Caucasus

Still no progress in Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

2011-07-09T14:00:00.009+01:00

Although the Minsk Group Co-Chairs often visit this conflict zone of Caucasus and run negotiations, during the last 4-5 months many Armenian soldiers were killed along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border of Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh.

Periodical ceasefire violations are committed by Azerbaijani forces. As the violations continue in the conflict zone and there is no progress in Armenian-Azerbaijani peace talks, Baku goes on with threats of force solution.

Last month during a summit in Kazan City presidents Serzh Sarkisian, Ilham Aliyev and Dmitry Medvedev discussed this issue, but seems negotiations failed.

After the meeting in Kazan Ilham Aliyev was asked by Euronews journalist, "What is Azerbaijan prepared to give in the case of withdrawal of Armenian forces from Nagorno-Karabakh? Is Azerbaijan offering something in return?"

Aliyev, " Actually we don't have to give anything back for something that belonged to us in the first place. Nagorno-Karabakh is a historic land of Azerbaijan and internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan".

Let me remind a piece of history here. Nagorno-Karabakh was first settled by Noah's descendants. In the 5th century ruler Aran was appointed to be the first governor of the territory. Armenian historiography author Movses Khorenatsi name of it Aran the ancestor inhabitants of Artsakh and Utik, the descendant of Sisak, the ancestor and eponym of Syunik and finally the descendant Hayk, the ancestor and eponym of all Armenians.

During the 13-14th centuries the territory was called Kingdom of Artsakh or Khachen. In 1730, after the death of David Bek, the ruler of Artsakh (Karabakh), Turkish tribes managed to dominate most of the territory of Artsakh and in the late 50s they proclaimed the Khanate of Karabakh.

This comes to prove that in 1994 Armenians just liberated Artsakh, which historically belonged to Armenians.

And what is most amazing, is the aggressive and intolerable attitude and behavior of young Azerbaijanis.

The Caucasus Triangle Movie

2011-06-28T10:11:00.004+01:00

After a long period of absence I'm back, the cause was my over-business. However during this time a lot of things and ideas were born and stayed in my head.

A few weeks ago I learned about this movie "The Caucasus Triangle", which is a documentary on youth media and democracy in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. Director of this documentary is Letizia Gambini and the film was produced in 2011.

http://vimeo.com/23790146

The focus is mainly on Azerbaijan, but it is definitely worth watching.

Starring are Gor Baghdasaryan, Onnik Krikorian, Alexander Arzoumanyan, Robert Arzoumanyan. The film touches such issues as human rights, youth activism, culture and politics of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan.

I strongly recommend to watch this documentary. Though I would like the director to go deep into problems in these conflict zones.

We Consider the Current Phase of Normalization Exhausted

2010-04-28T08:01:00.001+01:00

President Serzh Sargsyan's address on Armenia-Turkey relations on April 22.

"Fellow Armenians;
A year has passed since the Armenian-Turkish-Swiss joint statement on steps to normalize the relations between Armenia and Turkey. During this period, the two Protocols aimed at normalization of the relations have been publicized, discussed in the public domain, and signed. The documents have for quite a lengthy time now been in the parliaments of Armenia and Turkey, awaiting ratification. Armenia has all along demonstrated her commitment to the process of normalization of relations, to the point of including the Protocols in the agenda of the National Assembly. We have made clear to the whole world that our position is nothing but firmly constructive. We have stated that, if Turkey ratified the Protocols, as agreed, without preconditions and in a reasonable timeframe, failure by the Armenian Parliament to ratify them would be precluded.

Now, the time has come to gauge the notion of a “reasonable timeframe” and whether a conduct is “without preconditions.” These criteria were set forth by not only Armenia, but also all the mediators involved in the process, all of our international partners.
For a whole year, Turkey’s senior officials have not spared public statements in the language of preconditions. For a whole year, Turkey has done everything to protract time and fail the process. Hence, our conclusion and position are straightforward:
1. Turkey is not ready to continue the process that was started and to move forward without preconditions in line with the letter of the Protocols.
2. The reasonable timeframes have, in our opinion, elapsed. The Turkish practice of passing the 24th of April at any cost is simply unacceptable.
3. We consider unacceptable the pointless efforts of making the dialogue between Armenia and Turkey an end in itself; from this moment on, we consider the current phase of normalization exhausted.

My Fellow Armenians;
During this period, I have discussed and continue discussing the future of the process launched with Turkey with Presidents Nicolas Sarkozy of France, Barack Obama of the United States, Dmitri Medvedev of Russia, as well as our colleagues in a number of European organizations. We are grateful to them for supporting our initiative, encouraging the process, and exerting efforts to secure progress. The matter of the fact is that our partners have urged us to continue the process, rather than to discontinue it.
Out of respect for them, their efforts, and their sincere aspirations, we have decided after consulting our Coalition partners and the National Security Council not to exit the process for the time being, but rather, to suspend the procedure of ratifying the Protocols. We believe this to be in the best interests of our nation.

Armenia shall retain her signature under the Protocols, because we desire to maintain the existing momentum for normalizing relations, because we desire peace. Our political objective of normalizing relations between Armenia and Turkey remains valid, and we shall consider moving forward when we are convinced that there is a proper environment in Turkey and there is leadership in Ankara ready to reengage in the normalization process.
While announcing to the world the end of the current phase of the process, which was launched with the September 2008 match between the national football teams of Armenia and Turkey, I express gratitude to President Abdullah Gül of Turkey for political correctness displayed throughout this period and the positive relationship that developed between us.

Fellow Compatriots;
In two days, we will commemorate the 95th anniversary of the first genocide of the 20th century, the remembrance day of the Armenian Genocide. Our struggle for the international recognition of the Genocide continues. If some circles in Turkey attempt to use our candor to our detriment, to manipulate the process to avoid the reality of the 24th of April, they should know all too well that the 24th of April is the day that symbolizes the Armenian Genocide, but in no way shall it mark the time boundary of its international recognition.
We express our gratitude to all the states, organizations, and individuals that support us in deploring and preventing crimes against humanity. We are also grateful to all those Turkish intellectuals that struggle for the restoration of historical justice and share our grief. On this eve of the 95th anniversary, we call upon everyone to remember that the memory of one and a half million innocent victims exterminated under a state-orchestrated program merely for being Armenian continues to pose before mankind the demand for recognition and condemnation.

Fellow Compatriots;
We are stronger today than ever before and stand straight as always. Henceforth, our efforts for a better Armenia, a better region, a better world, and a more solid unity of Armenians worldwide will only multiply. Rest assured that results will be visible all along. God bless us!"

Armenia-Turkey protocols

2009-10-12T11:14:00.002+01:00

Armenia-Turkey Protocols signed in Zurich
10.10.2009

Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu signed the Protocols envisaging normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations on Saturday. The ceremony took place in presence of Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana, Armenia’s Ambassador to Switzerland Charles Aznavour and Turkey’s Ambassador to Switzerland Oguz Demiral, Slovenia's Foreign Minister, Chair of CoE Committee of Ministers Samuel Zbogar.

Leading figures in the international community have voiced optimism over the signing of two landmark protocols for restoring ties and opening the shared border on Saturday by Armenia and Turkey, with the UN secretary-general urging the parties to swiftly ratify the protocols. The Turkish and Armenian parliaments must now approve the deal, in the face of opposition from nationalists on both sides and an Armenian diaspora which insists that Turkey acknowledge the killings of Anatolian Armenians during World War I as genocide.
“The secretary-general welcomes the signing today in Zurich of the two protocols aimed at normalizing the relations between Armenia and Turkey,” a statement issued by a spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon read. “This historic decision constitutes a milestone toward the establishment of good neighborly relations and the development of bilateral cooperation between both countries. The secretary-general is confident that this development will also contribute to peace, security and stability in the South Caucasus,” the statement said.
In a joint statement, EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn called the signing “a courageous and far-sighted step forward.” “The signature of the protocols confirms the desire of both Turkey and Armenia to turn a page and build a new future. This opens new perspectives for the solution of conflicts, notably in Nagorno-Karabakh,” the EU statement said.

The ceremony, scheduled for around 8 p.m. Yerevan time was delayed when the Armenian delegation objected to a statement that the Turkish side wanted to add to the proceedings. It is believed that the statement was intended to link the Nagorno Karabakh settlement to the rapprochement process – a condition the Armenians have objected to from the start of negotiations.

