Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Armenia Fund telethon.

This week I received a contributions form for this year's Armenia Fund telethon. I am torn whether to contribute this year or not. I truly am fed up with how the moneys donated to Armenia are wasted and in many instances flow directly to the pockets of SS (Serj Sargsian) and other corrupt government officials. The fund was set up for infrastructure improvements in the early 90-s but I don't think it serves that purpose any more.

I simply do not know what to do.

10 comments:

Hakop said...

Don't waste your energy. In my opinion it should be appropriately identified as the "Armenian Fraud Telethon, as it has created an even more tasteless level of community corruption, are we that pathetic? If you have money to give, accommodate an airline ticket to Yerevan and travel your heart out. Spend your cash in the economy.

Anonymous said...

Greedy Axpars,

You can keep your 50 $. Otherwise you give it and then start mocking, complaining, complaining....

This Telethon is definitely not for you!

Ankakh_Hayastan said...

Supporting a cause has nothing to do with greed. Or mocking or complaining. You support a cause that you believe.

Right now I don't think that Armenia Fund serves the cause properly.

Anonymous said...

I am very disturbed by this blog, and from what other people said on here. Are you serious??? So none of the money that all these good-hearted Armenians are donating, is actually going to the reconstruction?
And whose this Serj guy?
So many people have put their name on this, Geragos, Harout, the Armenian National Committee endoresd it, how can all these people be endorsing something that might have a HINT of fraud??? I'm so mad, can't we get one good thing done??
I just dont understand how this fraud is able to succeed if its being "monitored"..heres what the website says:

"Hayastan All-Armenian Fund undergoes a rigorous audit, conducted by Grant Thornton Amyot, the Armenian branch of Grant Thornton – one of the world's leading organizations of international auditors and business advisers. A partial list of its clients includes projects implemented by the World Bank and major Western companies operating inside Armenia. During this audit, Armenia Fund, Inc. participates by submitting its input, alongside all financial transactions that have taken place between Hayastan All-Armenian Fund and Armenia Fund Incorporated. An independent control committee also monitors the finances and construction projects implemented by Hayastan All-Armenian Fund."

Ankakh_Hayastan said...

Anonymous, Serj is Serj Sargsyan. Who are Geragos or Harout?

You are right to be mad but you should not be mad at me but instead direct it to the corruption. Do you think the government fat cats are able to sustain their lifestyles by their salaries? Who commissions the audits; are these people in cahoots with the Armenian government?

It is easy to show clean books on the Armenia Fund and still divert the money. You should go a step deeper into the financials and see who the contractors are.

I am not saying that the whole thing is a scam. There have been benefits from the Armenian Fund. But when you look how much money is being donated and what the results are, you can't help yourself but think that something is wrong here.

Anonymous said...

Mark Geragos (famous lawyer), Harout Pamboukjian (famous singer)..I just can't believe this. I can't believe it. So much for doing good deeds. So what do we do now that we've been had?

Ankakh_Hayastan said...

Thanks for clarifying.

Anonymous said...

Many of prisoners were charged under 316 and that means the political prisoner assaulted the police officer and that never happened because I have personal knowledge. These police officers have signed affidavit stating that they were assaulted which is false since it never happened. These officer should stop testifying because soon or later the present regime will be gone and they will be charged under penalty of perjury for sending innocent people to jail. Thus, my advise to these police officers is NOT TO TESTIFY AGAINST YOUR OWN INNOCENT PEOPLE. The present government is illegitimate and must go.

Anonymous said...

What the heck are you guys talking about? Do any of you even have any proof that ANY of these accusations are true? I've been to Armenia and seen what they've done with the money. Armenia Fund is not a Fraud.

Ara Manoogian said...

I know this comment is coming late, but after reading the comments of Anonymous, I bet any amount of money that it is the work of the HAFF Western Region Executive Director, Sarkis Kotanjian. He is known for being the anonymous defender of HAAF. If you want to read fact about the Armenia Fund fraud, how Grant Thornton audits the fund and who Sarkis Kotanjian really is, take a look at this detailed report: http://www.thetruthmustbetold.com/wp-content/uploads/haaf-eng.pdf