Life in Armenia

[Mher]

Re: Life in Armenia

http://www.change.org/petitions/armenian-government-free-nareg

On the morning of Friday, December 9, 2011, Nareg Hartounian, founder of the Naregatsi Art Institute in Yerevan and Shushi was arrested on trumped up charges of tax evasion. Within the course of a day, he was indicted, tried and found guilty without proper due process. Authorities in the Armenian government are attempting to extort Nareg and his family of properties and money by the use of fear and unjust incarceration. For anyone that knows Nareg personally or knows of the incredibly selfless and important work he does in Armenia and Artsakh supporting the arts, as well as children and the disabled, it is easy to understand why this act by Armenian authorities is especially despicable.

Please sign this petition and help us set Nareg free again to continue his great work. We cannot afford to lose men and women like him. They are the people who keep our country and our world moving forward. We are also running petitions at the Naregatsi Art Institute. If you are in Yerevan, please visit and show your support. Thank You!

Address: Vardanants 16/1, Yerevan, Armenia
Facebook: www.facebook.com/FreeNareg

2011թ. դեկտեմբերի 9-ի առավոտյան ձերբակալել են Երեւանում եւ Շուշիում «Նարեկացի» արվեստի ինստիտուտի հիմնադիր Նարեկ Հարությունյանին՝ հարկերից խուսափելու մեղադրանքով: Մեկ օրվա ընթացքում նրան մեղադրել են, հարցաքննել եւ մեղավոր ճանաչել առանց պատշաճ ընթացակարգերի: Հայաստանի կոռումպացված իշխանավորները փորձում են վախի եւ անիրավ ազատազրկման միջոցով զրկել Նարեկին եւ նրա ընտանիքին գույքից եւ փողից: Ովքեր ճանաչում են Նարեկին կամ նրա անձնուրաց եւ կարեւոր գործը, որը խրախուսում է արվեստը, ինչպես նաեւ աջակցում է երեխաներին եւ հաշմանդամներին Հայաստանում եւ Արցախում, բոլոր նրանց համար հեշտ է հասկանալ, թե ինչու է Հայաստանի իշխանությունների այս քայլը խայտառակություն:

Խնդրում ենք ձեզ օգնել ազատել Նարեգին, նաև որ նա կարողանա շարունակել իր հրաշալի գործը: Մենք չենք կարող նրա նման մարդկանց կորցնել, քանի որ նրանք են, որ առաջ են տանում մեր երկիրը և աշխարհը: Մենք ստորագրահավաք ենք կազմակերպում Նարեկացի Արվեստի Միությունում, և եթե դուք գնտվում եք Երևանում, խնդրում ենք ձեզ այցելել կենտրոն և աջակցել Նարեգին: Շնորհակալություն!

Հասցե: Վարդանանց 16/1, Երեւան, Հայաստան
Ֆեյսբուք: www.facebook.com/FreeNareg

[Federate]

Re: Life in Armenia

Former Armenian FM under Robert Kocharian, Vartan Oskanian, was on Al Jazeera talking about the Armenian economy, the impact of the Eurozone crisis on it as well as Iran's and Russia's role in Armenia's economy.

[Mos]

Re: Life in Armenia

Armenian economy is heavily reliant on the Diaspora with investments, lobbying, and remittances. Almost every family in Armenia has a relative abroad that sends back money. So without a doubt keeping the ties between Diaspora and the Homeland is very key. We need to always encourage and make easier such investments from compatriots in other countries. We need to improve on and make bigger the Armenia-Diaspora programs that exist.

[Tigranakert]

Re: Life in Armenia

I see everything here is taken too literally. What I said was a figure of speech. It is obvious that those Armenians in charge should do everything they can to make a humanitarian organisation as efficient and fair as possible and eliminate corruption, without doubt. My point was more general, that most Armenians use the "corruption" word as an end in itself, as a way to justify why they will not contribute, why they do not invest in their country etc.

The number of investments made in Armenia is a joke taking into account the wealth of our Diaspora. I repeat. Nothing will stop those who really care about their motherland from investing in their own country. Where there is a will, there is a way.

Corruption has been decreasing year by year, and indeed, in our newly-fledged republic, a lot of things still needs change. Corruption should not be an excuse for one not to invest in their motherland (some people do not donate to Armenia Fund because they think it is corrupt, others don't want to do anything in Armenia because they find the whole of Armenia corrupt).

Unfortunately, the bravest (and true) Armenians who dare to invest in Armenia now, will have to deal with the largest amount of corruption. Because of these people, Armenia will develop more, corruption will decrease as wealth increases and investments will grow, after which the Armenian economy will grow more, social welfare will increase, and corruption will decrease again, after which investments will continue to grow, etc. etc.

Without these few people, the heroes of our nation, who dare to invest in Armenia (and by investing, I not only mean donating money, but also by their efforts to decrease the corruption, increase government and corporate efficiency, etc.), Armenia would remain poor.