The signing ceremony resumed around 11:15 p.m. Yerevan time (8:15 p.m. in Zurich) at the University of Zurich. Neither side issued a statement following the signing as had initially been planned, an idea apparently scrapped as a consequence of the dispute that led to the signing delay.Against the support came a lashing from the powerful Armenian National Committee of America saying: "The Obama Administration's attempts to force Armenia into one-sided concessions . . . is short-sighted and will, in the long term, create more problems that it serves."

Also on Friday, multiple thousands in Yerevan streets voiced the disdain of political parties at home and other Diaspora organizations – most sympathetic to Armenia’s oldest party, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaksutsyun. As they have since the protocols were announced August 31, the Dashnaks led the largest anti-government rally seen since February 2008, when oppositionists crowds swelled daily, prior to further events that led to Armenia’s worst violence on March 1, 2008 when 10 were killed and more than 200 injured in street warfare.Opposition to the protocols has centered on two main concerns believed to be implied in the documents.First: The establishment of a historical commission to debate events of 1915-18 in Ottoman Turkey is widely feared at home as legitimizing Turkey’s claims that the deaths of up to 1.5 million Armenians has been mischaracterized as “genocide” by the Armenians (and 22 governments that have passed legislation recognizing it), when in fact according to the Turks they, too, suffered at the hands of the Armenians in collateral impact of World War I.Second:

The protocols call for “recognition of territorial integrity” of borders, a condition that has a two-prong impact.
One: It could imply that Armenia must concede its “occupation” of land internationally-recognized as belonging to Azerbaijan around the Armenian enclave of Nagorno Karabakh.

Two: It could mean that, by recognizing Turkey’s current border it would negate legal claims currently in debate by Genocide survivors who have called for reparation and indeed for compensation for land they say was stolen from their ancestors in the 1915-18 displacement of Armenians from what is now Turkey.In any case, ink on the pages put these protocols into the machine of diplomatic process that is next to see them ratified or rejected by parliaments of both countries. With ratification expected, the result would mean that within two months borders between Armenia-Turkey would be opened for the first time since Turkey closed them in 1993.

Grozny

2009-04-24T13:20:00.003+01:00

This is our new shopping center "Berkat" ("Welfare")

Building in front of "Berkat". It's said, all cultural organizations and main library of Grozny will be transfered here...

Grozny

2009-04-24T13:16:00.002+01:00

"Civil" clothes for students

2009-04-24T13:05:00.005+01:00

Beginning from the 1st of April the security of the Chechen State University (CSU) checks and control not only presence of headscarves on girls’ heads and their size, but also uniform.

Rumors about clothes for students were heard at the end of last year. Most of students hoped it’s just a rumor but - as it usually happens - “there is no smoke without a fire” and a new shop for students called “Elegant” began its work at the end of March.

A jacket, a vest, a neckties for boys and headscarves for girls and, if a boy doesn’t have proper trousers and a girl – skirt, they can buy them right in the shop. So the total cost of the suit is 5 000 rubles (≈$145), while the average monthly grant of the students is 1000 rubles (≈$30).
“Every best European institutions of higher education has its own uniform, it’s an honor of the institution” – says a pro-rector of the university Kerimov M.

As says the pro-rector an idea to introduce the uniform appeared after some brawl which took place not far from CSU. And though there were students of other institutions mass media spread news that the instigators were students of CSU.

“It often happens that students brawl. But wherever it happens it’s said the initiators were the CSU’s students, though there can be students of the Chechen State Pedagogical Institute or students of Oil institute or anybody else. That’s why we want our students to stand out in a crowd. Also we want to inoculate the youth to wear civil clothes; want make them feel proud for their university” says the pro-rector.

Fashions of the uniform were designed in Moscow and made in Turkey. Also the direction is going to open a tailoring shop right in the “Elegant” so students could take the uniform in their figure if there’s need to do it.

Now the uniform issue is solved – every student wears “civil” clothes and anybody who’ll be caught without it can say “Good bye” to CSU.

Friday, 13

2009-03-23T21:50:00.005Z

Yes, it’s a name of a famous horror movie and some superstitious people may think I’ll tell you now some terrible or mystical story. Relax :) I’m just going to continue previous theme about English language in Chechen Republic and should begin from the 24th of February, when a first round of “English Language Battle-2” took place, and the second one was on March, 13 (Friday). Let’s begin…

On the 24th of February a first round of republican English language competition took place at the Chechen State Pedagogical Institute (CSPI). 10 teams by 4 members from 3 state institutions and students of Isa Magomadov’s school had to show best results in 4 fields of English - vocabulary, grammar, reading/writing, auding/speaking – and prove they deserve the title “winner”. There are two levels - Elementary and Advanced – by 5 teams in each one.

Due to use of IT together with modern English language teaching educational materials the jury could watch and value teams’ performances of tasks.

The 1st round was a kind of preparation for the next round, which took place on the 13th of March at the faculty of foreign languages, CSU. And the last round will be on March, 28.

As say the organizer of the “English Language Battle” Musa Magomadov, Department of Education and Science of CR has agreed to support the competition and award 30 000 rub. (~$1200) the most talented student.

A great help in organizing the battle gave the Grozny State Oil Institute’s (GSOI) direction:

- I’d like to thank a pro-rector of GSOI Ibragim Gayrbekov for his help, - says Musa. – This is second time when he appropriate funds for the competition. Also a direction of (CSPI) appropriated funds for this event. I can’t not to mention that we suggested to CSU’s direction took part in the organization of the “battle”, but they refused our proposal…don’t know why.

For the first time “English Language Battle” took place on autumn, 2007 at the main building of GSOI. Best results those time showed faculty of foreign languages of CSU. Who wins this year we’ll know after March, 28. But the count of points after two rounds shows that CSU has all odds to keep it’s title “winner” – anyway: faculty of foreign languages of CSU – is a faculty of foreign languages…

What about English?

2009-03-05T09:31:00.005Z

I wonder how would be our world if all people spoke the same language. The Tower of Babel! If only our ancestries didn’t try to reach the sky – there’s a time for things – we could easily communicate with each other speaking one language and who knows, maybe we could better understand each other and live in peace. Who knows?
It’s necessary today to know at least one foreign language usually English, which widen man’s opportunities for communication and self-development. And be sure, before employer accepts you for employment he’ll ask you about your level of English.
English in Chechen Republic – this is out theme for today.

Our practice at Chechen State University has begun last month. As potential English teachers we –the 4th –year students - undergo practice training at schools. All we have to do is visit the English lessons, take part in the teaching process if possible and at least once lead a lesson.
I’ve got second form)). To be honest I was surprised to know our pupils study English from the second form. I remember when I was a pupil we began to study it at fifth form and there was always a problem with English teacher, i.e. with her/his absence. As it’s appeared the problem is still actual. It’s also sad that in XXI century we teach in the traditional way by old methodology – a backboard, a chalk, a copybook in lines and “dry” materials – while Information Technologies have entered to every field of humans’ activities and make a great help in teaching process. How to arise pupils’ interest to foreign language in these conditions?

After my observation of the pupils during the lesson, seeing their passivity and disinterest in I decided to show them that learning foreign language can be interesting and even merry sometimes. First I asked a manager whether the school has projector. It turned out that they have 2 projector which goes with 2 interactive boards (for school with 2 shifts), but they can’t be moved. And there’s always a queue to the lecture room with interactive boards, so it’s not judicious to cross the whole school with 30 children during the 5-10 minutes break just for one lesson. I have some interesting and colourful material in electronic version, wanted to work with it – make children play games, sing songs. Pity(( There was nothing to do but to use traditional “equipment” on our lesson – blackboard, white chalk, paper and a word. When they heard: “Now let’s play a game. Who wants to meet foreigners and talk with them in English?” – their eyes blazed, they became active and seem to like English. Our foreigners were Bob, Sue, Helen, Dave, Mike – foreign children printed on papers. Then we “went to the shop” to buy some vegetables and clothes. I was glad to see their active, taking part in the process and thought: How many things depend on how they will be given to you.

