Diaspora Investments In Armenia

[Arpa]

արբա։

 

Կը կարծես որ կ՛արժէի՞ այս CVS կամ Walgreen երթալո՞ւ եւ կամ կանք առնելու՞ պատմութիւնէդ.  Բերանդ բանամ ըսի եւ աղւոր մը բացի չէ՞։

 

Յետոյ ին՞չ գիտէս որ մազերս ալէխառն են արդէն։  You are assuming a lot my friend, aren't you?

style_images/master/snapback.png

 

Մեղա, մեղա հազար մեղա մեր աննման չ'աստվածուհուն! Ուրեմն իմ պատիժըս չ'դժոխք է ?

Yes, I was assuming too much. I took that "pigmentation" as to refer to the hair.

That's alright you can still keep the golden dye for Aanhit, the red for Vahagn and you can buy me mud colored one.

The next time I am at the jewelers I will buy you a diamond laden golden tiara.

 

When you get to it go to the Poetry site ;

 

http://armenianpoetry.com/arm/2701.html

 

And see what Siamanto, which btw I contributed, had to say about ադամանդ in the closing line.

 

I don't know if MosJan is still adding to the site. You can type some of your favorite Vruzhans that are not there already. I am in the process of typing a Sevak at the moment but it is taking forever.

 

Are we still friends?? :)

 

PS. I may have been too harsh on GorGor. But that subject about ugly and insulting Turkish surnames gets me every time. His argument may be that if we can have English or what not surnames why not Turkish? Did the English or the Americans massacre our entire nation?

[Takoush]

Մեղա, մեղա հազար մեղա մեր աննման չ'աստվածուհուն!  Ուրեմն իմ պատիժըս չ'դժոխք է ?

Yes, I was assuming too much. I took that "pigmentation" as to refer to the hair.

That's alright you can still keep the golden dye for Aanhit, the red for Vahagn and you can buy me mud colored one.

The next time I am at the jewelers I will buy you a diamond laden golden tiara.

 

When you get to it go to the Poetry site ;

 

http://armenianpoetry.com/arm/2701.html

 

And see what Siamanto, which btw I contributed, had to say about ադամանդ in the closing line.

 

I don't know if MosJan is still adding to the site. You can type some of your favorite Vruzhans that are not there already. I am in the process of typing a Sevak at the moment but it is taking forever.

 

Are we still friends?? :)

 

PS. I may have been too harsh on GorGor. But that subject about ugly and insulting Turkish surnames gets me every time. His argument may be that if we can have English or what not surnames why not Turkish? Did the English or the Americans massacre our entire nation?

style_images/master/snapback.png

Sireli Arpa jan:

 

Mi medahokvir yes tsez hed mishd paregam em. Yete yes takouhin em aysdegh toun al generaln es merin. Yete nouynisg mer midkere yerpemen ge darperin, hokche menk gergin chenk polorovin neghvir irarme, vorovhedev touk im sireli Hayasoun yev Hayorti yeghpayrnern ek? Yeghav? Himag sirelis bedke vazem yev Colleges yertam vor choushanam. Hedo Siamantoen ge gartam. Siamanton nayev shad ge sirem yev asmounkadz em Siamantoen, aniga mer potorig keroghn eh. Yes al yerpemen yerpemen kach aghchig em, aynbes vor zinke shad ge sirem. Hedo ge gartam yev ge khosink. Himag parov getsir yev pari getsir.

 

Anahid Takouhi

Edited September 22, 2005 by Anahid Takouhi

[Arpa]

Sireli Arpa jan:

 

Mi medahokvir yes tsez hed mishd paregam em.  Yete yes takouhin em aysdegh toun al generaln es merin.  Yete nouynisg mer midkere yerpemen ge darperin, hokche menk gergin chenk polorovin neghvir irarme, vorovhedev touk im sireli Hayasoun yev Hayorti yeghpayrnern ek?  Yeghav?  Himag sirelis bedke vazem yev Colleges yertam vor choushanam.  Hedo Siamantoen ge gartam.  Siamanton nayev shad ge sirem yev asmounkadz em Siamantoen, aniga mer potorig keroghn eh.  Yes al yerpemen yerpemen kach aghchig em, aynbes vor zinke shad ge sirem.  Hedo ge gartam yev ge khosink.  Himag parov getsir yev pari getsir.

