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NAGORNO KARABAKH GETS INTO THE BIRD BUSINESS
EurasiaNet.org
http://www.eurasianet.org/node/64883
Jan 23 2012
NY
Last week, EurasiaNet.org reported on plans to turn breakaway Nagorno
Karabakh into a correctional facility for Armenian convicts. To
some, mindful of Armenia's extensive presence in and support for
the predominantly ethnic Armenian territory, that may bring to mind
the colonial-era relationship between Great Britain and Australia,
the British Empire's convict colony of choice. But the Australia
references do not end there.
Just as was the case with British convicts in Australia, outcasts
from Armenia can also find ostriches in their new homeland. These
are not going to be the squint-eyed Australian emus, but, rather,
their taller African cousins.
Karabakhi entrepreneur Ararat Bagirian imported the birds from Kenya
last August and plans to farm them for eggs, meat and feathers,
the Russian news agency Regnum reported. New businesses in Karabakh
are not a dime a dozen, so, to encourage the venture along, the de
facto government gave Bagirian a 25-million-dram (about $65,000)
credit for his new business.
After all, as the saying goes, a bird in the hand is worth two in the
bush. Nor is this the first example of a South Caucasus fascination
with the birds -- both Azerbaijan, which claims Karabakh as its own,
and Armenia have ostrich operations, too. Georgia, meanwhile, is
keeping an eye on the abandoned ostriches of ousted strongman Aslan
Abashidze, but local farmers are skeptical about their economic
potential.
It remains to be seen whether or not this latest feathery scheme can
help alleviate Karabakh's economic woes, but, so far, the ostriches
have adjusted to the breakaway territory's climate pretty well,
Bagirian said.
EurasiaNet.org
http://www.eurasianet.org/node/64883
Jan 23 2012
NY
Last week, EurasiaNet.org reported on plans to turn breakaway Nagorno
Karabakh into a correctional facility for Armenian convicts. To
some, mindful of Armenia's extensive presence in and support for
the predominantly ethnic Armenian territory, that may bring to mind
the colonial-era relationship between Great Britain and Australia,
the British Empire's convict colony of choice. But the Australia
references do not end there.
Just as was the case with British convicts in Australia, outcasts
from Armenia can also find ostriches in their new homeland. These
are not going to be the squint-eyed Australian emus, but, rather,
their taller African cousins.
Karabakhi entrepreneur Ararat Bagirian imported the birds from Kenya
last August and plans to farm them for eggs, meat and feathers,
the Russian news agency Regnum reported. New businesses in Karabakh
are not a dime a dozen, so, to encourage the venture along, the de
facto government gave Bagirian a 25-million-dram (about $65,000)
credit for his new business.
After all, as the saying goes, a bird in the hand is worth two in the
bush. Nor is this the first example of a South Caucasus fascination
with the birds -- both Azerbaijan, which claims Karabakh as its own,
and Armenia have ostrich operations, too. Georgia, meanwhile, is
keeping an eye on the abandoned ostriches of ousted strongman Aslan
Abashidze, but local farmers are skeptical about their economic
potential.
It remains to be seen whether or not this latest feathery scheme can
help alleviate Karabakh's economic woes, but, so far, the ostriches
have adjusted to the breakaway territory's climate pretty well,
Bagirian said.