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Do Certain NGOs Play the Role of a 'Trojan Horse' in Armenia?
BY STAFF
- POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2014POSTED IN: APPO JABARIAN, COLUMN
By APPO JABARIAN
Executive Publisher / Managing Editor
USA Armenian Life Magazine (English-language edition)
Hye Kiank Armenian Weekly (Armenian-language edition)
In an August 28 article titled "Could a Euromaidan happen on Yerevan's
Republic Square?," Vestnik Kavkaza magazine wrote: "After the events
of the last decade in Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine, experts have
started serious talks about color revolutions in the South Caucasus."
Some analysts claim that the neo-cons in the West are angling certain
opposition media outlets, some NGOs and certain political operatives
to "open a new anti-Russian front in the Transcaucasus."
Vestnik Kavkaza further wrote: "The term 'democracy' in Armenia has
long been exploited for information wars. For quite a while,
Washington has been hesitating whether to support President Serzh
Sargsyan or put bets on the opposition. After the victory of Sargsyan
in early presidential polls, it seemed that the power was in the hands
of a politician loyal to Moscow. However, it is hard to say that
Armenia has a pure pro-Russian position. Sargsyan himself is trying to
gain the support of both Russia and the U.S."
According to the Center for World Journalism and Research, the work of
non-governmental organizations in Armenia has reached "a grand scale
in recent years." The Justice Ministry has registered thousands of
NGOs.
The magazine also noted: "After the collapse of the USSR, the Armenian
Assembly of America, a structure related to the State Department ... has
been in the avant-garde of American influence in Armenia."
The article pointed out the fact that millions of dollars have been
dumped in Armenia to fund the activities of NGOs that are loyal to
western donors' agenda. "Open Society Institute, a Soros Fund founded
in Armenia in 1997, has already spent over $24 million in Armenia. ...
The Investigative Journalists got $187,400, the Asparez Journalist
Club got $58,650, and the Independent Network of Journalists got
$83,200 for creating a negative image of Russian-Armenian
cooperation."
Back in 2012, I wrote: "Not all NGOs in Armenia are completely devoted
to their stated missions. Some of them have raised several 'red flags'
because of their activities. They may have been set-up to pursue
hidden agendas that are detrimental to Armenia's national security. ...
Given the fact that sizable segments of the Armenian society continue
to be politically illiterate they can be easily influenced and
misguided by individuals or non-governmental organizations that may
present themselves as 'well-meaning' but in reality they can pursue
hidden goals. They may sound very empathetic towards the general
populace, yet they care less about Armenia and its future. They
publicly discuss burning issues and gain political mileage, yet their
main intention is not democracy as they claim to be."
I further underlined: "Can Armenia mitigate the negative impact of
certain NGOs that play the role of Trojan horses from within? It can
and it should. Armenia Should Emulate Russia in Qualifying
Foreign-Funded NGOs as 'foreign agents.' ... It would be strongly
effective if all NGOs whether engaged in political activities or
humanitarian endeavors be required to publicly present every year the
sources of their income and itemize their expenditures. Transparency
at NGO level can be utilized as a great example to follow."
A few years ago, in an interview with the REGNUM News Agency titled,
"LOOK OUT! ETHNIC ESPIONAGE," Igor Muradyan, a widely recognized
expert on the politics of the Caucasus region, stressed: "First of
all, you should take into account the continuing political struggle in
Armenia and view the stance of the Armenian Assembly of America also
in this light. I don't think that ethnic NGOs enjoy full independence
in the US, but the point is that the Armenian Assembly of America is
more than dependent. Even more, the Assembly is functionally
dependent. The Assembly directors and employees don't just look down
on Armenia's political class and leaders; they look down on them with
disdain."
He elaborated: "In 2001 the Assembly's board decreed 'to fight
Armenian nationalism.' This implies suppression of any instance of
patriotism, especially over the Karabakh problem and Armenian-Turkish
relations. ... Gathering information on the state of the armed forces of
Armenia, including armaments, information on senior officers, on the
import of military hardware (invoice numbers, payment terms,
transportation routes), receiving analytical notes on the fighting
capacity of the Armenian army, information and assessment of typical
conflicts inside the military command, the concerns and plans of
different groups in the military circles; gathering information on the
leaders and activists of political parties, the mass media and
political leaders of Armenia, including economic interests, ties with
foreign countries."
He concluded: "Of certain interest is the impression I got personally
from such contacts. Strange but true: Assembly representatives get
openly malicious and bilious over the fact that the Armenian armed
forces are highly capable of discharging many combat operations on
their own. Would they be more comfortable if the army of their
'historical homeland' had other characteristics and was like the
armies of some other states? Altogether incompetent, the Assembly
representatives were as much annoyed to know that Armenia is not a
perishing country and is successfully developing economically."