It’s pity, but fact – at our schools and universities people learn foreign languages by old methods and books, while the rest of the world use teaching material of publish houses like Oxford, Cambridge, MacMillan, Longman with active use of IT. I see some reasons of that sad situation:
1) You won’t find books of these publish houses in Grozny shops. And if find, they’ll be too expensive (more than they cost). How can English teacher ask parents to buy these books, if besides English they have to buy all school books and materials on their own money?
2) Law computer literacy and restrict access to the Internet resources. Even if one wants to move on and improve his skills there’re hardly opportunities for it. The Internet could help in this process, could help to find colleagues from other countries, to study on distance courses, by Internet people can exchange points of view, give or get advices, but rather high prices on the Internet leave much to be desired. As I understand, school teachers very seldom use PCs and the Internet (if use at all), at least at school – for sure.
3)There are no lingophone rooms. Maybe, you can find them at gymnasium or presidential lycée, but it’s impossible for every child of Ch.R. to study at 2 schools.
4) English teachers teach as they know and can, as they have been taught. We must use new methods with dominance of communicative methods of studying foreign languages and usage of IT.
5) A law salary – is a big problem too. When your salary hardly enough for way you do every day to get to the school and for food, you can forget about initiative, hard work and so on. This problem concerns not only our republic, but Russian Federation. It’s promised that in the nearest future it’ll be solved by raising teachers’ salary. Well, hope this is true. Because on teachers conditions and satisfaction depends their treatment to their job and children – on it depends pupils and students education.
6) There are no any program on republic level for popularization of English. There are no special-purpose schools with advanced studying of foreign languages. There are no new books, magazines in English in the libraries. Of course, if one has the Internet he/she can practice in reading using the computer, but we have the problem №2 (see above).

Here are the problems I see for today in teaching and learning foreign languages. We talked about schools, but the situation is not better at institutes of higher education.
I hope and believe that in the nearest future things will get better in our republic. Hope, believe and pray.

Next time I’ll tell you about republic competition in English language among our students, where students practice in working with new materials and IT.

I’d be glad so read your comments on the subject with advices, if you have ones.

Best regard,
Your Amata.

The Chechen State University

2009-02-21T13:37:00.009Z

Hello, my dear FD.
Hope you haven’t be bored without me. If “yes”, we’ll correct it immediately. =)
Today I’ll tell you about The Chechen State University (CSU).

From the papers of history...

CSU was founded in 1972. But in fact its history begins from 1938. First it was Teachers’ institute with two-year program where teachers for primary schools were prepared. 1941 – Chechen-Ingush State Teachers' training institute and on bases of it – Chechen-Ingush State University. In 1995 it was renamed to the Chechen State University (CSU)

In the days of old CSU was a centre of science and education in Chechnya and was one of the best institutions. Unfortunately all of its training buildings, libraries, unique scientific libraries and typography were damaged during the war.

2000 is a year of revival of the university…revival from the ruins as everything in Chechen Republic including people’s souls, hearts and hopes.

Today we have more or less good conditions for studying. There are 5 training buildings, 13 faculties, 803 teachers among them 34 DPhils and about 15 000 students in the CSU.

Nowadays we don’t have a rector as it used to be, but a president of the university – Saidov Zaurbek Aslanbekovich. From 2004 he was a head of the State Committee of Youth Affairs. In 2008 he was appointed the president of CSU by our republic’s president.

“University Herald”
It is a name of the CSU’s own newspaper.

1. Steps of revival

Restoring of the main building of the university is in progress. Its majestic facade, decorated with columns and bas-reliefs, was a pride of CSU in the past. The new building won’t become a copy of old one, but, it’s promised, will as beautiful as it and will become a pride not only of the university, but also of the capital.

2.Chechen students abroad

(Interview with pro-rector of International relations of CSU Shavady Arsaliev)

- Who was the initiator of the project “Studies abroad” and how passed the selection of those who would go for studying abroad?
- First of all I want to emphasize a great role of our president Ramzan Kadyrov in this project. It was by his order that Ministry of Education with the Chechen State University selected students of our 3 institutes of higher education for studying abroad. The institutes: The Chechen State University (CSU), The Grozny State Oil Institute (GSOI), The Chechen State Teacher’s Institute (CSTI).
- After thorough selection, testing and interviewing the candidates were selected 89 students. 41 of them went to Germany (CSU – 33 students, GSOI – 4, CSTI – 4) and 48 to Great Britain (CSU – 25 students, GSOI – 10, CSTI – 13).
- It is our first experience, but in spite of this, as show the numbers I’ve presented, we gathered quite large group of students and sent them abroad.
- Why have you chosen Germany and Great Britain?
- Of course, it wasn’t a random choice. Germany and Great Britain are countries with the most developed system of higher education. There are many prestigious universities with centuries-old history in the countries. To be a student of such universities is a great honour and responsibility for young man, all the more for representative of such long-suffering and fast-developing region as Chechen Republic.
- It wasn’t randomness that our president Kadyrov R. talked about the responsibility that rests with selected students in his farewell speech. I think, the guys understood that they’d have a difficult travel around Europe.
- To which professions you gave preferences?
- We gave preferences to professions that are first-priority for our economics, among them: medicine, agronomy, animal technician, veterinary science, produce processing industry, economics of production control, commerce, management, physics, mathematics, chemistry, biology, informatics, social service, tourism, ecology, geography and professions relating to petroleum industry.
- Did foreign partners take part in the selection process?
- Of course! The process was led with active participation of representatives of foreign educational organizations: DAAD (Germany), INTO and Study Group (Great Britain). They checked our guys at all points. A special attention was given to the knowledge of foreign language.
- All troubles about the selection are in past now and our students are in Europe. They left home in the beginning of January.
- On what will they live? Will they have grants and whether it’ll be enough for life?
- Of course, they’ll get grants. And the money should be enough for our students to live quite respectable life. The students who are in GB first month will get: 1) those who live in hostels, ₤500; 2) in families - ₤400. Beginning from the second month: 1) ₤400; 2) ₤300.
- A basic monthly grant in Germany is €410 - it must be enough for student.
- How will our republic control a learning process of our students abroad?
- A data about every student will be collected and sent us during first weeks of their studying abroad. It’ll contain an information about their progress (in studies), attendance of lessons, etc. We’re getting telephone numbers of our students already. And can contact with them when it’ll be necessary.
- Besides, at the end of this month we plan to go abroad and visit higher educational institutions where the students are studying. It’ll gives us chance to receive evidence that our students deliver the goods.

- Will be the program of studies abroad of chechen students continued?
- The program is planed to be continued till 2019. Depending on the results of the winter term a new reception of applications for studying abroad will be announce a in all three state institutions. Every 1st-, 2nd – year student, who studies for “5”, “4” (without “3” in the student's record book) can apply for the grant except those who studies by correspondence contract basis.

3. As you eat, you shall study.

There’s hardly any other point of catering in our republic as popular and called-for as students’ canteen in the central building of CSU. “Feast of stomach” is here! “There's not an inch of room, there's no room to move” at rush-hours.

Recently a Moscow journalist making the round of the university dropped in the canteen and said with admiration: “As I see your students don’t have problems with appetite”.

Indeed, they don’t have such problem. They are young, healthy, full of energy and they have an appropriate appetite. All the more, when there’s an opportunity to satisfy it right at the university.

Of course, this is not a place for gourmet, but one can easily dull the edge of his appetite. The most popular dishes are round fried meat pies, patties, hot dogs, tea, coffee and cakes. Therewith prices of here are much cheaper than in the near-university cafes.

- Coasts of dishes set in accordance with cost breakdown, - says the manager of the canteen Malika Abazova.

Malika is one of the most old workers of CSU’s catering. She came to the university’s canteen 22 years ago. Constancy and devotion to the job are “trade mark” of the canteen. The personnel of canteen consists of 5 members and none of them can be called a “beginner”. For instance, cooks Ayna, Roza and Fatima work here since 1991. The others joined them in 1996. It seems even cookery experts feel themselves safe and comfortableunder the university’s wing. Though, as Malika Abazova says, the history of the canteen was quite hard. During the war in 1994-1996 it was damaged. At the first opportunity in 1996 canteen’s team restored it and began to work as they wanted to provide students at least with some food - round fried pies, patties, tea and coffee.

Any other café may envy today’s influx of clients of the canteen. Because of the great number of clients there’s always problem with free rooms. At the “prime-times” one can see a queue for vacated chairs – their total number is 120. It’s clear that there’s need to make the canteen wider.

