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DIASPORA IS DISSATISFIED WITH THE ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Dec 9 2014
9 December 2014 - 11:57am
Susanna Petrosian, Yerevan. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
In late November in the state of California another telethon of
Armenian Fund "Hayastan" (Pan-Armenian Fund) took place and collected
about $12,399,550 in donations that are planned to be directed for
the implementation of a number of special development programs for
Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. The telethon in California was preceded
by the 15th Pan-European Fundraiser of the Pan-Armenan Fund, that was
attended by Armenians in France, Germany, Belgium, Greece and other
countries, who donated about 1.37 million euros.
Headed by the President of Armenia, the Pan-Armenian Fund was
established in 1992 for implementation of national projects
of development of infrastructure and the cities of Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh. Since 1996, the Fund has annually held 12-hour
telethons in November in Los-Angeles, which aim to raise funds, and
most importantly - an ambitious program that aims to unite Armenians
around a single idea. During this period many roads were built and
repaired, the water supply system improved in a number of settlements,
new sports and cultural centers were constructed, over 150 educational,
cultural and scientific programs were realized.
Meanwhile, compared with previous years, this year much fewer
donations were collected. Thus, the amount of donations at the end
of the telethon in 2013 reached 22,661372 dollars. This obstacle has
led a number of experts in Armenia and some members of the Diaspora
to start thinking.
One of the indicators of the possible new trend has become a protest in
Los Angeles on the eve of the telethon. A group of activists wearing
T-shirts reading "We are boycotting the Armenian Fund, collect taxes,
not donations" distributed to the participants of the charity dinner
which usually precedes the telethon leaflets urging people not to
make donations in any case.
"We are against this fundraising, it would be better if the Armenian
government properly collected taxes from oligarchs, not organize
a fundraiser. The amount of unpaid taxes is much bigger than what
is collected through donations. Armenia does not need donations,
but normal leadership," one of the protesters Ara Manukian said. He
believes that construction of roads, the school repairing process
and other programs that are implemented with the money collected by
the fund, are the responsibility of the government of Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh, which must solve these issues through the collection
of taxes.
The Member of the Central Board of the Social Democratic Party
"Hunchak", Ambiq Sarafian, assumes that every year in the diaspora
frustration increases and the enthusiasm with which donations are
made decreases. In his opinion, an important role in this situation is
played by the lack of confidence in the Armenian leaders, the internal
political situation, the poor social situation of the majority of
the population in Armenia and the reigning atmosphere of impunity
and injustice, that is reflected in the dominance of monopolies,
the enormous influence of the oligarchs, and most importantly -
in the complete indifference of the authorities.
"Annually collected by the fund, the amount of money that is in
the range of between 20-30 million dollars is nothing by itself,
considering inflation and other social and economic factors in
Armenia," the representative of the Armenian community in the US said.
Of course, it is necessary to say that such moods in the Diaspora are
not widespread. The largest and most influential Armenian organizations
in the USA, including the Armenian Church in the United States,
the Armenian Charity Foundation, the public organization "Armenian
Assembly of America" and "The Armenian National Committee of America"
do not oppose the collected donations or the policy of the Armenian
authorities.
Despite the position of these influential organizations in the behavior
of certain circles of the Diaspora, a trend based on sharp criticism
of the policy of the Yerevan authorities and distrust of the leaders
of Armenia is beginning to appear. Certain circles in the Diaspora
believe that the funds raised by the Pan-Armenian Fund are not spent
transparently. It is also important that such moods as evidenced by
the protest in Los Angeles have never occurred before.
