: Disgrace of the Day - Arthur Baghdasaryan)

Armenian + Emo = Armo?

Related: Degradation and stupidity. Police in Armenia hunts down perceived emo teenagers, confiscates ‘weapons of mass destraction’, oh, sorry, souvenirs

*via Gawker

Armenian Police: Emo Music Can "Distort Our Gene Pool"

A full-blown panic over emo music has taken hold of the Armenian capital of Yerevan, after a 15-year-old "emo" kid committed suicide. The Chief of Police warns that kids being into emo music will somehow produce a generation of mutants.

Here's how EurasiaNet describes the reaction of the Armenian Chief of Police:

No law prohibits people from being emos, but police have left little doubt that their tolerance for emo fans is in short supply. In a December 6 interview with the newspaper Hraparak, Armenian Chief of Police Alik Sargsian commented that "emos are dangerous" and can "distort our gene pool."

"I do not like emos, in fact. I absolutely don't like them. I do not understand or accept them," said Sargsian.

Some Armenian scientist should probably do a study where they expose rats to three Fallout Boy EPs a day and see what happens.

(thanks to Walter (& Katy) for the title of my post)

Armenia: Quote of the Day (AM)

"Հայաստանում կան առնվազն երկու պետական կառույցներ՝ Պաշտանության նախարարություն եւ Ոստիկանություն, որոնց ներս մուտք գործելով, ՀՀ քաղաքացիները պարբերաբար ինքնասպանություն են գործում:"

*source: Հրանտ Տէր-Աբրահամեան Ինքնասպան լինեք դո՛ւք

Related to: “Suicide”... or evidence of abuse and ill-treatment in the Armenian army?

and Armenia police: shoot to kill?

Armenia’s ‘under the belt’ president

Oh, that lovely ‘jokes’ or ‘sramtutyunner’ [‘wittiness’] by Armenia’s ex(2nd)-president Kocharyan. Didn’t you miss them? I did. You know, a ‘guilty pleasure’ type of way. Since the day he became president, it has always been on a ‘under the belt‘ level for Kocharyan. No surprises here. That he specifically fell down this time to a ‘hemorrhoids’ level, is yet another of his ‘achievements’, I suppose.

A perfect picture A1+ has chosen to accompany Kocharyan’s statement. Priceless.

Kocharyan claims he “doesn’t care” what his critiques, and especially Armenia’s ex(1st)-president Ter-Petrosyan, say of him. Of course, he does. Otherwise, he would not have issued such a statement responding to Ter-Petrosyan’s not exactly the most impressive speech.

Some say they deserve each other. I disagree. When it comes to ‘under the belt’ attacks, Kocharyan is a clear winner. No one in Armenia can get even close.

Recent continuous speculations of Kocharyan’s return to Armenian political life are being manipulated by all sides (authorities, opposition, and Kocharyan himself). Even discussing such a theoretical possibility puts Armenia’s future into the ‘under the belt’ situation. An individual may go down that way. It’s his/her choice. But a country... ‘Been there, done that’. Last time it ended up with 1 March 08 bloodshed.

SAVE Cinema Moscow Open-Air Hall: poster and quote

Good quote via Lragir (AM):

Հայ Առաքելական Եկեղեցին մեր պատմությունն է, սակայն այն չի կարող պատանդ վերցնել մեր ներկան ու ապագան։

***

*via Untitled Thoughts

poster by Meliksetyan Anahit

Մարտի 17-ից սկսած, մեկ շաբաթ, ամեն օր, ժամը 17:00-19:00 Թամանյանի արձանի մոտ մենք կանգնելու ենք և ստորագրություններ հավաքելու"Մոսկվա" կինոթատրոնի ամառային դահլիճը քանդելու դեմ:

From 17-24 March near the Tamanyan statue from 17:00 pm to 19:00 pm we will collect signatures against the demolition of "Moscow" cinema open air hall.

**my previous posts re above: see here and here

ex-British ambassador in Yerevan: ‘Armenia has no geopolitical significance for the West’

Was at a panel discussion re Armenian Genocide, Turkey etc at LSE (the London School of Economics and Political Science) organised by the local Armenian Society.

