Life in Armenia

[Siggie]

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).

That is crap. Why should we be happy with $5 going where it should? That is not acceptable; all of it should except what is essential for running the operation. We should not tolerate corruption. If there's a choice to give to a charity that gets a larger percentage of donations allocated to the PURPOSE for which the funds were donated, then I'll give there.
One could very well accuse you of making excuses as well. Why make excuses for thieves who steal from the poor, infirm, hungry, homeless, disabled, and orphaned? Are you really advocating that we say "ah well, at least 10% of the money makes it where it was supposed to go?" and still support "charities" or organizations that operate this way? It is not exactly black and white... The only options are not to either not make any contribution or to contribute money to corrupt organizations.

[Tigranakert]

Re: Life in Armenia

It is a great event just in the fact that it brings Armenians from all over the world together for a day.

But does anyone know how effective and efficient Armenia Fund is? Anyone have any knowledge of any corruption or misuse of funds?
I know they have pictures of some of their projects of the past on their site.

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).

[Mher]

Re: Life in Armenia

Just made a donation to Armenia Fund. They've been doing countless projects for armenia the past 10 years, and have raised around 300 million dollars. A few dollars from every armenian in the world will make a difference, one of the current projects is providing clean water to villages in Artsakh.

It is a great event just in the fact that it brings Armenians from all over the world together for a day.

But does anyone know how effective and efficient Armenia Fund is? Anyone have any knowledge of any corruption or misuse of funds?
I know they have pictures of some of their projects of the past on their site.

[arakeretzig]

Re: Life in Armenia

Just made a donation to Armenia Fund. They've been doing countless projects for armenia the past 10 years, and have raised around 200 million dollars. A few dollars from every armenian in the world will make a difference, one of the current projects is providing clean water to villages in Artsakh.

[Mos]

Re: Life in Armenia

That is sad to hear, and I have also heard about similar cases. A significant part of the problem is the government, the corruption in the government, and selfish and shortsighted leaders worrying about their own self interest. Unfortunately, unlike our neighbors with similar, or worse, governments, we do not have millions of people to spare. Even worse, a large part of our immigrants leave for the west, thousands of miles away, where they will eventually become assimilated.

I personally can no longer just wait around and hope things in Armenia get better. I was planning on moving to Armenia a few year after finishing college, but now, seeing how things are changing, I am going move immediately after college. I have a few friends who are excellent students in excellent universities here in California and they share a similar sentiment. I am hoping a precedent can be set in the youth here, especially the educated youth, to start a movement back to Armenia.

Sad indeed. He is a patriotic Armenian that would give his life for Armenia, and he would be a great contributor to the Armenian country. But just because the Government can't give him a simple passport, they will lose this patriotic, hard-working Armenian who would raise a family and contribute to Armenia. Because of this citizenship, he will move to a country where the government can respect him and give him citizenship. It's astonishing that a foreign government will give him quicker this citizenship than the Armenian. I don't understand - if the government doesn't want such individuals in Armenia, what individuals do they want? This citizenship process needs to be rebuild - no question.

[Mher]

Re: Life in Armenia

One thing that has turned people off from moving back to Armenia is the incredibly difficult process of getting Armenian citizenship, even if you are Armenian. For example, I know this Armenian person, who immigrated from Tiflis, Georgia to Armenia, and has been living for around 8 years, has a solid work, recently married and has a child, and in all is an ideal citizen. However, for around 8 years, he has been trying to get Armenian citizenship, and still nothing is happening. In my view, this is just ridiculous and an insult. He is thinking about now to move out of the country, and live in place where he can be equal member of society. One thing government needs to do is make this process easier for Armenians, or else no diasporan is going to move back.

That is sad to hear, and I have also heard about similar cases. A significant part of the problem is the government, the corruption in the government, and selfish and shortsighted leaders worrying about their own self interest. Unfortunately, unlike our neighbors with similar, or worse, governments, we do not have millions of people to spare. Even worse, a large part of our immigrants leave for the west, thousands of miles away, where they will eventually become assimilated.

I personally can no longer just wait around and hope things in Armenia get better. I was planning on moving to Armenia a few year after finishing college, but now, seeing how things are changing, I am going move immediately after college. I have a few friends who are excellent students in excellent universities here in California and they share a similar sentiment. I am hoping a precedent can be set in the youth here, especially the educated youth, to start a movement back to Armenia.

[Mos]

Re: Life in Armenia

http://www.ianyanmag.com/2011/08/03/...idians-appeal/

One thing that has turned people off from moving back to Armenia is the incredibly difficult process of getting Armenian citizenship, even if you are Armenian. For example, I know this Armenian person, who immigrated from Tiflis, Georgia to Armenia, and has been living for around 8 years, has a solid work, recently married and has a child, and in all is an ideal citizen. However, for around 8 years, he has been trying to get Armenian citizenship, and still nothing is happening. In my view, this is just ridiculous and an insult. He is thinking about now to move out of the country, and live in place where he can be equal member of society. One thing government needs to do is make this process easier for Armenians, or else no diasporan is going to move back.

