Author: Badalian Vardan

LANDLOCKED JAVAKHETIA: SYMPTOMS OF DIFFICULTIES OF THE NATION-STATE IN GEORGIA?
By Nicolas Landru In Tbilisi
Translated By Simone Koshimizu
Caucaz, Georgia
April 2 2006
Mountainous and isolated, over 92% of the population of Javakhetia
is composed of Armenians. According to Georgian historiography, this
region, located in the south-west of Georgia, is above all the cradle
of national Christianity. The Georgian government remains categorical
in view of the forum of local Armenian associations that called for
an autonomous status last September. Against a backdrop of economic
isolation and rows between the Armenian and Georgian Churches on
religious heritage, does this strained context show the difficulties
of building a nation-state in Georgia?
Questioned about the position adopted by the Georgian diocese of
the Armenian Apostolic Church in relation to this tension, Levon
Isakhanyan, directorate assistant of the diocese, replies first of
all that “no one knows what kind of country Georgia has become today.
According to article 2 of the Georgian Constitution, the territorial
organisation of the Georgian state is undefined”. Is the lack of
territorial organisation the source of the tensions that rose in
the region?
Javakhetia resulted from the crossing of Georgian, Turkish and
Armenian lands. It was part of the XII century great Georgian kingdom,
submitted to the Turkish control at the end of the Middle Ages,
and then inhabited mainly by Muslims of controversial origins –
Turkish or Georgian. The Russian conquest caused great upheavals:
the Muslim population was exchanged for Armenian Christians by the
Ottoman Empire. The arrival of Armenians fleeing the genocide in Turkey
between 1915 and 1921 strengthened the Armenian nature of the region.
Its isolation results from the expansion of the Russian empire against
the Ottomans. In this process, Javakhetia was strongly militarised
and its access was controlled. The USSR ended this process by turning
the region into a no man’s land. Being on the border of the NATO,
access was forbidden, isolating the local inhabitants from the rest
of Georgia. The development of ethnical affinities established in
the USSR after Stalinisation, which soon weakened the republics,
caused the region to be more attached to Yerevan than to Tbilisi.
Legacy of the past, the Russian military base of Akhalkalaki is among
those things that concentrated the grievances of the Georgian national
movement against the Empire. Today it has become a symbolic issue
of the independence that might be achieved, with the withdrawal of
the army planned for the end of 2007. But the Armenian population in
Akhalkalaki has not forgetton the Armenian genocide and the military
base, an almost unique economic resource, protects them from Turkey as
local people fear that Ankara could invade the region through the NATO.
Lack of interest of the central government
“In the Post-Soviet period, from Gamsakhurdia to Shevardnadze, nobody
thought seriously about the integration of the region into Georgia”,
explains Levon Isakhanyan. “We have normal roads and they don’t”,
he adds, explaining the different problems faced by the Armenians in
Tbilisi and by those of Javakhetia.
During Gamsakhurdia’s government, a national construction with ethnical
characteristics was designed in Georgia. Overwhelmed by the war in
South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Tbilisi abandoned the region in 1991
fearing separatism. A conception of ethnical minorities “invited”
by the Georgian “host” did not allow the Armenians of Javakhetia to
give their Georgian citizenship an identity dimension.
In this context, the Armenian national and regional movement of
Javakhk ran the country within an autarchy.
The clientelism established by Shevardnadze allowed the country to
be governed by alternate local clans without establishing a regional
integration policy. The reattachment to the administrative entity
of Samtskhe-Javakhetia in 1994 changed the regional demographic
balance in favour of Georgians, which was interpreted by political
organisations of Javakhetia as an attempt of “Georginisation”.
A politically alienated region
Levon Isakhanyan confirms the legalistic position adopted by the
diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church. “Only state structures
have the right to define the forms of territorial organisation and
the status of different regions in the heart of a unified Georgia”,
he says.
But, based on examples of European democracies, he adds that “if
Georgia wants to become a democratic country where all citizens feel
equal and protected, it should think about a definitive form”.
The legal vacuum and the present status quo give rise to a severe
lack of political legitimacy in Javakhetia. The gathering of the
United Javakhk political forces claims that the representatives of
the region do not defend the population’s interests.
