LACHIN RESIDENTS ARE IN A PANIC

A1+
[05:29 pm] 28 September, 2006

Today Armen Eghyan, Gevorg Mirzoyan and Gagik Petrosyan, members of the initiating group "Protection of the Occupied Territories", announced that Hamlet Khachatryan, head of the Kashatagh administration hinders the resettlement of the territories and must resign from his post.

"It turns out that this high-rank official is used to bribe taking and hasn't got the slightest notion of his post. He realises neither its meaning nor its military significance", claims Armen Eghyan and adds, "He treats the local residents as criminals caught red-handed. He demands bribes from all the citizens who turn to him with any request. And in case any of the citizens dares to complain of Mr. Mirzoyan, he merely advises them to leave Kashatagh".

Jirayr Sefilyan, commander of special regiment of Shoushi, and a member of the above-mentioned group, informed the participants of today's press conference about the current state of Kashatagh. He claims that the number of inhabitants has significantly decreased in the past two years reaching 7.5 thousand.

52 villages of Katashagh are deprived of electricity and water. The roads are in an awful state. The villages counter certain problems connected with education, health care and realization of agricultural goods. Recently, the authorities of Katashagh have fined a 12-year-old girl for picking up wood to heat their hearth.

Mr.Sefilyan maintains that administrative obstacles and fining bodies have greatly increased in Kashatagh.

As a result of this, residents began to abandon the territory and the villages became deserted. All is done on purpose, claim the members of the group.

IMPORTANT NOTICE --- PLEASE READ, SIGN AND PASS ON

Dear fellow Armenians,

As you read these lines the Armenians in the liberated region of Kashatagh (Lachin) desperately need our immediate help.

After the war in Nagorno-Karabakh came to an end, local officials in Armenia and Artsakh called for Armenians to move to Kashatagh and made promises of aid and assistance to all those who heeded the call. Today those promises have not been kept.

As a result, living conditions in Kashatagh are bad and getting worse. Armenians who moved into the region are now leaving. If the situation persists, this strategically vital corridor that links Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh will be emptied of any meaningful Armenian presence.

Armenians in the diaspora cannot remain silent when faced with this unfortunate reality. We need to forcefully voice our concerns and demand an adequate degree of accountability from those responsible for this sorry state of affairs.

The word must be spread far and wide that all concerned Armenians will no longer tolerate “business as usual” when it comes to assisting our compatriots in Kashatagh and Artsakh. They feel neglected and betrayed by their local officials. We must show them that they do not stand alone.

To publicize the gravity of the situation we have created a new website: http://www.kashatagh.com

It includes pertinent background information regarding Kashatagh and links to current news sources covering the region.

More importantly, we have posted an on-line petition in the website addressed to the presidents of both the Republic of Armenian and the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. The petition calls on these officials to immediately take all possible measures to rectify the problems faced by the Armenians in Kashatagh.

We ask that you circulate news of this new website in order that we collect as many petition signatures as possible.

Collectively, we can make a difference in the lives of the residents of Kashatagh.

Sincerely,

Coalition In Support Of Kashatagh
www.kashatagh.com
e-mail: info@kashatagh.com

“WHO SPOILED ROBERT KOCHARYAN?”

A1PLUS // Online News

[10:57 am] 26 September, 2006 [ http://www.a1plus.am/en/?page=issue&iid=41101 ]

“I have worked with Robert Kocharyan for a long time. He was a very modest person. He was a legendary personality for Karabakh. I don’t recognize today’s Robert Kocharyan”, said member of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun administration Aram Manoukyan who was lucky enough to read the RA Declaration of Independence 15 years ago.

In that case, who spoiled Robert Kocharyan? Asked this question by one of the journalists Aram Manoukyan answered, “I don’t know, but someone did it for sure. Look who he is surrounded by – people who have changed party several times, people who have betrayed their parties. Robert Kocharyan is not surrounded by people who fought together with him for the sake of our independence”.

Mr. Manoukyan does not deny the fact that Robert Kocharyan had a great contribution to winning independence. Nevertheless, he thinks that «Today's authorities keep power in their hands at the expense of our independence. The authorities live like parasites, like fungi live at the expense of the tree».

Despite the shortcomings, Aram Manoukyan thinks that today we own something greatly worthy – our independence. “Today the countries which do not have independence are less than those which have it. The nations which lose their independence or the chance to gain it are punished”, he mentioned.

Aram Manoukyan also had to refer to the mistakes of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun made during the past 15 years. “The greatest mistake was that we did not warn the people that independence is something painful and responsible. Another mistake was that we believed in people who did not deserve it”. Aram Manoukyan is sure that only those who will fight for independence deserve to have power.

The ARF Dashnaktsutyun does not think that they can succeed alone in the political field, but as Mr. Manoukyan mentioned, they get ready for the coming elections seriously.

Starting from tomorrow the first periodical of Independent Armenia, “Hayq” will be published again, after a pause of 7-8 years. “This is the first step by the ARF to redeem their fault”, Aram Manoukyan confessed.

What really happened to Silva Kaputikyan?

One month ago, Silva Kaputikian took her last breath in an Armenian hospital.

