Tweet
It is inconvenient to be a shoemaker and wear a pierced shoe
05-04-2008 15:06:16 - KarabakhOpen
The problem of publication of books has recently become one of the
urgent issues in Karabakh. Certainly, it is not because the Karabakh
issue has been solved, the quality of life has risen, all foes have
been defeated, and the gold reserve exceeds the amount of consumed
pork. Simply, as it usually happens, an issue which seems unimportant
first becomes an indicator of general processes.
The point is that the government annually assigns a considerable sum
for publishing books. In 2008, for instance, 10 million drams was
assigned. The special commission under the ministry of culture and
youth posts an announcement for books to publish and selects those
which it thinks deserve government funding.
A few days ago the government affirmed a list of 23 books which will be
published in 2008. Affirm is not the exact word here because the
minister of culture Norek Gasparyan who had presented the list was
instructed to review the list.
The point is that 2 of the 23 books are by the minister of culture, and
the author of another two books is the president of the Writers' Union
Vardan Hakobyan, who is a member of the commission. In addition, Norek
Gasparyan's book of short stories `set a record' in its `weight group'
(43 printer lists) which must be published in English for whatever
reason, and the novel `Mother' (30 printer list). The government must
allocate 1,250,000 drams for these two books. The two books by Vardan
Hakobyan entitled Volume 4 and Volume 5 are 70 printer lists together
(1,900,000 drams).
Before the list was submitted to the government, the parliament
unexpectedly held hearings on the issue of publication of books.
Unexpectedly because the NKR parliament does not hold hearings often,
especially on such issues which seem unimportant first. We have learned
that the hearings were held because a number of authors were
dissatisfied with the way how eligibility for government funding is
measured. Both the parliamentarians and the authors said it is
inadmissible when an official misuses his or her powers for his or her
personal interests. In addition, the question was asked who has
assessed the result of the funds the government spends on publication
of books. What is the propagandist, national, art value of the books
which are published on government funding?
The participants of the hearings were supposed to prepare
recommendations to the government which, but as far as we know, have
not been extended to the government. However, the concern was voiced.
After this again a list was submitted to the government according to
which 30 percent of the funds allocated by the government should be
spent on the books by the minister and the president of the Writers'
Union.
The reaction was rigid. Prime Minister Ara Harutiunyan instructed to
review the list and said during the meeting of government the list
should not include more than one book by the same author. It is true
that he did not state that according to laws and moral rules an
official cannot allocate money to himself. He can be either a member of
the commission or a participant of the competition. But it was in the
air.
Unfortunately, this is the case not only with publication of books. It
is somehow inconvenient in our country to be the head of a building
company and not to build a house for oneself on public funds. It is
inconvenient to be a shoemaker and wear a pierced shoe. It is
inconvenient to work for the car pool of the government and not to buy
a `written-off' car. It is inconvenient¦
05-04-2008 15:06:16 - KarabakhOpen
The problem of publication of books has recently become one of the
urgent issues in Karabakh. Certainly, it is not because the Karabakh
issue has been solved, the quality of life has risen, all foes have
been defeated, and the gold reserve exceeds the amount of consumed
pork. Simply, as it usually happens, an issue which seems unimportant
first becomes an indicator of general processes.
The point is that the government annually assigns a considerable sum
for publishing books. In 2008, for instance, 10 million drams was
assigned. The special commission under the ministry of culture and
youth posts an announcement for books to publish and selects those
which it thinks deserve government funding.
A few days ago the government affirmed a list of 23 books which will be
published in 2008. Affirm is not the exact word here because the
minister of culture Norek Gasparyan who had presented the list was
instructed to review the list.
The point is that 2 of the 23 books are by the minister of culture, and
the author of another two books is the president of the Writers' Union
Vardan Hakobyan, who is a member of the commission. In addition, Norek
Gasparyan's book of short stories `set a record' in its `weight group'
(43 printer lists) which must be published in English for whatever
reason, and the novel `Mother' (30 printer list). The government must
allocate 1,250,000 drams for these two books. The two books by Vardan
Hakobyan entitled Volume 4 and Volume 5 are 70 printer lists together
(1,900,000 drams).
Before the list was submitted to the government, the parliament
unexpectedly held hearings on the issue of publication of books.
Unexpectedly because the NKR parliament does not hold hearings often,
especially on such issues which seem unimportant first. We have learned
that the hearings were held because a number of authors were
dissatisfied with the way how eligibility for government funding is
measured. Both the parliamentarians and the authors said it is
inadmissible when an official misuses his or her powers for his or her
personal interests. In addition, the question was asked who has
assessed the result of the funds the government spends on publication
of books. What is the propagandist, national, art value of the books
which are published on government funding?
The participants of the hearings were supposed to prepare
recommendations to the government which, but as far as we know, have
not been extended to the government. However, the concern was voiced.
After this again a list was submitted to the government according to
which 30 percent of the funds allocated by the government should be
spent on the books by the minister and the president of the Writers'
Union.
The reaction was rigid. Prime Minister Ara Harutiunyan instructed to
review the list and said during the meeting of government the list
should not include more than one book by the same author. It is true
that he did not state that according to laws and moral rules an
official cannot allocate money to himself. He can be either a member of
the commission or a participant of the competition. But it was in the
air.
Unfortunately, this is the case not only with publication of books. It
is somehow inconvenient in our country to be the head of a building
company and not to build a house for oneself on public funds. It is
inconvenient to be a shoemaker and wear a pierced shoe. It is
inconvenient to work for the car pool of the government and not to buy
a `written-off' car. It is inconvenient¦