The panel included: Lord Eric Avebury, Member of the House of Lords, Vice-Chair on the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights; David Miller, former British Ambassador to Armenia; and Ara Sarafian, British historian, founding director of the Gomidas Institute in London.

Responding to one of the questions on Armenia’s strategic role in the region, David Miller, former British Ambassador to Armenia, effectively said that - geostrategically - Armenia has no significance in the region, for the West, that is. Azebaijan - yes (oil), Georgia - yes (location, Russia, NATO etc), Turkey - yes (number of factors), but Armenia - no. From the Western perspectives, the only importance Armenia has in the region is to ensure peace as war may threaten West’s commercial interests.

Perhaps, you may add here the existence of Diaspora too.

He also said: “You cannot alter geography”. (this was not a reference to Karabakh, but to Armenia’s geostrategic location, or the lack of it)

While few attempted at questioning his views, arguing that history knows examples of such alterations, and its because of that very alterations that Armenia’s geostrategic location shrank to current borders, for many present his words sounded like ‘bitter truth’.

Eh, there were times... There was very brief time in modern Armenian post-Soviet history, when its significance was determined by being the most democratic state in the region, an example for others. Sadly, this factor has long gone.

Quote of The Day (in Armenian)

"Մնում է ազգայիններին ու հոգևորականներին իրենց ընտրած ազգային դիրքերից պատասխանել «երբ հայերը միասեռական էին արևմուտքում չգիտեին թե սեքսն ինչ բան ա»: Այսինքն դուրս ա գալիս հակառակը` ով հոմոֆոբ ա` հակահայ ա, ապազգային, որ մերժում ա մեր ազգային արմատները:"


*source: Ankakh weekly. For my brief reflections, see Unzipped: Gay Armenia

Quote of The Day (in Armenian)

Highly recommend reading today's article by detained for his political views opposition editor Nikol Pashinyan. His trial is currently underway in Yerevan and Nikol is facing up to 8 years imprisonment. Below is what I consider truly a Quote of The Day (in Armenian):

"[...] Եթե իսկական Եղիշե Չարենցից վերցնենք մտքի ազատությունը, ըմբոստությունը, արդարամտության զգացողությունը, հանուն գաղափարի զոհվելու պատրաստակամությունը, ամենադառը ճշմարտությունն ասելու ուժն ու խիզախությունը, դրան ավելացնենք մի քիչ վախկոտություն, հարմարվողականություն, ամպուտացիա անենք այդ Չարենցի ողնաշարը, կստանանք մի... այնպիսի Լեւոն Անանյան, որին նույնիսկ օրիգինալը կնախանձի: Սրանում է մեր իրականության ողբերգական առանձնահատկությունը. բանաստեղծները ուզում են Չարենց լինել, բայց շողոքորթել իշխանություններին, հոգեւորականները ուզում են Հիսուս լինել բայց չխաչվել, գիտնականներն ուզում են Ջորդանո Բրունո լինել, բայց չայրվել խարույկի վրա, նկարիչներն ուզում են Վան Գոգ լինել, բայց գլուխ չունեն ածխահատների գործադուլային շարժման հետ: [...]"

Read the article in full here: ԼԻՆԵԼ, ԲԱՅՑ ՉԼԻՆԵԼ. ԱՅՍ Է ԽՆԴԻՐԸ

Kim Kardashian on her 'Armenian bottom'

Says Kim Kardashian: "[...] My body shape comes from my father's side of the family - he's from Armenia, where all the women are voluptuous. Thanks to role models like Jennifer Lopez, I'm comfortable with my curves."

*source of photo

Armenia: Lack of leadership

Personally, I do have the highest respect towards many Heritage party senior representatives, although do not share their prevalent negative attitude towards rapprochement with Turkey.

The problems and mess this party is in nowadays (its founder Raffi Hovhannisyan’s quitting Armenian parliament, expelling some of its prominent members from the party) are problems connected with the lack of leadership.

Having an image of the most honest politician in current political field in Armenia, Raffi failed to realise himself as a leader. And I am saying this with great sadness, as I did put big deal of hopes in him in past.

I was reading some comments on Facebook from my friends and friends of friends, and this comment caught my particular attention. It’s made by an extremely bright person from Yerevan, who came to my attention recently when intelligently fighting displays of homophobia on Armenian sector of Facebook.