Everyone I know in Yerevan is asking the question of what really happened to our beloved poetess and political activist, Silva Kaputikyan?

She went into the hospital after falling and breaking her hip while visiting her Son’s house.

From what everyone is telling me, she went in and died from an overdose, which people think was what put an end to one of Kocharian’s “in your face” oppositionists. Some are even saying that Kocharian himself ordered to have her silenced.

You really do have to ask who suddenly dies of a broken hip?

I’m sure in time if there was any foul play, it will come out and those that were responsible will be exposed and punished.

Senate Panel Bans U.S. Funding For `Anti-Armenian' Rail Link

RFE/RL Armena Report - 09/22/2006
By Emil Danielyan

A key committee of the U.S. Senate has joined the House of Representatives in banning U.S. government assistance to controversial plans for the construction of a railway that would link Turkey with Georgia and Azerbaijan and bypass Armenia.

A legal amendment approved by the Senate's Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee under pressure from Armenian-American lobbying groups late Thursday forbids the U.S. Export-Import Bank from financing any regional railroad that `does not traverse or connect with Armenia.' The House passed a virtually identical bill in late July.

The ban is likely to be endorsed by the full Senate and signed into law by President George W. Bush. Bush administration officials have not voiced objections to the bill. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried told Congress earlier this year that implementation of the $400 million project discussed by the Turkish, Georgian and Azerbaijani governments `would not be beneficial to regional integration.'

`Armenia is a valued friend of the United States and our government ought not to be supporting programs or initiatives in the South Caucasus that exclude that country from participation,' said Rick Santorum, one of the two senators who introduced the amendment.

The Armenian Assembly of America (AAA), which has lobbied the U.S. government to thwart the project, hailed the Senate committee vote. `We commend the leadership of Senators Santorum and [Robert] Menendez for introducing legislation that would prevent Armenia's neighbors from isolating her,' the AAA executive director, Bryan Ardouny, said in a statement.

ExImBank is a federal government agency which provides loans, loan guarantees and insurance to support U.S. exports. The congressional ban will therefore also discourage private U.S. companies from investing in the Tbilisi-Kars-Akhalkalaki railway.

However, its significance has already been downplayed by Turkish and Azerbaijani officials who say Ankara and Baku have sufficient resources to finance the project. `We don't need ExImBank's assistance,' Azerbaijan's Deputy Prime Minister Abid Sharifov said on July 27.

The head of Georgia's state railway, Irakli Ezugbaya, was reported to have announced last week that work on the 192-kilometer-long Georgian section of the planned rail link will be financed by a zero-interest loan to be disbursed by the Azerbaijani government. He said Baku and Tbilisi could sign a relevant agreement by the end of September.

The Armenian government argues that there already exists a railroad connecting Turkey to the South Caucasus via Armenia and that the regional countries should reactivate it instead of spending hundreds of millions of dollars on building a new one. The Kars-Gyumri rail link has stood idle more than a decade as part of the continuing Turkish economic blockade of Armenia.

WHY?

I'm not sure what to make of the following story, but can only say that any deal that Hovik "Mouse" Abrahamian has his hand in can't be any kind of deal that will be of use to the Armenian people. I don't turst the Mouse since he has a very long unpunished criminal past.


KUWAIT LIKELY TO ASSIST ARMENIA WITH RESTORATION OF RURAL COMMUNITIES' INFRASTRUCTURES

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 22 2006

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, NOYAN TAPAN. During the September 22 meeting, the RA Minister of Territorial Administration Hovik Abrahamian and Kuwait's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Majd Aldafiri (residence - Tehran) discussed a number of issues related to the further development of bilateral relations, NT was informed from the RA Government Information and PR Department.

In particular, H. Abrahamian and M. Aldafiri discussed the opportunities of Kuwaits' assistance for the restoration and construction of infrastructures in Armenian rural communities, including water-supply networks and community roads, as well as the opportunities for involving resources of various funds operating in Kuwait.

Another death…

They say that death comes in threes. This does sadden me, as following Charles Melkonian’s passing, 3 days later (Sunday morning) another very good friend lost his life to cancer.

Vartkes Barsam was a person who gave so much to Armenia and the Armenian people.

Though much of what he did was and will probably never be made public, I can say that the results of his contribution to the Artsakh liberation movement physically saved thousands of lives and can be credited to numerous victories which we might have had with large losses or not had at all. He also made huge contributions to Armenia proper itself and to the Armenian people all over the world in various ways.

This is another man like Charles Melkonian who has put himself in harms way to help out those who found themselves in vulnerable situations without looking for recognition or to promote himself. This is why I’m guessing most of you have never heard of him

Vartkes, I will always remember you and all the advice and information you gifted to me.

Asdvadz hokin lousavoreh

KHALIFA GREETS ARMENIAN PRESIDENT

Emirates News Agency
September 17, 2006 Sunday 7:35 AM EST

President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a congratulatory cable to President Robert Kocharian of Armenia on his country's independence day.

