Can't have one without the other
It’s really amazing to witness and experience the speedy pace in which Armenia is developing. I am well positioned within the company I work to deal with emerging entrepreneurs, NGOs, International Organizations and Embassies. In just a short time (less then a year) the people of Armenia have lived a dramatic transition from the clothes they wear to the dining and the courtesy in their gestures. Either I am getting used to the lifestyle here and distancing my self from the western standards or true enough, there has been a massive change.
Note, change is note always and only for the better. If you were here only a year ago and if you were to revisit Yerevan now, you will notice how many new shops, restaurants and hotels have emerged. You will also notice the change of landscape in the downtown area where most of the old structures have been destroyed to build some new, lifeless buildings.
More of this destruction is taking place near the vernissage. However, it seems there is one very nice building open the corner of Hanrapetutyun and Tikran Mets that will be renovated and keep its identity. this historic building is where the first independent republic was announced from.
Another building has been saved. It is the one on Amiryan, in front of the Bellagio café (note – never go to this café; awful service). the owner won the court case claiming that if this building was destroyed, the oldest standing building in Yerevan would be the Iranian mosque on Mashtots… imagine that!
Note, change is note always and only for the better. If you were here only a year ago and if you were to revisit Yerevan now, you will notice how many new shops, restaurants and hotels have emerged. You will also notice the change of landscape in the downtown area where most of the old structures have been destroyed to build some new, lifeless buildings.
More of this destruction is taking place near the vernissage. However, it seems there is one very nice building open the corner of Hanrapetutyun and Tikran Mets that will be renovated and keep its identity. this historic building is where the first independent republic was announced from.
Another building has been saved. It is the one on Amiryan, in front of the Bellagio café (note – never go to this café; awful service). the owner won the court case claiming that if this building was destroyed, the oldest standing building in Yerevan would be the Iranian mosque on Mashtots… imagine that!
posted by Raffi N at 11:12 PM
23 Comments:
Whilst I agree with your comments about new restaurants, bars and shops, and Yerevan is becoming more pleasant - this wealth is in the hands of but a few.
What upsets me most is that all these new places are opening- yet the average yerevan dweller ( at least the ones I spoke to ) is MORE dissillusioned than before. The general feeling I got was "its beyond repair until the current authorities are out".
What also angers me is the way in which the authorities are taking us for fools, as well as the international community. Lets face it, if Armenia was to become a free country with European ideals and standards, it would have at least half happend by now. The new constitution , the restrictions on press, and recent frauded local elections, it just puts us to shame. What must the world think of us now? Are we going to become just another soviet backwater?
I cant wait for the day when any mention of Armenia in western press doesn't include the words "Poverty stricken". I guess we just have to wait it out :)
The US media likes to portray the Americans coming to the rescue of "poverty-stricken" countries, Armenia included... it's just another PR work from the State Dept. and others to influence what happens in those countries... I have a place in Yerevan and have opened an office where I employ 4 young professionals... They get paid way above the average $$ monthly income, yet when you get them talking about the situation, even their improved situation, it's that SOVIET NOSTALGIC PROPAGANDA BLOOD in them which takes over... Let's not believe all the complaints people have... A young person looking for work in Yerevan WILL NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEM finding one... it's getting him/her to look for one that's the most challenging task. They prefer sitting in cafés and smoking vs getting a job, even if it's not the most ideal job.
FYI, we always complain of the wealth and power of a few in Armenia... look at the US Senate and Congress and it's a millionnaire's club with lots of "I owe you-s" to various groups.
Time has come to build Armenia brick by brick...
Thanks.
One more thought on "restriction on the press".. in the US, CNN self-censors itself not to criticize George Bush or his policies... how better is that from what's happening in Armenia... Further, the so-called restricted press organs in Armenia are the tools of a few people with specific agendas in their minds... they are not "free" at all, they are there with a specific agenda.
Last time I walkd in yerevan downtown it almost made me vomit.
the nivas with load music, the apero's at restorants and cafes. the constraction of building on the pavements and the rechless traffic.
It was more like a Eastern Baazar than Yerevan that I knew before. When it had the esthetics of a city.
i guess none of the peopel that think that yerevan is developing have been ther through 60s to 80s.
Dont forget that at some point Yerevan was a Persian town and as it is usual the rullers built better buildings that the ones ruled.