 

Anahid Takouhi          

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Անահիտ հոգիս,

 

Not to worry, I already knew ինչ փարաւոր կին ես(shut up Sip ) no puns allowed ) what a grand lady you are, capable of taking a զավեշտ.

As to your concern about your beautiful daughter, once again, not to worry, as long as you show her the BEAUTY of our culture. My children were also brought up listening to Beethoven and Mozart, Khachaturian and Komitas. Of course, they had to investigate and search, with hard rock and what not. But they have come “home to roost”, so to speak, to what I had inculcated in them, i.e the beauty of our culture (no Genocide). And now my son flies all the way to London to watch Handel’s Operas at Covent Garden, and to San Francisco to watch Chukhajian’s Arshak II, and my daughter plays Komitas and Khachaturian on the piano*.

Just keep showing them(her) our beauties and spare our warts and our( shameful) failures(i.e. Genocide)., the most shameful era of our history. SHAMEFUL I say? We saw it coming for 600 years and we did not do a damn thing about it. Perhaps it is in our genes to lament and weep over “spilled milk”. Do we need something to lament over much like Gregor Narekatsi’s Մատեան Ողբերգութեան. As for me, I am over lamentations, I am for retribution.

 

What is lost to the sword can only be regained by the sword.

 

* In case one needs to know the Armenian դաշնամուր/դաշնակ is a direct translation of the Latin "pano-forte".

Edited September 22, 2005 by Arpa

[Takoush]

Անահիտ  հոգիս,

 

As for me, I am over lamentations, I am for retribution.

 

What is lost to the sword can only be regained by the sword.

 

* In case one needs to know the Armenian դաշնամուր/դաշնակ  is a direct translation of the Latin "pano-forte".

style_images/master/snapback.png

 

արբա ճան։

 

Ինչ աղւոր ոտանաւոր է։

 

"Քու ադամանդիայ արգանդէդ, ո՛վ Դիցուհի, ահեղ աստուած մը ծնանէ՛ մեզ..."

 

Ա՜հ Սիամանթօ, մեր հզօ՛ր Սիամանթօն։

 

այո արբա ճան, սոյն ոտանաւորը հոգիի վերելք է, մեր ազգային բառքն է եւ շատ աւելին։

 

Շատ շնորհակալ եմ քու շատ ազնիւ խոսքերուդ համար։

 

 

However it looks as though there is no other way but for retribution. If the enemy is dum enough, malicious enough and stubborn enough then if retribution is our only way and means to regain our rightful and our anscestral lands then I am full fledged for it as well. I also agree for hating the Turks so much and not wanting to associate with them or their bloody names as they're the ones who have massacred us. Not the British and not the Americans, it was them and I hate them for it.

 

Anahid Takouhi

Edited September 25, 2005 by Anahid Takouhi

[phantom22]

Arpa,

 

I would just love to get you and Ara Baliozian up at a dais together with 1,000 Armenians in the audience. What a great lesson that would be for our people, a traditionalist wealthy Armenian person stuck in the age of Handel discusing the issues with a futurist struggling Armenian writer who lives in a poor ghetto because the Armenian power-brokers have black-balled him.

[karakash]

Անահիտ  հոգիս,

 

Not to worry, I already knew  ինչ փարաւոր կին ես(shut up Sip ) no puns allowed ) what a grand lady you are, capable of taking a զավեշտ.

