Armenia Must Not Be Divided

[joseph parikian]

ARMENIA MUST NOT BE DIVIDED INTO RICH CAPITAL AND POOR REGIONS

 

Interview of UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Lise Grande to ARMINFO News Agency.

 

Q: Among the main programs implemented by the U.N. in Armenia, the problem of public integration and settlement of refugees occupies a special place. What is your assessment of the program's implementation? How effective is the cooperation with the state structures in the sphere?

 

A: The U.N. Higher Commissariat for Refugees (UNHCR) has been engaged in the problem of refugees since 1992. There were already 360,000 refugees in the country then. In the last 11 years, we have carried out rather an active work in this direction and the right approaches were found to solution to this program so urgent for the country. In the joint work with the country's Government and NGOs, rather impressive results were reached, and, today, according to the general assessment of international structures, the problem of refugees is not so acute in Armenia as it is in other states. In this context, the successful integration and naturalization of refugees was of great importance. Only since 1999, over 55,000 refugees have been naturalized in Armenia. These are not the people not having their state any more. They fully use their right of the country's citizens. It is a very good and progressive approach, but it touches upon the juridical aspect of the problem only. While, we must solve the economic and social aspects of the problem, which are not less important, as refugees are the main part of the country's population living below the poverty level. Majority of them are old disable people who cannot take care of themselves. It means that the state is responsible for their social welfare. Another problem is provision of housing conditions to refugees.Since 1999, due to the UNCHR's support, over 3,200 families of refugees were given permanent houses in Armenia, however, some 12,000 families still live in temporary shelters, hostels and resort houses. I consider the possibility of solving the refugees' problem optimistically, and this optimism is strengthened by the position of the country's leadership. During my recent meeting with Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, the latter said that the problem of refugees is a prior for the country's leadership who sees its solution just under the aegis and in close cooperation with the U.N.. New Head of the Armenian Parliament also considers this problem one of the most important ones. A Council for Refugees has been established at the National Assembly of new convocation to involve the maximum number of state structures and departments into its solution.

 

It is important that when solving the problem of refugees' settlement, we try to focus not only on the capital, but also on the regions. If seeking the solution to this problem in the light of the struggle against poverty and focusing just on Yerevan, we shall get an unfavorable picture, where, speaking figuratively, two countries, a rich and dynamically developing capital and poor unsuccessful regions, will exist within the framework of one country. Just with the object of increasing the economic development and the social level of the country's regions, that the parties of the UN Development Program (UNDP) has elaborated a program of cooperation of the state and private sectors, which will allow to more intensively solve the problems of the regions. Under the program, every region of Armenia has elaborated a specific project on improvement of the socio-economic conditions of different communities. In our turn, we shall inform the representatives of the local private sector and that of the Diaspora of these conditions, hereby trying to maximally contribute to their implementation.

 

Q: How do the U.N. and its structures operating in Armenia coordinate their acts with other international organizations and programs to avoid waste of funds? Do you think that it would be more expedient to combine the efforts of all the interested organizations under the Strategic Program on Struggle Against Poverty?

 

A: We work in close interaction with the Armenian Government. At the same time, undoubtedly, all the international organizations and structures interact to prevent duplication of the implemented programs and waste of funds. Under the Strategic Program on Struggle Against Poverty, the priority of the planned events has been determined, as well as specific measures were worked out. Besides, the strategic systematization of the program's implementation, there is a business systematization of all the technical tasks within the framework of combined efforts for achievement of the maximum result. The Government also works out specific measures to coordinate the work of international organizations.

 

Q:It is common knowledge that in the countries where corruption is at a high level, it is very difficult to speak on poverty reduction. What is your opinion on this problem?

 

A: The international experience supposes existence of two scenarios of struggle against corruption. One of them provides for implementation of a large-scale strategy including in it all the aspects of the problem, as it embraces all the sections of the public. In a number of states, the problem of corruption is solved more purposefully and specifically. In such a way we intend to solve this problem in Armenia through a specific work in the most corrupted spheres. From the point of view of international organizations, including the U.N., the given approach is more effective and bases on the priority of events. It, first of all, concerns the struggle against corruption in the taxation, customs structures, in the judicial sphere, in the state sector, in the local self-government bodies, in the election system. In this sphere, we have launched an active cooperation with the Armenian Government and international organizations such as the World Bank, OSCE, IMF, USAID. A special attention is paid to elaboration of a strategy on elimination of bribery in many structures.

 

Q: The Government's anti-corruption program is almost ready. Do you have any remarks?

 

A: The program is being revised now. We approve of it on the whole and hope very much that jointly we shall manage to draft a pragmatic strategy in the sphere and to work out a specific schedule of necessary measures.

 

Q:At the beginning of the year you announced the outset of a UNDP-Territorial Administration Ministry $100,000 program to strengthen local self-governments. What stage are you at?

 

A: As of today we have spent $40,000. Part of the money was spent on drafting a bill on municipal services. It is almost ready and we have decided to present it in Syunik, Shirak and Lori. The question is also about arranging training courses in the regions for raising the qualification and the professional level of representatives of local self-governments. In my opinion, this will make for decentralization, just what you have said above meaning the growing gap between Yerevan and the regions.

 

Q: In order to implement the Millennium Development Goals the local NGOs and media have formed a republican network. What are the results of this project?

 

A: The key objective of the project was to enhance public awareness of the tasks of the Millennium Development Goals program. The questions is about liquidating poverty in Armenia, reducing infant mortality, protecting maternal health, fighting AIDS, protecting environment, raising the quality of education, achieving equality of genders and protecting the rights of women. During my visits to the regions I was glad to see that our project had proved a success and the local population was well aware of the millennium problems.

 

Q: In the early 90s the UN Office in Armenia was the first to give Armenia access to the global internet network. Are you going to continue this tradition by promoting IT development in the country?

 

A: Very soon, in Nov, we are opening the biggest Armenian computer center at the National Academy of Science of Armenia. The center will have 100 modern computers and will much differ from numerous internet-cafes presently operating in Yerevan. The project is aimed to make internet generally accessible in Armenia and to help the country integrate into the world information community. We are also planning to establish internet-centers for regional farmer's associations. In collaboration with Armenia's Foreign ministry we have developed a program of internet advice. Hence, we are actively supporting the development of internet-technologies in the spheres of trade, e-management and education. I am convinced that Armenia will make serious achievements in the sphere.

 

26 September, 2003

Emmanuil Mkrtchyan, ARMINFO