- There’s need not only to make the canteen wider, but also re-equip it, - says the manager.

The direction of the university already knows about the problems and the president of CSU Zaurbek Saidov ordered to find means to solve them.

The Chechen State University has taken the road of modernization recently. No doubts, the new trends will touch university’s catering system. It’s planned to create a complex of nourishment for students, where will be plenty of places and food.

A sound mind in a sound body! And the sound body needs tasty, salubrious food in a comfort conditions.

4. Well of stamped knowledge

Many years ago before the TV and video industry had become so developed as today, and the Internet wasn’t so worldwide, book depositories were very popular. With appearance of new types of media, in part, the Internet, the number of book readers reduced.

This tendency is a standards for any other library but not for the university’s ones. They are usually full, especially during attestations and examinations’ periods. At this time it’s very important for librarians to react to student’s requests in good time. Youth is full of energy, active and sometimes even impulsive people. And because of these it’s necessary sometimes for librarians to apply some educational measures (steps) against the students (like shouting) – but it happens very seldom.

Nobody likes fuss in this kingdom of books, and the main enemies of here are dust, moisture and, excuse me, insects that are harmful for papers.

There are 5 reading halls in CSU at 5 faculties. The main office is situated at the faculty of law. Nobody knows exactly how many books in the library. The reason is that most of books were received as presents and they haven’t been calculated yet.

- We make an inventory now, - says a director of the library Rezida Shavkhalova, - and very soon we’ll find out an exact number of the books. In general, there are more than 200 000 books in the library.

5. Computer is not so black as it is painted

Students’ folklore says: a student lives from term to term. What does he do during the term, the folklore hushes up. Though it’s easy to see, that examinations and tests’ period is the most difficult one for students, which is full of worries, stresses and intensive preparations for the exams.

A new numerical-rating system joined with computer testing put additional load of worries and responsibility. Pass exams on computer for “excellent” mark, add one’s rating points, and then get an average “good” mark is not easy. But the students have adapted to the system. It’s seen from their results. And a correspondent of ‘University Herald” got evidence of that by visiting computer examinations at the end of January.

There were 4 groups passing exam (“Chechen folklore”) that day – 3 of them were philologists, 1 – journalists. The They all passed the exams for “5” and “4” marks.

- I’m satisfied by their results, - says a candidate of philological science, a teacher of the subject “Chechen folklore” Sharany Djambekov, who was controlling the passing of exam. – Now we need to calculate their total points including current points, which they got during the term (at the lessons).

And the students too look quite satisfied by results.

- We were preparing for the exam without any hope for condescension, - says a student Laila. – And I’m very glad we passed it for good marks.
Computer examinations has become an important part of educational process of CSU. Now there are no doubts of reasonability this new system of evaluation student’s knowledge and traditional system gives way for innovations.

“University Herald”
№2 (6) February, 2009

New Year celebrations - The Armenian Way

2009-01-10T11:16:00.000Z

crosspost from my blog.

The New Year celebration is one of the most anticipated holidays for an Armenian family.
Through the years, the traditions and customs are being kept but also a bit modernized :) Some of the customs come from Soviet times, they are quite similar to the ones in Russia and former USSR, but some are typical only in Armenia. Families with modest means and low income do their best to save money for New Year table. People even do more than they can afford, since it's believed that "You'll spend the year just the way you've welcomed it" and also people will be welcoming guests the following days, so the table has to be as "rich" as possible.
The preparations start weeks before the New Year. People start attacking the food stores and supermarkets, trying to do the shopping beforehand, since the last days many things become more expensive (others like to leave everything till the last moment and the shop owners are earning on it).

The Table
One of the most anticipated New Year table "accessories" is the pork leg. It has become one of the main symbols of the holiday and there are already many jokes connected to that "cult" - like the question "how days in advance do you buy the pork?" asked to everybody or the greeting "happy pork holidays!". It costs about 100$ for an 8-10 kg piece. The recent years, some families that are trying to be original, are replacing the pork with turkey or some fish. In my family, we never betray this tradition since for my father, the pork is a "must-have" and traditionally my mother cooks it the best way. So the pork in our home is something to try out at the new year ;)

a typical table at new year - my uncle's house example

Other traditional things for the table are meat snacks (ham, basturma, sujukh), various salads ("stolichnyj", "olivier", chicken breast with nuts or mushrooms and other), …

On the table you can find pastry (mostly eastern ones - with sweet honey syrup and nuts, since they can stay eatable longer because there's no milk cream), fruits (orange, apples, pomegranate, bananas, grapefruits), various nuts (pistachio, hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts, etc...), and the sweet sudjukh - walnuts, threaded and soaked in thick syrup of grape or mulberry juice. Dried sweet snacks from all kinds of fruits (sometimes also vegetables) is also a must-have for the table. Apples, blackberry, peach, apricot, pear, prunes, watermelon, cherries, etc... (my friend's granny makes sweet dried carrots !)

Dried fruits on our table

on the left - Հոն (couldn't find its name in English and even in Russian for translating), apricots on top, peaches on bottom and watermelon slices on the right, figs in the middle.

Sudjukh on the top, sweet dried figs on the left and dried prunes

For the bread we usually put Armenian thin lavash since it lasts longer fresh. For about a week we don't do any shopping (actually we wouldn't be able to do it since the stores are closed), so all that days we are eating the food prepared in advance. Many people's stomachs won't easily survive this holiday.

my favorite eastern pastry on our table

it's Pakhlava on the top (eastern pastry with walnut stuffing and honey) and "rshta halva" on the bottom (again with walnuts and honey)

There's an unannounced competition among the families and housewives - whose table will be richer and more original?. In addition to the traditional dishes, my mother also makes "chicken Kiev" cutlets, and traditional "Ishli kyufta" - chopped meat of different kind - stuffed one in another. Usually meat-stuffed pancakes are also an important part of the new year table, as well as traditional Armenian Dolma made by grape leaves.
No female family member can skip from the responsibility of making these preparations (cutting vegetables, rolling dolmas, and baking pankaces).

The House
The preparations are not only for the table, but also for the house. A very important tradition for Armenians is cleaning out the house. These days girls are going upstairs on the stairs cleaning chandeliers and ceilings, also tops of wardrobes, cupboards and other wall units. This tradition is believed to be very important so that the house have to be totally ready to enter the new year clean. If you call an Armenian house on the last days of December, be sure that if you ask what are they doing, they must be either cleaning, or cooking :)

So the new year is traditionally being met with the family. In some families women are busy preparing the table and cleaning the house up to the last minutes of the year. Then we are watching the Catholicos' and President's speeches, watching the Republic Square clock ticking. With the ticking, we raise glasses, say toasts, wishes and start eating :) pork, salads etc...

Later some close relatives may arrive. Some families meet the new year also with the Moscow time (1 hour later), since Russian TV channels are very popular in Armenia and we watch also Russian president's speeches, compare them with ours' :D

Then the fuss with phone calls begins. You have to be very lucky to be able to make a call or have your sms delivered. The telephone operators have the most extensive traffic load this night. It's also funny getting sms from unknown numbers with standard phrases "happy new year, i wish you happiness".
Also, during all the holiday days, with all congratulations and wishes that one is saying to another, one very meaningless and stupid question is being asked always ! It's "How did you spend the New Year?". Of course, it's not about spending upcoming the year, but about the holiday, and you should really do something notable to tell since that question is just un-skippable.

For the recent years it has become a tradition to meet the new year in Tsakhkadzor (a small town that became a winter resort, about 30 mins from Yerevan). All the guest houses and hotels are already fully booked before October! Most of the venues have their new year eve celebration show mandatory to attend and included in the price. It's nice when families can arrange to rent a house with their friends families and spend a week in this popular winter resort, enjoying the snow, skiing and climbing the mountains with the ropeway.

Some families go to the restaurants for the night, where the Armenian pop stars start visiting the whole night. It's their most packed season :)

New Year eve's TV shows of Armenian channels become more and more professional each year and you can notice that their budgets also increase by each year. But still if you switch the channels that night, you'll see the same pop stars singing the same hits :( The most popular shows are humorous films and recordings from previous year's humorous films.

