Category: News

A new World Bank policy report urges developing countries and international development agencies to rethink their approach to governance, as a key to overcoming challenges related to security, growth, and equity.
The 2017 World Development Report: Governance and the Law explores how unequal distribution of
power in a society interferes with policies’ effectiveness. Power asymmetries help explain, for example,
why model anti-corruption laws and agencies often fail to curb corruption, why decentralization does not always improve municipal services; or why well-crafted fiscal policies may not reduce volatility and
generate long-term savings.
The report notes that when policies and technical solutions fail to achieve intended outcomes, institutions often take the blame. However, it finds that countries and donors need to think more broadly to improve governance so that policies succeed. It defines better governance as the process through which state and non-state groups interact to design and implement policies, working within a set of formal and informal rules that are shaped by power.
“As demand for effective service delivery, good infrastructure, and fair institutions continues to rise, it is vital that governments use scarce resources as efficiently and transparently as possible,” World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim said. “This means harnessing private sector expertise, working closely with civil society, and redoubling our efforts in the fight against corruption. Without better governance, our goals of ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity will be out of reach.”
The report looks at country examples, including state building in Somalia, anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria, growth challenges in China, and slums and exclusion in India’s cities. It identifies three winning ingredients of effective policies: commitment, coordination, and cooperation. As three core functions to produce better governance outcomes, institutions need to:
● Bolster commitment to policies in the face of changing circumstances. This would help, for example,
in cases where decision makers spend windfall revenues instead of saving them for the future, or when
leaders renege on peacebuilding agreements in the absence of binding enforcement.
● Enhance coordination to change expectations and elicit social desirable actions by all. Challenges
occur in many contexts, from finance to industrial clusters and urban planning. Financial stability, for
example, relies on beliefs about credibility. Just consider how despite the rationale for leaving their
money in the bank during times of distress, the public may rush to withdraw their deposits if they believe that others will too – ultimately causing the banks to lose liquidity and crash.

● Encourage cooperation: Effective policies help promote cooperation by limiting opportunistic behavior
such as tax evasion- often through credible mechanisms of rewards or penalties. Individuals may have
incentives to behave opportunistically. Not paying taxes does not prevent them from enjoying public
services that others are funding. Similarly, when groups fail to benefit from policies or feel short-changed (for example, by low-quality public services), it can further weaken compliance.

“Government officials do not act in a vacuum. Their decisions reflect the bargaining power of citizens who jockey with each other to advance competing interests,” said World Bank Chief Economist, Paul Romer.
“So this report launches a very important discussion for governments, their countries, and people in the
development community about how we can make sure that society is on a path that’s generating progress.
We need to confront a complicated political process in every country where power can influence the
outcome of that process and we have to ask how can make sure that process leads to progress for
everyone.”
According to the report, unequal distribution of power can exclude groups and people from the rewards
and gains of policy engagement. Yet meaningful change is possible with the engagement and interaction
of citizens, through coalitions to change the incentives of those who make decisions; elites, through
agreements among decision makers to restrict their own power; and the international community, through indirect influence to change the relative power of domestic reformers.
Based on extensive research and consultations in many countries over the past two years, the report
proposes principles to guide reform and change the dynamics of governance for equitable development.
The report finds that good policies are often difficult to introduce and implement because certain groups in society who gain from the status quo may be powerful enough to resist the reforms that are needed to
break the political equilibrium.
“This year’s World Development Report ‘Governance and the Law’ has a wealth of insights that will inform and further strengthen the Bank’s work on governance,” said Debbie Wetzel, Senior Director of the World Bank’s Governance Global Practice. “As the report notes, successful reforms are not just about
“best practice”. They require adapting and adjusting institutions in ways that build more effectively on local dynamics and address specific problems that continue to stand in the way of development that serves all

citizens.”

Photo: Khone Saysamongdy/The Collegian

It was an afternoon of remembrance and solidarity as Fresno State welcomed Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia, Grigor Hovahannissian, to campus Saturday, reports.

