The Assembly's Remarks at the Armenia-Diaspora Conference, 1999
- From: Assembly <info@aaainc.org>
- Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1999 18:00:03 -0800 (PST)
Remarks On Behalf Of The Armenian Assembly Of America
For Delivery at the September 22 Session of
The Armenia Diaspora Conference in Yerevan, Armenia
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I wish to thank the organizers of this conference for inviting me,
on behalf of the Armenian Assembly of America, to address you
today. My remarks will necessarily be brief but I wish to discuss,
respectfully but candidly, three issues of special concern to my
organization.
First, the diversity of the audience gathered here today
dramatically reflects a critical reality about the Armenian
Diaspora. overseas Armenians represent one of the widest dispersals
of any national group into foreign societies. We are worldwide, but
we are largely unconnected and increasingly different from one
another. Therefore, it seems to us that the proposal to create a
study group on an umbrella organization at this conference to
represent the Armenian Diapora is unrealistic and premature.
Instead, we recommend that the authorities in Armenia organize
separate collaborations with Diaspora groups and select individuals
on the basis of function. Armenia's problems should be clearly
identified and evaluated. Only then should programs be developed
with specific organizations and individuals whose experience and
function coincide with identified needs. For example, medical
experts and groups should be recruited to address public health
problems. Joint programs for social services should be developed
with philanthropic groups. Professional assistance should be sought
for business investments from successful entrepreneurs. And,
cooperation should be developed with Diaspora advocacy specialists
to gain international support for Armenia and karabagh.
Second, for those conferees not familiar with the Armenian
Assembly, I note that political action is the core reason for our
organziation's existence. We now have the experience of 27 years
advocating Armenian community interests in the United
States. However, in 1988 we shifted our focus to Armenia. We
undertook efforts to obtain relief and reconstruction aid for the
victims of Armenia's tragic earthquake. We also sponsored the
building of a modern, six million-dollar home construction factory
in the earthquake zone and recently transferred our rights to this
plant to the Hayastan Fund.
With the independence of Armenia, we refocused our agenda to
political advocacy as well. We worked to gain foreign aid support
from the American government for the new republic of Armenia and
public support for the right of self-determination for the
courageous people of Karabagh. In the past eight years much has
been achieved. the United States government has allocated more than
800 million dollars for assistance to Armenia, and, we hope to add
over eleven million to an already allocated 8.3 million dollars for
aid to the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh. These successes have been
achieved because of the efforts of the Armenian Assembly, other
Armenian-American advocacy groups and key individuals. today our
efforts reach beyond foreign aid. We are engaged in a major effort
in support of Armenia's and Karabagh's political rights. And these
actions are opposed in the United States by an alliance of powerful
opponents composed of large U.S. oil companies, lobbyists for
Turkey and Azerbaijan, the American state department, and even a
group of prominent Jewish-American organizations. Despite this
serious competition we have, so far, prevailed. With the leadership
of our many friends in congress, we have succeeded in retaining
Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act which denies some forms of
government-to-government aid to Azerbaijan until Baku's blockade of
Armenia and Karabagh is lifted. We have also lobbied the American
government to initiate and support regional economoc programs in
which Armenia will be an active participant and equal
beneficiary. These actions have been coupled with the Assembly's
continued efforts to gain official American re-affirmation of the
Armenian Genocide. The most recent development on the Genocide
Question is the state department's agreement to urge Turkey to
negotiate the return of bank and insurance assets of Armenian
victims of Genocide that are held by Turkish financial
institutions.
In all our efforts we endeavor to cooperate closely with the
governments of Armenia and Karabagh. However, we function as an
independent, non partisan American organization supported by more
than 5,000 commited organziations and individual activists from
every state of the United States. Non partisanship is the source of
our appeal to the majority of American-Armenians and the basis of
our collaboration with the Armenian-American commuity, as well as
with non-Armenian political, ethnic and human rights groups in the
United States.
While the Armenian Assembly cannot be a precise model for Armenian
political interest groups in other countries, our agenda, our
non-partisan approach, and our independence is valid for all
Armenian communities. In addition, we are scrupulous to avoid
intruding into the internal political process in Armenia and
Karabagh. We believe that partisan intrusion from Armenians abroad
is unhealthy for the development of democracy in Armenia and
Karabagh.
Third and finally, I wish to address the vital assistance Diaspora
Armenians can and must offer for the economic development of
Armenia and Karabagh. We can all agree that the Diaspora should
play a key role to obtain and provide foreign aid and capital
investments, and to develop export markets for Armenian products
and services. However, the current economic, social, and judicial
climate in Armenia is a serious impediment to effective
collaboration. Unfortunately, economic corruption is believed to be
systemic here. Widespread allegations from within Armenia, Repeated
by many foreign investors, points to coercion by bureaucrats for
bribes and personal favors to obtain permits, licenses, and other
services to conduct business in Armenia. In fairness, these
practices are not unique to Armenia. Corruption exists in all
societies... But the level of corruption throughout the Former
Soviet Union is smothering the development of viable market
economies. Corruption also corrodes the people's confidence in
their government. In truth, among all the republics of the Former
Soviet Union, Armenia can afford economic malpractices
least. Therefore, we urge that the Armenian government at all
levels implement comprehensive reforms without delay. reform is
the only way to stimulate economic growth that will, in turn,
provide tax revenues to meet Armenia's domestic and foreign
objectives. Moreover, successful collaboration with Armenians
abroad will depend, in large part, on how soon a fair, transparent,
and friendly investment climate emerges in armenia. Logically,
investors will hesitate to enter armenia until capital safety,
regulatory consistency, and tax fairness become the norms in
Armenia.
Tragically, the lack of economic opportunities has resulted in the
emigration of thousands of talented Armenians to foreign countries.
Ambitious, educated, and confident young people are Armenia's
greatest assets. They are needed here. even at this difficult
moment in Armenian history, we must together plan ahead for the
return of those who have left the homeland. More than that, we must
offer the right of return to all Armenians living abroad. and when
the return of Armenians becomes a reality, it will be final proof
that Armenia's statehood is secure, and that its people prosper in
freedom. at that moment, the slogan that the Diaspora and Armenia
are one nation will ring true.
Thank You
[Groong note: Remarks were delivered by Mr. Ross Vartian.]
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