Guest/Host or "tun-tunik"
The next day the holiday routine begins… endless visits and guest welcoming. It lasts from January 1 till 7-8. Families start visiting each other, one after another. In a day on average 3-4 visits are being completed, some people manage to visit more! It's kind of annoying but you may visit the families that visited you, just the next day. I wonder, are there so many things to talk and discuss ? :) On each visit, everybody has to try all the dishes that the hosts have prepared, even if it's your 5th ishli qyufta or pork ham slice. They will insist badly and you won't resist :D

a family visit :) at my uncle's

There's some kind of a priority system for the visits - the first two days are mainly for the close relatives and on Jan.1 it is required to visit houses where somebody has died that year.

Armenian Christmas
Armenian Christmas is being celebrated on Jan. 6. On the eve, people usually go to the church and bring consecrated fire from there (lighted candle that will clean the house from dark spirits). On the Christmas day families gather to eat rice prepared with dried fruits or raisins, eat fish and drink wine. No meat is allowed. Then some people visit a church and light a candle again.
The next day of the main church holidays (including Christmas) is called "merelots" and that day people visit the graves of their relatives. From 2008, all the "merelots" days are declared non-working and are replaced by the nearest Saturdays in the week.

In Armenia the Christmas is not as much anticipated and celebrated as the new year's eve, but i guess it depends on the family traditions.

Happy New Year

2008-12-31T12:20:00.006Z

I wish to all organizers of Forgotten Diaries, to all our readers, to every partisipant of FD....I wish you a HAPPINESS...

***

Season's Greetings
Many Happy Returns of the Year
Wishing a Successful and Fruitful New Year
May 2009 bring the best in all our plans and goals to be achieved...

Happy New Year... :)

Grozny is ready to meet 2009 year

2008-12-31T12:12:00.004Z

Winter has come, New Year is coming soon...

2008-12-31T12:08:00.002Z

2008-12-31T11:59:00.004Z

Hello, dear FD. Hello to readers and of course to my colleague Arpik)) Hope everything is OK with you. As for me, this month was a little strained – the term began and yesterday I passed the last test… Ole-ole-ole!)) Actually it’s early to be happy as after New Year holidays examinations will be continued. But as used to say a main character from “Gone with the Wind”: “I’ll think about it tomorrow”. And today I suggest you to dip into Chechen Republic’s life just for several minutes.

The spontaneous markets’ age is over

The large-scale operations for the elimination of the illegal spontaneous markets have begun in Grozny (the capital of Chechen Republic). The works are carrying out in all four districts of the capital.
“Heretofore there were many illegal elemental markets on which its sellers didn’t follow to any standards - non sanitary code, non standards of fire safety. This must be determined”, - said a deputy town clerk Khuseyn Betiev.
According to his words the problem must be solved in the shortest time.

For the first day of work there were eliminated several markets on which people sold food, clothes and building material. Several cars, from which people were selling goods, were arrested.

The works for the elimination of the illegal spontaneous markets is doing by administration of Grozny in close collaboration with departments of interior and representatives of Tax Service.

Molodejnaya smena, December 2008

Number of books will grow up.

Department of Culture of Grozny has got 16 900 books from Moscow for libraries.
“With such help of our Moscow friends we’ll be able to step on new level of development of public libraries, that will promote a common cause of development of library system of Russian Federation”, - said the head of the Department of Culture Grozny city Dagman Bersanova. According to her words due to this action library stock of Grozny will be filled by asked-for economics, medicine, history and literature books.
This action was organized by publishing group “Grand-Fair” and publishing house “Molodaya gvardia” with partnership of Grozny administration.
Nowadays there are 16 libraries in Grozny with common number of books about 100 000 books.

Molodejnaya smena, December 2008

Balance of the year

The administration has summed the results of 2008 year. About it says “Financial economics messenger” (December, 2008). As it’s written there, 3667 objects were restored and put in commission. An abandoned village Khoy was revived too – there were built Mosque for 100 people, 10 cottages and almost 12 families have returned to the village.

Token events happened in Grozny – there were built Central Mosque called after name Ahmat Kadirov (father of the present president Ramzan K.) and reconstructed central street which was renamed after ex-president of RF Putin V.V.

In the next year -2009- Grozny airport will get an international status. About it said Chechen Republic president. As he said, Prime minister of Russia Putin V.V. promised that he’d help our republic in this issue.

I think this would be very good and comfortable, because many people of here earn money by selling goods in the market (as the level of employment is 70%, no jobsite and people have to become vendors), and the goods are importing from Turkey and other countries. So an international status of the airport will make the procedure of importing easer.

about "Manana" youth educational-cultural center (Armenia)

2008-12-24T17:48:00.000Z

Yesterday I went to the opening of the photo exhibition of "Manana" youth educationa-cultural media center's students at Naregatsi Art Center.

"Manana" center is my native organization. 10 best years of my life were connected to it :) first, I was a student of the journalism, photography and filmmaking clubs, then - a teacher of Web design and computer skills.

"Manana" non-profit, non-governmental organization founded in 1995. The center brings together people of different ages and interests, who are all educators, irrespective of their main profession, and are deeply concerned with children's issues. Throughout these years Manana has been working towards the spiritual, intellectual and physical development of the children. Different years there have been Journalism, Photography, Film making, English language, Painting, Animation, Handicraft, Computer skills, Web design and Debate clubs...

The Center started its activities literally from nothing. It began in a one-room apartment where the first classes took place on the floor. There was no in-kind or financial support, and no expectations to ever acquire any. The deep awareness of the importance of this new undertaking, and the sheer enthusiasm of the teachers, were the basis of everything. The Center's most valuable resource today still lies in its talented and devoted members, volunteers, parents, and students, whose numbers grow each year.

As for me, the uniqueness of Manana is that it's not just teaching-learning like courses of journalism, etc. It's a learning-by-doing method with elements of peer-to-peer education. The kids have opportunity to publish their works, so they are working on the "products" themselves.
For example, they need to publish a newspaper. Apart from writing articles, stories, interviewing different people and making the photo & graphic illustrations for own articles, they are also learning how to make the layout of the newspaper, how to publish them on the website, how to translate etc... same with the films and other products.

The teachers are mostly the alumni of Manana. Like me :) This fact makes the classes (club meetings) more comfy and effective. The kids see that we are enthusiastic for helping them in their learning and they help us too.

The children of Manana have the unique opportunity to develop their talents and to realize own capabilities. They get the opportunity to participate in many international & local events, travel, explore and experience things that are usually not available to average Armenian schoolchildren.
Manana is open to youngsters from 8 to 16 y.o. that can contribute their time and skills. Clubs' meetings take place in the afternoon, after the kids come from their schools. Each club usually meets once a week, for 1.5 hours. For some years, I used to be in "Manana" for almost everyday after my classes, participating in all clubs' works.

"Manana" is non-commercial and the participation in the clubs is free, so it's accessible to kids from families with limited possibilities. Currently "Manana" is being funded by Tufenkian Charitable foundation and Paros Foundation, and throughout the years it has received support from different individuals that were helping to get the needed technical equipment - computers, cameras, editing hardware and software etc...

I like it also that there's always a very cozy and nice atmosphere... always lots of work, lots of upcoming events and achievements. It's difficult to name all the awards, certificates and recognition that "Manana" has gained throughout these years since it's a veeeeeeeery long list!
We have participated in numerous film festivals, photo exhibitions.. stories have been published in many magazines and websites...
"Manana" is a full member of European Youth Press, CIFEJ.

Our old website with the works is here: www.mibanasem.com. ("Mi ban asem" means- "I got to tell you something")

Just the fact that Manana is more known abroad than in Armenia is a bit confusing...

I can definitely say that if not my involvement in Manana, I won't be the same person. I learned so many things, met so many people and seen so many things there that I just cannot describe my gratitude... it's simply invaluable.
As you can guess, there are so many things you can live in 10 years... but imagine when it's so active, different, interesting and fun?!
I have a huge collection of photos of Manana....I want to share with you some of them...

