Many in Armenia might remember Soviet-era queues stretching to half-empty food stores typical particularly to the days leading to the New Year holidays. They remember, too, Armenian housewives’ burden at least a week before the feast.

Layer on layer, 40 thin sheets, nuts, cinnamon, cardamom, and lastly sweet honey…

The pastries and pakhlava baked by Ruzan Harutyunyan, a resident of one of Yerevan’s suburban districts, are famous among the locals.

Approaching the January session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg that will again review Armenia’s compliance with its April and June resolutions on the post-election clashes in Yerevan, the Armenian capital’s Northern Avenue has again become site of political “walks”. Each cold afternoon small groups gather on Yerevan’s centerpiece boulevard to express their dissatisfaction with the current political situation in the country.

After the bloody suppression on March 1 of the opposition’s ten-day post-election demonstrations in which at least eight civilians and two police died, and hundreds of opposition supporters were injured and over a hundred were arrested, the PACE adopted Resolution 1609 on April 17 urging Armenia “to return to the democratic path.”

Despite the raging global economic and financial crises, Armenians around the world have made a collective effort to gather a record high pledged donation of more than $35 million in a charity telethon for the rebuilding of Armenia and Karabakh.

The 11th annual Armenia Fund (www.armeniafund.org) telethon on Thanksgiving Day was held in Los Angeles, Calif. USA, but the biggest donation came from Russia, where businessman Samvel Karapetyan pledged $15 million for building a hospital in Karabakh.

November 27 will see the start in Los Angeles of a traditional telethon action organized by All-Armenian Fund Hayastan, appearing this Thanksgiving Day for the 11th time.

Telethon-2008, facilitated by cable, satellite and internet connections, will be broadcast worldwide to summon the collective strength of Armenians, be they in Armenia or its large world-scattered Diaspora, to help with rebuilding efforts in their common home.

(The telethon can also be followed on the Hayastan Fund’s website http://www.armeniafund.org).

On the way of improving their historically strained relations Armenia and Turkey met at the level of their top diplomats in Istanbul late Monday.

According to official and media reports, the two countries’ foreign ministers, Edward Nalbandyan and Ali Babacan, had a working dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel in Istanbul, during which they discussed a range of issues pertaining to the region, including the Turkey-initiated cooperation and stability platform in the Caucasus.

The meeting was closed for media.

The Council of Europe’s commissioner for human rights voiced tough criticism about the ongoing investigation of Armenia’s post-election unrest and the country’s general (lack of) compliance with two relevant resolutions of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) as he spoke to media towards the end of his three-day visit over the weekend.

At a press conference in Yerevan Saturday, Thomas Hammarberg expressed his displeasure about the course of the process in Armenia.

Even though billboards advertising Bjni mineral water continue to remind of the once popular refreshment, the beverage has become scarce in shops, and is on its way to being extinct.

Bjni (along with Noy) water bottling company is owned by the family of Khachatur “Grzo” Sukiasyan. Sukiasyan himself has been in hiding (believed to be outside Armenia) since last March when he became “wanted” by authorities for his participation in opposition uprisings.

Last month the popular mineral water plant was shut down by authorities, who cite “environmental” reasons for the closure.

“He was a very jealous man, very temperamental and maybe he even had psychological problems. I had no right to say anything, to take any decisions. I always had to avoid him in the house, be in another room. He would beat me in front of the children, and beat the children too,” tells D.M., an Armenian housewife identified by initials in a recent international report.

“I’m very ashamed that someone could use force against me. That’s what I always said to the counselor when I was at the shelter: I’m tortured by one thing, I’ve got one basic psychological problem. How did I allow someone to treat me like that? That will haunt me for the rest of my life, how did I allow that to happen? The point is, I didn’t have a choice,” anther woman, P.N, a victim of domestic violence, tells her story, according to a report published by a leading global watchdog, Amnesty International, this week.

With a long red carpet and stepped up security measures, a series of tribute concerts marking the 80th anniversary of prominent Armenian duduk player Jivan Gasparyan opened at the Sports and Concert Complex Tuesday night.

Both Armenian artists and internationally renowned musicians took part in the event.

“All have come here without any fee or remuneration, all are my friends,” the Maestro said from the stage. “And I am thankful to all.”

Tonight he will climb the stage to lead his audience to a different world with the plaintive but entrancing sounds of the duduk. World-famed Maestro Jivan Gasparyan will be joined by well-known musicians who have come to the Armenian capital Yerevan to honor the famous Armenian musician on his 80th birthday anniversary.

“I have decided also to mark my 100th birthday anniversary,” said Gasparyan, explaining that the secret of his longevity is that he did not nose into other people’s affairs too much and lived peacefully. “It is very important for our country and will have a great significance,” the maestro said.

On Tuesday, November 11, Armenian spectators will have an opportunity to enjoy the music played by such renowned musicians as legendary Alan Parsons, Zucchero, Pedro Eustache, Andreas Vollenweider, and others.