Վերջին տարիներին, հատկապես 44օրյա պատերազմից հետո, աշխարհի տարբեր անկյուններում հայերի հանդիպման խոսակցությունները, մտահոգությունները ուղղված են հայ ազգի անվտանգության, զարգացման, ապագային նվիրված խորհումներով, քննարկումներով։ Հայ ժողովրդի առջև ծառացած դժվարությունների հաղթահարման համար ստեղծվում են տարբեր տնտեսական, քաղաքական միություններ, որոնք նպատակ ունեն ապահովել հայ ազգի հետագա զարգացումը՝ տնտեսական զարգացման հրաշքի հասնել այլ փոքր պետությունների օրինակով: Այդպիսիններից են՝
• Նուբար Աֆեյանի և Ռուբեն Վարդանյանի կողմից ստեղծված «ԱՊԱԳԱ ՀԱՅԿԱԿԱՆԸ»,
• Վահե Կարապետյանի «Pan Armenian Unity» միությունները։ Այս հայորդիները ձգտում են միավորել հայերին ամբողջ աշխարհում՝ դիմակայելու ներկա դժվարություններին և ստեղծել հիմքեր տնտեսական կտրուկ զարգացման համար։ Քաղաքական ոլորտում Արևմտյան Հայաստանի վտարանդի կառավարության կողմից կազմակերպվել է Համահայկական Վերնախորհուրդ (Senat), որը զբաղվում է ՀՀ-ի արտաքին հարաբերություններով, գլխավոր նպատակ ունենալով՝ Վուդրո Վիլսոնի 1920 թվականի նոյեմբերի 22 կայացրած «Իրավարար վճռի» իրականացումը։ Մի քանի ամիս առաջ գործարար Սամվել Կարապետյանը հայտարարեց, որ ՀՀ-ում, Ջավախքում, Արցախում կարելի է ստեղծել բոլոր բնագավառների բարձր շահութաբերական ձեռնարկություններ տեղական հումքերի հիման վրա։ Անկախացումից հետո ՀՀ-ի բոլոր ղեկավարները գիտակցաբար, կամաց-կամաց քայքայեցին Խորհրդային Հայաստանից ժառանգած հարուստ, բազմաճյուղ տնտեսությունը։ Քաղաքական առումով չամրապնդեցին հազարավոր հայրենասերների կորստով ձեռք բերված մեր հաղթանակները։ Մենք՝ մի քանի հայրենասեր մասնագետներ առաջարկում ենք կազմակերպել դեռևս նախադեպ չունեցող «Համահայկական բաժնետիրական ընկերություն»՝ (Pan Armenian Corporation): Հույս ունենք, որ այն մաս կկազմի Ձեր միությունների միվորմանը՝ ի շահս հայ ազգի ապագայի՝ Մեծ Հայաստանի կազմավորման և նրա հզորացման համար։ Կլուծվի ներկայիս և ապագայի բոլոր խնդիրները։ Հարկավոր է հավատալ, պայքարել և հաղթել։
Վահե Մ․
Signatory
The problem in the Diaspora is that it is not a systematic, functioning structure. It is not a model. People are united in religious or political groups, but there should be a model that unites everyone regardless of those circumstances.
Convention Participant
First of all, I salute this great work of analysis and reflection that you have carried out.
Here are my brief remarks:
Tourism. Indeed, the near absence of direct flights and at "comfortable" times is a real brake. Moreover, there is a lack of translated Armenian literature and tourist guides about Armenia in European bookstores. There is an obvious lack of general knowledge about Armenia (culture/art, architecture, music, cuisine...) and its history. It is necessary to publish books for potential tourists who are looking for original and authentic destinations.
Tourism that includes the discovery of Armenia's rich biogeography should be developed (in addition to ecotourism and cultural and religious tourism).
Agriculture: some serious questions to be asked. I will be very cautious with the proposal of intensification in the agricultural field (fertilizers, chemistry/phytosanitary and especially, the seed!). This orientation presents strong environmental and human health risks, as the European experience has shown. Armenia is not an agricultural country that can "feed the world", but it has undeniable assets because Armenia represents a "Hot-spot" of biodiversity and endemism. Thus, more than productivity, it is the promotion (and conservation!) of endemic and local species that should be put forward. Moreover, it would be necessary to think about "seed banks of crops and "wild" plant species" to be developed or to enrich the existing world collections. I see Armenia as a country where organic agricultural production would be largely dominant: these are modern "trends" that can bring a real added value to our agricultural or natural products without such a significant harm to the environment and health of intensive and technological agriculture. The world is in full restructuring and abandonment of intensive agricultural production: we must join this movement and preserve our small country.
" The use of advanced seeds and agricultural technology” - concretely, what are we referring to (not the "Monsanto" type approach, I hope)?
Focus on production of essential products (grains, fodder, pork) to achieve self-sufficiency and food security. Expansion of exports to target countries (Russia, Ukraine, UAE, Saudi Arabia), including fruits, tobacco and wine products.
Why focus on pig farming? One of the most problematic breeding from an ecological point of view! - Only "traditional" extensive breeding, in semi-freedom (like in Corsica or Spain: food by the big oak trees, etc.) could be suitable, in my opinion. Ex. sheep and goats in mountain pastures, etc.
We could promote/export cheeses, dairy products (matsoun type, etc.) in Russia and elsewhere; our canning factories (vegetables, fruits) are famous...
Eventually, "local" spirits.
