Hovhan Mandakuni, in his political analysis, discusses the “Armenia” foundation TV marathon which takes place annually in Los Angeles. Mandakuni states the effectiveness of the program is relative and the sum that is usually collected does not exceed ten or twenty million dollars when there are 10 million Armenians spread all over the world. The political analyst believes that sum of money is definitely little taking into consideration the fact that the promises given before the marathon not always are carried out. The problem lies deep here according to Mandakuni.
This national donation process must be a part of the statehood strengthening project along with the diaspora potential, but the misconception from the political officials in Armenia is that they see this fundraising process as the main and only strategy to consider the Diaspora. It means the diaspora must participate in the statehood formation and development process of the country not once in a year but constantly.
Armenia in its turn must support the initiatives of opening new businesses here and provide a favorable environment for the latters’ fostering. Mandakuni states the corruption and stealing are still the government structured problems and the Diaspora has either to get along with it or be the victim of it. This is the reason the abroad fundings from the Armenian diaspora have tangibly reduced instead the Russian Armenians have started to donate more because the Armenian capital in Russia functions in the corrupted environment of Armenia and as a matter of fact it deals well with the current situation.
Mandakuni concludes, having all this as a background, the national fundraising issues become formal with relative efficiency deprived of a concrete strategic character and a mere veil or a wasted toast.
