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 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.

When in China, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan met with executive director of Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd and President of Zhong Xing Telecommunication Equipment Company Limited (ZTE) to discuss prospects of cooperation in production of equipment, e-governance and development of telecommunication systems. A memorandum of cooperation was signed with Huawei.

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.

Hockey: Armenian hockey players win silver at Division III World Championship which took place in Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex from April 14 to 18. In the first round, Mongolia vs. North Korea match ended 22:1. Armenia beat the South African Republic 9: 2, wining all three periods. On April 15, Armenian ice-hockey players beat North Korea 7:6. South African Republic vs. Monglolia match ended 12:1. Ending the final match vs. North Korea 2:5, Armenian hockey players won the Championship silver. South African Republic won bronze, defeating Mongolia.