My first months in Manana. 1997

my fav. room in Manana. children working on collages. 2004

trip to Dilijan/Haghartsin 2004

On Aragats mountain. 2005

«Respectable girl of the Cheche State university»

2008-12-14T10:46:00.004Z

Hello, my dear FD. As I promised you before, I'll tell you about life of mine, my people and youth.. I can't say that everything in our republic is ok, that there's no problems and all people are living happy lives... But we know, nothing happens at once... And I'm glad I can tell you about events like those which follows below... ;)

«Respectable girl of the university»

Beginning from 2007 year in our university takes place a contest called“Университетан сийлахь йо1» («A respectable girl of university»). It’s a kind of “Miss University”, but besides an intellect, oratorical skills and beauty of participants a jury, which consisted this year of 5 persons, have to evaluate their knowledge of Chechen traditions, language and women national dress called “G1ably” (read “G” as “R” in German).

At the 22th of November 11 beautiful girls were struggling for the right to be called the most respectable girl in the Chechen State University. During the competition they had to pass 5 trials:

1) Acquaintance (or introduction) in original form
2) Singing
3) G1ABLY
4) Chechen traditions’ beauty
5) Chechen dance

After almost 2 hours of performance we found out who is the best (among the girls J). Her name is Arsanukaeva Kometa and with the title «Respectable girl of the university» she got a large TV-set LG (as she’s “the best” she can spend time just watching TV J… of course, I joke) … And those who took 2 and 3 places got a microwave and an electric meat chopper…
The contest was organized by Chechen State University and The State committee on youth affairs.

On the picture you can see participants in Chechen national dresses…

Before - After ( Palace of pioners - Administration of Grozny)

2008-12-05T07:48:00.005Z

As said Arpik, all photo credits of "New Grozny" belong me :)

2008-12-05T07:41:00.003Z

This is our main street. In recent past it was called Victory Avenue, but on November it was recalled after ex-president of Russian Federasion Putin V.V. :))

2008-12-05T07:40:00.000Z

Centeral streets of Grozny

2008-12-05T07:38:00.002Z

Irony of fate...

2008-12-05T07:37:00.001Z

Several Years Ago

2008-12-05T07:34:00.000Z

The most large Mosque on Caucasus and the most beautiful one - Grozny, 2008

2008-12-05T07:28:00.008Z

Armenian chess players won Gold at the Chess Olympiad 2008!

2008-11-27T17:24:00.000Z

We won! Moreover, we defended our chempion status ! (Armenia won Gold the previous Chess Olympiad 2006 in Torino too).

photo from armenianow.com

Here's our team:

Levon Aronyan
Vladimir Hakobyan
Gabriel Sargissian
Tigran L. Petrosyan (who was my classmate for some short period)
Artashes Minasian

During the final round, Armenia's only win came on board four where Tigran L. Petrosyan beat Chinese Li Chao.
Thank you Tigran and others!

And here's a nice photo report from the finals.

photo from the Chess Olympiad in Dresden official website

...and if you watch statistics of winners by each year in the wikipedia, you'll notice that USSR and post-soviet countries were almost in no competition for the recent decades.

For the second consecutive Olympiad, top-seed Russia failed to take a medal. From 1952 to 2004, they (and their predecessor the Soviet Union) never finished below second place. (Guardian)

2008-11-23T11:11:00.003Z

Hello, my dear Forgotten Diary. Hope, you’re not angry with me for the word “forgotten” has taken a literal meaning to you. Actually, I didn’t forget about you. There were some reasons that made me silent. Some events that unsettled me so strong that even writing here was hard for me… I was “Far away” ( Apocalyptica’s melody has the same title and mood). The place I’ve been called “depression” The deepest one…)) But now I’m here again, with you, ready to overcome any hardships of this life and tell you about my life, life of my people, youth and city.

Let me tell you everything in course. You know where I’ve been, but don’t know why. And my return I’ll begin with “The story of my life” (in brief)

Knock…knock…knocking on Heaven’s door…

All we are dreamers. Even realists and pessimists are dreamers from time to time. What is important for us is what we dream about and try to reach. And it depends on us whether our dreams will stay just dreams or will we make aims of them and try to reach them. “Nobody promised it would be easy”.

From my childhood studying comes first in my life after my family. I believe I must thank for that my father. Looking through my diary covered with red writings and repetitive number “five” (the highest mark in the RF Educational system) he used to say: “You must study, Amata. Do your best all the time. A one who doesn’t study becomes a slave of this life”. I remembered these words for the rest of my life.

When I was at the 10 form my dad left this life…the real meaning of the words: “when there’s no father to support you” - I understood two years later. Dad wanted me to continue studying in Moscow at some acknowledged, strong institute of higher education where I’d get a good knowledge. In addition, father’s brother lives in Moscow so it seemed quite possible. I wanted it more than he did and this was something I lived for…

Two years passed by – the gloomy ones - and I was staying at the school’s exit with a certificate dreaming about the future, of course, it was connected with Moscow. But a house of cards was going to ruins while at another end of line I heard my uncle’s voice: “I didn’t promise anything… Moscow is a large city… You are young, you are a GIRL… It’ll be hard for you to live here…” – the voice from the phone was saying something else but I didn’t hear what…my feet didn’t feel the ground. At that moment I lost something very important... more than just a chance to study where I dreamed. At that moment I lost a sense of my life, my future life as I believed. It was my luck I was in sunglasses and nobody saw my red eyes and heavy shower of tears on my way back home from a public telephone.

Yes, I am a GIRL, but as far as I know there is no any religion, or rule, or custom that prohibits a man - no matter who he is a man or a woman, – forbids him/her to study, to look for knowledge.

Well... Do you think I was broken? Hurt? Disappointed? Unsettled? - EXACTLY! For 17 years old girl it was hard. And the only person who cheered me was my mum ( “Mother is a human that can replace everybody but there’s nobody who can replace her”).

Those year – in 2004 the Moscow State University (MSU) gave an opportunity to enter their university to passing 2 exams instead of 3 for those who won at the regional Olympiads. And as I was one of those winners in the English language Olympiad I had a delusive hope that I’d pass and enter the MSU at the Faculty of foreign languages. (At the 10-11 forms I was fond of English, England and everything that connected with it. Besides I liked mathematic and informatics. So before my own “Apocalypses” I wanted to bind these subjects in one what was possible only in Moscow)… So… My mum supported me and we went to her relatives in Moscow to haв a trial. I was intensive making preparations for the Judgement day (examinations). But as I’m not a genius and there were lots of clever school-leavers and winners of the Olympiads (why not to confess, some of them were really smarter than me and it wasn’t strange as they had studied in strong schools in Moscow, not postwar ones. Shortly, I didn’t pass…and had to return to Grozny and enter our university at the same faculty.

If I say I forgot about my “own Apocalypses” in short time I’ll lie. It’s really painful when your dream vanishes in two steps from you. And somewhere inside the wound is still bleeding. I know well that my little tragedy which I call “Apocalypses” is nothing in comparison with grieves that happen in this life. It’s nothing in comparison with war and deaths… Nothing in comparison with hunger that many African people suffer… Yes…And I thank God for everything I have today… For I know how it is painful to lose near and dear people… But still fact is a fact – it is difficult and painful to realize that things in which you believed for so long betray your trust in them.

So this is a prehistory (happened 4 years ago) of “The story of my life ” and events that unsettled me once more began in this year and words “studying”, “England”, “GIRL” inseparable from it.

Part 2: “history repeats itself” or “how they touched my fighting spirit”))

This year the government of Chechen Republic launched a new project – “Studying abroad”. According to the project every year about 100 students of our institutes of higher education will be sent to German and Great Britain for studying. A selecting began in summer and consisted of language test and interview with representatives of foreign educational organizations (StudyGroup, INTO, DAAD). More than 300 students were waiting for the results… For me this project was like a sunbeam in the dark… a chance to compensate last unsuccessful attempt.

And after two long months of waiting the results (which I could compare with 100 years) it appeared that the government decided not to send GIRLS to Great Britain (there's no any girl among 45 selected students). “It’s not efficiently to spend money for girls’ studying” – they day. – “If they got married they’d leave a career, job”. So the suggest a girl – no matter how clever she can be – to sit at home and don’t mind businesses like studying, job, politics and so on. Well, of course, family is very important in a man’s life… But let us chose by ourselves…

I can understand those of our government who scare of spending money “for vain” for the girls studying. Yes, it’s true that for many Chechen girls home and family are the only things they care about. But take a look around: at the institutes, at schools, at different establishments women work and do their best. Our republic is not exclusion. And also, it is mother that brings up children and if she’d be uneducated, unwise, and sorry for that word – foolish – what will get our society at the end? FD, why don’t they understand it? Why?