As to your concern about your beautiful daughter, once again, not to worry, as long as you show her the BEAUTY of our culture. My children were also brought up listening to Beethoven and Mozart, Khachaturian and Komitas. Of course, they had to investigate and search, with hard rock and what not. But they have come “home to roost”, so to speak, to what I had inculcated in  them, i.e the beauty of our culture (no Genocide). And now my son flies all the way to London to watch  Handel’s Operas at Covent Garden,  and to San Francisco  to watch Chukhajian’s Arshak II, and my daughter plays Komitas and Khachaturian on the piano*.

Just keep showing them(her) our beauties and spare our warts and  our( shameful) failures(i.e. Genocide)., the most shameful era of our history. SHAMEFUL I say? We saw it coming for 600 years and we did not do a damn thing about it. Perhaps it is in our genes to lament and weep over “spilled milk”. Do we need something to lament over much like Gregor Narekatsi’s  Մատեան Ողբերգութեան. As for me, I am over lamentations, I am for retribution.

 

What is lost to the sword can only be regained by the sword.

 

* In case one needs to know the Armenian դաշնամուր/դաշնակ  is a direct translation of the Latin "pano-forte".

style_images/master/snapback.png

 

The genocide may be a sad era for Armenians, but shameful? Armenians were victims. When you say that we should have seen it coming, it's almost as if you are saying that Armenians instigated it or brought it upon themselves. That's not how I understand what happened in 1915. The fact that every year we remember April 24 is a GOOD thing - and it should continue even after Turkey and the US recognize it and make some sort of retribution for it. I go to Times Square for the annual genocide rally every year. Some people might think it's a waste of time, but if the community stops doing it, it places itself on a very slippery slope to indifference. As for sparing your children - how can they be a "good Armenian" as some people would say if they don't know about the genocide. It's as if some Armenians are "embarassed" by it. I know Jews who talk about the Holocaust 24/7. I'm not saying we should do that, but not remembering 1915 is like placing another dagger in the backs of 1,500,000 innocent victims.

[phantom22]

Hey Armat,

 

Are those two pnguins Armenian?

[Takoush]

Karakash:

 

I have told my almost 11 year old girl all about the Turks and the Genocide. I take her to the Armenian community affairs and make her to be artistic and close to her culture and brethren. She is both artistic and well aware of her anscestral tribulations. I think that going to the rallys every year and feeling what you feel is a good thing. You are showing your respect and love for your befallen anscestors and for your people. That alone will prevail your Armenianism and your love of your people. Continue that way and continue your artistic pursuits if you have any, I am sure, or whatever your love of things are. However, if you are not married yet, I would love to see you marrying someday with a pretty and a smart Armenian girl.

 

That's what I wish for every Armenian girl and boy, especially here in the Diaspora.

 

[Arpa]

The genocide may be a sad era for Armenians, but shameful?  Armenians were victims.  When you say that we should have seen it coming, it's almost as if you are saying that Armenians instigated it or brought it upon themselves.  That's not how I understand what happened in 1915.  The fact that every year we remember April 24 is a GOOD thing - and it should continue even after Turkey and the US recognize it and make some sort of retribution for it.  I go to Times Square for the annual genocide rally every year.  Some people might think it's a waste of time, but if the community stops doing it, it places itself on a very slippery slope to indifference.  As for sparing your children - how can they be a "good Armenian" as some people would say if they don't know about the genocide.  It's as if some Armenians are "embarassed" by it.  I know Jews who talk about the Holocaust 24/7.  I'm not saying we should do that, but not remembering 1915 is like placing another dagger in the backs of 1,500,000 innocent victims.

style_images/master/snapback.png

 

I don’t think I intimated that we don’t talk about Armenian history in general or the Genocide in particular. We do. At this stage my son knows more about it than mwe, and my daughter asks questions almost daily. In fact a couple of days ago she forwarded an article she had seen on the internet asking how true it was. Of course it had to do with the saga .

