ArmeniaNow.com - Independent Journalism From Today's Armenia
February 13, 2004



Stirring Words: Dashnak leader's criticisms spark controversy with ruling coalition partners


A leading member of the Armenia bureau of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF/ Dashnaksutiun) stirred controversy this week at the party's 29 th general assembly.

Hrant Margaryan's speech to the assembly, which opened a week ago, became the subject of heated analyses and comment in political circles of Armenia . Afterwards, Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan and Speaker of the National Assembly Artur Baghdasaryan left the building refusing to answer reporters' questions about the views of their partner in the governing coalition.

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Murder Mystery: Hotel staff allege police brutality in inquiry over a corpse that may not exist

Employees of a hotel owned by a prominent businessman have filed complaints of brutality, torture and false imprisonment against police investigating an alleged murder.

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Outside Eye: A non-Armenian's view of life in his adopted home

People are so primed for bad news from Armenia that it is easy to overlook the good or to dismiss its significance. So here is a list of reasons to be cheerful.

Little more than a decade ago, it was possible to walk the length of the main Marshall Bagramyan or Prospect thoroughfares and go long periods without being passed by a single car because of the energy crisis. Now there are traffic jams on both roads which mean you can go long periods without being passed by a single car.

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Bonfire of the Amities: Trndez festival fans the flames of love

The crackle and color of bonfires draws the attention of people who gather for a noisy and wonderful festival. This fire has a special meaning, reflected in the faith that burns in the radiant eyes of the young people.

Once a year, both young and old go a little crazy at the festival of Trndez (Purification) that begins on February 14. According to popular tradition, t his magic feast enables people to cast out negative emotions and bring happiness into their lives.

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Invalid Citizens: A visit to Georgy's house

Every evening when the sun sets, Georgy Adamyan sits in his small room and waits as long as he can bear before firing his wood stove. He wants to save firewood. But the cold finds its way inside his 76-year old bones and being frugal yields to being warm.

Gradually the temperature inside the gray hostel room rises from -1C (30.2 Fahrenheit) to +5 (41 F).

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Wrong Note: Guitarist exposed as email blackmailer

A teenage singer has been the target of a blackmail attempt involving a threat to publish a fake nude photograph of her.

Nineteen-year-old Emmi, a daughter of the famous singer Nadezhda Sargsyan and sculptor David Bejanyan, received an email containing a picture of a naked girl with her face superimposed upon it. The sender demanded $500, warning that he would distribute the picture to every newspaper and website in Armenia if she did not pay.

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Valuing Tradition: Antique dealers struggle in a market out of step with the times

Whenever a visitor enters the obscure and small antique shop located in the basement of one of the buildings on Amiryan Street , Razmik Tutunjyan, the owner, can always tell whether they have come to buy or just to look.

“I can easily read their faces, 90% of visitors enter the shop to have a look. Though, now even the number of “lookers” tends to reduce. January and February are always very tough months, I sell almost nothing,” he says.

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Shut Out: Blockade makes Armenia an outsider in its own neighborhood

Step into the socks of the Armenian economy for a moment: Chaos to the north, Axis-of-Evil international pariah to the south, and not-so-neighborly neighbors who blockade borders to the east and west.

Now try to participate in international trade and commerce like everyone else.

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Sports: Tennis (ATP Tour)

After the Australian Open championship came to its end three tournaments of the International Series started on February 9: the Indesit ATP Milano Indoor 2004, Siebel Open and Bellsouth Open.

See also: Figure Skating (European Championships)

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According to Agnes
 

  Inside
 

Street Fighting: Residents say they are paying the price of Yerevan 's prestige landmark.

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Home from home: Citizens of Armenia are forced to leave Turkmenistan.

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The Arts in seven days

 

  Photo of the week
 
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Special Delivery

You wait 12 years for a baby and then three come along at once...Karina Maisuradze-Gevorkyan became the proud mother of triplets, two girls and one boy, on February 5 at Yerevan's Maternity Research Center. Karina had been trying to have a child for 12 years without success before approaching the center and undergoing fertility treatment.

 

 





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