EUROPEAN APPROACHES TO FORMATION OF INFORMATION SOCIETY SHOULD BE USED
IN ARMENIA, CHUGASZIAN SAYS

Y EREVAN, MAY 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The 2008 state budget envisages
allocations for the IT sector for the first time. However, unlike the
previous years when the then prime minister (NT: the late Andranik
Margarian) allocated funds for organization of e-content creation
contests, no such contest will be held this year, the director of
E-Content Association of Armenia (ECA) and chairman of IT Foundation
Garegin Chugaszian said at the May 23 press conference.

He reminded that over 300 works were usually submitted at the annual
contests, with the best works being presented at international
competitions and winning awards. "This year the state did not provide
any money in order to assist with e-content creation. How can it be
explained?" G. Chugaszian asked.

He added that the problems of Armenian e-content development were not
included in the draft concept of development of Armenia’s IT sector,
which has already been submitted to the government. "There are beatiful
programs on building a paradise in Armenia by 2018 but today those
engaged in creation of an English-Armenian translation system have not
received any support – unlike the previous years when the budget lacked
resources but, being aware of the problem’s importance, the former
prime minister used to allocate sums," he said.

According to him, the situation "shows that some one-sided interests
have begun to be preferred in Armenia, and a new strategy and a new
governance system are being put forward, which will create a new
oligarchy in the next ten years and a group of people will get the IT
sector too into their hands".

In response to NT correspondent’s question about whether "there is a
factor of geopolitics" in the neglect of these problems of importance
to the information society, G. Chugaszian said that the idea of
"information society" is European. "We are part of Europe so we should
use European approaches in Armenia".

It is noteworthy that the European approaches to information society
are based on the principles of preservation of national identity and
cultural diversity.