A similar cable to the Armenian leader was also sent by H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

ARAM I DOES NOT AGREE WITH KOCHARYAN

A1+
[03:49 pm] 18 September, 2006

Of all the speeches during the opening of the Conference Armenia-Diaspora, that of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia differed radically from the speech of Robert Kocharyan. The speech of His Holiness was the only one which was greeted with long applause, and if Vardan Oskanyan didn't interrupt them in order to announce the name of the following speaker, they would last still longer.

Aram I mentioned that the past two conferences were mainly emotional and did not have clear-cut basis and voiced hope that this one will not have the same fate.

In contrast to Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, Aram I put the stress on self-criticism mentioning that the cooperation between Armenia and the Diaspora must serve the welfare and development of the people.

The Catholicos was concerned by the fact that official Armenia speaks about the economic growth in the country while they look for the sources of the growth and its reflection on the living standards throughout the whole country. "If there is real growth, why don't we feel it equally on the living standards of the people?" The Catholicos thinks that neither the Armenian structure nor the Diaspora represent clear-cut programs.

He also mentioned that suchlike conferences are important only if there is mutual trust between the sides which is an important factor for the deep development of the links between Armenia and the Diaspora. As for expecting investments from the Diaspora, the Catholicos is convinced that the Diaspora can give much more, but it also depends on the Armenian authorities and on how they solve the problems of the country.

The loss of another great man…

It saddens me to report that a good friend and great man passed away yesterday.

Charles Melkonian was 87 years old and was survived by his wife, three children, their husband and wives, many grand children, a bunch of blood relatives and thousands of people whose lives he touched (including mine).

Words can’t describe the way I feel, nor can I really find them right now.

Though we all have to go sometime, it’s just hard to except the loss of such a great person, who more offten than none put his well being third to those of others.

Charlie, were all going to miss you and always remember you.

Asdvadz hokin lousavoreh

HOAGLAND'S CANDIDACY FOR POSITION OF US AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA STILL DEPENDS ON CERTAIN FACTORS

By Aghavni Harutyunian

AZG Armenian Daily
15/09/2006

Senator Robert Menendez, who represents New Jersey state, blocked the voting for the candidacy of Richard Hoagland for the position of US Ambassador to Armenia.

Mediamax agency informed that the senator stated that taking such a step he protested against the policy of the American administration that doesn't want to characterize the massacre of 1,5 million of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in early 20th century as a genocide.

According to the information, unless Menendez lifts his ban, the candidacy of Richard Hoagland for ambassador position will not be discussed at the US Senate.

THEY IN AZERBAIJAN DEMAND TO EXPATRIATE HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS WHO HAVE VISITED ARMENIA

REGNUM
September 14, 2006

In Azerbaijan, youth organization of the Civil Solidarity Party demands depriving of citizenship the 10 people who have visited Armenia in the framework of the Camp of Mutual Understanding project. Among them are the chairperson of the Azeri National Committee of the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Arzu Abdullayeva, human rights activists Nigyar Abdullayeva and Rena Yuzbasheva. Particularly, those people visited the Gugark children and youth camp in Armenia.

A REGNUM correspondent reports them in the Civil Solidarity youth organization to say that in the camp the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly organized a meeting of Armenian and Azeri youths, and young people from Nagorno-Karabakh were also present at the meeting.

They say that the visit was "treason" and demand that those people be deprived of citizenship and passports.

They also demand expelling from Azerbaijan the international organizations organizing such projects.

In its turn, the Azeri National Committee of the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly denies the charges and says that they are aimed at casting slur upon the activities of the Assembly.

ANCA WELCOMES MENENDEZ "HOLD" ON THE HOAGLAND NOMINATION

"I believe that the United States, Armenia, and all who are committed to human rights should support an Ambassador to Armenia who recognizes the genocide that took place there more than 90 years ago." -- Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ)


WASHINGTON, DC - The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) today welcomed the "hold" placed by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) on the confirmation of Richard E. Hoagland as the next U.S. Ambassador to Armenia based on his opposition to the Bush Administration's refusal to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

"We join with Armenians from New Jersey and throughout the United States in thanking Senator Menendez for his principled stand in blocking the Hoagland nomination," said Ken Hachikian, Chairman of the ANCA. "The Senator's hold represents a victory for our nation's standing on human rights and genocide-prevention."

In blocking the Hoagland nomination, Sen. Menendez stressed that, "as a leader and defender of democracy, it is our nation's responsibility to speak out against injustice and support equality and human rights. But if the Bush Administration continues to refuse to acknowledge the atrocities of the Armenian Genocide, then there is certainly cause for great alarm, which is why I am placing a hold on this nominee." He added that, "I will continue to work with my colleagues in the United States Senate to make strides toward ensuring that all people, regardless of race, religion, or ethnicity, receive protection from policies of discrimination and hate that lead to genocide."

Since February of this year, the ANCA has led nationwide efforts to demand answers concerning the recall of Ambassador Evans and, later, to educate Senators about the adverse impact of sending an envoy to Armenia that has called into question the genocidal character of Ottoman Turkey's systematic destruction of its Armenian population. Read the complete ANCA Press Release, including the statement by Sen. Robert Menendez.

