U.S. Embassy Advisory
A friend has just forwarded me a warning from the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan sent out to all its citizens resident or working in the country. The advisory warns U.S. citizens to avoid the area around the Yerevan Opera because of traffic concerns and elements of “unpredictability and possible violence.”
Please be advised that today, Friday, October 26, 2007, a public rally is scheduled to take place at Opera Square/Freedom Square at approximately 1700 hours. It is estimated that approximately 7,000 to 8,000 demonstrators may attend. As in any large public gathering, there is an element of unpredictability and possible violence. It is expected that there will be severe traffic congestion and road closures.
The U.S. Embassy Yerevan strongly encourages that all U.S. citizens avoid the area. If for any reason you are in the area, please exercise extreme caution, avoid large groups, and be aware of your surroundings at all times.
The U.S. Embassy in Yerevan is located at 1 American Avenue, Yerevan 375082 Armenia. The Embassy telephone number is (+374-10) 46-47-00, fax: (+374 10) 46-47-42, web site: www.usa.am
Meanwhile, A1 Plus reports that the drivers of minivans from Vanadzor are unwilling to transport people to Yerevan for today’s opposition rally. The pro-opposition media outlet alleges that National Security Service (NSS) agents threatened drivers although this has not been confirmed by independent sources.
The A1plus report can be confirmed by a message from Edmon Manukyan from “youth Center for Democratic initiatives” NGO, who has posted to the armenia_dispute mailserver, noting, that the Vanadzor Minivan draviers have been issued a warning not to transport anyone to Yerevan.
Edmon Manukyan has served as a reliable source from Vanadzor on previous occasions, so I’m inclined to believe it.
Today I have uploaded the Haylur propaganda-piece to my YouTube Channel. The description I’ve put there is the following:
Comment by Observer — October 26, 2007 @ 4:36 pm
Ditord, that’s an amazing video. It’s something you would see in the Soviet times on Vremya. The Stalinist style is well and alive in Armenia.
I really feel sorry for the Armenian population who are fed things like that by mass media.
Comment by nazarian — October 26, 2007 @ 7:41 pm
We shouldnt forget that Serje and Robert were Soviet Aparatchik before the 1988 movement. I am guessing they brought to power to the ones like them.
Comment by Haik — October 26, 2007 @ 7:58 pm
You can read the whole speach ( in Armenian) here: http://www.a1plus.am/am/?page=issue&iid=53837
I am going to load the available videos and the speach at www.levonforpresident.com which after today hopefully will become the official website.
I can hardly hide my feelings. There is seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. We are living historical days again.
All the best to all of us.
H
Comment by H — October 27, 2007 @ 3:32 am
As a diasporan (US) Armenian, I understand that the current government is corrupt and just wrong. But the competing government is also corrupt and just as wrong, according to media reports.
Somebody is lying.
Onnik, if you tell me convincingly who’s lying, I’ll listen to you; if you don’t, I won’t listen to you.
Comment by Armen Filadelfiatsi — October 27, 2007 @ 11:41 am
Dear All,
www.Levonforpresident.com
site is updated. You can watch a short clip from the 261007 public meeting and
read Levon Ter-Petrossian’s full speech. Courtesy to www.a1plus.am
Comment by H — October 27, 2007 @ 12:34 pm
I notice that on the Levon page Levon with his son is prominently shown. His son was also standing with him at the Marriott event.
Is he being groomed for the future? Will we have our first half-Dutch president of Armenia?
Comment by Paul — October 27, 2007 @ 9:07 pm
Paul, do you mean the little kid? That’s his grandson, not son.
Comment by nazarian — October 29, 2007 @ 7:55 pm
So first quarter-Dutch president of Armenia then?
Comment by Paul — October 29, 2007 @ 8:11 pm
Half-Dutch? Quarter-Dutch? Explain to this 100% Dutch, please!
Comment by Myrthe — October 30, 2007 @ 4:30 pm
I was told years ago back when he was president by my Armenian teacher that LTP’s wife is Dutch. Then again I have been trying to confirm that and have not found an ounce of information about her via The Google, it was a struggle just to determine her first name is Lucia! They married in Moscow not Yerevan so that heightens the odds of her being non-Armenian, but there is a serious dearth of information about her.
I just found it sort of annoying that this preteen was getting so much spotlight because it panged of future nepotism, but then again of course sometimes appearing with a little kid makes you look more human and ‘of the people’ (little girls work better however, should have found one of those haha).
I have no problem with a half/quarter/chem keeder eench percent Armenian president and in fact found it kind of novel, which is why I mentioned it, not because I’m discriminating
The kid doesn’t look full-Armenian based on the pictures that’s for sure (which no longer appears to be gracing the front of levonforpresident.com, was it something I said?), but then again you never know with Armenians, I’ve seen quite a few who don’t look like they are haha.
Comment by Paul — October 30, 2007 @ 6:04 pm
Isn’t his wife meant to be full or half-Jewish or something? Not sure where from though.
Comment by Onnik — October 30, 2007 @ 6:46 pm
Thanks for the explanation (sort of
) Paul. My addition would be that I know pretty much all Dutch people in Yerevan (some obviously better than others),but I have never heard about her among the Dutch community. Anyway, doesn’t really matter, but I was just curious.
Comment by Myrthe — October 30, 2007 @ 7:15 pm