What I meant was we did not make it, to borrow one of your phrases a "7/24" affair. I also attend the Times Square rally, just as we have all of us have attended at times, I can show photos and videos of my children carrying posters and flags. That is in addition to attending local commemorations where they would actively participate either reciting or playing music. I did not want them to eat, drink and breathe Genocide. To know about it, to even be critical, but above all to not let it happen again. Not historically or socially, to fight for their rights be it political, social or commercial. I think I have succeeded.

I must tell an anecdote. My mother tells that when I was about 3 or 4 years old I had been feverishly whittling a piece of wood, when asked what I was doing, I am supposed to have said: I am making a dagger to kill the Turks with. I have not changed a bit since those days except that, now I don’t whittle pieces of wood, nor do I engage in debate about the issue, specially with the Turks. My position is clear. We have all historical material, all the documents, all the proof. It is their turn now to “talk turkey“, so to speak, and as we may have witnessed for sometime they are falling apart at the seams, they are running like “turkeys with their heads cut off”, shuttling from c appital to capital, they have placed themselves in such a quagmire and a quicksand that they are sinking deeper and deeper. All we have to do is stay our course and watch them disintegrate.

 

We should not by all means let them off the hook, but it also needs to once in a while look inward and see what our mistakes were. That may be our biggest downfall, that we assume were always right and they were always wrong. One thing I hate is some peoples' victim mentality, that we like innocent lambs were slaughtered. Yes we were, but is it something to be proud of? That is the one thing I have avoided to pass on down the generetions. Some years ago April 24th was officilly deisgnated as Nahatakats Or/Ton/Marytrs' Day/Festival?. You don't hear that that often anymore. We were not martyrs, we were murdered.

 

Let me repeat one thing. We agreed on this point when there was a relatively mild mannered intelligent Turk on this forum..

 

WHAT IS LOST TO THE SWORD CAN ONLY BE REDEEMED BY THE SWORD.

 

Which means, if we expect that the Turks will willingly and gladly return our lands and property….

We should watch out that they don’t gobble-gobble up Yerevan too.

 

As to me alluding that Armenians instigated, we did but we were only fighting and asking for our rights and our lands. However when I say “we saw it coming”, and I have said that on many occasions, what I mean is, ever since the Turk set foot on our Homeland, we did not do a damn thing for 600 years, we saw them grow and multiply, we saw them take over our towns and villages, and if I may be so bold to suggest that we even collaborated with them at times against the Byzantine and Persians, and if you read closely you will seee that only a few years after the Genocide xome of our leaders tried to ally with he Turks against the communist/bolshevik onsalaught...ooooh bernis karmir piper!! We let things down for all those years and we expected to win the war in a few days specially knowing full well that we did not even have hunting rifles when they had the most modern canons. We expected the allies to do it for us. I was so gratified to read a few years ago in a book written at about 1989 where every interviewee including Ter Petrosian, Vazken Manoogian et al . expressing the notion that , “no one will do it for us, if you want it done right, do it yourself“. Not to mean that our efforts in world parliaments, assemblies and congresses are futile, not at all, every little bit helps, yet let us not forget that America will not send troops to Anatolia to win our lands back nfor us.

 

This became longer than intended.

 

And one more thing, We must be careful to not alienate and disgust the world as a million movies, books and documentaries about the holocaust has. When is the last time you watched a show about it? It can also backfire.

Edited September 23, 2005 by Arpa

[Takoush]

I don’t think I intimated that we don’t talk about Armenian history in general or the Genocide in particular. We do. At this stage my son knows more about it than mwe, and my daughter asks questions almost daily. In fact a couple of days ago she forwarded an article she had seen on the internet asking how true it was. Of course it had to do with the saga .

What I meant was we did not make it, to borrow one of your phrases a "7/24"  affair. I also attend the Times Square rally, just as we have all of us have attended at times, I can show photos and videos of my children carrying posters and flags. That is in addition to attending local commemorations where they would actively participate either reciting or playing music. I did not want them to eat, drink and breathe Genocide. To know about it, to even be critical, but above all to not let it happen again. Not historically or socially, to fight for their rights be it political, social or commercial. I think I have succeeded.

