TELETHON 2007: INNOVATIONS IN THE RELATIONS WITH THE DIASPORA
KarabakhOpen
30-11-2007 12:20:16
Karabakh-Open.com asked the head of the General Information Department
of the president administration Davit Babayan to comment on the
telethon held in the United States.
"Telethon 2007 became a landmark in the Armenian political life. This
telethon differs from the previous ones with both qualitative and
quantitative indices. In addition, the qualitative aspect reveals
more important tendencies than the quantitative aspect. Among the
quantitative indices the most notable is the sum of donations which
exceeded 15.2 million U.S. dollars, which is the highest result of
all the previous telethons. The geography of participants has also
enlarged.
As to the quality, there are a number of fundamental innovations. The
key one is the approach of the NKR government toward this pan-Armenian
event.
The NKR President did not focus on donations for the development of
Artsakh but on a more comprehensive involvement of our compatriots in
the Diaspora to life in NKR, their participation and influence on the
life of Artsakh and vice versa. This philosophy strongly influenced
the Diaspora. In fact, this telethon became a large round-table meeting
in which Artsakh and the Diaspora discussed their interrelations with
a focus on further development.
In this context, it is notable that this time small donations
of ordinary citizens rather than major donations of benefactors
comprised the bulk of this sum. It is evidence to wider involvement
of our compatriots in this event. By the way, Telethon 2007 was
the fourth fundraising event over the past three months. Similar
events were held by the Catholicos of All Armenians and a number
of organizations. However, our compatriots were not tired and
reluctant. On the contrary, a record high sum was raised," Davit
Babayan said.
"Information support of this telethon also differed from the previous
ones. The NKR citizens got information about the meetings and visits of
the NKR delegation. For the first time, a journalist accompanied the
president, there has been a TV report on the meetings in Russia and
France. Soon the TV report on the meetings in the United States will
be ready. Generally, the information policy is going to be essential
to the relations with the Diaspora. Contacts between Artsakh and the
Diaspora through the media, analysts and political scientists will
be maintained.
In fact, Telethon 2007 became the first step towards the development
of renewed relations between Artsakh and the Diaspora, and there is
every reason to suppose that they will develop into more fruitful
relations," Davit Babayan says.