httpvp://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=39652D9D98230EA8
This is a lecture dedicated to the issues of Armenian women who have had the misfortune of becoming victims of human trafficking. Above is a playlist of eight videos, covering the event.
April 26, 2011
39 Responses »
Integrity of Foreign Adoptions In Armenia Still In Question
by Emil Danielyan
RFE/Radio Liberty
April 26, 2011
Armenia -- Children at an orphana
What is an informal payment made to an Armenian government official or civil servant performing their duties? Armenia’s Criminal Code defines it as a bribe that could be punishable by a lengthy prison sentence.
Yet some private U.S. agencies arranging international adoptions of children call it a mere “gift of gratitude” that reflects a long-established local custom and is not illegal. They have for years charged clients in the United States thousands of dollars for such payments which they say are necessary for adopting Armenian orphans. Continue reading »
Ara Vardanyan, “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund Executive Director, To Debate Fund Activities Live on TV
Mar 072011
March 7, 2011
No Responses »
“To Donate Or Not To Donate,” a recent white paper by Ara K. Manoogian, a human rights activist and investigative journalist, analyzing the activities of the “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund will be debated live on an Armenian television in Los Angeles, CA. According to a preliminary agreement, the participants of the debate are as follows: Ara Vardanyan, Executive Director of “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund, Sarkis Kotanjyan, the Fund’s Executive Director of the U.S. Western Region, and Ara K. Manoogian, the author of the white paper in question.
Ara Vardanyan has denounced the white paper stating that “the facts that are given in the article are all rumors and furthermore have nothing to do with our organization.” On March 2, 2011, he made the following statement: “Both I and Sarkis Kotanjian are ready at any time to sit with you on one of the Armenian Televisions and talk about all these things live. Lets see what is true and what is not.”
“To Donate Or Not To Donate” is the most recent and comprehensive paper questioning the efficiency of the “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund. Three of the four parts of the white paper on “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund can be found at www.thetruthmustbetold.com. The date and other details of the televised debate will be announced.
Feb 262011
February 26, 2011
23 Responses »
Feb 262011
February 26, 2011
65 Responses »
White Paper on “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund
Part III
By Ara K. Manoogian
When John Danilovich, Chief Executive Officer for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), warned Robert Kocharyan on March 11, 2008, that the program may suffer because of Armenia’s retreat from democracy—the March 1st crackdown, political prisoners—Robert Kocharyan, then the outgoing self-declared president of Armenia, replied that we would find other sources of money. This irresponsible statement is reminiscent of the King of France Louis XV (1710-1774), who is known to have said: “Après moi, le déluge” (After me, the deluge).
The Millennium Challenges made a decision to cut the aid. As a result, 943 km of rural roads were left unrepaired in 265 rural communities of Armenia, and an estimated 6% poverty reduction remained on paper. The MCC press release issued on March 11, 2009 reads: “The Board’s decision today signals to the government that it has failed over several years to address concerns raised not only by MCC and other U.S. Government agencies, but the international community as well.” Moreover, Armenia has been denied eligibility for a second compact, unlike its northern neighbor, Georgia. At its winter quarterly meeting on January 5, 2011, MCC chose Georgia and Ghana as eligible to apply for second compacts, which are “contingent on successful completion of first compacts and continued good policy performance” (Center For Global Development). Continue reading »
Jan 052011
January 5, 2011
2 Responses »
Jan 052011
January 5, 2011
3 Responses »
White Paper on “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund
PART II
By Ara K. Manoogian
This White Paper consists of three parts and is an analysis of a broad range of issues regarding the activities of “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund. Its structure follows that of a TV interview given by Sarkis Kotanjian, Executive Director of “Hayastan” All-Armenian fund U.S. Western Region. The interview aired on November 12, 2010, during which he set out to dispel eight key myths about the Fund. The first three myths and Mr. Kotanjian’s interpretations have been analyzed in Part I of this White Paper. The current part examines the remaining five myths. Part III will provide an overall analysis of the “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund and possible solutions to the issues it faces today.
As in Part I, below, each of the myths are presented exactly as Mr. Kotanjian worded them, along with his interpretations, which are termed here as “Busting.” The alternative interpretations of the core issues are presented as “Unbusting.” Continue reading »
Dec 212010
December 21, 2010
1 Response »
Dec 172010
December 17, 2010
9 Responses »
White Paper on “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund Part I By Ara K. Manoogian “To donate or not to donate?” That is the question millions of Armenians have been asking themselves on every Thanksgiving Day since 1992 before making a pledge to “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund. Despite their willingness to lend a helping hand, numerous contributors tend to think twice before making a donation, due to multiple reports and evidence of corruption linked to the activities of the Fund. More and more people vow not to donate. A few days before the 2010 telethon, Horizon TV aired an interview with Sarkis Kotanjian, Executive Director of “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund U.S. Western Region, who referred to the reports of corruption as myths and tried to dispel them. Below, each of the myths is presented exactly as Mr. Kotanjian worded them, along with his interpretations, which are termed here as “busting.” The alternative interpretations of the core issues are presented as “Unbusting.” Continue reading »
September 28, 2010
1 Response »
Seyran Ohanyan and Pavel Manukyan
The tradition for not punishing military personnel for violence has been set by none other than Colonel-General Seyran Ohanyan, Defense Minister of Armenia, on June 19, 2005. That day Seyran Ohanyan, then the Defense Minister of Artsakh, together with a number of high-ranking military officials—Samvel Karapetyan, Vardan Balayan, Artur Harutiunyan, Vladik Khachatryan, as well as current Defense Minister of Artsakh, Movses Hakobyan—subjected Artsakh war veteran Pavel Manukyan to a severe gang beating within the walls of the Defense Ministry. The incident became a scandal both on TV, and in media, however, it didn’t get as much public attention as it would today thanks to the social networks. Numerous articles were written about the violence committed by High-Ranking Generals, the Armenian authorities called on the their counterparts in Artsakh to conduct an impartial investigation of the matter. The former Artsakh President, Arkady Ghukasyan, promised to guarantee unbiased administration of justice. Continue reading »