[Mher]

Re: Life in Armenia

http://www.ianyanmag.com/2011/08/03/emigration-threatens-armenia-libaridians-appeal/

[Mos]

Re: Life in Armenia

Great speech by Sargsyan that all Armenians should heed:

Սերժ Սարգսյանը սփյուռքի երիտասարդներին հորդորում է գոնե տարին մեկ անգամ այցելել Հայաստան





Հուլիս 25, 2011 | 11:14
Հայ ժողովուրդը 20 տարի առաջ կարողացավ կերտել իր պետությունը, նաեւ պաշտպանել Արցախը, քանի որ պատմության դասերը շատ լավ է սերտել: Այս մասին Ծաղկաձորում Հայոց լեզվի, գրականության եւ հայագիտական գիտելիքների համահայկական 5-րդ օլիմպիադայի մասնակիցների հետ հանդիպման ժամանակ հայտարարել է Հայաստանի նախագահ Սերժ Սարգսյանը:

«Մեր ամենամեծ ձեռքբերումը՝ մեր երկու հայկական պետություններ են, մեր պետականությունն է: Իսկ ամենակարեւոր դասն այն է, որ մենք կարող ենք ցանկացած հաջողության հասնել, եթե լինենք միասնական, եթե ազնիվ լինենք դպրոցից սկսած, բարեխիղճ, պարտաճանաչ լինենք՝ զինված ուժերում մեր հայրենիքի նկատմամբ պարտքը կատարելիս եւ լինենք լավ, ակտիվ քաղաքացի մեր կյանքում»,- ասել է նա:

Հալեպի ճեմարանի սաներից մեկի հարցին, թե ի՞նչ կարող են անել սփյուռքի երիտասարդները հայրենիքի համար, Սերժ Սարգսյանը պատասխանել է. «Լավ հայ լինել եւ հորդորել ձեր բարեկամներին, հարեւաններին, որ գան Հայաստան՝ եթե ոչ մշտապես բնակության համար, ապա, գոնե տարին, երկու տարին մեկ անգամ: Մենք Հայաստանից դուրս ունենք յոթ միլիոն քույրեր եւ եղբայրներ: Պատկերացնո՞ւմ ես, եթե գոնե տարին մեկ անգամ յուրաքանչյուր հայ գա Հայաստան: Մի քանի տարի գալուց հետո, կարող է հանկարծ մտափոխվեք ու մնաք Հայաստանում, մեր երկիրը շենացնեք, բոլորս միասին աշխատենք, այստեղ գտնեք շատ լավ ընկերներ, բարեկամներ: Ի վերջո, բոլորիս հայրենիքը Հայաստանն է: Մենք մշտապես պետք է հիշենք, որ կովկասյան լեռներից այս կողմ մի փոքրիկ երկիր կա, որ հսկայական երկրից մնացել է մի մասունք, եւ այդ մասունքը բոլորինս է»:

ՀՀ նախագահը նաեւ հորդորել է երիտասարդներին մշտական բնակություն հաստատել Հայաստանում: Դիմելով հարց տվող երիտասարդներից մեկին, նա նշել է. «Երիտասարդ ընտանիքներին` բնակարան», «Երիտասարդ ընտանիքներին` ավտոմեքենա» ծրագրերից օգտվելու հնարավորություն կունենաս, Հայաստանում կգտնես քո զույգին, եւ կյանքը կշարունակվի: Այո՛, մենք քեզ խնդրում ենք, վերադառնալ Հայաստան եւ այստեղ քո երկրին օգուտ բերել: Ի դեպ, այս հանդիպումից հետո մեկ այլ դահլիճում հանդիպելու եմ աշխարհի լավագույն բուհերում սովորող հարյուր հայ ուսանողների հետ, որոնց ֆինանսավորումն իրականացնում ենք մենք՝ «Լույս» հիմնադրամով: Նրանց բոլորին էլ եմ կոչ անելու գալ այստեղ»:

[Federate]

Re: Life in Armenia

‘Free’ Beaches Offered at Armenia’s Lake



The Armenian government has announced the launch of two public beaches at a mountain lake popular among local holidaymakers.
People traveling to the Sevan, a rare beach resort in landlocked Armenia, are now offered areas at the lakeside where they can swim or have a picnic without having to pay an entry fee or being additionally charged for most of public amenities.

The move comes after the government pledge to reduce the growing commercialization of rest at Lake Sevan that makes it unaffordable for most citizens struggling to find other beach options during hot Armenian summers.

Ashot Avalian, an Environment Ministry official in charge of the coordination of public beaches, said at a press conference in Yerevan on Friday that in choosing the areas for the beaches they were guided by a number of criteria, including their convenience in terms of proximity to roads and the railway, their being spacious enough and their being free from liabilities, such as registration with the cadastre or the presence of notarized legal contracts.

Meanwhile, at least one entrepreneur owning a commercial beach at Lake Sevan has protested the kind of approach.

The founder of the Flamingo beach sent an open letter to the prime minister, calling the government’s decision on the establishment of public beaches illegal and demanding that it be revoked.

The Sevan National Park state-run non-commercial organization dismissed the claim, saying that the issues raised by the beach owner “under the guise of environmental concerns” were groundless and that beaches, as the state property, should primarily serve the public interest.

The Environment Ministry representative suggested that the businessman take his complaint to court.

He stressed that by law even outside public beaches no one can charge money from people who want, for instance, to put up a tent or have a swim in the lake.

“They can charge citizens only for concrete services,” Avalian explained.

http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/24259744.html