We have a problem with spreading information about the opportunities available in Armenia among the Diaspora. It is not enough to say, “It is good here, come enjoy it.” You should also go and present everything specifically.
Convention Participant
We must have an ideology, and we must create a mutually beneficial channel between Armenia and the Diaspora so that one can benefit from the other.
Convention Participant
Ցեղասպանության հիշողությունը բերում է կարեւոր անվտանգային ընկալման։ Միասնական ընկալում պետք է ձեւավորել սրա մասին՝ Հայաստան-Սփյուռք ընդգրկմամբ։ Այսօր դեռ կա ընկալում, որ հայաստանցիները չգիտեն՝ ինչ է Ցեղասպանությունը։
Համաժողովի մասնակից
The 15 goals you have established should have instead been only 3:
1. Take care of what you have left.
2. Always set realistic, achievable goals.
3. Stop pursuing fairy tales.
If we ever, by some miracle, come to the point as a nation where we finally are driven by the motivation to develop and take care of what we have rather than cry and dream about a vast Wilsonian Armenia from sea to sea, that is when we will be deserving of having our own independent state.
The most patriotic thing to do and to comprehend for us, Armenians, is that we should solely focus on building upon the internationally recognized tiny piece of land we have left and stop talking/daydreaming all the time about Shushi, Kars, Van, Mush, etc., and focus on Ijevan, Goris, Meghri, Gyumri, etc.
The only thing that could make you, as a political movement, different from the rest of the so-called political parties in Armenia, is if you would emphasize the need to be realists and to finally learn from our own damn history.
Samvel R.
Signatory
I'd ask that waste management be considered as part of the overall plan.
Trash and litter fit on the top-ten list of initial impressions about Armenia, important to consider when we want people to return here.
Our beautiful marzes are lined with discarded bottles and bags. Trash dumped into gulleys leads to toxins carried by small streams into rivers and ultimately to farms. Batteries and fluorescent bulbs leaching metals into our water can cause neurologic problems that will certainly be a challenge to diagnose.
Currently there is paper, glass and plastic recycling available. We should push for battery, fluorescent and e-waste recycling.
Jerry M., USA
Signatory
Ո՞վ է հայը։ Շատ լայն պիտի նայենք այդ հարցի պատասխանին։ Ով իրեն հայ է համարում, մենք պետք է ընդունենք, որ նա հայ է։ Օրինակ՝ ընտանիքի մի մասը հայ է կամ հատուկ հետաքրքրություն ունեն հայկականի հանդեպ, ուրեմն՝ հայ են։
Համաժողովի մասնակից
It is suggested to create new programs that will promote close contact with Armenia: visits, games - for example, presenting Armenian mythology in comic form.
Convention Participant
Այս տիպի միջոցառումները շատ լավ գաղափար են, օրինակ, Հայաստան-Սփյուռք չընդհատվող կապի համար։
Համաժողովի մասնակից
Սյունիքում արևային էներգետիկան շատ թույլ է, չնայած ունի մեծ պոտենցիալ աշխարհագրական դիրքից ելնելով:
Հարց առաջարկ՝
Հնարավո՞ր է արդյոք արևային էներգիայի համակարգերը տեղադրել լիզինգային մեթոդով շահառուի հետ կնքելով համապատասխան պայմանագիր։ Այս մեթոդով շահառուները ստիպված չեն լինի մեծ գումար ներդնելու արևային համակարգեր տեղադրելու համար, իսկ ավելացած էներգիան կարելի է վաճառել ՀԷՑ-ին։ Ներքին շուկայում կնվազի ՀԷԿ, ՋԷԿ և այլ էներգիա արտադրող կառույցներից պահանջարկը և զուգահեռաբար կավելանա արտահանման ծավալը, որը կարող ենք նաև փոխանակել Իրանի Իսլամիստական Հանրապետության հետ բնական գազով։
Արամ Գ․, Հայաստան
Signatory
Հայաստանում ցանկացած ոլորտում պետք է ներգրավված լինեն Սփյուռքի տարբեր համայնքներում ապրող փորձագետներ։
Համաժողովի մասնակից
I am sure biotechnology has been considered as one of the prospective directions for building the future in Armenia. I hope it would be possible to create a group that could connect scientists working in different universities and companies with scientists in Armenia to discuss what kind of help is needed and what can be built together.
Here is what I could bring to table:
Part of my job is to develop monoclonal antibodies for research and diagnostic purposes in medicine. I could help establish a similar laboratory that could serve the local needs, to start with.
Maybe some of the companies, producing commercial antibodies would choose to open an R&D and manufacturing laboratory in Armenia, if we have well trained personnel.
This might seem to be a very small-scale endeavor, but it will boost the research and clinical science.
Another suggestion is to create a group that would help connect local science to business. The potential of students in Armenia and abroad could be utilized. I have an idea of a project:
The copper mining is one of the major components of our industry. New, more eco-friendly methods of precipitating copper from ore are being utilized worldwide. Bioleaching is one of them; it is essentially using bacteria to precipitate copper (or other metals) from low metal containing ore. Usually, the companies patent the consortium of bacteria.
Scientists from ArmBiotechnology in Yerevan (please see the reference below) have isolated a consortium of bacteria from ore in Kapan that can efficiently be used for this purpose. We could use student engineers to create bioreactors for mining copper from leftover ore by bioleaching, thus employing local people and cleaning the environment.
Susanna B., USA/Armenia
Signatory
I am one of the signatories for The FUTURE ARMENIAN initiative. I live and work in US. I have spent more than 50% of my life in US after moving at the age of 20. I think the 15 goals are a good starting point, but most importantly we need to think of the root causes that led us to where we are today and try to address them.
My view of things that have to be done to reach the 15 goals are:
Revive our education system starting from kindergarten. Work towards making sure the teachers and professors are the highest qualified and best paid jobs in Armenia
To stop and reverse the emigration, ensure basic requirements for life in Armenia are met:
Affordable and high quality Healthcare and Education system
Promise and fulfilment of dignified retirement
Safe military service through technology assistance and professionalism
Help diaspora to reintegrate seamlessly through remote connection then gradual linking and eventual repatriation.
My view of how this could be done is primarily through some serious government policies and investment projects including:
Create technology incubators or tax free economic zones (Digital Health and Biotechnology, Renewable Energy, High Tech etc) that would attract a lot of diaspora and foreigners professionals as well as capital.
Ensure the professionals from above are tightly engaged in education systems in Armenia
Use the outcome of the above activities to strengthen education and safety systems of Armenia
Invest the resulting outcome and value of the above back into economy and education to deepen the process.
These points can be broken down into further details and technicalities.