Georgian authorities deny legitimacy to local political organisations,
such as Virk, as they are not elected. Georgia does not recognise
regional political parties; Virk says they could not be registered;
but according to some, these leaders would not wish to be registered
in order to keep a popular legitimacy of contestation.
As far as the United Javakhk is concerned, it is mainly seen as a
rising force – the JEM (Cultural and Sportive Youth Union of Javakhk)
could soon become well-known based on the example of the decisive
rally on 11 March when its members closed the Georgian church, the
university and the court of Akhalkalaki to protest against the murder
of an Armenian in Tsalka in the neighbouring region of Kvemo-Kartli.
Local government is composed by elected people (Sakrebulo) who have
little power compared to the Gamgebeli, the Georgian president’s
local representative, and have no more than 850,000 laris for the
yearly budget of Akhalkalaki, which is not enough to introduce
effective reforms.
National parties only appear in the region in pre-electoral period.
This explains the evident popularity of Virk and the United Javakhk
among the population. Igor Giorgadze’s party, which is opposed to
the present government, has an office in Akhalkalaki.
“Representatives of the Javakheti population are deputies chosen in
major parliamentary elections”, Levon Isakhanyan insists. But he also
brings up the legal pre-conditions that exist in order to acquire a
complex of rights and completely fulfil their status.
If the Forum of Armenian associations of Javakhetia does not have the
legal means of their claims yet, a deep unrest remains in Javakhetia
within the Georgian state, almost completely separated from Tbilisi
by the road system, language, media and ethno-cultural identity. The
conflict of legitimacy shows the political alienation of a region
that does not have a legal political force able to offer an adequate
identification to its inhabitants. However, in order to forbid the
closing of the Russian base in the end of 2007, local political
organisations might deploy the necessary means to make the coming
year tumultuous.
New initiatives in Tbilisi
“We have to do all we can for the development of Javakhetia”, Guiorgui
Kutsichvili declares. He is director of the International Centre
for Conflict Negotiation of Tbilisi and is now launching a programme
aiding the development of potato farming. “Georgian politicians should
finally understand the necessity of changing the landlocked status
of Javakhetia”, he adds. Other NGOs and international organisations
also try to promote the development of the region.
The desire to establish programmes of integration also seems to point
to the central government. “This year, the government will build new
roads in Javakhetia within the framework of the Millennium Challenge
Program; approximately 100,000 dollars will be spent. I think this
government thinks more seriously about the integration of Armenians
of Javakhetia into the common political space of Georgia than the
previous one”, Levon Isakhanyan suggests. He also mentions the teaching
programme for Georgians in Javakhetia, launched under the aegis of
the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). “The
government finally thinks about the teaching of the Georgian language
and that is really a good sign. We, Armenians of Georgia, need air
to breathe and we need Georgian to express ourselves”, he says.
Isakhanyan considers it a diplomatic move on the part of the government
to recognise Armenian as a regional language in Javakhetia and to
seriously examine what the population claims, if they express it as
a majority.
But there’s a long way from raising awareness to the introduction of
effective reforms and the local population’s reluctance to political
and linguistic integration for fear of assimilating and losing their
identity is still a reality. But without definitely adopting a model
of construction of a nation-state in Georgia, can problems be solved?

THE “A1+” CASE IS DESCRIBED IN 4 VOLUMES, 500 PAGES EACH
A1+
[06:23 pm] 31 March, 2006
“This year the European Court will make a decision about the TV Company
“Nojjan Tapan”, and “A1+” will have to wait a little more as they have
participated in many competitions, and their case is larger in volume”,
head of the Investigating Journalists’ Association Edik Baghdasaryan
informed during the discussion today. He had had an interview with
one of the judges of the European Court.
Head of “A1+” Mesrop Movsesyan informed that the case of “A1+” is
described in four volumes, 500 pages each.
The RA ex Ombudsman Larissa Alaverdyan was also interested in the case
and found out that this was unprecedented in the history of the Court;
and it can make the course slower.
And what if the European Court hears the case of “A1”?
According to those present, we will have another moral victory. And
the financial compensation will unfortunately come not from Amalyan’s
pocket, but from the state budget.

FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS LITHUANIAN AMBASSADOR
[March 31, 2006, 12:15:08]
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
March 31 2006
Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov met on Thursday
newly appointed Ambassador of Lithuania Viatautas Nauduzas.
Minister Mammadyarov expressed confidence that the Ambassador would
do his best for the Azerbaijan – Lithuania relationship to be further
developed.
He informed Mr. Nauduzas about the current socio-political and
economic situation in Azerbaijan, and the country~Rs participation
in a number of regional projects including the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
oil and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline ones.
Touching on the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over
Nagorno-Karabakh, Mr. Mammadyarov reminded of occupation of 20% of
the Azeri lands by Armenian armed forces, told of the refugee problem,
and the course of peace negotiations.
Ambassador of Lithuania Viatautas Nauduzas first presented his
credentials to Foreign Minister Mammadyarov saying he will work hard
for development of relationship between the two countries. He said his
country is keen in enhancing cooperation with Azerbaijan in a number
of fields, especially in those of transport, finance and military
ones. The diplomat also advised that opening of Lithuanian embassy
in Baku is expected in the near future.

ARMENIAN INVESTMENT PROMOTION AGENCY AMONG TOP FIVE
YEREVAN, MARCH 31, NOYAN TAPAN. The World Association of Investment
Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) and the Worl Bank Multilateral Investment
Guaranteeing Agency (MIGA) have included the Investment Promotion
Agency of Armenia among the top five agencies that provide information
to investors. According to the Armenian Developent Agency (ADA),
114 agencies of developed and transitional countries have been
studied. Besides Armenia, Columbia, Nicaragua, Senegal and South Africa
are among the top five. The above mentioned countries received their
awards on March 7-8 in Geneva. The main three directions: quality
of the Internet site of the agency, accessibilty of information and
the staff responses to invsetment bids were taken into account when
studying the activities of the agencies.

PRESENTATION OF “INTERPRETATIONS ON RA LAW “ON INSOLVENCY” TAKES
PLACE IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, MARCH 31, NOYAN TAPAN. The presentation of the book
“Interpretation on RA Law “On Insolvency (bankruptcy)” took place
at the “Queen Erato” hall of the Marriott hotel on March 31. The
mentioned law is the third one adopted in failure during the recent 8
years. That was adopted by the National Assembly on December 17, 2003,
put into operation on January 30, 2004. Deputy Minister of Justice
Anatoly Matevosian considered publication of interpretations a great
event. According to him, that is the first attempt to present the law
with its interpretations. He expressed a hope that this practice will
continue and interpretations of foundamental laws: the Criminal Code,
Civil Code and the Code on Civil and Criminal Procedures, will be
published as well.

Predicting earthquakes from space
RIA Novosti, Russia
March 31 2006
16:30 | 31/ 03/ 2006
MOSCOW. (Yury Zaitsev for RIA Novosti.) – A Russian strategic
nuclear-powered submarine is poised to launch an innovative, compact,
80-kg spacecraft from the Barents Sea in the second quarter of
this year.
The Compass 2 satellite is expected to help make the first step in
the practical forecasting of earthquakes from space.
The move comes as a result of extensive research into specific
phenomena in the Earth’s magnetosphere and ionosphere, often observed
prior to earthquakes, by the Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism,
Ionosphere and Radio Waves Propagation (IZMIRAN) of the Russian
Academy of Sciences.
The first observations of ionosphere anomalies manifested days before
major earthquakes date back to the 1960s. At first, treated no more
seriously than UFOs, palm reading and astrology, the findings elbowed
their way into the scientific domain in 1979 as the institute launched
its Interkosmos 19 satellite. A recording analyzed after one major
earthquake showed a prolonged area (narrow in latitude and very broad
in longitude) of abnormal, low-frequency noise centered exactly above
the earthquake’s epicenter several hours before the first shock was
felt. Officially registered as a scientific discovery, the phenomenon
was later confirmed by findings from other satellites.