NOSTALGIA... NOSTALGIA... where will it lead us??? Nowhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, construction can be better planned, traffic definitely needs better management... but those are small details for a country being born, becoming a teenager and in a couple of year an adult which will make LOGIC and INTELLIGENT decisions....
I have lots of realistic hopes for Armenia....
Thanks.
The original "anonymous".
This is in response to the comment about people not wanting to find jobs. I introduced my friend's
( this summer when I was in Yerevan) brother to someone that helped him find a job in the field of law and he did not take the job - who really knows why,but, he claimed it would not pay him enough. This is a serious issue. Thomas Huntington, a prominent sixties political scientist, would attribute this to citizens mobilizing faster than what their society has to offer to them.
Whether any one likes it or not Yerevan and Hayastan is a MUCH better place now than in that awful era pre-'90's. Of course the country is developing and it will take time before we see poverty disappearing, it is the next generation that will benefit from it. Those of us who lived here in those awful days know REALLY how bad it was. Some of us have not forgotten the knock on the door in the middle of the night and relatives being dragged to siberia for no reason at all...
We will make sure our Hayastan gets better, have faith guys!
Kevork
Young Armenians having no problem finding a job in Armenia and being too lazy to work??? Haven't heard a more blatant BS from a diasporan. If it's true, then why the f*** have so many young people left this country? Are they getting paid for nothing in Russia and the US? It's amazing how arrogant and detached from this country you guys can be. And yet it's we, the Hayastantsis, who restored the Armenians' honor by winning a war for the first time in 2000 years. Do not forget that!
To add my thoughts.
i have noticed that in some logs and in the e-mail thread that Raffi posted couple of days ago. there was this perception as if the Hayastantsi people are sheepish.
I disagree with this and condam the arrogance and the attitude fo creating the devide. The diasporan Armenians ( most of them) think that theya re better and brave. This is not true because of many reasons, like diaspora didnt not support the war, only up to 100 (accoring to some data about 15-25) volunteers came to Armenia to fight. And till now I dont see any investment flow as it could be if we consider that more than 50% of Armenians are diasporan. The country survives only because of its over 2 Blloion depth and the family aid that comes from family members who slave in Russia or other countries.
So guys be realistic and modest at least dont talk. I doubt that any of you would still stay in ARmenia if you received the same paycheck as teh locals. In an old posting Raffi even admited that it would be crasy to live on the local US Embassy paycheck ( ad US embassy is considered as one of teh highest payers).
Just try to deserv the hospitality that you receive.
Shame.
You are right- give what you receive, especially in regards to the hospitality department. I feel sorry for the educated locals that cannot find a job that suits their needs and will help support their families. And yes, Armenians in the U.S. are working hard, etc. I have friends living here from Yerevan and they are working hard, etc., but the concern is with Armenia,its future, and what it will be ale to offer its citizens.
When did our debt go up to 2 billion? It's 1 billion anonymous.
Diaspora Armenians in particular the spoiled ones should stop waving the Armenian flag around and get to action. I'm sick of people who wave the flag around, stick the Armenian tri-color stickers on their cars and wear tshirts that say 'kiss me I'm armenian'.
Believe me the majority of those people have never seen Armenia. It's damn annoying.
Sorry that was a little off topic but it's quite annoying.
I think we are crossing the dangerous line again. This time the line of Hayastanci – Diasporans mutual distrust and condemnation is being crossed. Please avoid generalizations. I believe there is an exaggerated expectation from both sides. Local Hayastancis definetely expect more contribution from the other side whereas Diasporans think that there should be some special conditions for them in Armenia.
To me the most important think is to bring the average wages in Armenia to some reasonable numbers. Only this can decrease the outflow of the population. There will be always some outflow from the most talented layer of the society because of the scale of the country and the opportunities abroad. Moscow State University or MIT will always attract our talented kids. I refer to the phenomena of deserting the country 'en masse'. It seems, we do not have much folks left in the country and squandering them would be a national disaster. Creating a decent paid job not just a job this is a mega task now. Today I was reviewing an economical weekly at www.express.am . The article was talking about some advanced farm where over 150 people are employed with average salary at 30-40 thousands drams. Why this workers should be paid at such miserable rate? I am sure increasing their salary at least 3 times should not hurt the profit of the owners significantly. I understand a person who does not want to work for such amount of money and wants to leave the country for a better fortune. People should get enough and enjoy their life right at spot, in Armenia.