It is possible that the proportion of people in the Diaspora who left
Armenia relatively recently -10-20 years ago - plays a role in the
appearance of the new trend. Secondly, which is very important, the
means of communication have changed. That is, today, unlike the 80s
or 90s, you can see mass rallies in Yerevan on the internet. People
in the Diaspora have become better informed about the situation in
Armenia, that is not unique to the authorities.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/analysis/politics/63099.html
From: Baghdasarian
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Dec 9 2014
9 December 2014 - 11:57am
Susanna Petrosian, Yerevan. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
In late November in the state of California another telethon of
Armenian Fund "Hayastan" (Pan-Armenian Fund) took place and collected
about $12,399,550 in donations that are planned to be directed for
the implementation of a number of special development programs for
Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. The telethon in California was preceded
by the 15th Pan-European Fundraiser of the Pan-Armenan Fund, that was
attended by Armenians in France, Germany, Belgium, Greece and other
countries, who donated about 1.37 million euros.
Headed by the President of Armenia, the Pan-Armenian Fund was
established in 1992 for implementation of national projects
of development of infrastructure and the cities of Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh. Since 1996, the Fund has annually held 12-hour
telethons in November in Los-Angeles, which aim to raise funds, and
most importantly - an ambitious program that aims to unite Armenians
around a single idea. During this period many roads were built and
repaired, the water supply system improved in a number of settlements,
new sports and cultural centers were constructed, over 150 educational,
cultural and scientific programs were realized.
Meanwhile, compared with previous years, this year much fewer
donations were collected. Thus, the amount of donations at the end
of the telethon in 2013 reached 22,661372 dollars. This obstacle has
led a number of experts in Armenia and some members of the Diaspora
to start thinking.
One of the indicators of the possible new trend has become a protest in
Los Angeles on the eve of the telethon. A group of activists wearing
T-shirts reading "We are boycotting the Armenian Fund, collect taxes,
not donations" distributed to the participants of the charity dinner
which usually precedes the telethon leaflets urging people not to
make donations in any case.
"We are against this fundraising, it would be better if the Armenian
government properly collected taxes from oligarchs, not organize
a fundraiser. The amount of unpaid taxes is much bigger than what
is collected through donations. Armenia does not need donations,
but normal leadership," one of the protesters Ara Manukian said. He
believes that construction of roads, the school repairing process
and other programs that are implemented with the money collected by
the fund, are the responsibility of the government of Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh, which must solve these issues through the collection
of taxes.
The Member of the Central Board of the Social Democratic Party
"Hunchak", Ambiq Sarafian, assumes that every year in the diaspora
frustration increases and the enthusiasm with which donations are
made decreases. In his opinion, an important role in this situation is
played by the lack of confidence in the Armenian leaders, the internal
political situation, the poor social situation of the majority of
the population in Armenia and the reigning atmosphere of impunity
and injustice, that is reflected in the dominance of monopolies,
the enormous influence of the oligarchs, and most importantly -
in the complete indifference of the authorities.
"Annually collected by the fund, the amount of money that is in
the range of between 20-30 million dollars is nothing by itself,
considering inflation and other social and economic factors in
Armenia," the representative of the Armenian community in the US said.
Of course, it is necessary to say that such moods in the Diaspora are
not widespread. The largest and most influential Armenian organizations
in the USA, including the Armenian Church in the United States,
the Armenian Charity Foundation, the public organization "Armenian
Assembly of America" and "The Armenian National Committee of America"
do not oppose the collected donations or the policy of the Armenian
authorities.
Despite the position of these influential organizations in the behavior
of certain circles of the Diaspora, a trend based on sharp criticism
of the policy of the Yerevan authorities and distrust of the leaders
of Armenia is beginning to appear. Certain circles in the Diaspora
believe that the funds raised by the Pan-Armenian Fund are not spent
transparently. It is also important that such moods as evidenced by
the protest in Los Angeles have never occurred before.
It is possible that the proportion of people in the Diaspora who left
Armenia relatively recently -10-20 years ago - plays a role in the
appearance of the new trend. Secondly, which is very important, the
means of communication have changed. That is, today, unlike the 80s
or 90s, you can see mass rallies in Yerevan on the internet. People
in the Diaspora have become better informed about the situation in
Armenia, that is not unique to the authorities.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/analysis/politics/63099.html
From: Baghdasarian