Yes, I we are GIRLS, but as far as I know there is no any religion, or rule, or custom that prohibits a man - no matter who he is a man or a woman, – forbids him/her to study, to look for knowledge.

So this was the second beat of life in the same wound and this unsettled me (I’m ashamed for that – for I took it to the heart again - but I’m just a man which’s learning to be strong… have to be otherwise I won’t survive).

So this is the reason of my silent: first - hard waiting, second – “girls, girls, girls”…

But it’s in the past now and we are optimists. Right? Right!
All hardships of this life we should consider as trials, examinations that make us stronger. I’m not gonna give up.

There is a huge book on my shelf called “OXFORD advanced learners dictionary”. A year ago I looked at it and thought: “In my future life)) I’ll be an Oxford university student”… Now I know I’ll be in this life! With God’s help.

Never Give Up!
Your Amata

Ice skating show with the famous stars in Yerevan

2008-11-03T13:35:00.001Z

On October 31 I attended the opening ceremony of the newly reconstructed "Sport & Concert complex" (SCC) of Yerevan.

It was under construction since 2005. The SCC has one of the biggest concert halls Yerevan (with 2000 seats) and has the biggest ice for hockey and skating (for about 8000 attendees). It can also host mini-football and volley-ball games.

SCC was built in 1983 and is named after Karen Demirchyan (former leader of Soviet Armenia of that times and former parliament speaker of independent Armenia). The building itself reminds of the Sydney Opera House.

The newly reconstructed complex was opened with the presence of the president of the Republic and many state officials.
The show was called "Ice age" and was something like the popular show "Ледниковый период" on Russian TV where famous stars of ice skating are showing sport and dancing tricks.

Some of the most famous stars of ice-skating were invited. Olympic champions, World championships multiple champions like Irina Slutskaya, Alexey Yagudin, Maria Petrova & Alexey Tikhonov, Tatiana Navka & Roman Kostomarov, Margarita Drobiazko & Povilas Vanagas, Tatiana Totmianina & Maxim Marinin and it was hosted by Ilia Averbukh and Armenian singer Emmy. Some of the performances were breathtaking and the lighting in the hall was wonderful. I fully enjoyed it !

and the final fireworks :)

Global Innovation Forum on Education and Development in Yerevan

2008-11-02T16:36:00.000Z

Everything started from the very day I got an announcement from ARMACAD Yahoo Group about the UN Global Innovation Forum on Education and Development in Yerevan. I decided to apply and as a result, two weeks later I was notified that was selected as a participant.
The Global Innovation Forum on Education and Development in Yerevan took place from October 21-24, 2008 in Armenia Marriott Hotel. The four-day interactive event consisted of keynote presentations, expert panels, informal discussion sessions, and group breakout sessions. Each presentation was followed by question and answer periods to ensure the program provided opportunity for dialogue between panelists and participants. The organizers of the event were UN Global Alliance for ICT and Development (UN GAID), UN e-Leaders Committee, Athgo International, and Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia
The Global Innovation Forum in Yerevan was a follow up engagement to last year’s Global Forum on Youth and ICT for Development held in Geneva, Switzerland in September. UN GAID, ITU, Athgo and many other partners brought together over 600 young people from around the world to have an open discussion on technology’s role in advancing people’s lives. The Global Innovation Forum for Education and Development provided a platform for several hundred young people across the globe to advance their causes toward achieving the MDGs through ICT. The program was set to encourage young people to get engaged in, and develop and propose new ICT initiatives that innovatively advance local communities in various emerging regions. All 18-35 year old participants were assigned to small groups during the event. Every group had to draft and submit a social business venture that presented an innovative approach to one of the program themes. On the final day of the Forum, each group was supposed to present its social business venture on one of the Innovation panels. Our proposals had to discuss and include purpose, goals and objective, business case, sustainability, results and measurability practicality, etc.
The forum was concentrated on the basic tools that facilitate the creation of innovative solutions, particularly, systematic and quality educational opportunities. Currently, proper education is not widely available in developing regions, thus slowing innovation and hampering the implementation of existing ICT. Consequently, the forum was focused on ways to improve educational opportunities and quality through ICT, specifically focusing on building ICT skills among young people. To this end the impact of access, connectivity, private and public partnership and relevant local content in meeting educational and analytical needs were examined and methods to overcome the obstacles discussed and presented.
Participants had the opportunity to engage policy makers, experts and his/her peers during an informal discussion session to draft innovative solutions to ICT development and implementation challenges. On the third day, all the participants, guests and staff were taken to the sightseeing, particularly Zvartnots, Echmiatsin Cathedral and Oshakan Church. Later we went to Ashtarak Gorge restaurant, where all of us independently from nationality, ethics and religion danced and had fun together. On the final day, the young participants showcased their plans in innovation panels. The proposals were evaluated by leaders in government, the private sector and civil society.

Honorary guests and speakers for the Global Innovation Forum included
H. E. Cheick Sidi DiarraUnited Nations Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States
Tigran SargsyanPrime Minister, Republic of Armenia
H. E. Mr. Nerces YeritzyanMinister, Ministry of Economy, Republic of Armenia
Dag NielsenDirector, Ericsson Response
Dr. Armen OrujyanFounder and Chairman, Athgo International
Sarbuland KhanExecutive Director, UN Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technologies Development (GAID)
Hayley AlexanderChief of Party, USAID Competitive Armenian Private Sector Project (CAPS)
Dr. Andrey KorotkovProfessor, Head of the Department of Global Information Processes and Resources, Moscow State Institute of International Relationships
Kamran ElahianChairman, Global Catalyst Partners

Sincerely,
Nvard

a new park in Yerevan

2008-10-19T20:22:00.000+01:00

On the background of the disappearing parks (pressed by countless cafes) in the center of Yerevan, this is a big event !!! We have a brand-new park! On the place of the former "Pushkin park" located on top of the "Marshal Baghramyan" metro station (where my granny used to take us for carousels in my early childhood), a new one was built, with totally new landscape design. It was under construction since 2005 and the opening ceremony took place on October 17 with the participation of the president of Armenia and many foreign guests. Now it has a new name - "Lovers' park".

As the official site states:

The Lovers’ Park Landscaping and Design Project is an initiative undertaken by the Boghossian Foundation in collaboration with the Armenia Fund. The project is not merely a reconstruction initiative; it is a renovation project which also insures the sustainable maintenance of the park.

Japanese traditional landscaping has been a major source of inspiration for the Lover’s Park Landscaping and Design Project.

The design for the reconstruction of the new Lovers’ Park has been created by Pierre Rambach, a well known landscape architect based in Switzerland and the author of many books and articles on Japanese and Eastern gardens.
...
The best lighting specialists have worked on the park. As well as general lighting throughout the park, there will be decorative lighting to highlight stone compositions and sculptures.

Some facts and figures.
The park has:

4 waterfalls
370 trees
16 felled trees (3 dried trees have been kept for decorative purposes)
Amphitheater with 215 seats
26 stone compositions
214 lights
83 garbage bins
5 shaded pavilions
A public toilet
A small pool for kids
The park has been designed with the needs of physically challenged people in mind.

I was walking there with my friend, exploring the park, noticing details and trying to criticize. Both me and my friend have been to different parks in Europe and have been dreaming to have something similar in Yerevan too. One of the shortcomings is the restriction to step on the grass. We would like to be able to sit or lay there and read a book!

We were walking there around 7-8 in the evening and while it has been already quite dark for half an hour, the lights weren't still on, I was even wondering if they had the lights there at all, since they weren't noticeable. But when we were about to leave it, they turned them on! It was very beautiful, as you can see in the photos. Luckily I took my tripod so I was able to make these shots.

Also, we didn't like the fact that it was too much crowded and it was hard to walk there. Well, it's understandable - only the 2nd day, and the rumor had it. Hopefully the crowd will decrease in the upcoming weeks. One more thing is that, in my humble opinion, it wasn't that "green". I would like to see more trees there, bushes, flowers... as it has a lack of privacy for lovers :)

However, this is a very nice park to come sometime in Sunday mornings and have a small picnic with friends :) (at least)

I ♥ Yerevan !

