On May 10 the celebrations of Heydar Aliyev’s birthday were held in Baku. The range of activities and glorifications on behalf of the deceased leader crossed all thinkable boundaries. Even Joseph Stalin was not such a “personality cult” that is being inculcated in Baku today. Likewise, Kim Il Sung, the legendary North Korean leader is in not the same street as Heydar Aliyev. We gave ourselves the trouble to look through the entire world press, which, according to the Baku agitation and propaganda department, was flooded with “a huge number of publications on the occasion of the birthday of the national leader, the father of nation”. Nothing at all was found anywhere except sister Georgia. That said, more and more disappointed one becomes with the trustworthiness and accuracy of the Azerbaijani media.

The entry of new fixed-line telephony operators to the Armenian market won’t result in reduction of ArmenTel’s tariffs. “The fixed-line telephony tariffs are determined by the Public Services Regulatory Commission. I see no connection between entry of a new operator and lowering of tariffs,” said Igor Klimko, Armentel CEO.

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing the latter launched in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Meanwhile, an ideological war was being fought beyond the conflict area.

Azerbaijan is incapable to resolve Karabakh conflict, an Armenian expert said.

The State Committee of Real Estate Cadastre at the Armenian government has presented the current situation in the RA real estate market, as well as forecasts for the year. The Committee’s specialists predict some activation in the Armenian real estate market but decrease in prices is unlikely in the near future.

During the past week, Armenia’s cultural life was influenced by the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Famous cultural workers were speculating whether the art can really promote international recognition of the first Genocide of the 20th century.

Boxing: Elias Nassar, manager of WBC/WBA super flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan stated that negotiations for rematch with Nonito Donaire have collapsed. Nassar said the Donaire camp have failed to sign the contract after six weeks and they are now back to square one. Vic Darchinyan also stated he is disappointed in Nonito Donaire’s failure to sign the contract. “We signed the deal two days into talks,” said Nassar. “We were there waiting for Donaire to make up his mind on what he wanted to do. It’s easy to point the finger at who didn’t want the fight. It’s the party who doesn’t sign a contract.”