Diaspora Armenians Concerned About Artsakh

[Siamanto]

EACH SECOND GENERATION DIASPORA ARMENIAN CONCERNED ABOUT ARTSAKH

 

Azg/arm

20 Nov 04

 

In 1999, on instruction of late Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsian,

Sevak Artsruni undertook drawing of a plan of re-inhabiting Armenia

and Nagorno Artsax.

 

The plan today is being implemented in Artsax.

 

In November of 2002 Yerkir organization of repatriation and settlement

was created uniting 5 NGOs from Armenia, Artsax and Diaspora.

 

"Many Diaspora Armenians keep in their hearts this small piece of

their lost fatherland, and those ideas form their identity. Each

second generation Armenian feels pain for its fatherland. In order to

enable them to put their strivings in practice we need to form a solid

field for cooperation that will pursue no political or economic aims",

Artsruni says.

 

Yerkir Union has implemented 10 programs with overall cost of $700

thousand during last two years. Artsruni points out to the foundation

of the village of Knaravan in the region of Nor Shahumian and calls

it a unique example of Diaspora-Armenia cooperation.

 

Artsruni thinks that re-inhabiting is a social science and puts:

"If it is carried out by non-professionals it may even harm the

state". More than half of Armenia�~@~Ys and Artsax�~@~Ys population

is concentrated in Yerevan and in the regions of Ararat Valley which

cannot be justified militarily and from the aspect of state�~@~Ys

security. In fact, Armenia today has practically no back areas,

there are no inner territories.

 

In accordance with the program of inhabiting Armenia and Artsakh,

population of Artsakh should reach 300 thousand by 2012. But

the pace of the program shows that it is losing its meaning and

falling apart. Artsruni thinks that politics must be kept out of

the process. "Re-inhabiting is a service to the fatherland, and not

a chance to get political dividends. But we take this rivalry very

easy because we understand the Diaspora stands aloof from intrigues

and truly cares for Armenia", he says.

 

"Yerkir is not simply rising money but trying to turn interested

organizations into partners", he says and adds that implementation

of every program is posted on the web page enabling a donor to watch

how his money is distributed.

 

Yerkir Union implemented re-inhabitation of Norashen village in

the region of Hadrut with the support of French offshoot of the

AGBU. Recently a delegation headed by initiators and supporters

of the program Levon Kebabjian and Ara Aharonian visited Norashen

to see what is done there. Success of the program encouraged them,

and they decided to support in inhabiting processes.

 

"I am very glad for AGBU�~@~Ys decision. First programs of the AGBU

implemented in Soviet Armenia including drying of swamps, building

settlements and bridges. AGBU may put into action the plans of Poghos

Nubar", Artsruni says.

 

President of Yerkir Union thinks that the Diaspora should be directly

involved in Armenia and Artsax and implement its goals through

NGOs. That would be a good way of keeping any project concerning

re-settlement far from political speculations. "We want AGBU to keep

to our strategic policy of 2000".

 

Besides inhabiting Armenia and Nagorno Artsax, Yerkir Union watches

over the economic state of the population. For that purpose we have

launched a new program of Yerkir Fund which is looking for donors in

Diaspora and the donor provides the family with credit for purchasing

livestock, provides with fruit-trees and seed. The debtor returns the

credit not to the creditor but to Yerkir thus filling up the gaps. "We

will also use this money for inhabiting purposes. For instance, there

are families in Qashatakh who are unable to stay there any longer and

we use the money to support them instead of bringing new families"

Artsruni says.

 

By Tatoul Hakobian

 

 

http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg97380.html