"Rock the borders" regional rock festival in Yerevan, Armenia

2008-10-10T06:57:00.000+01:00

September 28 was the coldest day in Yerevan since the March I guess… It was raining round the clock and stopped close to the evening of Sunday. Luckily it stopped, because the rock festival that was widely advertised - had to take place in a park, under an open sky.
Bands from Georgia, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkey and Italy, and Armenian bands like Stryfe, Dogma, Vortan Karmir, were announced to be playing. In my memory, this was the biggest ever event of this type in Armenia. Italian band "Sadist" was among the most anticipated ones, since they are quite famous among metal music fans.

I haven't been at rock concerts for a while… some 4-5 years ago I wasn't missing any :) during this one I realized how much I did grow up since then :D
Most of the attendees were teenagers - under the influence of emo, gothic and other subcultures like these. To me it was unusual seeing this much Armenian teenagers with tattoos and piercings. Some years ago these people were quite rare and they were getting much more attention than these young people now. Alternative culture is becoming more and more popular here year by year… When it was my 'age' of attending rock concerts, the 'weirdest' people were guys with long hair and girls wearing large and rude boots, a lot of

Outstanding was fact of the presence of Turkish band "Northern Lights", taking into account the fact of a long-term Turkish-Armenian conflict, and the absence of diplomatic relations between the countries. This was unprecedented event and was interesting for watching the reactions of the public (there are certain masses in Armenia that are against any Turkish presence).
Not surprisingly for me, the audience was welcoming and I didn't notice any display of intolerance. I was wondering if it would be the same with any other concert, especially if it was pop. Yep, even when rock fans are more anti-social, I personally think, they are also more open-minded.
I heard that all of the guest bands wereastonished by the Armenian hospitality which wasn't a surprise for me ;))
It was really cold there and people who liked the music and were dancing had an advantage. Since heavy metal is not my preferred style, I was freezing and left the concert for a hot tea in the middle of performances missing the Italian band, but it was becoming more and more crowded there.

Performance of the Turkish band "Northern Lights"

this is about Armenia, as i know it

2008-09-29T07:27:00.000+01:00

This is my first post in this blog and I'm going to write about my country.

I'm living in independent Armenia for 17 years now. No I'm not 17, I'm 24. It's my country that just turned 17 year old (we celebrated the Independence Day on September 21).
Republic of Armenia has become an independent state from the Soviet Union in 1991. So I was born in Armenian Soviet Republic.

I won't be giving you encyclopedic data, you can easily find it on the net without me, I will just write my memories and about my perception of Armenia. I've seen the painful process forming of the state being already a conscious schoolchild. September 1991 was not only the month of the declaration of independence, it was also my first month at school.

The declaration of independence followed some not very easy processes in the history of Armenia. In 1988 my country faced a terrible disaster - an earthquake which completely destroyed some cities… caused 50,000 deaths, also among my relatives. Then the movement for independence of Armenia started - with mass demonstrations and rallies.

After the declaration of independence - the war for the Karabakh liberation started. Because of the unstable economic situation and the resources concentration on the war, we had some hard years. Those years are called "dark and cold" years. Because of the earthquake danger, our nuclear plant was closed which was our main source of energy. We had electricity for 2 hours daily... Even not every day. We were buying bread by coupons - each person had a right to buy 250 grams of bread per day. For my family of 5, we were buying one bread and a quarter, daily. Winters of those years seemed even colder. People were heating their houses with some petroleum heaters, or cutting trees in the city parks to be able to burn them in the furnace and heat themselves. We were studying under candle lights, watching black and white small TVs working on 12V car accumulators. And yes, I remember tanks marching on the central streets. I was watching it from the windows of my classroom.

These was my childhood, I don't remember it in dark colors, but my parents weren't, of course, that carefree as us - children. The crisis lasted for about 4 years and after the ceasefire in 1994, my country slowly started to recover. Unfortunately that years we had a lot of people emigrating to another countries - mostly to Western Europe, USA and Russia. Young families couldn't afford the living here and were trying all methods to escape. Many of my father's friends did so. I'm happy and grateful to my parents because we weren't among them.
People that leaved then, won't recognize the country now. It has changed radically. It's growing and developing and becoming a pleasant place for living. And it's safe ! I've heard from many tourists that they had quite different thoughts before coming. I'm happy that the tourist flow is growing year by year and more and more people are getting acquainted with my culture and country.

In my next post I will describe you the things that make Armenia unique and so attractive for tourists, also about the famous inventions that were made by Armenians. I will also tell you why Armenia is the only place I can imagine myself living in. Stay tuned!

Photo credits belong to me.

Armenia

2008-09-27T14:37:00.000+01:00

Hello everybody. My name is Nvard. I’m from Yerevan, Armenia.
The Republic of Armenia lies in the north eastern part of the Armenian plateau, in the highlands surrounding the Biblical mountains of Ararat, upon which Noah's Ark came to rest after the flood. Ancient Armenia was one of the largest states of the Middle East. Its name is among six other countries depicted on a Babylonian map dating back to the 5th century B.C. Armenia is a unitary, multiparty, democratic nation-state with an ancient and historic cultural heritage. In 301 A.D. Armenia adopted Christianity thus becoming the first country in the world to proclaim it a state religion.
Armenia is currently a member of more than 40 international organizations, including the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the Asian Development Bank, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the World Trade Organization and the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation.
Hospitality is well-known in Armenia and stems from ancient tradition. Social gatherings focused around sumptuous presentations of course after course of elaborately prepared and well-seasoned food. The hosts will often put morsels on a guest's plate whenever it is empty or fill his or her glass when it gets low. After a helping or two it is acceptable to refuse politely or, more simply, just leave a little uneaten food. Alcohol such as cognac, vodka, and red wine are usually served during meals and gatherings. It is rare and unusual for one to go inside an Armenian household and not be offered coffee, pastry, food, or even water.
As George Gordon Byron said, “There is no other land in the world so full of wonders as the land of Armenians…”
Yerevan, the pink capital city of Armenia, one of the most ancient eastern cities, is already 2789 years old. But being an ancient city it is flourishing day by day.

I promise to tell you about the youth life in Armenia and hope you will be interested in.

I begin :)

2008-06-19T12:36:00.005+01:00

Hello to everybody. Glad to see you visiting my little world on “ForgottenDiaries” .

My name is Amata, I’m from Grozny – the capital of Chechen Republic. We know that everybody, who takes part in this project, is from some conflict region and very often we hear dangerous things from the regions we live. You know, I’m glad to have an opportunity to take part in this project and hope that after several posts with photos, videos, interesting news of my republic you will see, that Chechen Republic and Grozny are still one of the best of the best and the best))))) And I’m ready to believe you if you say the same about your country.. J

If you visited my republic in 2000 year, or in 2004 y. you could find only ruined cities, villages, and no light in the people’s eyes. But before 1994, before the war, Grozny was the most beautiful and green (because of many parks) city on Caucasus and people from all over the world came here to study in the State Grozny Oil Institute (there were only 2 Oil instates those time).
I’m so sad I was too small to see and remember all sights of my republic, but I can show you what is now here, how we live, how we spend our time and so on…

A very important event happened recently in the life of Chechen Republic. Maybe you heard about it – it’s the 1st International movie festival “Ark of Noy”. Guests from more that 20 countries came here to take part in the festival, to show their works. Mark Dakaskos and Armand Assante – famous Hollywood stars – visited our capital.

You know what was unusual in this movie festival – there were no any film that couldn’t be watched by whole family, I mean with children. And it’s a very rare thing in modern life.

Why “Ark of Noy”?

Noy was a prophet who tried to safe people from evil, to make them listen to God. But they didn’t want to do it, they preferred to live while they were alive making harm to each other, sowing promiscuity and wars on Earth. They forgot that for every evil one makes in this life he will pay in another. And only those who followed Noy to his ark stood alive, when God sent a flood on Earth.

So, giving that name to this festival its organizers wanted to show that only good=kind movies are allowed at the festival. I think, you’ll hear about it in news or read in the Internet.

I hope all people will understand finally that evil and wars must be excepted from our world…

I’ve done some excursus to the past, sorry if it was borring)) This is just the beginning. Next time I’ll tell you about the life of my youth.

Bye for now… Will be glad to hear from you too..