This area of research received a powerful push in December 1988 in
the wake of a devastating earthquake in Armenia. A pool of Soviet
scientific institutions developed a forecasting system that was to
be deployed first onboard the Mir orbiter and then across the orbit
within a network of unmanned spacecraft. After the Mir, Salyut 6,
and Salyut 7 completed the early stages of the plan, the program
was effectively buried with the demise of the Soviet Union, but went
forward at the end of the turbulent 1990s.
While other precursors of major earthquakes – the concentration of
radon, an inert gas, near the epicenter; the concentration of electrons
in the ionosphere above the epicenter; and the content of crust-emitted
metal-rich aerosols in the air, leading to an abnormally strong
electric field there – had been piling up for a long time, they were
always obtained as by-products of other research programs. Sufficient
statistical data array required a separate specialized satellite.
In 2001, the institute took the lead in the effort, committing to make
a satellite and inviting the Makeyev State Missile Center (Miass,
Urals) to convert the Shtil (SS-N-23 Skiff) military missile into a
launch vehicle for the project. Later, however, Makeyev also had to
develop the satellite under the effort codenamed Vulkan (Volcano)
in the Russian Space Agency’s 2001-2005 Federal Space Program.
The first international Complex Orbital Magneto-Plasma Autonomous
Small Satellite, or Compass, was orbited in December 2001 as a
by-load together with the Meteor 3M, a Russian weather satellite,
to provide insight into possible links between Earth’s crust and
magnetosphere behavior. This first field test of an earthquake forecast
assessment system largely failed because, while early findings were
very promising, the equipment developed jointly by Russia, Hungary,
Greece, Ukraine and Poland soon ceased to operate.
Certain progress was made, however, as the data of Compass’s launch
mate, Meteor 3M, were analyzed by special methods to obtain earthquake
precursors. On aggregate, 44 of 47 events registered between October
2002 and May 2003 agreed with data retrieved from land-based seismic
records. The generally positive result has led to the upcoming Compass
2 launch and is likely to lead to a follow-up Compass 3 effort. The
latter satellite is to be launched in the fourth quarter of 2006 to
test more modern and efficient monitoring systems.
The International Space Station has also been long helping collect
ionosphere information. Thanks to the ISS’s low orbit, some research
programs crucial for the future Vulkan disaster forecasting system
have been conducted here as part of a broader effort codenamed Uragan
(Hurricane).
On the ground, the Vulkan will include a network of geophysical
laboratories, a downlink station and an analysis center. The ground
facilities lack the scope and access to recordable events, which
explains the need for an orbital component to yield a global survey
of seismic activity with accurately timed warnings (one to five
days between a precursor and a possible earthquake). All in all,
two groups of small satellites are to be deployed at 400-500- and
900-1,000-km solar synchronous orbits.
When fully operational, the Vulkan’s ground and spaceborne components
will collect, process and analyze the disaster precursor data, thus
contributing to medium-, long- and short-term plans of emergency
management services in Russia and internationally.
Yury Zaitsev is an expert with the Space Research Institute at the
Russian Academy of Sciences.

PRESIDENT OF ICRC TO VISIT AZERBAIJAN ON 3 APRIL
Azerbaijan Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 30 2006
President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Jacob
Kellenberger will pay his first visit to Azerbaijan on 3 April. The
ICRC representative office in Azerbaijan informed APA that the ICRC
President will have talks with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev
and deputy Prime Minister, head of the State Committee for Refugees
and Displaced Persons, Ali Hasanov.
Mr.Kellenberger will also hold meetings in the Foreign Ministry,
National Security Ministry, Defense, Justice and Health Ministries.
The issue on implementation of ICRC’s Action Plan in Azerbaijan is
expected to be discussed during the visit. The discussions will also
focus on the missing persons as a result of the Nagorno Garabagh
conflict, teaching of international humanitarian law in Azerbaijan’s
armed forces and tuberculosis treatment program in the country.
Besides, Mr.Kellenberger will visit Azerbaijan Society of Red Crescent
and displaced-persons camp in Sabirabad.
The ICRC President will leave for Georgia on 4 April and to Armenia
after that. Kellenberger will end his visit to the South Caucasus on
7 April.
The previous head of the ICRC last visited Azerbaijan in 1995. The
ICRC has been functioning in Azerbaijan since 1992.