#####

Please thank Sen. Menendez for placing a hold on the Hoagland nomination:
Call (202) 224-4744 and leave a message expressing your appreciation for his principled stand against Genocide denial.

My chuckle of the week

You can't find a better match.

WILL ARF DASHNAKTSUTYUN SUPPORT OSKANYAN?

Lragir.am
11 Sept 06

We have learned that the foreign minister of Armenia Vardan Oskanyan is likely to run in the presidential election 2008 as the candidate of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun. This political party is not against either. It is notable that Vardan Oskanyan was also invited to the General Assembly of the ARF and even made a greeting speech, which was so fiery that would suit a member of the party rather than a member of the government.

Armenian government threatens the existence of Kashatagh (Lachin) and Artsakh

Over the last month, there has been quite a bit of reporting from HETQ and Onnik over at OneWorld about some serious problems in the strategic Armenian territory of Kashatagh. This is the territory that connects Armenia with Artsakh.

In short, it has become quite apparent that former prosecutor, now turned governor of Kashatagh is not a capable manager of the region and as a result of governmental policy and his incompetence, the lifeline for Artsakh is under threat of being depopulated.

Immediate action needs to be taken as the once population of 12,000 is now down to 7,000 and dropping fast.

If you want to read more about this issue, please visit HETQ and OneWorld.

With the Diaspora conference coming up, this is a grand opportunity to address this topic while those government officials are present and can’t avoid questions.

ARMENIAN AND AZERI YOUTH MEET IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.09.2006 13:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian and Azeri youth had a meeting at Gugark children's and youth camp in Lori region of Armenia. The event, called Mutual Trust Camp, was organized with participation of Helsinki Civil Initiative organization. Young people from Azerbaijan, Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh participated in the initiative.

Within the framework of the project, Azeri participants visited an Azeri cemetery not far from Vanadzor town, which was lately restored by the Vanadzor branch of Helsinki Civil Initiative NGO.

Within a few days the Azeri participants learned to Armenian Kochari and make a declaration of love in Armenian, while Karabakh residents got an opportunity to taste pilaf and traditional tea, reports Day.az.

Time for the Armenian government to do a little embassy cleaning

It seems that the new American Ambassador to Armenia is going to be Richard Hoagland.

He will be arriving to Armenia soon and if President Kocharian is the Armenian peoples president, then he will not accept Richard Hoagland credentials and instead send him back to America.

Armenia should not allow any embassy to exist on it’s territory who deny the reality of one of the greatest tragedies in our history.

If Kocharian accepts Richard Hoagland credentials, then he should follow that act with the presentation of his long overdue resignation, as such an act would be contrary to the desires of the majority of the people he is serving and an insult to all the Armenians who lost their lives in the the Armenian Genocide of 1915.

I also think that a welcoming party for Mr. Hoagland is in order in the form of a protest in front of the U.S. embassy is in order.



SENATE PANEL APPROVES NOMINEE FOR AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA
By George Gedda

AP Worldstream
Sep 07, 2006

A Senate panel on Thursday approved the nomination of career diplomat Richard Hoagland to be ambassador to Armenia, despite objections by some senators to the Bush administration's refusal to classify the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians in 1915 as "genocide."

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee vote was 13-5. The nomination will now be considered by the full Senate.

At his June 28 confirmation hearing, Hoagland declined to use the word genocide to describe the 1915 killings, which occurred during the waning days of the Ottoman Empire.

The tour of duty of the current ambassador, John Evans, reportedly was curtailed because he referred to the killings as a genocide in defiance of administration policy.

Turkey strongly objects to any such characterization. U.S. policymakers are wary of antagonizing Turkey, an important NATO ally.

Armenians say that as many as 1.5 million of their ancestors were killed in an organized genocidal campaign by Ottoman Turks, and have pushed for recognition of the killings as genocide around the world.

Committee Chairman Richard Lugar said Hoagland's nomination should be sent to the Senate for final approval.

The Senate, he said, "should not withhold confirmation based on disagreements with administration policy." It would be "troubling" if such a precedent were to be set.

He pointed out that Armenia is an important country with borders on Iran, Turkey and Azerbaijan. Rejection of Hoagland would mean that months would pass before an alternate ambassador could be found.

Sen. Norm Coleman, a Republican, said he could not "be in a position to support a nominee who is not in a position to recognize a historical reality."

Sen. Barbara Boxer, a Democrat, said she could not support the nomination.

"I will today call it the Armenian genocide," she said. "There is no doubt about what happened. I believe is calling things by their names."

SERGE SARGSYAN: I AM NOT USED TO RESPOND TO ANY STUPIDITY OF MISERABLE PEOPLE ADDRESSED TO ME OR TO PUNISH THEM

Yerevan, September 7. ArmInfo. "I am not used to respond to any stupidity of miserable people addressed to me or to punish them," said Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan asked about his attitude to the publications by some mass media saying that the editor of Iravunk newspaper H. Galajyan was subjected to an attack because of his article "Why the super minister is angry?."

The article, particularly, says that President of Russia Vladimir Putin allegedly informed President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan that Serge Sargsyan cannot be his successor on the post of the president.