I must tell an anecdote. My mother tells that when I was about 3 or 4 years old I had been feverishly whittling a piece of wood, when asked what I was doing, I am supposed to have said: I am making a dagger to kill the Turks with. I have not changed a bit since those days except that, now I don’t whittle pieces of wood, nor do I engage in debate about the issue, specially with the Turks. My position is clear. We have all historical material, all the documents, all the proof. It is their turn now to “talk turkey“, so to speak, and as we may have witnessed for sometime they are falling apart at the seams, they are running like “turkeys with their heads cut off”, shuttling from  c appital to capital, they have placed themselves in such a quagmire and a quicksand that they are sinking deeper and deeper. All we have to do is stay our course and watch them disintegrate.

 

We should not by all means let them off the hook, but it also needs to once in a while look inward and see what our mistakes were. That may be our biggest downfall, that we assume were always right and they were always wrong. One thing I hate is some peoples' victim mentality, that we like innocent lambs were slaughtered. Yes we were, but is it something to be proud of? That is the one thing I have avoided to pass on down the generetions. Some years ago April 24th was officilly deisgnated as Nahatakats Or/Ton/Marytrs' Day/Festival?. You don't hear that that often anymore. We were not martyrs, we were murdered.

 

Let me repeat one thing. We agreed on this point when there was a relatively mild mannered intelligent Turk on this forum..

 

WHAT IS LOST TO THE SWORD CAN ONLY BE REDEEMED BY THE SWORD.

 

Which means, if we expect that the Turks will willingly and gladly return our lands and property….

We should watch out that they don’t gobble-gobble up Yerevan too.

 

As to me alluding that Armenians instigated, we did but we were only fighting and asking for our rights and our lands. However when I say “we saw it coming”, and I have said that on many occasions, what I mean is, ever since the Turk set foot on our Homeland, we did not do a damn thing for 600 years, we saw them grow and multiply, we saw them take over our towns and villages, and if I may be so bold to suggest that we even collaborated with them at times against the Byzantine and Persians, and if you read closely you will seee that only a few years after the Genocide xome of our leaders tried to ally with he Turks against the communist/bolshevik onsalaught...ooooh bernis karmir piper!! We let things down for all those years and we expected to win the war in a few days specially knowing full well that we did not even have hunting rifles when they had the most modern canons. We expected the allies to do it for us. I was so gratified to read a few years ago in a book written at about 1989 where every interviewee including Ter Petrosian, Vazken Manoogian et al . expressing the notion that , “no one will do it for us, if you want it done right, do it yourself“. Not to mean that our efforts in world parliaments, assemblies and congresses are futile, not at all, every little bit helps, yet let us not forget that America will not send troops to Anatolia to win our lands back nfor us.

 

This became longer than intended.

 

And one more thing, We must be careful to not alienate and disgust the world as a million movies, books and documentaries about the holocaust has. When is the last time you watched a show about it? It can also backfire.

style_images/master/snapback.png

I came to the website this morning to input more and speak for Arpa; because I think I very well know his heart by now and where he's coming from. Then I said to myself but he will surely speak for himself; and I was sure as the blue sky up above me that he was going to say that his children are well aware of the genocide as well as they're very much artistically inclined. I think Arpa, you and I are brought up from the same mold and seem to have very similar hearts and views about these matters.

 

Although my father married very late in life and that's why he was much much older than I yet he was a mere child when the genocide happened, and he was left completely alone in this world. Luckily the American orphanage took him away to Egypt and that's how I was born in there. Yet I don't remember him talking much about the Genocide as I grew up. Usually it was my mother who was herself many years younger than my father, she was the one who talked to us children about the Genocide. My father used to take us children to almost all of the cultural events and 'tasakhosoutyouns' lectures and so forth. My father was a very cultural man and he loved to promote all our cultural get-togethers. He was extremely proud of our poets, writers, musicians and of course scientists. That's what preoccupied his mind and that's what he usually concentrated on. Therefore, I grew up with hatred in my heart for the Turks, but I am thankfully a talented person myself and I love and adore all our cultures and I also love to hear when I can to our able and knowledgeable peoples' lectures.