ARMENIAN WEBSITES IN THE HANDS OF AZERBAIJANI HACKERS
By Tamar Minasian
AZG Armenian Daily
30/03/2006
Propaganda Against Andre or Armenian People?
As the recent web events suggest, Azeris are slow to put up with
Andre’s coming performance at the Eurovision and his possible
success. They are also slow to put up with our achievement in the
war that they themselves levied on us. To express their resentment
they turn to the Internet but, alas, using it to deceit others.
It transpired yesterday that several Armenian websites are in the
hands of Azeri hackers. Singer Andre’s website ()
, , ,
, , and a number
of other Armenian sites were attacked by Azeri hackers who, having
broken security, erased all information replacing it with information,
pictures and links on alleged Khojaly massacre.
website is hosted at Dolphin Company’s server in the
USA. Talking to Daily Azg the company’s network administrator Khachatur
Meliksetian said that they immediately closed access to the site when
the website designer turned to them in the morning.
Dolphin’s American chiefs have already confirmed that Azerbaijani
hackers are behind these crimes.
In such cases when the server is located in a foreign country a
state has to apply to the Interpol. But to have grounds for this,
the police should have a complaint from the injured party.
Reportedly the Azerbaijani criminals attacked the website of Alfael
Production Center () too. Alfael representative Vardges
Kirakosian informed something like this happened 2-3 weeks ago. Azeris
hacked the Center’s website notifying that its their work.
If years ago Turks and Azeris used the Internet merely to
disseminate offenses, then today their anti-Armenian propaganda
gets more well-weighed and politicized. For someone unaware of
history information posted at Azeri website can seem convincing
and truthful. One can only dread of the effect that these websites
with ensanguined posters and lively graphic design can produce in
uninformed people.
Should we fight back deceit with deceit by hacking Azeri and Turkish
websites or should we hope that they will some day become mature
enough for a fair game?

PARUYR HAYRIKIAN: “WE SHOULD PERCEIVE GEORGIA AS OUR COUNTRY AND ON THE CONTRARY”
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 29 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 29, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “We should carry
on more open policy with Georgians and perceive the whole Georgia as
our country, also being ready to give Armenia to Georgians as their
country. This is the right way of Armenian-Georgian relations,”
Paruyr Hayrikian, Chairman of the National Self-Determination
Union, expressed such an opinion in his interview to Noyan Tapan
correspondent. According to him, this idea should be put into practice
at the state level by taking almost imperceptible but essential steps.
In his opinion, there are serious possibilities for making
Armenian-Georgian relations closer, in consideration of the age-old
friendship between the two peoples, in particular, the Golden Age,
the 12-13th centuries. P.Hayrikian considers that Armenia should show
exclusive attitude towards the Georgian Armenians and, particularly,
towards the Armenians of Javakhk. According to him, the residents of
Javakhk who will display willingness to become RA citizens should be
given this opportunity.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
28-03-2006
Statement by H.E. Vartan Oskanian
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of Armenia
Washington DC
Advocacy Conference
March 27, 2006
I want to thank you for the invitation to speak here today. I
especially appreciate the fact that in this hall are members and
activists from the Assembly, the Armenian Church, the AGBU, and
individuals – all of whom are here to plan together, to work together,
to register successes together.
Since independence, we have indeed registered successes together –
significant US assistance to Armenia, trade privileges, military
assistance parity, progress in genocide recognition and education
efforts, a better understanding by opinion and policy makers of
Armenia’s geographic, historic and economic limitations.
If I think back, I don’t know where Armenia would have been without the
Diaspora. The dedicated, focused efforts of the Armenian Assembly of
America have resulted in a support base that is essential for Armenia.
We know we can always depend on the real, sincere, deep commitment of
the Assembly leadership and the dedicated work of the Assembly staff.
In Yerevan, we are very aware that for you to be able to promote
Armenia, its policies, its future, Armenia must be the kind of
place that you can and want to promote. The Diaspora will promote
and support an Armenia that reflects its own best dreams, values and
ambitions. The Armenian-American Diaspora will promote and support
an Armenia that is a friend of the United States.
