COUNTRY IS STRENGTHENED FROM INSIDE
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
08 Oct 04
After the earthquake in 1988 and then the war in Artsakh many charity
organizations started their activities in Armenia and
Karabakh. However, itis a fact that very few of these companies do
charity as many of them try to develop their business under the guise
of charity, which becomes clear partly from press and from direct
acquaintance with this or that organization. Among the few real
charity organizations is the Armenian General Benevolent Union
(AGBU).In the first meeting of the 83rd conference of the AGBU at the
beginning of this week the president of NKR Arkady Ghukassian
participated as well. Mr. Ghukassian said that in the past four years
40 million dollars were invested in Artsakh in the spheres of
telecommunication, industry, agriculture. `Only in the sphere of
industry the share of the private sector is 80 per cent, whereas in
1999 it did not surpass 23 per cent.’ According to him, the role of
the AGBU is very significant, which opened its office in Stepanakert a
month ago. â=80=9CIn my opinion, we have entered a new stage which
requires a new level of relationships and a new degree of
cooperation. In Artsakh they remember well many of you because you
were with us both in hardships and in the time of joy,’said Arkady
Ghukassian in his address. The road Goris-Stepanakert, Alek Manoukian
Street in Stepanakert, the old people’s home on the same street were
repairedowing to the AGBU. Soon the school N 7 in Stepanakert will be
repaired, and in the village of Norashen, Hadrout, settled by 22
families, the nursery school and polyclinic operate with the
assistance of the French branch of the AGBU. The Union also funds the
chamber orchestra of Artsakh. Then Arkady Ghukassian presented to our
compatriots, 350 Armenians who had arrived from 24 countries, the
problems that Artsakh faces today. `In many settlements there are no
water pipelines, medical centres, nursery schools, 60 villages do not
have schools.’ Despite these problems, the president stated, there is
no emigration from Artsakh and the main problem of the authorities is
the peaceful settlement of the conflict, where much depends on the
assistance of the OSCE Minsk Group. It is also important to inhabit
Artsakh with Armenians, which requires serious investments for
providing employment. The conscientious work of similar organizations
would quickly improve the state of our country and people and would
contribute to the peaceful and fair resolution of the conflict.
CHRISTINE MNATSAKANIAN.
08-10-2004