Reclamation of fallow lands to expand land use by encouraging consolidation to increase production
Attention should be paid to soil depletion (a big problem in the world) and in Europe at present, while Armenia does not have large cultivable areas (except for the Ararat valley).
It is necessary to think about the establishment of the units of treatment - valorization of manure / dung / organic waste in general. Currently, there are organic fertilizers production units (humic and fulvic acids, etc.) which are not very energy consuming and should be installed near the farms/sources of raw materials.
Use of high technologies in agriculture: yes (e.g. use of satellite data for crop management), but taking into account the climatic, geological and edaphic specificities of Armenia - a whole applied science to develop!
In a general way, I noticed serious problems of waste disposal and garbage cans in Armenia (no sorting nor recycling/valorization of waste)...
The energy question is not addressed in the summary, although it is a key question for all the economic and social branches and a sine qua non condition for the independence of the country. What about "renewable" resources (solar, geothermal, hydro...)?
About the management of water resources - France seems to me to be a good example with its watershed approach, applying the "polluter-pays" principle, the mutualization of fees to safeguard the environment... Water is declared a non-alienable national asset.
Education / Teaching: languages - in addition to English, Russian could make a comeback so that Russian specialists can contribute their knowledge. Today, only the generation of the 60-70s still speaks Russian + the diaspora in Russia.
I am not sure that the public education in the USA (except for the big schools and universities) is an example to be taken! Serious problems are well known in the schools (kindergarten, primary, secondary, high school) in the USA. Good examples are Finland and Korea.
Health: Armenia can develop a network of health care centers (in particularly suitable places: mountains, thermal waters, as in Switzerland) or personal services for foreign retirees (especially of Armenian origin).
Industry/ technology: Transition from low-cost outsourcing to specialized value-added services to increase productivity and protect the economy from the growth of multinational corporations
Yes and yes again! Armenia was once known by the production of high value-added goods. It would be necessary to find the fields where specialization and high qualification of workers can be an asset and compete with China and India (electronics, IT...). Moreover, this field will allow the development of partnerships with foreign countries. Quality and originality (at the cutting edge of technology) are the key words for Armenia (like Japan).
I hope that my questions and my personal feeling can help to better formulate the directions to be developed in Armenia.
Maia A., France
Signatory
In my opinion the best way to unite the diaspora and particularly the younger diaspora is to connect them physically through amazing events and experiences and with purpose. This logically makes sense before trying to unite through purpose alone. Through travel events throughout the world disparate members of our culture come together for fun, unity, and entertainment, and at a cost lower than a regular vacation while supporting Armenian business and causes. It is gaining momentum with millennials and gen z and I would like to share progress and combine efforts if it supports your goal #5, to: Transform the relationship between Armenia and the Diaspora into one based on mutualism and trust.
Rob B., USA
Signatory
Everything depends on our goals. In order to create the future, we need to understand what our heritage is, develop our heritage, create a new value system, and pass this new heritage on to the coming generations.
Convention Participant
Պետական ռազմավարություն պետք է լինի՝ Սփյուռք-Հայաստան, պետություն-Սփյուռք հաղորդակցությունն ապահովելու համար։
Համաժողովի մասնակից
It is necessary to clearly understand what the recognition of the Armenian Genocide gives us, Armenians.
Convention Participant
I have lived in three European countries as a professional expat. And in every single place I could see how difficult it was to integrate with the Armenian community. The Armenian embassy in that country has no clue how many Armenians are in there, what is their occupation, how can they be useful for the community and for Armenia etc. Neither the church takes the mission to unify people. There are clear layers depending on the time and cause of immigration. So you are either a descendent of the Genocide survivor and/or Dashnak, either you came during 1990s or you came to study/ work. So these layers live in separate bubbles and don't interact with each other. During 2020 war the ice has been broken and there was a period when these layers became transparent and people were looking all to the same place for the same goal. We should work towards making us all unified be it in Paris, in Brussels or in Moscow. I think Armenian embassies and churches can be helpful to unify the communities in each country be it via brainstorming sessions, cultural events, volunteering jobs or anyhow. My suggestion may sound not concrete, but as someone living in diaspora and someone who is looking for ways to be helpful for her country, I find this one of the pain points of our diaspora. By solving this we will move 1 step closer towards the strong diaspora. Best regards from the Netherlands,
Anahit A., Netherlands
Signatory
Armenia should really become a magnet to collect the particles of the Diaspora.
Convention Participant
Reading. Goal is that people respect people, people learn setting goals and working towards them. Armenians do not make debts to buy something luxury. People understand life-long learning is feasible and valuable. Networking is not related to bribery and corruption. Armenians make rational decisions.
1. Create lists of 10 books every modern Armenian should read. It should contain books teaching skills/thinking needed in 21st century and books reminding and inspiring Armenians to be Armenians. “Atomic Habits”, “The Art of Thinking Clearly”, “The Art of Good Life”, “Emotional Intelligence”, “Freakonomics”, “The Richest Man in Babylon”,
2. Make reading books available for everyone. In rural communities, school libraries can work for the first time. We need public libraries like in AUA where anyone can read a book, maybe do some homework without being disturbed. We need to make internet accessible for everyone.
Vardan V., Armenia
Signatory
It should be organized so that people who have achieved success abroad in the field of business, science, or culture can return and do their work in Armenia.
Convention Participant
Լեզվի համահայկական կազմակերպություն պետք է ստեղծվի։ Մեր ռեսուրսները քիչ են, պիտի այս պահից սկսած ուսուցիչներ պատրաստենք սփյուռքի համար։