To recap, two unknown attacked H. Galajyan Wednesday when he came out of the entrance of his building in Komitas street.

Full version Desert Nights on Google

The full version of Desert Nights, our documentary that exposed the trafficking of women and children into the sex slavery business to the United Arab Emirates is now available on Google.

I posted it on google not only because youtube only allows a maximum of 10 minutes per clip, meaning I had to chop up our 48 minute documentary so it would fit, but it seems that like hetq.am, youtube.com has been blocked in the UAE by some of their internet providers.

Those of you in the UAE who can’t access youtube, here is an alternative to viewing a documentary that your government does not want you to see. Pass the word on to those who should see what has and is going on the UAE.

YouTube blocked from the UAE due to trafficking documentary…Google could be next

As I mentioned before, YouTube has been blocked from the UAE after we posted our documentary Desert Nights.

One of our readers and blogger, Mark, lives in Kuwait and has a site called www.248am.com. He has posted links to our documentary on his site and as a result has had quite a bit of dialog going.

Some of the highlights I am reposting so you can see what effect the exposing of trafficking to the UAE has had and to also better understand that this is not an Armenian issue, but a global epidemic.

I want to also mention that if the UAE blocks Google, I will be reposting the documentary on 2 servers and when they block those, 4, then 8 and so on. One way or the other, the word will get out and the more they block, the more they are admitting guilt of being involved (which our documentary shows they are and maybe that’s why they are blocking it).

Prostitution in Dubai

Posted by Mark

I just watched an amazing documentary on trafficking of woman and girls from Armenia to Dubai for prostitution. I found the link to the youtube videos over a week ago via Spikeyq8 and I just got around to watching it all and it was really heart breaking. Two Armenian guys, Edik Baghdasaryan and Ara Manoogian went to Dubai to expose the trafficking of women and children into sex slavery. Armed with hidden cameras they proceeded to interview prostitutes and expose the masterminds behind the Armenian prostitution ring in Dubai. Its a very in your face documentary and although doesn’t contain nudity it does talk about a subject that some viewers might find offensive. So if you think you might get offended don’t watch the video. Its available on YouTube in 7 parts, each less then 10 minutes long but its also available on Google Video as one whole part.

YouTube
Part 1
Part 2a
Part 2b
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5a
Part 5b and 6

Google Video
Whole movie

Ara Manoogian’s Blog [Link]
Documentary Transcript [Link]

Filed under: Interesting, Sex, Videos, Information
Posted by Mark on 09.02.06 |

24 Comments. Add your own...

· 4. And Far Away...… | September 3rd, 2006 at 3:37 am

[…] Hello Dubai, the Bangkok of the Middle East, where Arabs go to sin. Google it, the menu comes in an assortment of colors; blondie chicks from Russia (apparently, the most common), black beauties from Ethiopia (second most found variety), Asian babes from the Philippines and India, among other varieties. I have never been to Dubai, and yet stories of friends who got approached in the city and the tales of bars filled to the brim with girls waiting to get picked up are always told. Here’s a documentary about prostitution in Dubai. A website I found claims, “An economist recently informed me that vice, directly and indirectly, accounts for over 30% of Dubai’s money-go-round.” […]

· 5. forzaq8 | September 3rd, 2006 at 7:23 am

oh so thats why youtube is banned in UAE

· 6. Spikey | September 3rd, 2006 at 8:04 am

thanx mark…

well i know how it looks…some people just need to get to the top..even if its the wrong direction…

· 7. mar | September 3rd, 2006 at 8:25 am

just to get a few things clear. i lived in dubai for 8 years before moving to kuwait and i would give it all up to move back there. prostitution is yes part of the economy in dubai and its a business there. BUT it is very much restricted to a few areas that are not :open” to the public. ans YES girls do get pick up in pubs and bars and ONLY if they want to and thats NOT prostitution. I did not watch the movie yet i will and maybe ill add a few more things. and by the way dubai is 100% safe. I used to come back home alone after a long night of clubing while in kuwait i dont go out alone after 6. dont be so intimidated of the open world.

· 8. Mark | September 3rd, 2006 at 9:02 am

Mar what misinformation exactly are you clearing up if you haven’t watched the movie yet? The movie talks about the trafficking of woman and children to dubai for prostitution. Meaning young Armenian girls (under 18) are being told they will be going to work in Greece to pick fruits but end up coming to Dubai and having their passports confiscated and being forced into the prostitution business. The movie also talks about the prostitution business in Dubai and how woman have sex for money and why. Sex for money IS called prostitution.

· 9. mar | September 3rd, 2006 at 9:43 am

mark im not commenting in the documentary im replying on the comment left by “and far away….”

· 10. Mark | September 3rd, 2006 at 10:03 am

Mar thats a ping back, and far away’s post is here
http://andfaraway.net/blog/2006/09/03/dubai-censorship-nox/
he just linked to me

· 11. bin3li | September 3rd, 2006 at 10:12 am

you know Mark
Etisalat blocked the entire site of youtube from UAE because of this documentry

and because of this movie many other sites has been blocked even if it dose only have articles that talks about it, including (heqt.am)

Now, I think Etisalat has a strong reason to block google video, and your site!

