Armenia Allots $200,000 in Assistance to Victims of Katrina Hurricane

[CatWoman]

Armenia Allots $200,000 in Assistance to Victims of Katrina Hurricane

Yerevan, September 9, Armenpress: The Armenian government approved on Thursday $200,000 in assistance to victims of Hurricane Katrina. Deputy foreign minister Arman Kirakossian said the money will be released from government's reserve fund and will be transferred on a special US government bank account early next week.

Kirakosian said it will take the US government a long time to recover the area hit by the disaster, adding also that the Armenian government is ready to provide another assistance, should the US government ask for it. He said Armenia had offered rescuers, doctors in the first days of the disaster. He said though Armenia's assistance is modest and symbolic in view of the magnitude of damages assessed at around $100 billion, but 'it is very important for Armenia to demonstrate its solidarity with the people of USA, because they were among the first nations to rush to help Armenians in the aftermath of 1988 earthquake that destroyed northern parts of the country."

He also recalled that Armenia has been one of the world's leading per-capita recipients of U.S. economic assistance that has totaled $1.6 billion since its independence. In a related development, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church in the USA, issued a new directive to local parish leaders on September 7, further outlining relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina.

In the directive, the Primate asked local parishes to conduct two special plate collections during services on September 11 and 18. Half of the money raised will go towards relief efforts being conducted by Church World Service and the other half will go directly to the Armenian Church of Baton Rouge to be distributed to parishioners in the New Orleans area as needed.

[thedebutante]

it's great that armenia wants to act out this "symbolic" gesture
but...

armenia is just like an armenian
it likes to live in a small apartment without much money while driving a mercedes and dressing all fancy for all to see

(i know i'm generalizing, but hopefully you get the point)

[CatWoman]

Well, when a poor country like Bangladesh gives one million dollars for Katrina relief, it's kinda nice to know our country helped as well. With whatever it could!

Besides, I'm sure having a stronger bond with the U.S. is way more important for Armenian than the use of that $ 200,000.

[thedebutante]

yup. what i posted is just an observation everyone else is sure to make. i'm more critical of armenia's current position than the "symbolic" gesture toward the US, which i think is kind of cute.

now let me add one more thing. that "government reserve fund," to which the article refers, probably doesnt exist. we all know that given the corrupt leadership of what remains of armenia, that $200,000 is going to be wrung out of armenian citizens and given to the US for show.

having said that, it is also true the given all the aid from the US that armenia has received over the years, it is somewhat of a duty for armenia to come up with a decent sum and offer it to the US. i'm just skeptical of how the government has actually accumulated that money.

[CatWoman]

that "government reserve fund," to which the article refers, probably doesnt exist. we all know that given the corrupt leadership of what remains of armenia, that $200,000 is going to be wrung out of armenian citizens and given to the US for show.

It's funny how you guys strongly disapprove the country's current government and use the phrase "what remains of Armenia" when the country is getting better and better by the day! When was Armenia in a better shape than it is today (referring to the "what remains of Armenia" phrase)?

[thedebutante]

It's funny how you guys strongly disapprove the country's current government and use the phrase "what remains of Armenia" when the country is getting better and better by the day! When was Armenia in a better shape than it is today (referring to the "what remains of Armenia" phrase)?

well, armenia is in "great" shape. unfortunately i can't say the same about its people. i was there a few weeks ago doing some missionary work at a few clinics, and while the center (yerevan and all the happening places) is looking more and more euro by the day, you should see the people, esp. those in the villages. so ya, there is a reason why we say the things that we say.


to answer your question, armenia was in better shape when it owned all it contained and when its people had a decent means of living (yes there was a time and i'm sure you know when). maybe i should start a thread about the privatization of armenia and how you now have to pay a fee to enjoy the beautiful shore of lake sevan, whereas before, it was free for all (that and many other examples).

[thedebutante]

btw, thanks for posting that article. i hope you dont think that the basis of my argument is against armenia's aid to the US. i'm just worried that such a sum was more an extra burden on the people than actual surplus set aside for such an event.

[TomServo]

theredutante has spoken. Hey comrade, let's go chill on Abovyan.

[thedebutante]

let's go to mashtots street (formerly prospect) and get my hair done. then we can go to bagramian where they have water all day 'cause it's mainly government buildings.


edit: love the subtle way of calling deb a commie. so cute. let's also do the parajanov museum. my treat.

[TomServo]

Then we'll go visit Karo in Leninakan!