The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund publicized the results of the telethon of this year. It was already known that 15 million 750 thousand USD was donated. This is over two times less than last year. Unfortunately the donation of the telethon of 2008 in the amount of 35 million USD will remain unsurpassed for a quite long time because of various reasons. But I think the figure of the current year is important not because it was possible to accumulate 15 million 750 thousand USD on the days of the crisis. With the gathered amount the 12th telethon occupies the second place in the history of the fund. It was held in exclusive conditions. The presidential elections, the events of March 1 and the court trials fragmented the Armenian society. The progress of normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations doesn’t create a positive impression among everyone either. The foreign policy of Armenia both in the country and the Diaspora creates serious discontent and reluctance. Therefore, there were many predictions that the telethon would fail. But it turned out that the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund is actually one of the most efficient national initiative of our modern history. This is the most efficient and functioning method. Even with so many political controversies we found sufficient will within us to maintain this fund. And so the executive bureau of the department released its preliminary report. Based on the previous years as well we can assume that this structure is the most transparent of the other financial structures of Armenia. Since 1996 228.5 million USD was donated to Armenia through telethons. In Karabakh and Armenia various programs were implemented. The most part of the funds of the current year will be spent in Shushi. The practice of publicizing the future program justified itself. Over years the wrong understanding that the main donator of the fund is the Diaspora. There was time when the donations of the Diaspora were considered as a unique payment for patriotism or maybe a tax for patriotism. During the recent years the share of Armenia and Karabakh constantly grows. When reviewing the structure of donation we notice that most of the money was gathered in Russia. Two and a half times more money was gathered in Russia than in the US. Only the European countries succeeded in gathering as much as the Armenians in Russia donated. The investment of Russia is the greatest among countries and is 1/3 of the total amount. But the Russian engagement shouldn’t be overestimated. With its logic it goes beyond the principles of the Fund. The Fund is originally pan-Armenian. However, the Russian donation was made during the dinner organized by President Serzh Sargsyan. This donation was made by the Armenian-Russian businessmen living in Russia and it doesn’t mean that the money was gathered due to the donations of the Armenians community living in Russia. The report of the Fund says that there was growth of massive participation in the donation process. Instead of the 31 thousand donators of the last year this year the Fund had over 50 thousand donators. And this number mostly grew in Armenia. 15 thousand Armenian citizens wired money through the Hay Post. And through Viva Cell’s MTS 12 thousand people donated. It turns out that the donation starting at 200 AMD through SMS was efficient. In Armenia the 1 million 750 thousand USD was provided by massive participation. It is definitely the warm attitude of the Armenian residents to the Fund. The attitude of the European Diaspora was also positive to the Fun activities. The all-European telethon proceeded with participation of 12 thousand 400 donators. And these numbers are unmatchable with the amount donated during the Moscow dinner. And so in Europe and Armenia the Fund is considered an Armenian structure. Perhaps some other spots of the Diaspora were insulted by the statements of some of the representatives if the Republican Party of Armenia, who claimed that the Fund can function with the participation of the Diaspora Armenians as well. Perhaps with this can be explained why there were only 10.5 thousand donators in the American continent and the Middle East. But even in the background of these unwise statements the Fund succeeds in encouraging and uniting us, the Armenians around the implementation of this or that national project.