I don't worry about those who have donated, or have invested in Armenia, I worry about those who did not, and the reasons behind it.

I hope my point is clear now. Now make a choice, on which side are you?

[Serjik]

Re: Life in Armenia

"corruption" should be no excuse to stop helping your homeland. Think of this, most of the money donated to major humanitarian orgs in America like the red cross goes to overhead (nice term for embezzlement?). I have full confidence in the UAF! I give money every year and I follow that they do. sometimes the money is not used in the best way, but its not the end of the world. Next time we make sure they dont do the same mistakes. This is how you go forward, not by constantly xxxxxing and staying out of the game.

Peace!

[arakeretzig]

Re: Life in Armenia

I never said there was any corruption. My family and I donated more than we could honestly afford. However I simply raised a question about something that I've heard from others. Also, why should I okay with 90% of my money being stolen and not given to what I intended for it to be given. Why should I accept that corruption should be part of the process? I'm not trying to spread negativity among Armenians. I am just stating a basic fact. I personally know what the negativity does. I am a member of a youth organizations, and we have a donation system where Armenians can trade in their credit card for an identical Armenian themed credit card sponsored by Capital One which has benefits for our organization as a percentage of their spendings goes to us. They don’t have to spend anything extra, or change their spending habits, and they can fund dozens of projects for us by simply continuing their same spending habits. However, we get very few people who do this because people feel like since its associated Armenians there is bound to fraud.

Unfortunately, this negativity exists because in many ways it is based on reality. We have to end all acceptance of any corruption in our culture. There is no right type or amount of corruption. Unless we do, such negativities will continue to exist. Again, I was not saying that Armeniafund is corrupt in any way whatsoever. I was simply asking IF there was ANY corruption. From what I see, from the people who put their names on the line, and the end result, I can claim that there is atleast some legitimacy. I just wanted to know more.

well, now you've seen that it's not a fake fund. why don't you spread the word to those same people who accused the fund? they'll in turn spread the word it's not a fake fund, yev ayl, yev ayl.

[Federate]

Re: Life in Armenia

[Muhaha]

Re: Life in Armenia

Ah, the ideal excuse for self-hating Armenians not to contribute. Always talking about corruption, always bringing in the flow of pessimism and negativism to everything related to Armenia. If you are a self-respecting Armenia, you don't care if only 5 dollars of your 50 dollar contribution arrives in Armenia, you will be happy with the 5 dollar arriving in the right destination. This is the excuse I know A LOT of Armenians are using not to contribute, and you are contributing to this.

Driving through Armenia, dozens of places have been renovated together with dozens of roads. In Artsakh on every corner you can see their signs "renovated by All-Armenia fund". Just as with any other huge humanitarian organisation, to exactly know how much they spent on what is difficult, in Armenia, in Europea, in the US, the easiest way is to see how many projects they have completed. It's never 100%.

It wouldn't surprise me if you found that one project some thousands of dollars have been misused, to spread the words to other Armenians that the whole organisation is corrupt and to say nobody should contribute. Armenians are self-destructive and are more eager (and prefer) to hear something bad about our country than something good.

(Don't take it personal, I know you are a self-respecting Armenian and don't mean it that way, but most other Armenians do).

This is the silliest thing I've ever read. Armenia Fund is an organization with a good track record and you're making them look bad by saying "You shouldn't care about any possible corruption" when asked if there is any.

[retro]

Re: Life in Armenia

It's far better to start and administer, small community orientated, not-for-profit business of your own. Which will qualify for all sort of government grants and schemes. Than to give large amounts of money to a charitable fund. As a lot of charities are often run by paid administrators, who sit around, devising new ways to siphon money out of the kitty and award contracts to their cronies.

[Mher]

Re: Life in Armenia

I never said there was any corruption. My family and I donated more than we could honestly afford. However I simply raised a question about something that I've heard from others. Also, why should I okay with 90% of my money being stolen and not given to what I intended for it to be given. Why should I accept that corruption should be part of the process? I'm not trying to spread negativity among Armenians. I am just stating a basic fact. I personally know what the negativity does. I am a member of a youth organizations, and we have a donation system where Armenians can trade in their credit card for an identical Armenian themed credit card sponsored by Capital One which has benefits for our organization as a percentage of their spendings goes to us. They don’t have to spend anything extra, or change their spending habits, and they can fund dozens of projects for us by simply continuing their same spending habits. However, we get very few people who do this because people feel like since its associated Armenians there is bound to fraud.

Unfortunately, this negativity exists because in many ways it is based on reality. We have to end all acceptance of any corruption in our culture. There is no right type or amount of corruption. Unless we do, such negativities will continue to exist. Again, I was not saying that Armeniafund is corrupt in any way whatsoever. I was simply asking IF there was ANY corruption. From what I see, from the people who put their names on the line, and the end result, I can claim that there is atleast some legitimacy. I just wanted to know more.