 

In a nutshell, Nakharar, what Arpa is trying to say what my father already did for my brother and I without saying and putting into so much words what Arpa is saying to this forum now. Arpa already instilled it to his children our cultures, that as an Armenian man it is a good attribute to be proud and happy about ourselves. Yet he also made his children very knowledgeable about our enemy and the unfortunate events of the Genocide. Yes, the Genocide and the knowledge and the respect for it is very important; however it shouldn't be all the driving force in us. During most of the time during any given year we should concentrate on matters that elevate us to become proud as Armenians and of course as Armenian doers.

 

That's the message both my father and now Arpa is giving it to us. I am on the same level with him with all his thoughts and his actions. You see, this way we bring up our children to be proud for their heritage yet also knowedgeable as to what happened in our past history. We as a nation, will be a well rounded people this way.

 

I think it makes a lot of sense.

 

Anahid Takouhi

Edited September 23, 2005 by Anahid Takouhi

[Takoush]

WHAT IS LOST TO THE SWORD CAN ONLY BE REDEEMED BY THE SWORD.

 

Which means, if we expect that the Turks will willingly and gladly return our lands and property….

We should watch out that they don’t gobble-gobble up Yerevan too.

 

As to me alluding that Armenians instigated, we did but we were only fighting and asking for our rights and our lands. However when I say “we saw it coming”, and I have said that on many occasions, what I mean is, ever since the Turk set foot on our Homeland, we did not do a damn thing for 600 years, we saw them grow and multiply, we saw them take over our towns and villages, and if I may be so bold to suggest that we even collaborated with them at times against the Byzantine and Persians, and if you read closely you will seee that only a few years after the Genocide xome of our leaders tried to ally with he Turks against the communist/bolshevik onsalaught...ooooh bernis karmir piper!! We let things down for all those years and we expected to win the war in a few days specially knowing full well that we did not even have hunting rifles when they had the most modern canons. We expected the allies to do it for us. I was so gratified to read a few years ago in a book written at about 1989 where every interviewee including Ter Petrosian, Vazken Manoogian et al . expressing the notion that , “no one will do it for us, if you want it done right, do it yourself“. Not to mean that our efforts in world parliaments, assemblies and congresses are futile, not at all, every little bit helps, yet let us not forget that America will not send troops to Anatolia to win our lands back nfor us.

 

This became longer than intended.

 

And one more thing, We must be careful to not alienate and disgust the world as a million movies, books and documentaries about the holocaust has. When is the last time you watched a show about it? It can also backfire.

style_images/master/snapback.png

 

Also Arpa; it is true that at the same time that we think more for ourselves and desiring to get back our anscestral lands, we must not forget our Yerevan as well and to be wary that the enemy does not gobble our Yerevan someday.

 

Yes, although it's good to rallye and to get the world accept the Genocide; but no one but no one will get your lands back for you except you and yourself with your own hands, your might and your sword. No one will do it for you, only we can take matters into our own hands.

Edited September 23, 2005 by Anahid Takouhi

[karakash]

Karakash:

 

I have told my almost 11 year old girl all about the Turks and the Genocide.  I take her to the Armenian community affairs and make her to be artistic and close to her culture and brethren.  She is both artistic and well aware of her anscestral tribulations.  I think that going to the rallys every year and feeling what you feel is a good thing.  You are showing your respect and love for your befallen anscestors and for your people.  That alone will prevail your Armenianism and your love of your people.  Continue that way and continue your artistic pursuits if you have any, I am sure, or whatever your love of things are.  However, if you are not married yet, I would love to see you marrying someday with a pretty and a smart Armenian girl.

