Tweet
ART OR SQUANDER?: COST OF ONE-SINGER INDEPENDENCE DAY CONCERT SPARKS CONTROVERSY IN ARMENIA
http://www.armenianow.com/society/48912/armenia_independence_day_concert_nune_yesayan_cont roversy
SOCIETY | 03.10.13 | 12:23
Photo: www.president.am
By SIRANUYSH GEVORGYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
Armenians have once again been angered by the way the government
spends public money. This time around the cause of the complaints
is the solo concert in Yerevan's Republic Square by singer Nune
Yesayan on September 21, the day that marked the 22nd anniversary
of Independence. Many believe that state funds could have been spent
more wisely and effectively on that day.
It transpired this week that the organization of the concert attended
by the entire leadership of the country cost the taxpayer nearly 55
million drams (about $135,000) allocated from the reserve government
funds. The sum was provided to the Ministry of Culture, which, in
turn, transferred it to the Nune Yesayan Charitable NGO. This expense
was formulated in the budget as a donation, with Minister of Culture
Hasmik Poghosyan in charge of the activities. The government justified
the cost by "raising civil society and information awareness in arts".
For several days this "donation" has been a matter of debate on online
social networking sites in Armenia, with most Facebook users leveling
harsh criticism at the government over what they believe was unfair
and unwise spending. Many people believe that in a country that has a
poverty level above 35 percent paying more than $100,000 to a singer
is just a mockery of the people.
Some say the money could have been spent on purchasing homes for
several homeless families or invested into the development of villages
situated along the borders that people abandon because of unfavorable
social conditions. Even bloggers usually supportive of the government
have pronounced negatively on the matter. Tigran Kocharyan, for
example, wrote with sarcasm: "Who shot at Nune [Yesayan] that she
was given 54 million drams?" (A reference to the 20-million-dram
compensation for medical needs paid from the state's coffers to
former presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan who was shot and
wounded during the election campaign earlier this year).
This is not the first time the public voices dissatisfaction with
government spending. Similar discontent was caused by last year's
celebration dedicated to Yerevan's anniversary for which a number of
"posh" Russian showbiz stars had been invited. The purchase of costly
public bio toilets also became a subject of discussions. In turned
out last month that the two toilets that cost the taxpayer more than
$150,000 each were not in working order.
Nune Yesayan herself refused to give any comments on the financial
aspects of the Independence Day concert. She told the local news
website, News.am, that she was offended by the media and had nothing
to say in that regard. The deserved artist only said she was doing her
job and advised that people discuss her concert [rather than money]
that she herself suggested was a significant one.
Sociologist Aharon Adibekyan thinks that people's dissatisfaction is
more connected with the substantial part of the concert rather than
its financial aspect.
"If that money were to be distributed among those attending the
concert, each would get very little of it, and so it's not about
money. This was a festival, a concert that is held every year. One
can be critical of the contents, perhaps the fact that it was a solo
concert, especially that most of the money is spent on installation
and assembling works, technical matters. If there had been a more
interesting, more festive event, perhaps it would not have caused so
much discontent," said the sociologist.
Vahan Tumasyan, head of the Shirak Center NGO dealing with matters
of homeless people and promoting charity in the Shirak province, says
that even if there were no problems with the consequences of the 1988
earthquake in Armenia, with the level of poverty like today's such
squander of government funds should not have been allowed.
"The problem in general is that the link between the government and
the people is missing. The authorities are isolated and are more
preoccupied with creating corresponding conditions for their close
surroundings," says Tumasyan.
http://www.armenianow.com/society/48912/armenia_independence_day_concert_nune_yesayan_cont roversy
SOCIETY | 03.10.13 | 12:23
Photo: www.president.am
By SIRANUYSH GEVORGYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
Armenians have once again been angered by the way the government
spends public money. This time around the cause of the complaints
is the solo concert in Yerevan's Republic Square by singer Nune
Yesayan on September 21, the day that marked the 22nd anniversary
of Independence. Many believe that state funds could have been spent
more wisely and effectively on that day.
It transpired this week that the organization of the concert attended
by the entire leadership of the country cost the taxpayer nearly 55
million drams (about $135,000) allocated from the reserve government
funds. The sum was provided to the Ministry of Culture, which, in
turn, transferred it to the Nune Yesayan Charitable NGO. This expense
was formulated in the budget as a donation, with Minister of Culture
Hasmik Poghosyan in charge of the activities. The government justified
the cost by "raising civil society and information awareness in arts".
For several days this "donation" has been a matter of debate on online
social networking sites in Armenia, with most Facebook users leveling
harsh criticism at the government over what they believe was unfair
and unwise spending. Many people believe that in a country that has a
poverty level above 35 percent paying more than $100,000 to a singer
is just a mockery of the people.
Some say the money could have been spent on purchasing homes for
several homeless families or invested into the development of villages
situated along the borders that people abandon because of unfavorable
social conditions. Even bloggers usually supportive of the government
have pronounced negatively on the matter. Tigran Kocharyan, for
example, wrote with sarcasm: "Who shot at Nune [Yesayan] that she
was given 54 million drams?" (A reference to the 20-million-dram
compensation for medical needs paid from the state's coffers to
former presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan who was shot and
wounded during the election campaign earlier this year).
This is not the first time the public voices dissatisfaction with
government spending. Similar discontent was caused by last year's
celebration dedicated to Yerevan's anniversary for which a number of
"posh" Russian showbiz stars had been invited. The purchase of costly
public bio toilets also became a subject of discussions. In turned
out last month that the two toilets that cost the taxpayer more than
$150,000 each were not in working order.
Nune Yesayan herself refused to give any comments on the financial
aspects of the Independence Day concert. She told the local news
website, News.am, that she was offended by the media and had nothing
to say in that regard. The deserved artist only said she was doing her
job and advised that people discuss her concert [rather than money]
that she herself suggested was a significant one.
Sociologist Aharon Adibekyan thinks that people's dissatisfaction is
more connected with the substantial part of the concert rather than
its financial aspect.
"If that money were to be distributed among those attending the
concert, each would get very little of it, and so it's not about
money. This was a festival, a concert that is held every year. One
can be critical of the contents, perhaps the fact that it was a solo
concert, especially that most of the money is spent on installation
and assembling works, technical matters. If there had been a more
interesting, more festive event, perhaps it would not have caused so
much discontent," said the sociologist.
Vahan Tumasyan, head of the Shirak Center NGO dealing with matters
of homeless people and promoting charity in the Shirak province, says
that even if there were no problems with the consequences of the 1988
earthquake in Armenia, with the level of poverty like today's such
squander of government funds should not have been allowed.
"The problem in general is that the link between the government and
the people is missing. The authorities are isolated and are more
preoccupied with creating corresponding conditions for their close
surroundings," says Tumasyan.