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*Fig Tree of Diaspora *
Naira Hayrumyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/comments27426.html
Published: 13:28:37 - 19/09/2012
The help to the Armenian Syrians could test the viability of the Armenian
Diaspora. Yesterday, member of the ARFD Bureau Vahan Hovhannisyan stated
that an Armenian airplane with humanitarian aid will soon leave for Syria.
A league of charitable organizations was established in Armenia and
Karabakh called `Help the brother', which seems also to deal with provision
of aid.
Nevertheless, the issues of the Armenian Syrians caused a major loophole in
the Armenian national structures. It turned out that despite the
pan-Armenian funds, congresses of Armenians of the world and other galactic
organizations, the Armenian nation does not have a coordinating body which
could operatively react and work out long-term policy.
Harut Sassounian, publisher of The California Courier, proposes to create a
joint coordinating council to help the Armenian Syrians. At the same time,
it should deal with the provision of humanitarian aid and support to the
Armenian Syrians who come to Armenia.
Serzh Sargsyan, during the recent consultation in the government, also
stressed that Armenia should be ready to receive Armenian Syrians. But,
besides the summer camp for the Armenian Syrian children and the
simplification of the visa regime, no other step was taken by the
government.
Many Armenian Syrians prefer settling their families in Armenia until the
situation in Syria gets stable. Men return to their homes to defend their
property. And the Armenian Syrians have to deal with their protection
themselves.
During the 20 years of independence, Armenia has failed to overcome various
disagreements and ambitions and set up a joint national structure. Our
rivals think the Diaspora is our greatest weapon, while until this weapon
is kept in different arsenals, it is useless.
Attempts to create similar structures were made more than once.
Pan-Armenian congresses have been called three times which resulted
fruitless. Ara Abrahamyan, during his moment of glory, also tries to set up
a pan-Armenian congress, but the Western Armenians refused becoming the
part of the Russian project.
After Serzh Sargsyan had assumed office, he promoted the idea of a united
national around Armenia and saw himself as the president of all Armenians.
But this idea was not supported, perhaps, due to too much ambitious. The
ministry of Diaspora created for these goals became a subject of mocking
since it only deals with insignificant issues and pseudo-patriotic
projects.
Many Diaspora representatives think Armenia should not assume the leading
role in the pan-national organization, though they understand that the
state is core of the national policy. There are 2.5 more Armenians in the
Diaspora than in Armenia, and their financial and political capital can
also be more valuable than the budget and the diplomacy of Armenia. So,
they demand proportional representation in the national organization.
The outcome is that the Armenians are unable to find a common plain even
for good deeds. The Armenian Syrians are already suffering because of this. Who
will be the next?
Naira Hayrumyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/comments27426.html
Published: 13:28:37 - 19/09/2012
The help to the Armenian Syrians could test the viability of the Armenian
Diaspora. Yesterday, member of the ARFD Bureau Vahan Hovhannisyan stated
that an Armenian airplane with humanitarian aid will soon leave for Syria.
A league of charitable organizations was established in Armenia and
Karabakh called `Help the brother', which seems also to deal with provision
of aid.
Nevertheless, the issues of the Armenian Syrians caused a major loophole in
the Armenian national structures. It turned out that despite the
pan-Armenian funds, congresses of Armenians of the world and other galactic
organizations, the Armenian nation does not have a coordinating body which
could operatively react and work out long-term policy.
Harut Sassounian, publisher of The California Courier, proposes to create a
joint coordinating council to help the Armenian Syrians. At the same time,
it should deal with the provision of humanitarian aid and support to the
Armenian Syrians who come to Armenia.
Serzh Sargsyan, during the recent consultation in the government, also
stressed that Armenia should be ready to receive Armenian Syrians. But,
besides the summer camp for the Armenian Syrian children and the
simplification of the visa regime, no other step was taken by the
government.
Many Armenian Syrians prefer settling their families in Armenia until the
situation in Syria gets stable. Men return to their homes to defend their
property. And the Armenian Syrians have to deal with their protection
themselves.
During the 20 years of independence, Armenia has failed to overcome various
disagreements and ambitions and set up a joint national structure. Our
rivals think the Diaspora is our greatest weapon, while until this weapon
is kept in different arsenals, it is useless.
Attempts to create similar structures were made more than once.
Pan-Armenian congresses have been called three times which resulted
fruitless. Ara Abrahamyan, during his moment of glory, also tries to set up
a pan-Armenian congress, but the Western Armenians refused becoming the
part of the Russian project.
After Serzh Sargsyan had assumed office, he promoted the idea of a united
national around Armenia and saw himself as the president of all Armenians.
But this idea was not supported, perhaps, due to too much ambitious. The
ministry of Diaspora created for these goals became a subject of mocking
since it only deals with insignificant issues and pseudo-patriotic
projects.
Many Diaspora representatives think Armenia should not assume the leading
role in the pan-national organization, though they understand that the
state is core of the national policy. There are 2.5 more Armenians in the
Diaspora than in Armenia, and their financial and political capital can
also be more valuable than the budget and the diplomacy of Armenia. So,
they demand proportional representation in the national organization.
The outcome is that the Armenians are unable to find a common plain even
for good deeds. The Armenian Syrians are already suffering because of this. Who
will be the next?