In his daily column Aram Abrahamyan, editor of the Aravot Newspaper, expressed opinion, that the elections in Nagorno Karabakh were important not only for the NKR but could also serve an example for the political field in Armenia. Mr. Abrahamyan finds it noteworthy, that after the vote, Masis Mayilyan congratulated Bako Sahakyan with victory, something that has apparently never happened in the history of Armenian elections.
Similar opinions were expressed by Sergey Markedonov, a member of the election monitoring team. Mr. Markedonov stressed that the elections were neither a succession of power from father to son, nor a “color” revolution.
In an interview Arkadi Ghukasyan, the NKR’s outgoing president commented on the fact, that well before the elections the majority of political forces in the country had declared support for Bako Sahakyan. Mr. Ghukasyan expressed opinion that this was probably an endemic phenomenon for the NKR and had come about mostly from the pressure of the unresolved conflict. In fact, the consolidation of political forces behind Mr. Sahakyan, apparently after his victory became more or less apparent, is probably the single most important factor, questioning the pluralism and free spirit of the elections.
Day: July 24, 2007
450,000 Tourists To Visit Armenia by Late 2007
YEREVAN, July 23. /ARKA/. 450,000 tourists are expected to visit Armenia by late 2007, and this will guarantee 20% growth in the sphere. According to Mekhak Apresian, Head of the Tourism Department, RA Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, a 25% increase in the average annual number of tourists’ visits has been recorded since 2001. Particularly, in 2005, 318,000 tourists visited Armenia against 381,000 in 2006.
Looking for something more interesting then figures for Armenian tourism sector, I found this article on the “Hayastani Hanrapetutyun” Newspaper, about the newly opened Windsurfing club in Sevan, which was opened by RA President Robert Kocharian himself, no wonder it got into the “Hayastani Hanrapetutyun” Newspaper 😉
The main building of the club can host 50 people, while 60 are already learning windsurfing in the newly opened club free of charge. I would question why would Hayastan All-Armenian Fund spend 257 million drams on something so silly as windsurfing, and why would the state budget pay for the maintenance fees for the club: these are all details which “Hayastani Hanrapetutyun” Newspaper is gladly informing us about, without asking these questions which literally jump into ones face.
But then again – I really like the idea of windsurfing on Sevan, so this time I will just shut up and say, hmm, it’s not such a bad idea after all!