And we are. Despite the huge geographic distance between Yerevan
and Washington, we are partners in the war on terror, in supporting
the non-proliferation of weapons, in searching for global peace thru
regional security, in supporting the rule of law, as well as democratic
and economic freedoms.
Not only are we ideological partners, but we share the values that
have made America. We want those values to be not just aspirations
for the citizens of Armenia but solid realities, to be comfortably
taken for granted.
The US is the country that makes it possible for individuals to
reinvent themselves – to relocate, to take on new careers, to pursue
new challenges and new directions.
Armenians have been a people who have reinvented themselves throughout
the centuries on every continent. The challenge in this century is:
for the first time in history, will we be able to reinvent ourselves
on our own land?
Do we want to become a country where every man and woman assumes
they have a right to speak their mind, to cast their vote, to affect
change? Of course we do.
Do we want to become a country where we can take the impartiality
of judges, the decency of policemen and the ethics of teachers for
granted? Of course we do.
Do we want to become a country where you pay taxes to the system
rather than fees to the official? Of course we do.
Do we want to become a country where the difference in rich and poor
is only a matter of time and not a matter of destiny? Of course we do.
Do we want to become a country where each person believes that he or
she can individually reinvent themselves? Of course we do.
That is the Armenia we want. That is the Armenia you want.
How do we get there? You are blissfully unaware of the difficulties
and travails of the process of becoming a democracy because Americans
live in the only country to have been born democratic. America was
built from the ground up, democratic institutions were defined and
created as you went along. As such, you have the good fortune to be
able to take this system for granted.
The entire process of nation-building has been different for us,
since we had to undo an existing system and build a new one. That is
why we have welcomed the various US programs which have supported our
institutional, democratic and economic reforms. We also appreciate that
in anticipation of the elections of 2007 and 2008, the US has proposed
additional, targeted assistance so we can hold normal elections and
rise to the next level of democratic development.
But democracy is more than elections. Democratic institutions and
processes are not just ends. They are also means to creating the
necessary political and economic environment which lead to distributed
growth and dignified development. The cruelties inherent in the process
of massive economic readjustment which we have been making have led
to a sense of powerlessness on the part of ordinary citizens. So,
democracy is a tool for development, just as economic development is
a facilitator of democratization.
This afternoon, I will be attending the signing of a
visionary instrument that drives both economic development and
democratization. The Millennium Challenge Compact is intended to
bolster development in countries where the society and leadership
comprehend their political responsibility to nurture and sustain
democratic practices. This is the single largest government investment
in Armenia’s economy. It consists of $235 million over 5 years.
Before I tell you what we’re going to do with the money, let me tell
you why we were fortunate enough to receive this grant.
The US government chose Armenia as one of the potential recipients
because Armenia is needy. That’s no secret. But there are lots of
needy countries in the world. Why Armenia? Because the US government
determined to contribute to the budgets of those countries that are
themselves attempting to grow in the right direction – to govern
justly, to encourage economic openness and to invest in people.
Armenia is. And being made eligible for the MCC is evidence of
this. Simply put, Armenia is a part of the MCC because not only is
there plenty about our society that needs to be put right, but because
we are on a path that is right. This farsighted program provides a
generous push in the direction that we have chosen for ourselves.
I said to Ambassador Danilovich when the decision was made, and I say
this to you now, Armenia has the honor and the obligation to build
on the confidence that has been placed in our government and our
people. And so, even as we spend these funds to turn mud into asphalt
and to give farmers the irrigation water that is their lifeblood,
we will work to make sure that good governance and the principles of
an open and fair society take root in our homeland.
In the 21st century, philanthropy is more than charity. It is
about finding lasting solutions to deep-seated social and economic
problems. That is what the MCC intends to do. And so I am going to
use this opportunity to say to the Diaspora loudly and clearly that
that is what the Diaspora should do as well.
Before I ask you to do more, and I’m going to do just that, let
me thank you for all that you have done. The Armenia – Diaspora
collaboration has been invaluable in this decade and a half of
upheaval, confusion and learning. The value of the Diaspora is in
its ingenuity, non-conformity, its belief in a dream, its access to
networks, its ability to be international and national all at the
same time, and its tremendous resources.
