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Armenia's economy advances, official says
By Vanessa Colón
The Fresno Bee
(Updated Saturday, February 19, 2005, 7:36 AM)
Armenia is on the move to a better economy, but more work needs to
be done, said the U.S. ambassador to Armenia.
Members of the Armenian community in Fresno took in the good news
Friday, but some of them wondered whether the United States could do
more to help the nation prosper.
John Evans, U.S. ambassador to the republic of Armenia, made an evening
stop at the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church. The U.S. Embassy
in Armenia and the offices of Armenian Technology Group Inc. in Fresno
coordinated his visit.
"The main problem is persistent poverty. ... [but] the rate of poverty
is coming down," Evans said.
"First of all, we are trying to bring a measure of security and
stability in that nation. Secondly, we are trying by every possible
means to build up the economy." Many Armenians say they are thankful
for the economic assistance the United States gives to Armenia, but
some of them want more change. They say Armenia can't prosper as much
because of an economic blockade from neighboring nations.
"The U.S. provides economic assistance to Armenia. ... You do see
good economic development, but in the countryside you do see poverty,"
said Varoujan Der Simonian, executive director of the nonprofit group
Armenian Technology Group Inc. in Fresno.
"Overall, it's in need of help,"
In fiscal 2004, an estimated $89.7 million was budgeted for assistance
programs in Armenia.
Der Simonian hopes the Bush administration doesn't make cuts in
financial help to Armenia.
The nation, which borders Turkey, was part of the former Soviet
Union. With the collapse of the Soviet Union and a debilitating
economy, many fled to Russia and others emigrated to the United States
and Western Europe.
Part of the financial strain includes an economic blockade by
Azerbaijan and Turkey. The country was hit with an earthquake in 1988
that killed more than 25,000 people.
"The sooner the blockade is lifted, the better," Der Simonian said.
Some Armenians say part of the economic difficulty includes the
Armenian diaspora.
More than one million of Armenia's roughly 3 million residents left
the nation when it gained its independence in 1991. Many left their
nation between 1915 and 1923 when the Ottoman Turks executed 1.5
million Armenians. The modern republic of Turkey evolved from the
Ottoman Empire.
Several people at the church have taken trips to Armenia and have
seen the changes.
"It's improved but has not improved as much as we wanted to," said
Hygo Ohannessian, chairwoman of the Armenian National Committee of
Central California.
Ohannessian said: "It was one of the top-producing countries in the
Soviet Union during the Soviet era."
The reporter can be reached at [email protected] or (559) 441-6313.
--Boundary_(ID_qlkQB/xeZytFBromt9EDeA)--
By Vanessa Colón
The Fresno Bee
(Updated Saturday, February 19, 2005, 7:36 AM)
Armenia is on the move to a better economy, but more work needs to
be done, said the U.S. ambassador to Armenia.
Members of the Armenian community in Fresno took in the good news
Friday, but some of them wondered whether the United States could do
more to help the nation prosper.
John Evans, U.S. ambassador to the republic of Armenia, made an evening
stop at the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church. The U.S. Embassy
in Armenia and the offices of Armenian Technology Group Inc. in Fresno
coordinated his visit.
"The main problem is persistent poverty. ... [but] the rate of poverty
is coming down," Evans said.
"First of all, we are trying to bring a measure of security and
stability in that nation. Secondly, we are trying by every possible
means to build up the economy." Many Armenians say they are thankful
for the economic assistance the United States gives to Armenia, but
some of them want more change. They say Armenia can't prosper as much
because of an economic blockade from neighboring nations.
"The U.S. provides economic assistance to Armenia. ... You do see
good economic development, but in the countryside you do see poverty,"
said Varoujan Der Simonian, executive director of the nonprofit group
Armenian Technology Group Inc. in Fresno.
"Overall, it's in need of help,"
In fiscal 2004, an estimated $89.7 million was budgeted for assistance
programs in Armenia.
Der Simonian hopes the Bush administration doesn't make cuts in
financial help to Armenia.
The nation, which borders Turkey, was part of the former Soviet
Union. With the collapse of the Soviet Union and a debilitating
economy, many fled to Russia and others emigrated to the United States
and Western Europe.
Part of the financial strain includes an economic blockade by
Azerbaijan and Turkey. The country was hit with an earthquake in 1988
that killed more than 25,000 people.
"The sooner the blockade is lifted, the better," Der Simonian said.
Some Armenians say part of the economic difficulty includes the
Armenian diaspora.
More than one million of Armenia's roughly 3 million residents left
the nation when it gained its independence in 1991. Many left their
nation between 1915 and 1923 when the Ottoman Turks executed 1.5
million Armenians. The modern republic of Turkey evolved from the
Ottoman Empire.
Several people at the church have taken trips to Armenia and have
seen the changes.
"It's improved but has not improved as much as we wanted to," said
Hygo Ohannessian, chairwoman of the Armenian National Committee of
Central California.
Ohannessian said: "It was one of the top-producing countries in the
Soviet Union during the Soviet era."
The reporter can be reached at [email protected] or (559) 441-6313.
--Boundary_(ID_qlkQB/xeZytFBromt9EDeA)--