 

That's what I wish for every Armenian girl and boy, especially here in the Diaspora.

 

style_images/master/snapback.png

 

How do you know I'm not a girl....jk.

 

As for artistic abilities - I am related to Gomidas - but unfortunately I don't have his voice or musical brilliance...

[Takoush]

How do you know I'm not a girl....jk.

 

As for artistic abilities - I am related to Gomidas - but unfortunately I don't have his voice or musical brilliance...

style_images/master/snapback.png

 

You're quite right, I don't. However, for some reason I have connected Karakash with a male name. I don't know why, but I did. If it isn't so than of course you can forgive me; but then again how would I know, right? Anyhow, at my last paragraph I have mentioned that for Armenian girls or boys to hopefully intermarry with Armenians. At least I did say that.

 

As to your artistic abilities; you must be very proud that you are related to Gomidas. What a talent and what a saintly Armenian creature he was. However again, I said "continue with your artistic pursuits if you have any, I am sure that you would have some, or if not, than whatever else your hobbies and interests lie". Basically that's what I said. I don't think I said anything wrong nor did I miss saying something to someone that I obviously don't know much about. That's how little by little we can get to know each other and express our thoughts and also our political aspirations.

Edited September 23, 2005 by Anahid Takouhi

[karakash]

You're quite right, I don't.  However, for some reason I have connected Karakash with a male name.  I don't know why, but I did.  If it isn't so than of course you can forgive me; but then again how would I know, right?  Anyhow, at my last paragraph I have mentioned that for Armenian girls or boys to hopefully intermarry with Armenians.  At least I did say that.

 

As to your artistic abilities; you must be very proud that you are related to Gomidas.  What a talent and what a saintly Armenian creature he was.  However again, I said "continue with your artistic pursuits if you have any, I am sure that you would have some, or if not, than whatever else your hobbies and interests lie".  Basically that's what I said.  I don't think I said anything wrong nor did I miss saying something to someone that I obviously don't know much about.  That's how little by little we can get to know each other and express our thoughts and also our political aspirations.

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Don't worry - i'm not attacking your thoughts.

 

I am a guy.

 

As for political aspirations, I want Frank Pallone's seat in the House when he becomes a Senator.

[Takoush]

Armen:

 

Kez zevartali badmoutyoun me madmem.  Kani me dari arach yerp Hayasdan katsi yev Sevana Lidge katsink, hedo shad siroun jermag mi kelkharg hakver eyi.  Katsink navagov bededvelou vor Sevana geghzin yertank.  Yegour des vor jermag siroun kelkharges hove tertsouts yev minchev aysor Sevana Ledjoum ge savarni.

Oughigh djishd badmoutyoun eh esadses.

 

Meg degh me hos HayForumee vera geseyir teh menk polores 8 Million Hayeres or me polores bidi loghanank Vana Ledgoum.  Yes al gesem ayt ore Asdvadz ouze mod abakayin gellah; yes al ge papakeyi siroon garmir gabouyd yev dzirani mi kelkharg bidi hakvim vor Aghtamar geghzin yerp yertank hon

Aghtamar geghziin djishd mechdeghe bidi gakhem.  Payts ays ankamoun anbadjar bedk eh oushatir ellam vor hove chi tertseneh.   

 

Ayt ore bidi desnenk Armen jan mi vehadir.  

 

Anahid Takouhi

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[paregam]

I have been asked quite often by many people as to why Diaspora Armenians do not invest in Armenia. Honestly, I don’t know the answer. I may know some of the reasons, but cannot comprehend as to why they don’t. I’m aware of the numerous difficulties and bureaucracy, but those are the hurdling blocks that any investor anywhere in the world would have to face.

 

If an Armenian businessman from USA or Europe, can go ahead and start a business in Latin America or the Middle East or Africa why not in Armenia?

