WE NEED SUPPORT OF YOUTH

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
12 July 05

On July 10 NKR President Arkady Ghukassian met with Diasporan students
participating in the project of Birthright Armenia NGO in
Artsakh. Birthright Armenia was set up in the United States by Edil
Hovnanian in May 2003. The NGO was registered in Armenia in 2004. The
goal of the project is to set up and develop relationships between
Homeland and Diaspora youth. In the framework of the project the
Diaspora youth study and volunteer in Armenia and at the same time
make friends in the homeland. Instead of launching new volunteer
programmes Birthright Armenia prefers developing the programmes of
charity and cultural organizations, the Church, youth and university
unions of the Diaspora and the Homeland. Executive director Linda
Yepoyan said in the framework of the programme young people aged 18 32
are involved in an eight-week travel fellowship. The programme is
operated all year round. Forty Diasporan volunteers representing the
Armenian Volunteer Corps, the Armenian Assembly of America, Armenian
Youth Federation, Armenian Church Youth Organization of America, the
New York Armenian Students Association, Land and Culture Organization
and the Armenian Medical Association, were sponsored by the summer
programme of Birthright Armenia. At present the number of sponsored
organizations has increased by 12 which are mainly NGOs operating in
the Republic of Armenia. Owing to the successful work done last year
already about 90 young people from 10 countries, the US, Canada,
Argentina, Brazil, France, Great Britain, Austria, Iraq, Lebanon and
Australia will arrive in Armenia this year. There are 60 volunteers in
Armenia now. Emphasizing the importance of the undertaking of
Birthright Armenia among other similar projects, Arkady Ghukassian
said: Your visit is extremely important for us. You are our future and
hopefully you will be committed to contributing to the development of
Artsakh. The people of Artsakh won the war imposed on them, defended
the country and in this very hall NKR was declared independent in
1991. You must help us build and develop this country and provide a
prosperous life for our people, corresponding to the European
standards. Then the young people asked questions to the head of
state. They were interested to learn about the relationships of
Karabakh with other countries, the future of NKR, the issue of status,
whether the independence of the republic was the final aim or it will
unite with Armenia. In reference to unification the president told
them that Karabakh and Armenia share their financial resources and
Karabakh is integrated in the economic environment of Armenia. The
independence declared in 1991 had the political aim of keeping Armenia
free from political pressure. Certainly, unification is our dream, but
becoming independent from Azerbaijan was a vital issue for us, he
said. The young people were also interested in the programmes of
re-settlement of Karabakh and reconstruction of Shushi. In this
reference Arkady Ghukassian mentioned that in implementation of these
programmes the support of the Armenian Diaspora is also greatly
needed. After a few days of stay in Artsakh the students shared their
impressions from Artsakh with us. Harout Manookian (Canada): In these
two months I worked at the American University of Armenia and an
energy company. I am in Karabakh for the second time and with each
visit I get convinced that it is the most beautiful place in
Armenia. I think, in order to improve the quality of life of people
the factories should be operated. I will be very happy to share my
experience in electronics with my colleagues here. Narek Seferian
(India): This is my fourth visit to Karabakh. I have worked in
building in Armenia. Certainly, Artsakh is dear to us. We won Armenia
in one way, Artsakh in another. Naturally, we paid a very high price
for Artsakh and it is dearer to us. Laleh Manjikian (Canada): We are
now making a film about Artsakh with our colleagues in Yerevan. This
is my first visit to Karabakh. The impressions are incredible. We have
heard a lot about Artsakh at home and supported as much as we
could. But to see the life, the strong will of the people living in
the ruined Shushi is touching. I think my impressions will never leave
me in all my life.

SRBUHI VANIAN.
13-07-2005