Both him and the leaders of ARF should have rejected their mandates a year ago. They awaited too long observing the reaction of constituencies at the Protocol first, resigning next. Too much opportunism shows that Serge's policy has worked - first he lured them in, relaxed them down and then brought them to a shock. In terms of real politik, Serge is, thus, the one with leader's skills. The rest do not deserve to be called an opposition.

Too harsh? May be. But there is some truth in it.

You know what. You want to see what the REAL leadership looks like, do not bother looking inside Armenia (although Ralph Yirikian, head of Armenian mobile operator Viva Cell could be a rare excellent example), do not even bother looking through British politics. Look a bit further. Listen to and watch Obama’s healthcare reforms speech he delivered last night.

Unzipped on France24 re Armenia - Turkey rapprochement

France24 did feature in past some posts from both of my blogs, but I was not aware of this one until today. (Thanks to Shant for the video!) It was made on 24 April 2009. They quoted from my post Obama, Turkey, and I. What I said back then has a particular relevance and urgency today too, in my opinion, considering new developments in Armenia-Turkey rapproachment.

Armenian side did whatever possible to do to pave the way for reconciliation despite Turkey’s official refusal to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.

Quote of The Day (in Russian)

«В большинстве случаев общество считает геев нетрадиционными, а порой отвергает их вовсе. Я же считаю таких людей и их отношения абсолютно традиционными. Все, что есть на земле, выбрано Богом. Что Богом создано, то Богу угодно. Общество не имеет права это осуждать. Для меня нетрадиционно отношение толпы ко всему, что не относится к толпе. Я хочу все перевернуть в этом мире и доказать, что ни один человек не в праве указывать другому, чем тому заниматься и как ему жить... Я против мнения общества, я за личное мнение каждого. Я за индивидуальность... Каждый вправе жить, как хочет», — говорит Лолита.

 

*Popular Russian pop singer Lolita. More - Unzipped: Gay Armenia

Armenia: Quote of the Day (AM)

ԱՅՈ, ես գեյ եմ, քանի դեռ նրա նմաններն ատում են գեյերին,
Ես ղարաբաղցի եմ, քանի դեռ նրա նմանները նրանց չեն սիրում,
Ես աղանդավոր եմ, քանի դեռ նրա նմանները պայքարում են նրանց դեմ:
Ի դեպ, «վտանգ» կա, որ իրականում վերոնշյալ բոլոր կետերին էլ համապատասխանում եմ:

Dori An Թերթոնչիկը և թրաշով ձյաձյաները, կամ՝ ձեր էշը վեց սկոռուստ ունի

*Related: 1, 2

Tweets of the day: Armenia, elections, Bryza... Have a good weekend! :)

These two tweets I received today are just too good not to post here too. (in Armenian only) They are hilarious. They made my Saturday morning. Could not stop laughing. Enjoy! :)

@7or_blog Todays best comment - «Ընտրակեղծիք լինեմ, թե խաբում եմ» http://www.7or.am/blog/?p=271
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... @unzippedblog մի հատ նույնպիսի լավ արտահայտություն էլ կա վերջերս. «Բրայզա լինեմ, թե սուտ եմ ասում...»

RIP: "European Movement in Armenia"

It’s almost impossible to shock me. Well, never say never, as they say. Today is one of those exceptional moments. I am speechless. No words.

RFE/RL reports that “The Armenian affiliate of a renowned pan-European non-governmental organization [The European Movement in Armenia (EMA)] on Monday proclaimed Gagik Tsarukian, a controversial tycoon and politician, Armenia’s “best European of the year” for what it described as his promotion of European political culture in the country.”

If you think you've read the news, think again.

Keep reading: “In a statement, the EMA paid tribute to Tsarukian for “spreading European traditions in Armenia’s political and public fields” and assisting in a “generation change” in the local political arena. It also praised his “active participation” in the Armenian parliament’s committee on European integration. The EMA, some of whose projects are funded by the European Union, did not specify just how the former arm wrestler has contributed to Armenia’s democratization and closer ties with Europe.”

Read the rest of the story...

*photo - RFE/RL; /emphasis mine/