 

The most active in Armenia in terms of business are Russian and Persian Armenians. While Russian Armenians have the advantage of “knowing the system” for the Persian Armenians the advantage is the economic freedom and some positive aspects of living in Armenia.

 

How can we expect to make Armenia better place without investing into Armenian economy?

How can you TRUST stability of rooles for an investment in an ex-sovietic country ??

[gamavor]

Thank you for revisiting this topic Paregam. Your question is valid one, but I think the issues of TRUST and STABILITY are two fold. There is a lot to be desired to be done in Armenia with regard to foreign investments, but in the same time as someone who studied the Armenian laws on foreign investments I can assure you that of all post-communist (soviet) countries, Armenia has the most liberal investment regime.

 

What creates atmosphere of trust and stability is not only the local rules and regulations, but also the level of international engagement and participation in various institutions and accords which facilitate the business climate.

 

That said, many of the potential investors in the Armenian economy (speaking about companies who have interest in doing business or development of certain sectors of the economy that match with their field of business or expertise) are not fully aware of all international investment instruments guaranteeing the investment.

 

Besides the most common practice of international dispute resolution, there are many more legal and insurance tools in the hands of prospective investors who could and eventually will help them make their investment decisions.

[transcender]

Hey guys,

 

there is actually some cool developments going on for investment in Armenia.

 

From what I have read, I feel that you don't want to just have SME (small & medium enterprise) businesses sprout up in Armenia that have been funded by Diasporans. These are obviously hard to manage from the US, and they are prone to extortion, etc.

 

So the proposal is to creat investment funds, where western-accounting trained Armenians manage funds that are holders of multiple businesses. So, if you have a fund with 50 businesses, each worth 1 million US, then you have a 50 million dollar fund, and that will be hard to extort from. Obviously this has its negative effects to, (think humongous enterprise Exxon, Wal-Mart, etc.)

 

Also, there is a calling to issue Diaspora bonds. In the 1950s, David Ben-Gurion (a strong inspirational leader, and first Prime Minister of Israel, called the "founder of the modern state of Israel") came to the US and sold Israeli-Diaspora bonds (citation: http://www.israelbonds.com/aboutus.html) - he rased 52.6 million dollars, which at 3% inflation is about the equivalent of 275 million dollars today. These bonds were redeemable when you personally went to Israel after X years to redeem them and get paid. It is attractive because it is an investment, not a donation.

 

These are not my original ideas - I have been inspired by David Grigorian's (works for IMF) & Alexander Gevorkyan's AIRPG (Armenian International Policy Research Group) article on Diasporan investment/involvement in Armenia.

 

The AIPRG site is: http://www.armpolicyresearch.org/

and (one of the places) that the paper can be accessed is here: http://www.gomidas.org/forum/af10c1.pdf

 

I encourage you guys to go to the IMF site, the WorldBank site, the AIPRG site, and USAID site and read publications on Armenia.

 

Very smart people are doing very technical studies on the situation in Armenia. I thought that this professional research did not exist, but I was proved so very wrong.

 

Furthermore, those of you around LA should go to UCLA this week, as AIRPG is hosting an Economics Conference on Armenia. They will be talkign about the abyssmally low tax collection in Armenia as well as presented Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs)

 

Hope I've been of at least some help, I intend to post often, and it is an honor being here.

 

Transcender

[gamavor]

Also, there is a calling to issue Diaspora bonds. In the 1950s, David Ben-Gurion (a strong inspirational leader, and first Prime Minister of Israel, called the "founder of the modern state of Israel") came to the US and sold Israeli-Diaspora bonds (citation: http://www.israelbonds.com/aboutus.html) - he rased 52.6 million dollars, which at 3% inflation is about the equivalent of 275 million dollars today. These bonds were redeemable when you personally went to Israel after X years to redeem them and get paid. It is attractive because it is an investment, not a donation.

 

This is something the Armenian government should think about.