I hope the future of Armenia includes women; its success depends on inclusiveness.
There are countless women that are contributing to Armenia. Often, they work quietly and in the background. That does not mean that they do not have a vision or a strategy, it just means we as a community are not highlighting their voices.
Yelena A., USA
Նախաձեռնող
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
Նախաձեռնող
There is a shortage of Armenian teachers in Armenian schools abroad. I think low pay is also one of the reasons. Armenia is obliged to take care of that. It is possible to send teachers for a certain period of time and provide them with a place of residence and a salary.
Convention Participant
Ցեղասպանության ճանաչման գործընթացը ոչ թե մեկ օրյա Ապրիլի 24-ի միջոցառում պիտի լինի, այլ ամենօրյա աշխատանք սփյուռքում՝ տեղեկության տարածման, տարբեր միջոցառումների ու ծրագրերի իրականացման միջոցով։
Համաժողովի մասնակից
I suggest that we as community come up with strategy initiatives, and give opportunity for the signatories to join the initiatives they can add value the most. During one of the calls with Ruben Vardanyan, he was mentioning the importance of having focus areas, which have the most potential to grow and develop in Armenia. I completely agree with his thinking and believe that The FUTURE ARMENIAN can start with a few focus industries, such as Tech, Education, Agritech, etc. Later, each industry will have separate initiatives which people can actively contribute to. This will not only help set actionable goals, but also will improve the sense of community. The signatories will get to know each other, work together, and hopefully even more people around the world will become signatories, as they will be able to come and contribute with something they are passionate about.
Suzie M., UK
Նախաձեռնող
Очень рад запуску инициативы The FUTURE ARMENIAN. Патронаж столь известных деятелей вселяет надежду на то, что в ее формате удастся объединить экспертов из различных сфер, связанных с государственным строительством и выработать некую концепцию или план действий, который можно будет донести до руководства страны.
Хорошо, что ставка сделана именно на системный подход, так как многие беды Армении связаны именно с его отсутствием. Тем не менее, на мой взгляд, перечисленные 15 целей нуждаются в некоторой доработке и переформулировании.
Например, ""Историческая ответственность"" трактуется слишком узко. Слава Богу, наша история состоит не только из Геноцида. Плюс, этот пункт фактически дублирует ""Сохранение наследия"".
Вообще, мне показалось, что цели сформулированы немного фрагментарно, т.е. они не образуют некую замкнутую логическую систему. Если планируются дискуссии по этим вопросам, то не лучше ли сначала попытаться сформулировать стратегическую цель, а потом подтянуть под нее действия, которые необходимо предпринять в различных сферах, связанных с государственным строительством?
Например, так:
Цель: Построить высокоразвитое и демократическое Армянское государство, способное обеспечить собственную безопасность.
Задачи. Определить принципы оптимального устройства:
1. Внутриполитической системы;
2. Внешнеполитической деятельности;
3. Отношений Армения-Диаспора;
4. Отношений Армения-Арцах;
5. Экономической системы;
6. Государственного управления и борьбы с коррупцией;
7. Судебной системы;
8. Вооруженных сил;
9. Системы образования, науки и технологий.
Это позволило бы лучше структурировать будущие обсуждения: говорить более предметно, избежать дублирования, уйти в ходе дискуссий от лишнего пафоса и пр.
Павел С.
Նախաձեռնող
Առանց թերագնահատելու թիմերի կատարած աշխատանքները, փորձեմ լրացում անել, (եթե ընդունելի է) գյուղատնտեսության ոլորտի վերաբերյալ: Առաջնորդվելով բազմամյա տարիների աշխատանքային փորձից, հմտություններից ու ձեռքբերումներից առաջարկում եմ. ռազմավարական քայլերի գերակա նախաձեռնություններ սյունակում կամ մեկ կետ ավելացնել, կամ ցանքատարածությունների վերամշակում տողում ավելացնել՝ զարգացնել փոքր հողակտորների մշակության առաջավոր, ճկուն և շարժուն տեխնոլոգիաներ: Մշակաբույսերի ցանկակազմի դիվերսիֆիկացիա բարձրարժեք տեսականիով (հատկապես յուղատու, եթերայուղատու, համեմունքային բույսեր), հիմնավորելով փոքր ծավալ մեծ արժեք կարգախոսով:
Գնել Մ․, Հայաստան
Նախաձեռնող
A powerful Armenia needs a strategic and innovative development plan, an economic development plan. We need to develop and disseminate state ideology. We claim to have all these, but in reality we are strongly lacking in all three.
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
Մենք պետք է ունենանք մեկ գաղափար ու մեկ ռազմնավարություն, թե ուր ենք ուզում գնալ։ Կարող ենք ունենալ այս մեկ փաստաթուղթը, բայց կարող ենք նաև ունենալ այդ մեկ նպատակին հասնելու տասը ճանապարհ։
Համաժողովի մասնակից
An Armenian is a person with a value system. When he actively participates in certain processes to achieve his goals, then he is already a political person, a committed person. An Armenian is a person who should be able to benefit those around him, regardless of whether there are Armenians around him or not.
Convention Participant
Առաջարկում եմ այնպիսի ծրագիր, որը կօգնի դրսում ապրող, սակայն վերադառնալ ցանկացող ընտանիքին հաստատվել Հայաստանում: Պայմանով, որ ժամանակի ընթացքում նա կվերադարձնի աստիճանաբար այդ օգնությունը՝ նպաստելով մյուս ընտանիքների վերադարձին: