.**" >■; -.' "****<*^. :■.: » ■:l Process The First Armenia-Diaspora Conference Ends with High Expectations By SALPI HAROUTINIAN GHAZARIAN; Photos by MKHITAR KHACHATRIAN The most important thing that came Armenians from Belarus to Brazil to articulate Diaspora relations. Seated around a large circle out of the first Armenia-Diaspora their vision of the Armenia-Diaspora lelationship. of tables were the representatives of the small Conference, held September 22-23 The third most important thing was that est and largest Diaspora communities, as well in Yerevan, was that it happened at Diasporans who participated in the Conference as the republic's leadership. The president and all. Many were the skeptics from came to realize that the government is serious the prime minister, the head of parliament and Armenia and Irani the dozens of par about developing, fine-tuning and institu the chairman of Armenia's Constitutional ticipating countries who admitted that they tionalizing an ongoing process of Armenia Court, were present for most of the two-day didn't believe the government could pull off a meeting. In the mornings, they addressed the massive organization ei'i'ort such as this participants; the remainder of the time, they turned out to be. Equally doubtful was listened to representatives of 59 delegations, whether the Diaspora would respond. But each representing one country or geographic unlike most conferences, almost all of those area. There were also statements by the leader who were invited actually came. Over 1,000 ship of major international institutions from people participated either as members of churches and political parties to the Armenian regional delegations, or as invited individuals General Benevolent Union, the Armenia Fund in this llrst-of-its-kind international conclave. and the Armenian Relief Society. The second most important thing was that Observers sealed high in the bleachers of the Conference proceeded smoothly and calmly, Yerevan's Sports and Concert Complex followed a packed agenda and enabled (called the Hiumdir) had a complete view of 32 AIM NOVEMBER NATION the 60 ft. diameter central circle which was organizations came together, heard each specific papers on various themes. the first signal that this conference would not other's concerns, and agreed to look for ways The first one. entitled Communication follow any old traditions. to continue to work together on matters of and Linkages Between Diaspora Institutions The table had no head. All communities, mutual benefit. Now. more than ever. and the Republic of Armenia was presented regardless of size, had one representative who Armenia and Diaspora need each other, albeit by Professor Khachig Tololyan of Wesleyan sat around the main table. The round center in different ways, to secure their own survival University. It examined the nature of was surrounded by rows of chairs where and prosperity," Oskanian said. Diaspora, the issues of representation inher entire delegations sat. This note rang through each delegation's ent in the life of a dispersed, decentralized Delegation sizes differed - one person report as well. There were common themes community, models of relationships and had come from India, nearly 100 from throughout: The need for more information cooperation between homeland and Diaspora, France, less than two dozen from England, a from and about Armenia, the necessity of coor The second paper: Diaspora Humanitarian few from Uruguay, a handful from the Gulf dinating projects, the need to allow the Diaspora Assistance to Armenia in the Last Decade was countries, and nearly 200 each from the US to develop independently of Armenia's inter prepared and presenied by Hratch Teh ili rig irian. and Russia. Still, each delegation was allotted vention, the desire by Diasporans Lo be included Managing Editor of AIM. Tchilingirian had five minutes for a statement. One person in planning in Armenia. asked for the financial reports of major inter spoke for all of the Central Asian republics national Diaspora organizations and studied (where nearly 100,000 Armenians live) and Special Themes emerging patterns in the kinds and quantities another one on behalf of the Far East Asian The Organizing Committee had asked of humanitarian assistance provided since countries of Thailand, China and Hong Kong several professionals and experts to prepare Armenia's independence. Professor Kevork (with less than 100 Armenians all together. Seated not far from them were the Canadian delegate whose community numbers over 50,000. and the representative from Georgia where some half a million Armenians reside. Who Represents Ihe Diaspora It was clear as early as December IL)8S. when President Robert Kocharian issued a decree calling for such a conference, thai the process of choosing delegates would be the primary concern for all communities. Who represents the Diaspora is the question that had to be answered. Yet it was a question thai had not been formally asked until now. Some communities like Ukraine and Hungary had old communal structures for choosing leaders and it was they who attended the conference and spoke on behalf of the community. Others such as Austria succeeded in holding elections to choose their delegates to the Conference. However, some of the more frac tured (and larger) communities such as the US and Syria, did not have their heads of del egation selected until the day before Ihe con ference began. In both cases, the Armenian government made it possible for different sides and parties to come together and over come specific concerns to reach the goal of a unified, centralized delegation. Even the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, whose two factions had not worked together for sev eral years, came as one delegation and pre sented a joint report. Working Together and Effectively Chairing ihe Conference, and the Government Steering Committee which orga nized it. was Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian. "For the first time ever, under one roof, representatives of Armenia and Diaspora AIMNOVUMiSKR 1999 33 NATION Bardakjian of the University of Michigan The final paper, on Armenia's economic Details and Logistics spoke about Culture, Identity and Relations development was written and presented by From transportation to translation, the between Armenia and the Dispersion, and con Economy Minister Armen Darbinian. In it, conference displayed various organizational centrated on the different ways in which Darbiniaa called for the strengthening of the and logistics issues which will continue to Eastern and Western Armenians had evolved. Armenian Development Agency lo aid for confront Armenia-Diaspora relations. Bardakjian addressed the linguistic, cultural eign investors and businessmen, and enable a Although most presentations and discus and identity questions which have emerged as greater flow of investments into Armenia. sion was conducted in Armenian, simultaneous a result. The same theme had been stressed by Prime translation into Russian, French and English Daron Der Khachadourian presented a Minister Vazgen Sargsian. was available throughout the conference. This report on Information Technology and The same six themes were the focus of Communication, in which the need for a com special discussion groups. Delegates were mon information field among Armenians, as able to share opinions on the various aspects well as more effective communication and of each complex theme. 1 ^r-;-- ■- w common thinking, were identified as priority As a result of the thoughts and proposal goals. Der Kliaehadourian discussed how expressed during the Conference, two docu satellite broadcast technology can be utilized ments were developed and received unani to further these goals. Indeed, this was one of mous approval at the conclusion of the the themes of Kocharian's address as well, Conference. One was a statement of unity when he called on the Armenia and Diaspora and resolve regarding the future and securi together to make possible Armenian televi ty of Karabakh. The other was a declaration sion satellite broadcasts around the world. of the will and intent of the conference. It Advocacy: Current Capacities and touched on all aspects of the Armenia- 1fc % 1 Options and Future Prospects was the theme Diaspora relationship: political, economic developed jointly by the Armenian Assembly and social. It addressed the responsibilities Left to right Vahakn Hovnanian, builder, of America and the Armenian National of each toward the other. Perhaps most Kevork Toroyan, businessman, Hiimtiun Committee of America, whose executive importantly, it called for the reform of all Khachatrian, filmmaker from Yerevan, directors, Ross Vartian and Aram Hamparian Armenian institutions within and outside Gabriel Injejikian, educator from California during the Conference presented the report. Armenia. CoiWERSEBank Stability and trusi you can count on. Providing a wide range of services. Muiticurrency and Armenian Dram accounts for resident and non-resident customers as well as individual and corporate entities. All types of payments in Armenian Dram and foreign exchange as well in Russian, Ukrainian and other CIS countries currencies. Most favorable foreign currency exchange rates, with no applicable fees. Exchange transactions in accordance with rates of interbank foreign currency markets of Armenia, Russia, and other countries. Prompt foreign exchange transactions as follows: SWAP, FORWARD, OPTION. 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