I wish they don’t reach to your site at least

——
What is happening here is that they put laws and they go around it, like how Armenian girls enter Dubai with a Russian passports that have flase info. including their real age!

Armenians are not the only nationality which is involved in this business

many Asian ( Philippine and Indonesian ) women enter the country as housemades, they work all day as mades
and in midnight cars pick them from home and take them to hotels where they make money out of sex! ( I don’t know from where do they get all this energy to work 24 hours!)

Also there are many African come to dubai for the same reason.

· 12. moocherx | September 3rd, 2006 at 10:34 am

I lived in Dubai 10 years ago, and even then prostitution was rife. However, at that time we used to chat to all these very pleasant & intelligent russian girls who’d come to Dubai as teachers. But their salaries were meagre, so they used to go to the clubs at night to pick up guys for extra cash. They were quite grateful for people just to chat with on some evenings, talking about life instead of “what do you do and for how much?”. Those were interesting days. But judging by the toothless old crones standing in the bus-stops of Mahboula waiting for a pickup to pick-up, it won’t be long before Kuwait starts going down the same path, and it won’t be supposedly hidden in the form of “massage” leaflets slid under doorways in apartment buildings!

· 13. zaydoun | September 3rd, 2006 at 10:37 am

I say legalize prostitution like Germany and be done with it!

· 14. equalizer | September 3rd, 2006 at 12:29 pm

Prostitution is a serious problem in any society. Hell its the oldest proffession on Earth. To alow or put a blind eye on prostitution is simply carelessness and in part incriminating on the officials side. I don’t think Etisalat can block e-mails, and this should get to every UAE citizen, but then again what is the point. They all know it exists and they can’t talk about it or do anything about it. I’ve heard stories about prostitues locked up in some of the sheikhs palaces. Dubai can only have a better image if it gets rid of those prostitutes, or better yet move them into real jobs and crack down on the pimps and traffiking network.

· 20. Hashim | September 3rd, 2006 at 4:55 pm

What really amazes me is that everything happens under close observation of police units!

· 22. fadibou | September 3rd, 2006 at 11:31 pm

They have prostitution true, but so does Saudi, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.
Prostitution is sick and sad, but thats not the problem with Dubai and I dont think the economic boom they have is based on it.

· 23. Mark | September 3rd, 2006 at 11:49 pm

Dude come on, you cant be comparing the prostitution in Dubai to prostition in Kuwait.. compare it to something in the same league like Bangkok or the Red Light District in Amsterdam. There is nothing in the whole region that is anything close to Cyclone.

· 24. Toxy | September 4th, 2006 at 1:07 am

Hahahahaha…..Sorry Mar, but you are talking absolute rubbish.

Prostitution is “very much restricted to a few areas that are not :open” to the public”….what an absolute load of cack!!

Go to any of the following bars and you will see the prostitutes eyeing you up for a pickup:

Boudoir - supposed to be classy…instead it’s full of trashy Arab hookers lined across the bar

Trilogy - plenty of Eastern Europeans roaming around the outter bar areas.

Casbar - used to be a top place to go about 5 years ago, now it’s all hookers

Zinc - used to be full of Emirates Airlines - now all hookers

Long Bar - full of older Russian hookers looking for some action

Appartment - hookers lurk at the bar like a bad smell

-and that’s all off the top of my head. I haven’t even mentioned those other shit holes like Cyclone, Hyatt Regency, The Garage, Arif’s Castle or Embassy Suites, which are all renowned for their nastiness.

Dubai has become a filthy, dispicable rat hole full of cheap, tacky disease ridden trash.

You obviously have never been out in Dubai if you think it’s only in certain areas. You can even go to Emirates Mall and see those trash with their revealing outfits walking around during the day! Posting Your Comment
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NAGORNO KARABAKH QUALIFIES FOR RIGHT OF SELF-DETERMINATION, AUA LAW DEPARTMENT DEAN SAYS

Panorama.am

15:01 02/09/06

`Nagorno Karabakh is a conflict not only between Armenia and Azerbaijan but also between two core principles of the international law - the right of self-determination and the right of territorial integration. We must always remember that whatever is gained on the battle field in early 90s is only half of the work. Similar victory is needed in the legal and political field,' Emil Babayan, dean of law faculty at the American University of Armenia, told a discussion on the concept of self-determination. The seminar was dedicated to the 15th anniversary of Nagorno Karabakh's independence. Babayan detailed the preconditions which make a nation entitled to the right of self-determination and said people of Nagorno Karabakh fully qualify to that. /Panorama.am/

ASHOT GHULIAN: ALL LEGAL ACTS OF DECLARING NKR WERE FAULTLESS

Yerkir.am
September 01, 2006

"The celebration of the 15th anniversary of the independence prove the liveliness of our statehood and that the road we chose on September 2, 1991 was right," Ashot Ghulian, the speaker of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic National Assembly, said in a live broadcast of the Karabakh Public TV, news agency Regnum reported.

Declaring an independent Nagorno Karabakh Republic during the Soviet rule was a brave move, Ghulian said.

