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JAVAKHK-ARMENIAN BUSINESSMAN MAKES CALLS FOR UNITY
12:07 ~U 19.06.13
Sos Sahakyan, a businessman from Georgia's Armenian-populated region
Javakhk, has plans to organize an Armenian-Georgian business conference
later this summer to bring together ethnic Armenian businessmen from
the two neighboring countries, as well as abroad to discuss development
plans for the region.
The businessman had earlier set up the foundation Damala to assist
his native village and other Armenian towns and villages in the region.
The initiative is expected to set a good precedent for other similar
projects to improve the socio-economic situation in Javakhk.
Sahakyan calls upon all the Javakhk Armenian public and cultural
figures and businessmen to join their efforts around the common goals.
Tert.am has talked to the businessman to know his plans on this and
other initiatives.
"The Damala day was celebrated a couple of days ago, for the sixth
time, as we know. What laid the foundations of the tradition to mark
the day?"
"In 2007, a group of individuals initiated the re-opening of Damala's
Holy Cross Church. And the goal was the following: to involve maximum
possible Damala people from around the world in the project to make
them more attached to their native village. And I am pleased to note
that we had active responses. On May 1, 2008, the church opened after
re-consecration. The enthusiasm gave us the idea of making May 1 the
beginning of Damala's holiday. So the day has been celebrated for
six years, enjoying a large popularity."
"Nonetheless, the village's day was celebrated on June 2 this year.
What was reason of the delay?"
"The celebration was a little bit postponed this year because we wished
to give it a new coloring. In particular, the Damala foundation opened
this time to set more serious tasks and broaden the frameworks of the
contributors. It is a pleasure for me to note that this year we saw an
unprecedented presence of an official Armenian official delegation,
including seven parliament members headed by the National Assembly's
deputy speaker, Eduard Sharmazanov, the Shirak [region's] governor,
Felix Tsolakyan, as well as the Matenadaran's [ancient manuscripts'
museum] executive director, Hrachyan Ramrazyan. There were also
attendees' from the Georgia's parliament, headed by the deputy speaker,
Zviad Dzidziguri, as well as representative from Samtskhe Javakhkh's
regional authorities."
"What problems will the foundation solve and what are the
expectations?"
"Around 500 families live in Damala today, so the village has gained
a new spirit after the big exodus it saw from 1991 until 1995. The
exodus was, of course, throughout Javakhk, and why not Armenia; it had
a negative impact on the region's demography. But on the other hand,
there is a good proverb which says, 'Every cloud has a silver lining';
so the Javakhk [-Armenians] who moved to Russia, found themselves
immediately. We made sure, as a result of many meeting, that some
of those working abroad are willing to make their contribution to
the socio-economic development of their villages and region, and why
not, Armenia."
"So the foundation's activities will go beyond the borders of Damala?"
"Let me first of all say how we came up with the idea. Following the
re-opening of the Damala church, churches in around 20 villages were
re-consecrated and re-opened. I made sure it is necessary to change
the format of livening life in villages and time to give attention to
many socio-economic, as well as educational and cultural issues. I
am more than sure that we will soon see more foundations open in
different towns and villages of Javakhk. The [Dalama] foundation will,
for the time being, direct its activities to solving domestic problems
in the village."
"What will be the long- and short-term objectives, and what projects
will be proposed to achieve them?"
"The foundation's long-term objective will be the implementation of
investment programs. We have a preliminary agreement with the Georgian
Ministry of Economy to organize a business forum in Tbilisi in late
June or early July. We expect attendance by businessmen from not only
Georgia and Armenia, but also abroad. After realizing the Georgian
authorities approaches after the forum, we can boost the business
cooperation, to realize the potentials."
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2013/06/19/sos-sahakyan/
12:07 ~U 19.06.13
Sos Sahakyan, a businessman from Georgia's Armenian-populated region
Javakhk, has plans to organize an Armenian-Georgian business conference
later this summer to bring together ethnic Armenian businessmen from
the two neighboring countries, as well as abroad to discuss development
plans for the region.
The businessman had earlier set up the foundation Damala to assist
his native village and other Armenian towns and villages in the region.
The initiative is expected to set a good precedent for other similar
projects to improve the socio-economic situation in Javakhk.
Sahakyan calls upon all the Javakhk Armenian public and cultural
figures and businessmen to join their efforts around the common goals.
Tert.am has talked to the businessman to know his plans on this and
other initiatives.
"The Damala day was celebrated a couple of days ago, for the sixth
time, as we know. What laid the foundations of the tradition to mark
the day?"
"In 2007, a group of individuals initiated the re-opening of Damala's
Holy Cross Church. And the goal was the following: to involve maximum
possible Damala people from around the world in the project to make
them more attached to their native village. And I am pleased to note
that we had active responses. On May 1, 2008, the church opened after
re-consecration. The enthusiasm gave us the idea of making May 1 the
beginning of Damala's holiday. So the day has been celebrated for
six years, enjoying a large popularity."
"Nonetheless, the village's day was celebrated on June 2 this year.
What was reason of the delay?"
"The celebration was a little bit postponed this year because we wished
to give it a new coloring. In particular, the Damala foundation opened
this time to set more serious tasks and broaden the frameworks of the
contributors. It is a pleasure for me to note that this year we saw an
unprecedented presence of an official Armenian official delegation,
including seven parliament members headed by the National Assembly's
deputy speaker, Eduard Sharmazanov, the Shirak [region's] governor,
Felix Tsolakyan, as well as the Matenadaran's [ancient manuscripts'
museum] executive director, Hrachyan Ramrazyan. There were also
attendees' from the Georgia's parliament, headed by the deputy speaker,
Zviad Dzidziguri, as well as representative from Samtskhe Javakhkh's
regional authorities."
"What problems will the foundation solve and what are the
expectations?"
"Around 500 families live in Damala today, so the village has gained
a new spirit after the big exodus it saw from 1991 until 1995. The
exodus was, of course, throughout Javakhk, and why not Armenia; it had
a negative impact on the region's demography. But on the other hand,
there is a good proverb which says, 'Every cloud has a silver lining';
so the Javakhk [-Armenians] who moved to Russia, found themselves
immediately. We made sure, as a result of many meeting, that some
of those working abroad are willing to make their contribution to
the socio-economic development of their villages and region, and why
not, Armenia."
"So the foundation's activities will go beyond the borders of Damala?"
"Let me first of all say how we came up with the idea. Following the
re-opening of the Damala church, churches in around 20 villages were
re-consecrated and re-opened. I made sure it is necessary to change
the format of livening life in villages and time to give attention to
many socio-economic, as well as educational and cultural issues. I
am more than sure that we will soon see more foundations open in
different towns and villages of Javakhk. The [Dalama] foundation will,
for the time being, direct its activities to solving domestic problems
in the village."
"What will be the long- and short-term objectives, and what projects
will be proposed to achieve them?"
"The foundation's long-term objective will be the implementation of
investment programs. We have a preliminary agreement with the Georgian
Ministry of Economy to organize a business forum in Tbilisi in late
June or early July. We expect attendance by businessmen from not only
Georgia and Armenia, but also abroad. After realizing the Georgian
authorities approaches after the forum, we can boost the business
cooperation, to realize the potentials."
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2013/06/19/sos-sahakyan/