Many Armenia-based NGOs are well-organized and genuinely transparent,
and continue making transformational contributions to Armenia's
present and future. Armenian society can achieve optimum results
through social, political, spiritual and economic activism. There is
no question that civil society in Armenia is in need of
non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
However, some NGOs can prove to be a curse if they are not regulated
properly and their activities watched closely.
http://www.armenianlife.com/2014/09/03/do-certain-ngos-play-the-role-of-a-trojan-horse-in-armenia/
BY STAFF
- POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2014POSTED IN: APPO JABARIAN, COLUMN
By APPO JABARIAN
Executive Publisher / Managing Editor
USA Armenian Life Magazine (English-language edition)
Hye Kiank Armenian Weekly (Armenian-language edition)
In an August 28 article titled "Could a Euromaidan happen on Yerevan's
Republic Square?," Vestnik Kavkaza magazine wrote: "After the events
of the last decade in Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine, experts have
started serious talks about color revolutions in the South Caucasus."
Some analysts claim that the neo-cons in the West are angling certain
opposition media outlets, some NGOs and certain political operatives
to "open a new anti-Russian front in the Transcaucasus."
Vestnik Kavkaza further wrote: "The term 'democracy' in Armenia has
long been exploited for information wars. For quite a while,
Washington has been hesitating whether to support President Serzh
Sargsyan or put bets on the opposition. After the victory of Sargsyan
in early presidential polls, it seemed that the power was in the hands
of a politician loyal to Moscow. However, it is hard to say that
Armenia has a pure pro-Russian position. Sargsyan himself is trying to
gain the support of both Russia and the U.S."
According to the Center for World Journalism and Research, the work of
non-governmental organizations in Armenia has reached "a grand scale
in recent years." The Justice Ministry has registered thousands of
NGOs.
The magazine also noted: "After the collapse of the USSR, the Armenian
Assembly of America, a structure related to the State Department ... has
been in the avant-garde of American influence in Armenia."
The article pointed out the fact that millions of dollars have been
dumped in Armenia to fund the activities of NGOs that are loyal to
western donors' agenda. "Open Society Institute, a Soros Fund founded
in Armenia in 1997, has already spent over $24 million in Armenia. ...
The Investigative Journalists got $187,400, the Asparez Journalist
Club got $58,650, and the Independent Network of Journalists got
$83,200 for creating a negative image of Russian-Armenian
cooperation."
Back in 2012, I wrote: "Not all NGOs in Armenia are completely devoted
to their stated missions. Some of them have raised several 'red flags'
because of their activities. They may have been set-up to pursue
hidden agendas that are detrimental to Armenia's national security. ...
Given the fact that sizable segments of the Armenian society continue
to be politically illiterate they can be easily influenced and
misguided by individuals or non-governmental organizations that may
present themselves as 'well-meaning' but in reality they can pursue
hidden goals. They may sound very empathetic towards the general
populace, yet they care less about Armenia and its future. They
publicly discuss burning issues and gain political mileage, yet their
main intention is not democracy as they claim to be."
I further underlined: "Can Armenia mitigate the negative impact of
certain NGOs that play the role of Trojan horses from within? It can
and it should. Armenia Should Emulate Russia in Qualifying
Foreign-Funded NGOs as 'foreign agents.' ... It would be strongly
effective if all NGOs whether engaged in political activities or
humanitarian endeavors be required to publicly present every year the
sources of their income and itemize their expenditures. Transparency
at NGO level can be utilized as a great example to follow."
A few years ago, in an interview with the REGNUM News Agency titled,
"LOOK OUT! ETHNIC ESPIONAGE," Igor Muradyan, a widely recognized
expert on the politics of the Caucasus region, stressed: "First of
all, you should take into account the continuing political struggle in
Armenia and view the stance of the Armenian Assembly of America also
in this light. I don't think that ethnic NGOs enjoy full independence
in the US, but the point is that the Armenian Assembly of America is
more than dependent. Even more, the Assembly is functionally
dependent. The Assembly directors and employees don't just look down
on Armenia's political class and leaders; they look down on them with
disdain."
He elaborated: "In 2001 the Assembly's board decreed 'to fight
Armenian nationalism.' This implies suppression of any instance of
patriotism, especially over the Karabakh problem and Armenian-Turkish
relations. ... Gathering information on the state of the armed forces of
Armenia, including armaments, information on senior officers, on the
import of military hardware (invoice numbers, payment terms,
transportation routes), receiving analytical notes on the fighting
capacity of the Armenian army, information and assessment of typical
conflicts inside the military command, the concerns and plans of
different groups in the military circles; gathering information on the
leaders and activists of political parties, the mass media and
political leaders of Armenia, including economic interests, ties with
foreign countries."
He concluded: "Of certain interest is the impression I got personally
from such contacts. Strange but true: Assembly representatives get
openly malicious and bilious over the fact that the Armenian armed
forces are highly capable of discharging many combat operations on
their own. Would they be more comfortable if the army of their
'historical homeland' had other characteristics and was like the
armies of some other states? Altogether incompetent, the Assembly
representatives were as much annoyed to know that Armenia is not a
perishing country and is successfully developing economically."
Many Armenia-based NGOs are well-organized and genuinely transparent,
and continue making transformational contributions to Armenia's
present and future. Armenian society can achieve optimum results
through social, political, spiritual and economic activism. There is
no question that civil society in Armenia is in need of
non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
However, some NGOs can prove to be a curse if they are not regulated
properly and their activities watched closely.
http://www.armenianlife.com/2014/09/03/do-certain-ngos-play-the-role-of-a-trojan-horse-in-armenia/