The ambassador was accompanied by Fresno State President Dr. Joseph Castro and honorary consul for the Republic of Armenia Barj K. Apkarian for a tour of the Armenian Genocide Monument, which was unveiled in 2015.

“This monument is a powerful pride point for us because it’s the only one of its kind on a university campus in the United States,” Castro said. “I think it says to our Armenian community and to all communities that we stand with them, that we support them.”

Castro said the monument also honors the memories of those who paid a heavy price for people to be here today.

“To have one of the finest universities in the state of California dedicate a place to erect this amazing monument, this [is a] powerful symbol that contains symbolism that we feel radiates solidarity,” said Hovahannissian.

The visit took place on the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Armenian Armed Forces. The ambassador noted how significant the republic’s rebirth was to the Armenian people.

“[The anniversary] is a very symbolic day for us,” said Hovahannissian. “I wanted to spend it with a powerful dynamic, a beautiful community that I like so much.”

Following a moment of siouvenilence for those lost to the genocide 100 years ago, Castro gave the ambassador an official Fresno State sr. The two shook hands.

Castro said the ambassador’s visit as an important representation of the growth in Fresno State’s relationships with universities in Armenia.

“I think that is very important for our students to be able to have the opportunity to go abroad to study and for students outside of the United States to come and study,” Castro said. “It enriches the educational opportunities for everyone. So we’re honored to have the ambassador here today.”

Among those in attendance was Congressman Jim Costa, who paid respect to the Armenian community and honored the ongoing relation between the Armenian presence in the San Joaquin Valley and Armenia.

Costa said, “I’m very proud of the Armenian families that have made this Valley what it is today. Truly, generations after generations of Armenians have come to our country and have come to this Valley to have a better opportunity for themselves and their families. Their success has been our success.”

The team of Western Armenia will not participate in this year’s ConIFA World Football Cup because of lack of security guarantees, ConIFA Vice-President Dimitri Pagava told reporters after the Annual General Meeting in Geneva, reports.

The 2017 European Football Cup will be held from 4-11 June in Northern Cyprus, and the Turkish side has failed to provide security guarantees to the Armenian club.

This year the title will be contested by Northern Cyprus, Padania, Sapmi (Lapland), Abkhazia, County of Nice, Székely Land, Occitania and Ellan Vannin (Isle of Man).

ConIFA, the Confederation of Independent Football Associations, is the football federation for all associations outside FIFA. Western Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh are members of the Confederation.

ConIFA is a global acting non-profit organization that supports representatives of international football teams from nations, de-facto nations, regions, minority peoples and sports isolated territories.

ConIFA was founded on the 7th of June 2013, and organized its first World Football Cup in June 2014 in Ostersund, Sweden.

A petition to stop US President Donald Trump’s UK state visit has gathered more than a million signatures, the BBC reports.

Numbers of signatories have been rising rapidly since a US clampdown on immigration came into effect over the weekend, causing anger worldwide.

PM Theresa May announced the visit during her recent US trip. Downing Street has rejected calls for it to be cancelled as a “populist gesture.”

On Saturday afternoon the petition had just 60 signatures but reached 100,000 needed to be considered for debate by Parliament just after midday on Sunday.

MPs will discuss the debate on Tuesday.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan praised Manchester United for eventually finding some fluency to down Wigan Athletic 4-0 in the fourth round of the FA Cup, Goal.com reports.

The holders put in a laboured showing during the first half, with former Borussia Dortmund star Mkhitaryan guilty of a terrible miss, but Marouane Fellaini settled any nerves with a headed opener in the 44th minute.

Anthony Martial crossed for Chris Smalling to make it 2-0 and the France international was involved once more, with United clicking sublimely through the gears, Mkhitaryan adding a third with 15 minutes remaining.

