News

The Cost of Living: Life in Armenia's Second City

My summer in Armenia was an eye opening experience to say the least. While Americans worry about the release of the latest Ipod or the new fashion trends of the season, Armenians worry about affording day-to-day necessities such as gas and water. As time progresses, it is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain a living, which has made staying in the homeland a difficult decision.

Flashing Gyumri Before My Eyes: A Look Into My Birthplace

When in 1899 the construction of a railroad tunnel in Jajur (the birthplace of the renowned painter Minas Avetisyan) was completed and the first steam locomotive entered Gyumri, the inhabitants of the city gathered at the rail station to see the otherworldly sight. It is said that two youths, Poloz Mukuch and his friend Madoyents Napo, were there as well. After watching the approaching train for a while, Mukuch asked:

A Crime Unpunished, A Case Unresolved

For its Winter 2011 issue, the Haytoug had the opportunity to catch up with Tatul Sonentz-Papazian, a champion of Armenian advocacy in the US who has played a pivotal role in the advancement of the Armenian Cause since as far back as the early 1960s.

Lest They Perish: The Cry From Javakhk

The following is an interview recently conducted with a Javakhktsi Armenian. Although the conditions here have been reported in different ways at different times, we found that there is a paucity of firsthand accounts given by those living in the region itself. We hope that through this interview, we will be able to amplify the voices of our fellow Armenians in a way not possible for them in their present situation.

Neoliberalism to the Extreme: Armenia’s Parliament Adopts Regressive Pension and Tax Policies

On June 24, 2010, the Republic of Armenia’s National Assembly decided to privatize its social security system by adopting an extreme version of a private pension model. Along with the pension system, the National Assembly also radically changed its income tax regime. The mandatory private pension system is set to take effect in January 2014, while the new income tax will be implemented in January 2011. Members of parliament representing the ARF and Heritage parties stood alone in opposing both of these regressive and unfair laws.
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Kobe’s Foul Paves Way for AYF Layup

Last week, the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) took the opportunity to initiate a campaign to expose a newly signed endorsement deal for Kobe Bryant to promote Turkish Airlines in the global market. The AYF expressed its disappointment with Kobe and has publicly asked him to back out of the deal due to Turkish Airlines’ strong association with the Turkish government (the government holds a 49% ownership stake in the airline).

ARF Youth Representatives Convene International Conference

From December 10-12, executive delegates representing the highest bodies of the ARF’s student, youth, and junior organizations from around the world met for a three-day conference in Yerevan aimed at evaluating their respective activities and developing new strategies for the coming four years.
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