This is a national issue and Diasporans have their say in solving this issue. Opening some smart businesses, fighting corruption, increasing tolerance of the locals to other lifestyles are some examples of the involvement.
Hope I was not too erratic,
Arsen
What we need is a government which thinks about the country and plans for long term.
I can not recall that any of the current government high level officials are educated in a proper way. Th Educations minister mr. Yeritsyan is the most idiotic person that I know of - and the future of Armenian depends on the education. His so called reforms are destroying the educational system for good.
By the way diaspora has its own problems and it doesnt receive teh expected help from Armenia. A very good example is Melkonian school in Cyprus. It is being closed and sold off by Armenians (AGBU)the Cyprus government raised this issue many times and asked for help from Armenian government to keep the school open. Imagine a non-Armenian government asks for a help from Armenian gov to save Armenian comunities in EU and save Armenian haritage. And on return it doesnt receive any. (Melkonian is the only boarding school in EU and mid east and provides services for children from UK to Bulgaria, many students from Iraq wanted to attand but couldnt because the AGBU decided to halt the enrollment).
AGBU already closed a number of Armenian schools in diaspora and many are under threat. Th reason is simple pocketing the money. Melkonian costs over $80 million and it belongs to the Armenian community not to AGBU.AGBU is just thereto manage the school.
to read more google for Melkonian and you can find number of wesbites for saving melkonian. like www.savemelkonian.org
We live in times when all Armenian communities should support each other.
To hayastantsi...
Stop discriminating against diasporans... your hatred towards us is worth than that of the Turks... Who the hell are you to judge my level of belongness or my rights in Armenia... If it weren't for the Diaspora, Armenia would be a lost case... and Yes, if it isn't for Armenia, the diaspora is a lost case... TOGETHER, WE ARE ONE... THE SAME PEOPLE, WITH THE SAME HERITAGE, CULTURE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE SAME FUTURE.... So enough of your BS!!!!!!
To the pathetic "anonymous": I stand by assertion that the diaspora had little contribution to the Armenian nation's greatest achievement in the last 2,000 years: the Karabakh victory. The number of diasporans who fought in the war can be counted on your fingers and the relief aid that was sent from the diaspora was never crucial to the war's outcome. It's we who endured enormous human losses and hardship resulting from the war, it's we, NOT YOU, who will risk our lives if the war breaks out again. So don't you dare claim the same rights to this land which still seems so alien to you.
To our dear "Hayastantsi"...
Save me the hassle to reply to your BS... You definitely don't know Armenian history to understand the achievements of all Armenians, regardless of where they are... we didn't choose to become a Diaspora... we were forced!
The war was won by the will of the states of Armenia and Karabach given unpresedented volunteer movement at the first stage of the war. Those who hardened in the battles during 'romantic' period of the war were leading those who where brought to the war by the will of the state of Armenia and Krabach. About 15 thousands soldiers were called up to the Army only from the Karabach. By the end of the war over 90% percent of the fighters were from the draft and conscripts.
Should the war left to the discretion of the individuals our asses whould have been kicked for sure.
At this point it is obvious to me why we did not see massive influx of diasporan fighters: they were citizens of other states and nobody was in power to organize and send them to the war. I believe that was natural and nobody has a right to blame those people given thousands deflectors from the draft in Armenia.
I was one of the "few" from the Diaspora. There weren't that many of us, but there weren't that many "volunteers" from Armenia either. One day, when things calm down, I'll write a book of my experiances. Until then, let's just say a few helped, a large number supported, and some held back - in both communities. I haven't been back since 1995, so your comments on how things have improved gladdens my heart.
Hello everyone,
Hayastancis and Diasporans alike.
I'm from Ohio, and I've lived in Armenia for about a year and a half.
I'm a "Student" whatever that may mean at this point in my life.
It's been interesting to read what is written here.
In a way I can identify whith everyone's postion, and at the same time, no one's position (on any given subject).
As a diasporan Armenian living here as any normal person (hayastanci) would (without loads of money , or some fun job or subject of study to feed my ego).
Thought that I"d introduce myself if I ever had anything interesting to say in the future!
Tom
Hi Tom and welcome... sounds like you'd be able to contribute a cool point of view being a student and from Ohio. If you'd like to log here, let me know...
Raffi,
Yes, I'd like to log here.
(I tried finding an email adress but saw it was not available).
Tom
Tom - I have no way to contact you either... go to my page on Armeniapedia and contact me through there... or on the message boards here.
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