I am now going to ask you to partner with Armenia – even more deeply
and broadly and seriously than you have already done -in addressing
Armenia’s domestic and international challenges.
Look, most of you have been to Armenia. It is clear that not all
Armenians have been able to share in the double digit growth of which
we are justifiably proud. As soon as one leaves Yerevan, the statistics
become reality: One out of every two Armenians still lives in poverty,
mostly in Armenia’s rural areas. Half of those living in poverty,
live on less than one dollar a day. Yet, these rural men and women
represent a critical portion of Armenia’s economy.
If we want to ensure that these rural communities are not destined
to remain stagnant, permanent pockets of poverty, that Armenians are
not born into a cycle of poverty, then we cannot allow development to
simply take its course. Even at this current fast pace, it will take
decades before we reach the average European level of prosperity. We
must take practical steps to intervene, to take a short-cut towards
an improved quality of life for our rural citizens.
This is the first time that I am announcing from a podium that at the
next Armenia Diaspora Conference, we will be launching a Rural Poverty
Eradication program – a kind of Diaspora Marshall Plan for Armenia.
The Millennium Challenge Account has indeed taken on the renovation
or construction of two of the most expensive infrastructure sectors –
roads and irrigation canals.
Imagine that a village will, in a few years, have irrigation water
and roads.
But imagine that there will be no drinking water, no health care,
no school, no gas or electricity in that village.
Imagine children growing up in a 21st century rural community without
access to telephone, television or internet.
Now imagine what we could do together if the Armenian government,
Armenia’s business community, international organizations, and you,
the Armenian Diaspora came together to leverage the MCC contributions
and to build on the MCC momentum. Imagine a country where development
is comprehensive, even, fair and just.
Imagine an Armenia whose borders are secure because its border
communities are stable, where cross-border interaction is possible,
where out-migration is minimal. Imagine a day in the village filled
with pride and satisfaction, rather than tears and frustration.
As investments and growth spread through Yerevan, this program will
coordinate information about the many wonderful, generous programs
that are already being implemented in rural Armenia by Armenian
and international organizations and individuals. This program will
work to remove the real and artificial obstacles to productivity,
and will help identify access to markets and finance to make the
village economically sustainable.
If you are wondering whether those with personal interests will allow
this kind of access and transparency, join me in challenging those
who obstruct. Rally the forces of the diaspora and the international
community and see if we can’t replace obstacle with opportunity.
Through this program, we will approach every individual, organization,
parish, family and business in the Diaspora and will solicit your
participation. Your time, your money, your expertise, your contacts
– they are all needed so that the infrastructure is rebuilt and a
village is reinvented. This program will strive to bring a new look,
a new ethic, new hope to each rural community in Armenia, starting
with the border villages first.
In plain language, by eradicating poverty you will be eradicating
hopelessness. You will bring prospect and possibility to
the most vulnerable in our society. Hope, faith and confidence
transform economically empowered citizens into politically empowered
citizens. And it is they who will be the best defenders of their votes,
their voices and their rights in meetings, elections and throughout
the governing process.
These are the major domestic challenges that Armenia faces
today. But our foreign policy challenges are no less difficult and
complicated. Fundamental among them are relations with our neighbors,
transportation, energy diversification and conflict resolution.
Our agenda with the US today is very broad and diversified. We have
transcended from being a one issue country and our relations today
are built on mutual respect and interest. Armenia needs America. And
America needs Armenia as a reliable partner in the region.
This year we’ll be celebrating the 15th anniversary of Armenia’s
independence. 15 years of independence,15 years of statehood, 15 years
that Armenians around the world have had an Armenia that is theirs,
to which they belong, that they represent.
No longer are we just Armenian-Americans, but now, we are, whether we
want it or not, whether we feel it or not, perceived as being piece
of that country, that place. Our identity has changed.
The Diaspora exists, it will continue to exist, and you will need
Armenia, not to substitute but to complement what you have.
The Republic of Armenia exists, it is independent, and it is ours. It
still needs its Diaspora, more than ever. We must cooperate, not
compete, in order to turn the Armenia of our dreams into the Armenia
of our future.