Re: Liberation of Western Armenia
Outline my platform?
Well, im not as arrogant or as unrealistic as some on this board to announce a super new plan, but i will give a few opinions on where Armenia should go,
this is based on me spending 3 months a year there, and having contant feedback and news from there. I also am continuing to study policy making at university, so i hope it gives me a decent basis for applying policies to a real country.
Armenia has many problems facing it today, most of these revolve around the issue of not enough money going into the budget, to be then spent on welfare and so on, such as healthcare, education, social provisions, military, research, etc etc. Therefore, the economy needs to be improved.
To do this, an extremely skilled workforce is needed, to be able to attract foreign investment into the country. We cannot bid for investment on basis of cheap labour, this neither will mean long term investment, nor will it help the masses in armenia who have suffered enough. To do this
- Education needs to be a priority, unlike today
- Guarantees need to be given to firms of political stability
- Give temporary financial incentives to firms (e.g. 10 year tax break) (I am usually against tax breaks, but if it means cutting employment, which is at extremely high levels, then at least its filling in a problem, if not actually adding to tax revenue - however more imployment = more spending = more products sold = more tax brought in
Secondly, the issue of Corruption:
There are two choices
1 - A revolution of the masses who end corruption by force
2 - To appease the corrupt, let them skim the top at the expense of the masses, until there is a strong enough government who can pay officals more money than it is worth them to accept bribes
At the same time buureaucracy should be cut. The use of technology can be used for this, thus cutting out people who can take bribes. (See "E-government) for this.
Thirdly, Social issues
- These should be addressed as soon as the economy allows.
This does not mean social problems are less important than finance, however, to solve the many horrific problems in armenia (prostitution, drugs, crime etc) there needs funding.
-These issues which are replicated in all CIS countries have filled my eyes out of the plight of these forgotten people, and it is vital we can help them as soon as possible. And this is the crux of the argument as to why the notion of creating policies for Western Armenia is a non-starter.
On the issue of Western Armenia...
The Republic of Armenia has NO legal claims to historical Armenia, and cannot achieve anything without the use of force - again, a non starter. Nobody will start a war and lose more sons and brothers and fathers to a war. Particularly as the Kharabagh issue is not even close to being solved.
Private individuals should use their territorial claims and either take the land back, or get compensation for it. This should be done thorugh the legal system. This isnt too unrealistic, given that most of this land is in nomadic peoples hands, and the Turks dont really care unless there are political ramifications. The armenians would after all have to pay land tax, which the kurds dont...
I would also like to remind people of the people living in Turkey at the moment, i believe, i could be wrong, there are 50,000 Armenians in Turkey, a lot who are still well to do, now imagine what would happen to them well before any act of war was produced.
The scenario was given that if there is civil unrest in Turkey, and geopolitical powers wanted to push into Turkey, then Armenia should grab the opportunity (i think the scenario was given in the future situation). Sound awfully familiar...of 1915. And its surprising that Nationalist Armenians want to create the same framework within which the first genocide of the 20th century occured. I dont think 1 armenian would be left in that situation.
Dreaming is fine, but know the consequences.
I would also like to know who has been to Armenia and for how regularly a year. I ask this as this truly shows if people are talking Diasporan nonsense, or have even the tiniest bit of understanding of what is going on in Armenia today.
Work for Armenia today, not the dreams of yesteryear.
I encourage anyone to go to Armenia, and see how you can help anyone there, with work, education or any other way.
Originally posted by gmd
Well, im not as arrogant or as unrealistic as some on this board to announce a super new plan, but i will give a few opinions on where Armenia should go,
this is based on me spending 3 months a year there, and having contant feedback and news from there. I also am continuing to study policy making at university, so i hope it gives me a decent basis for applying policies to a real country.
Armenia has many problems facing it today, most of these revolve around the issue of not enough money going into the budget, to be then spent on welfare and so on, such as healthcare, education, social provisions, military, research, etc etc. Therefore, the economy needs to be improved.
To do this, an extremely skilled workforce is needed, to be able to attract foreign investment into the country. We cannot bid for investment on basis of cheap labour, this neither will mean long term investment, nor will it help the masses in armenia who have suffered enough. To do this
- Education needs to be a priority, unlike today
- Guarantees need to be given to firms of political stability
- Give temporary financial incentives to firms (e.g. 10 year tax break) (I am usually against tax breaks, but if it means cutting employment, which is at extremely high levels, then at least its filling in a problem, if not actually adding to tax revenue - however more imployment = more spending = more products sold = more tax brought in
Secondly, the issue of Corruption:
There are two choices
1 - A revolution of the masses who end corruption by force
2 - To appease the corrupt, let them skim the top at the expense of the masses, until there is a strong enough government who can pay officals more money than it is worth them to accept bribes
At the same time buureaucracy should be cut. The use of technology can be used for this, thus cutting out people who can take bribes. (See "E-government) for this.
Thirdly, Social issues
- These should be addressed as soon as the economy allows.
This does not mean social problems are less important than finance, however, to solve the many horrific problems in armenia (prostitution, drugs, crime etc) there needs funding.
-These issues which are replicated in all CIS countries have filled my eyes out of the plight of these forgotten people, and it is vital we can help them as soon as possible. And this is the crux of the argument as to why the notion of creating policies for Western Armenia is a non-starter.
On the issue of Western Armenia...
The Republic of Armenia has NO legal claims to historical Armenia, and cannot achieve anything without the use of force - again, a non starter. Nobody will start a war and lose more sons and brothers and fathers to a war. Particularly as the Kharabagh issue is not even close to being solved.
Private individuals should use their territorial claims and either take the land back, or get compensation for it. This should be done thorugh the legal system. This isnt too unrealistic, given that most of this land is in nomadic peoples hands, and the Turks dont really care unless there are political ramifications. The armenians would after all have to pay land tax, which the kurds dont...
I would also like to remind people of the people living in Turkey at the moment, i believe, i could be wrong, there are 50,000 Armenians in Turkey, a lot who are still well to do, now imagine what would happen to them well before any act of war was produced.
The scenario was given that if there is civil unrest in Turkey, and geopolitical powers wanted to push into Turkey, then Armenia should grab the opportunity (i think the scenario was given in the future situation). Sound awfully familiar...of 1915. And its surprising that Nationalist Armenians want to create the same framework within which the first genocide of the 20th century occured. I dont think 1 armenian would be left in that situation.
Dreaming is fine, but know the consequences.
I would also like to know who has been to Armenia and for how regularly a year. I ask this as this truly shows if people are talking Diasporan nonsense, or have even the tiniest bit of understanding of what is going on in Armenia today.
Work for Armenia today, not the dreams of yesteryear.
I encourage anyone to go to Armenia, and see how you can help anyone there, with work, education or any other way.
Comment