He also said the process of declaring the NKR was faultless in terms of legitimacy.

"All the steps made and all the legal acts to declare independence were faultless, and we have never heard any criticism in this regard to date," Ghulian said. "We did everything in line with the international law and laws of the Soviet Union."

Speaking of the war and its consequences, Ghulian said that beginning 2000, a serious work has been done to overcome the war consequences and develop the economy. He also pointed to the role of the army in ensuring the country's security.

Is the British government giving Azerbaijan the green light to attack?

I’m not sure what to make of the story below. Could the bold statement being made be an interpretation of what was actually said, or is the British government in favor of possible war to attempt to take over our territory?

In any case, someone from the British government needs to provide clarification on their position in this matter.


Today, Azerbaijan
Sept 1 2006

British Ambassador: "Azerbaijan has right to liberate its territories"

01 September 2006 [23:11] - Today.Az

Defense Minister, Col.Gen. Safar Abiyev received British Ambassador to Azerbaijan Laurie Bristow.

Touching on the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, Minister Abiyev stressed that the conflict has not been solved because of Armenia's destructive policy, APA reports.

"Armenia does not comply with the four UN Security Council Resolutions. On the other hand, the world community does not exert any pressure on Armenia to pull out the troops from Azerbaijani lands. Azerbaijan will never consent to the occupied of its territories, and we will liberate our lands by all means, including military way," Mr.Abiyev underlined.

Ambassadors Bristow said Azerbaijan has the right to liberate its lands.

"However, Azerbaijan should pursue a balanced policy regarding this. I arrived at a conclusion after my three-year experience in the South Caucasus that Armenian society has been influenced by external forces. Turkey is one the NATO key states. Azerbaijan has a strong economic base, and all spheres are developing. What will happen to Armenia after 10-15 years? The unfairness against Azerbaijan should be ended as soon as possible," Mr.Bristow underlined.

Minister Abiyev today also received Belarus ambassador to Azerbaijan Nikolay Patskevich, Greek ambassadorTemistokles Demidis, former military attaché of Greek Armed Forces in Azerbaijan, brigade general Ioannis Solias anda new military attaché, Colonel Seoharis Militiades Kollatos.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/politics/29666.html

EU sends warning to Baku

Baku Sun, Azerbaijan
Sept 1 2006

By Ahto Lobajaks


BRUSSELS - European Commission officials have confirmed that European Neighborhood Policy `action plans' have been successfully negotiated with Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia and now await member-state approval.

The `action plans' establish the priorities the EU and the South Caucasus countries involved want to jointly tackle in the course of the next five years.

However, the announcement of the completion of the action plans was overshadowed by a stark warning from the commission to Georgia and Azerbaijan to stop increasing their military budgets.

Strong sentiments

In an unusually strongly worded speech, delivered at a conference in Slovenia on August 28, the EU's external relations commissioner, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, observed that `defense expenditure in the region is going through the roof.' A commission official who asked not to be identified said the particular objects of EU concern are Georgia and Azerbaijan. Ferrero-Waldner noted in her speech that increases in defense expenditure send a negative message in terms of resolving the region's conflicts. The commissioner also says such increases are unjustifiable in countries that are `in desperate need of investment in education, health, and small businesses.' The commissioner also criticized leaders in the region for their `inflammatory rhetoric.' She also noted there has been `little or no progress' toward settling the conflicts in Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Nagorno-Karabakh.

EU on the way

Ferrero-Waldner, together with representatives of the EU's current Finnish presidency, will visit the Caucasus in early October to mark the adoption of the `action plans.'

A commission official said the delivery of the plans would not in itself be conditional on defense cuts.

But the official underlined Ferrero-Waldner's concerns, noting her speech also says `resolving or at least de-escalating the conflicts must be the first priority' for the EU's European Neighborhood Policy.

John Evans: I do not retract my words on the 1915 Armenian genocide

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Sept 1 2006

[ 01 Sen. 2006 11:19 ]

`I assessed the 1915 `Young Turkish' government's actions against Armenians as genocide and I do not retract this statement,' said John Evans, the outgoing U.S. ambassador to Armenia, APA reports.

Holding his last press conference in Yerevan before leaving for the US, Evans stressed that his position regarding the so-called Armenian genocide remains unchanged.

He said he has received a `nice note' from Bush that thanked him for his work in Armenia. He also commended Bush's choice of the next U.S. ambassador to Yerevan, Richard Hoagland, as a `consummate professional.'

Evans was recalled from Armenia on March 7 this year. The reason for that is believed to be his statement that Armenians suffered genocide in the Ottoman Empire `The Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of the 20th century,' Evans had declared during a February 2005 meeting with Armenian-American activists in California. But later on seeing this statement caused a serious dissatisfaction, Evans told a press conference that his words were unofficially stated which do not represent official position of his state. `This expression belongs to me only not a politician. But I must say this was not uttered on time,' he said.

