Issue #1750, October 9 – 15, 2020
BY APPO JABARIAN
Executive Publisher / Managing Editor | USA Armenian Life Magazine
As of Friday Oct. 9, at 9:48 PM PDT, a record $90,210,198.35 raised by world Armenians. This is unprecedented. Of course, one may say the real potential of Armenian Diaspora is exponentially more.
Given the fact that $90.2 million was raised in less than two weeks, the fundraising efforts should be considered a good start.
With time, I am sure more people and organizations will step forward and help make this fundraising campaign a huge success in service of Artsakh and Armenia.
Several community members and Armenian government officials are concerned that certain organizations and individuals have been soliciting donations without any proof for cost-effective and result-producing track records.
In order to avoid duplication of efforts and expenses resulting in waste of invaluable resources in this hour of great need, the conventional wisdom dictates concentration of all donations in one central fund for maximum effectiveness, transparency and accountability.
In this regards, Armenian authorities and Consul General of Armenia In Los Angeles are spot on in their appeal to world Armenians to donate to Artsakh and Armenia only through Western U.S.-based Armenia Fund (https://www.armeniafund.org/ ) or Armenia-based Hayastan All Armenian Fund (https://www.himnadram.org).
The consensus among the landslide majority of Armenians in Armenia, Artsakh and Diaspora is that all donors should only entrust their donations for Armenia and Artsakh only to Armenia Fund.
With all due respect to trustworthy organizations, sadly, there also some untrustworthy organizations like Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) that have been hijacked in 1998 by the current autocrat Berj Setrakian from thousands of due-paying members. AGBU and its $500 million assets are now controlled by its Setrakian and a few individuals like Sinan Sinanian handpicked by Setrakian.
Despite Armenian authorities’ clear directive to only donate through Armenia Fund, Sinanian still went on US Armenia TV a few days ago and solicited donations from TV viewers asking to “give cash to AGBU so that AGBU can match it” for supposedly “Aiding Armenia.”
Why doesn’t AGBU follow Armenia’s official instructions to donate only to Armenia Fund? American Armenians are weary of AGBU’s leadership that has been shutting down Armenian schools throughout Diaspora including the 2019 shuttering without justification of AGBU Vatche and Tamar Manoukian High School in Pasadena, California. In 2005 Setrakian and co. shuttered Melkonian Education Institute in Cyprus intent on selling-off the $100 million properties. Cyprus government blocked the sale.
Many TV viewers and readers of USA Armenian Life contacted the editorial offices and criticized Sinanian and AGBU double-crossing Armenia Fund.
Many said: “What right does Berj Setrakian and his ally Sinan Sinanian have to solicit donations on behalf of Armenia and Artsakh when Berj Setrakian ‘donated’ a mere $5 million when in fact in this hour of great need he should really surrender all the assets of the hijacked AGBU back to the Armenian people — in this case Armenia and Artsakh, through Armenia Fund or directly to the Armenian authorities.”
Among other untrustworthy individuals are Arch. Hovnan Derderian of Western Diocese and his ally Karekin II — the usurper of the Seat of Catholicosate Of All Armenians at Holy Etchmiadzin. Karekin II has misappropriated tens of millions of dollars from the Armenian people both in Armenia and Diaspora. They should be returning all their loots back to the Armenian people.
California-based concerned American Armenians have lamented that Arch. Derderian has forced his way on constructing $12 million brand new church in San Diego area, at a time when our soldiers in Artsakh lack body armors for proper wartime protection? Why not limit the construction budget to $2-$3 million and allocate the rest of the funds for charitable purposes?
In order to avert misuse of funds by unauthorized or untrustworthy entities, let’s entrust our donations only to Armenia Fund. Please use the following link: https://www.armeniafund.org/