Schweinsteiger, on his first United start for 386 days, completed the rout with an improvised finish from Ander Herrera’s knockdown and, on a weekend of shocks and surprises, Mkhitaryan was able to reflect on booking a spot in the last 16 with the minimum of fuss.

“It feels good. It was not our best game in the first half, but in the second we were very good,” the Armenia midfielder told BBC Sport.

“In the first we couldn’t find free space, but in the second we had more of that. The most important thing is we won 4-0 and go through.

“[My goal] was a very nice counter-attack. Everything happened very quickly.

“It doesn’t matter if I am playing or not I am trying to do everything I can, working very hard. I am trying to do my best for the team.”

There are 41,000 Georgians living in Armenia today, according to a study published by

“Georgia was one of the richest republics in the Soviet Union, and so, in 1990, very few Georgians – even among those with Armenian background – had reasons to emigrate to Armenia. Less than 2,000 Georgians resided in their southern neighbor country. The subsequent failure of Shevardnadze is nicely illustrated by the migration development in the years that followed: by 1995, almost 28,000 Georgians had moved to Armenia, and in the year 2000, this number stood at 47,000,” the study says.

“When the reformers took over in Georgia, many of these people decided to return to their home country. By 2005, there were only 31,000 Georgians left in Armenia, and by 2010, this number had gone down to 26,000. Now we are back to 41,000, giving support to the perception of many people that in the last years, Georgia’s economic fortunes worsened,” the Financial said.

According to the study, in 2015, there were 1,980 Armenian nationals residing in Georgia, while there were almost 41,000 Georgians in Armenia.

In search for the reasons of the difference, The Financial refers to the figures presented by the Armenian statistical office Armstat, which claims that wages are slightly higher in Armenia. “In 2014 the average wage was 788.5 lari in Georgia and 818 lari in Armenia (converted by the official rate of the Central Bank of Armenia). These numbers do not conflict with the fact that most sources state a slightly higher nominal per capita GDP for Georgia.”

“Unlike in Tbilisi, walking around in Central Yerevan evokes the impression that one is in a rather wealthy and very well-developed country. However, the suburbs of Yerevan do not look much different than the suburbs of Tbilisi, and the countryside of Armenia is in many places very dilapidated,” the Financial writes.

“A more plausible explanation might be that many of the Georgians in Armenia are in fact ethnic Armenians who moved to Armenia in the 1990’s for good, integrated in the Armenian society and just did not return their Georgian citizenships. They would still be counted as Georgian migrants living in Armenia, while in fact they are Armenians living in Armenia who are essentially culturally and economically indistinguishable from their compatriots.”

Jose Mourinho has praised the form of Manchester United winger Henrikh Mkhitaryan, according to Manchester United’s official website.

On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the creation of the Armenian Armed Forces, President Serzh Sargsyan, accompanied by His Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, President of the NKR Bako Sahakian, and the highest leadership of the Republic, visited today the Yerablur Military Pantheon and paid tribute to the memory of the sons of the Armenian nation who gave their lives for independence of our Fatherland.

On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the creation of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia, President Serzh Sargsyan awarded over two hundred military servicemen and freedom fighters with the highest awards of the Republic of Armenia, medals and orders, and bestowed on them high military ranks for the courage manifested in defending the borders of the Fatherland, valor, boundless dedication, as well as for their contribution to the army building and enhancement of the battle readiness of the troops.

The President of Armenia congratulated the servicemen and the freedom fighters on the occasion of the holiday and on receiving high state awards.

Congratulatory remarks of the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan addressed to the awardees

Dear Awardees,

I congratulate you on the occasion of the Army Day and on the receiving the Fatherland’s high awards and ranks.

We are grateful to you for the enormous work you have done and which is called the service to the Fatherland. First, we shall commemorate those immortals who are being awarded today posthumously. We, as a nation, stand by the parents who raised these heroes and send to their families the words of compassion and support.

Those boys fell defending their families, their friends and us all. They fell so that Armenia can live, so that aspirations of our people live on and become a reality. They became immortals and together with us will continue the millennia-long and incessant march of the Armenian nation.