Richard Hoagland, currently the outgoing U.S. ambassador to Tajikistan, has been confirmed by the U.S Senate as a new ambassador to Armenia. /APA/

"Level-headed" leader of Azerbaijan ready to declare a JIHAD on Armenia

When I read stories like the following, it reassures me that when we fought for and won independence from Azerbaijan, what we did was the right thing.

If a high-ranking level-headed leader of Azerbaijan is ready to call for a jihad and he claims to be supported by high-ranking governmental officials and Islamic leaders around the world, that sure does not sound a vote in favor of become a part of Azerbaijan ever (not that I would consider it anyway).

The reality is that Azeri leaders for the most part have proven to be unreliable when one is not Azeri and lately they don’t seem all that reliable for their Muslim population.

Bottom line is that we have to be ready for any acts of war or terrorism that could come from a jihad and if that time comes we have to strike our enemy with such force that it leaves them running back to the rock they came out from under with their tails between their legs.

For those Azeris who don’t want the Gods of fire to rain down on their cities, villages and oil fields (thanks to our Scud missiles and other methods we have to cause damage to our enemy), then when the call for jihad is made, you make sure that the time is "ripe" before jumping in the fire with both feet. You will know if it is really the time is the guy calling for jihad is leading you into the fire and not driving you into it.


Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
September 1, 2006 Friday


ARMENIA IS THREATENED WITH JIHAD;
Religious leader of Azerbaijan sends a no-nonsense message to the neighbor state

by Sohbet Mamedov

STATEMENT MADE BY THE RELIGIOUS LEADER OF AZERBAIJAN ON THE READINESS TO DECLARE A JIHAD ON ARMENIA AS AN INDICATION OF COMBATIVE DISPOSITION IN AZERBAIJANI SOCIETY; Allahushukjur Pashazade: I'm prepared to declare a jihad to liberate the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.



Religious factor is to be added to the equation of the Azerbaijani-Armenian confrontation now. Sheikh-ul-Islam Haji Allahushukjur Pashazade, religious leader of Azerbaijan and the head of the Moslem Directorate of the Caucasus, issued a warning to Armenia at his press conference in Baku the other day. "I'm prepared to declare a jihad to liberate the occupied territories of Azerbaijan," he said. Pashazade added, however, that he would do so when the time is "ripe" because potential of negotiations was not depleted yet. According to Pashazade, the subject of Nagorno-Karabakh ranks the highest on the agenda of all his meetings with senior officials and religious leaders from foreign states. "Many of them support our just case," Pashazade said. "They are even prepared to help Azerbaijan with resolution of the conflict." (It should be noted that Pashazade commands considerable respect both in Azerbaijan and throughout the Islamic world.)

Pashazade is known as a level-headed person in Azerbaijan itself, and his jihad warning therefore made headlines in the republic. Indeed, Pashazade has been urging the faithful to keep their heads and give the authorities a chance to settle the matter (have the occupied territories released, that is) by peaceful means for the last decade or so.

Local analysts take Pashazade's warning to official Yerevan as an indication that Azerbaijani society is weary of waiting for conflict resolution and that it is becoming more and more accepting of radical ideas. Even the OSCE Minsk Group is aware of the trend. Its officials are frantically trying to arrange another round of the Azerbaijani-Armenian peace talks. Tair Tagizade of the Directorate of Information of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said yesterday that a meeting of two foreign ministers was to be organized in the middle of September. The ministers might even agree to arrange a meeting between national leaders, Tagizade said.

Attempts to revive the dialogue between Baku and Yerevan are made against the background of frequent skirmishes at the line dividing national armies of the warring sides. Press Service of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said yesterday that the Armenians had violated the cease-fire regime once again and opened up on Azerbaijani positions in the environs of the village of Gjuljustan (Geranboi district). The Azerbaijanis returned fire and the skirmish eventually wound down without any losses reported.

Delays with the conflict resolution process, occupation of almost 20% of the territory of Azerbaijan by Armenia lasting for over 13 years, and Yerevan's reluctance to obey four resolutions of the UN Security Council demanding withdrawal from the seized areas compound mount tension in Baku. Local analysts point out that this state of affairs that constitutes neither peace nor war can last and the chances of renewal of the hostilities increase by the day. Almost 1 million Azerbaijani refugees are waiting for the word to go ahead and liberate their ancestral lands. Even President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev keeps saying that "this is Armenia's last chance to settle the matter without bloodshed."

Source: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, August 29, 2006, p. 3

Translated by A. Ignatkin

American Embassy urges Armenian officials to investigate corruption allegations

Panorama.am

19:20 01/09/06

Today US Embassy in Armenia makes an announcement: `There has been a great deal of media commentary in recent days about an alleged tape that the U.S. Ambassador is said to have conveyed to President Kocharian implicating a government minister for corruption. We are unaware of the existence of any such tape, and have not conveyed any tape to the President. We have a continuing dialogue with Armenian government officials at many levels on the well-known problem of official corruption. When we become aware of credible allegations of corruption, we of course convey this information to appropriate Armenian officials at a high level. We strongly urge Armenian officials to investigate and prosecute corruption allegations, and especially those involving government ministers or other senior officials. Armenia cannot develop into a fully successful democratic and economically sound state without assurance of integrity at all levels of government'.