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GOVERNMENT CURBS TSARUKIAN DONATIONS TO UNIVERSITIES
by Hovannes Shoghikian
Armenialiberty.org
http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/24394308.html
Nov 17 2011
Education Minister Armen Ashotian on Thursday effectively confirmed
reports that he has banned state-run universities from accepting
scholarship donations from Gagik Tsarukian, a millionaire businessman
leading Armenia's second most important governing party.
Ashotian denied any connection between the move and reported tensions
between President Serzh Sarkisian's Republican Party (HHK) and
Tsarukian's Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK).
In recent years a charity belonging to Tsarukian has provided
scholarships to university students from low-income families meeting a
number of academic criteria. Those students have always been selected
by university administrations.
Ashotian, who is a senior member of the HHK, said the universities
will no longer be allowed to accept such assistance without his
ministry's approval. "Personal scholarships in state universities can
be introduced only with the permission of the relevant state body,"
he told journalists. "Nobody has made such negotiable offers to us."
Ashotian added that the Gagik Tsarukian Fund and other charities keen
to help students will now have to apply to the Ministry of Science
and Education in the first instance.
Reacting to Ashotian's order, Vahe Enfiajian, a senior BHK member
involved in student funding, told RFE/RL's Armenian service
(Azatutyun.am), "Right now we are dealing with our organizational
issues. There is a board that will discuss that issue."
Armenia -- Education Minister Armen Ashotian.â~@~Kâ~@~KAshotian denied
any political considerations behind his directive. "The ministry
has many projects and I often appeal to Armenian entrepreneurs and
philanthropists to invest in education," he said.
Tsarukian, who is thought to be close to former President Robert
Kocharian, reportedly came under renewed pressure from his senior
coalition partner last month after he pointedly declined to reaffirm
support for Sarkisian's reelection in 2013. Kocharian gave in late
September more indications that he would like to return to the
political arena.
Earlier this month, Sarkisian engineered the resignations and sackings
of several top state officials, including parliament speaker Hovik
Abrahamian. Some observers regard that as an attempt to ward off a
potential challenge from his predecessor.
Tsarukian's charitable activities have sparked controversy before. The
BHK leader began his and party's political activities ahead of the
May 2007 parliamentary elections with the distribution of relief
aid to tens of thousands of impoverished farmers. He also paid for
free medical aid and other supposedly public services provided to
urban residents.
The practice was denounced as wholesale vote buying by the opposition
and some pro-HHK figures. The BHK, which has the second largest
faction in the current parliament, denied any wrongdoing.
From: A. Papazian
by Hovannes Shoghikian
Armenialiberty.org
http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/24394308.html
Nov 17 2011
Education Minister Armen Ashotian on Thursday effectively confirmed
reports that he has banned state-run universities from accepting
scholarship donations from Gagik Tsarukian, a millionaire businessman
leading Armenia's second most important governing party.
Ashotian denied any connection between the move and reported tensions
between President Serzh Sarkisian's Republican Party (HHK) and
Tsarukian's Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK).
In recent years a charity belonging to Tsarukian has provided
scholarships to university students from low-income families meeting a
number of academic criteria. Those students have always been selected
by university administrations.
Ashotian, who is a senior member of the HHK, said the universities
will no longer be allowed to accept such assistance without his
ministry's approval. "Personal scholarships in state universities can
be introduced only with the permission of the relevant state body,"
he told journalists. "Nobody has made such negotiable offers to us."
Ashotian added that the Gagik Tsarukian Fund and other charities keen
to help students will now have to apply to the Ministry of Science
and Education in the first instance.
Reacting to Ashotian's order, Vahe Enfiajian, a senior BHK member
involved in student funding, told RFE/RL's Armenian service
(Azatutyun.am), "Right now we are dealing with our organizational
issues. There is a board that will discuss that issue."
Armenia -- Education Minister Armen Ashotian.â~@~Kâ~@~KAshotian denied
any political considerations behind his directive. "The ministry
has many projects and I often appeal to Armenian entrepreneurs and
philanthropists to invest in education," he said.
Tsarukian, who is thought to be close to former President Robert
Kocharian, reportedly came under renewed pressure from his senior
coalition partner last month after he pointedly declined to reaffirm
support for Sarkisian's reelection in 2013. Kocharian gave in late
September more indications that he would like to return to the
political arena.
Earlier this month, Sarkisian engineered the resignations and sackings
of several top state officials, including parliament speaker Hovik
Abrahamian. Some observers regard that as an attempt to ward off a
potential challenge from his predecessor.
Tsarukian's charitable activities have sparked controversy before. The
BHK leader began his and party's political activities ahead of the
May 2007 parliamentary elections with the distribution of relief
aid to tens of thousands of impoverished farmers. He also paid for
free medical aid and other supposedly public services provided to
urban residents.
The practice was denounced as wholesale vote buying by the opposition
and some pro-HHK figures. The BHK, which has the second largest
faction in the current parliament, denied any wrongdoing.
From: A. Papazian