I congratulate those present in this hall and those who in our Armed Forces carry on with the dedicated work of their fallen brothers in arms. Be aware that the Fatherland trusts you and believes in you. We are proud of you; you are the worthy sons of our nation, the power and reliance of our people,” said President Serzh Sargsyan. In the presence of the particiapats of the official award ceremony, the President sent his congratulatory message to the people of Armenia on the occasion of the Army Day.

Congratulatory message by President Serzh Sargsyan on the occasion of Army Day

Dear Compatriots,

I congratulate you on the occasion of the Army Day and the 25th anniversary of the creation of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia.

The Armenian Army was created along with the reestablishment of our statehood. However, the formation of the Army started earlier, and it started not from the top but from the bottom, spontaneously, through the instinct of self-defense of the people.

Hideous events, which had taken place in Sumgait, Baku, and other places in Azerbaijan, awaked our historic memory with the blood-chilling pictures of massacres and forced deportations. Formed spontaneously but deeply consciously the voluntary movement and first units of volunteers had become the axis on which the glorious and victorious structure – the Armenian Army would rise.

We, as a nation, had united. Last time, we had been united like this at Sardarapat. The superior resources of the foe did not scare us. On the contrary, that fact made us serious, organized, and focused. Our Army was formed at the battlefield. We were fighting agains the enemy literally inside our own home.

I recall a true story: a man with the arms in hands was fighting the enemy in his own home. He fought and retreated from the doorway to the kitchen, then still fighting he retreated to the living room, then he took back his kitchen and his doorway. This is not an allegory; this is a true story from the heroic battle of Karintak. The war imposed on us, made us all the Army; this is the truth.

On the other hand, we need officers – professional, experienced, and deeply knowledgable of the military science. We have been able to smoothly and effortlessly to intertwine the professional capabilities of the military and the strong battle spirit of the home guard. We were aware that the Fidai movement, even if of a heroic nature, had no prospects. The time had come to create a professional army. Military servicemen all over the Soviet Union answering the call of the Fatherland gathered here and carried out that tremendous task.

Dear Compatriots,

Twenty-five years ago, by the order of Vazgen Sarkissian our Army became a state structure. From that day one, we were fighting in the self-defense war at the state level. From that day on, the new and glorious history of the Armed Froces of the Republic of Armenia is being written. Many of the pages and heroes of that history have already appeared in history books. Moreover, that history has become an indivisible part of our national identity. That history is our self-respect, human and national dignity, the proof of our freedom.

I have stressed on many occasions that no military action, to say nothing of a new war can solve the Artsakh issue. Moreover, a new war will become an additional, thorny component of the issue which is complex enough, but not a solution.

Events of last April proved once again (and I stress “once again’) to our adversaries that the use of force or threats to use force is a tragic and dead-end road, which means it’s not a road at all.

Those events had also proved the vital and crucial importance of the safety zone created around Artsakh. We are not going to fight another elongated war in the doorway and kitchen of our own home, we have done it already.

Dear Fellow Citizens,

The blood of our martyrs is the price we have paid for our freedom and our future. Today, the thankful generation is bowing to the memory of our immortals and continues with honor the patriotic work of their grandfathers and fathers.

Today’s servicemen and conscripts, now with new structures and new weapons, continue to improve and develop, continue to be the unswerving shield for Armenia and Artsakh. Currently, it would be hard to find a stronger defender and a more ardent proponent of peace that the Armenian Army.

Next twenty-five years will be a period of a new qualitative rise for our Army. Officers, as a special stratum of our national intelligentsia, will have a greater public standing and weight, will have a greater professional, including technological, efficiency. For the conscripts, the military service will truly become a school of life, starting from the military skills and up to civil and psychological readiness.

The 25th anniversary of the creation of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia is a great holiday, a great holiday indeed. I once again congratulate us all and wish courage, indestructible resolve, and peace.

Thank you.