The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund Must Be an Institution Free from Doubts and Speculations – Sargsyan

The President of the Republic and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, Armen Sargsyan, participated in the extraordinary 29th session of the Fund's Board of Trustees, which was held remotely.

During the session, issues related to the management and operations of the Fund were discussed. Before the work began, the attendees honored the memory of those who lost their lives in the war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh on September 27, 2020, with a minute of silence, at the suggestion of President Armen Sargsyan.

Subsequently, President Armen Sargsyan delivered an opening address: “This meeting of the Fund's Board of Trustees is extraordinary both in its agenda and in the conditions under which it is taking place – the consequences of war, the political tensions in Armenia, losses in terms of human lives and territory, the grave situation in Artsakh, the COVID-19 pandemic, and significant social, economic, and political crises and difficulties.”

“Many of our compatriots in Artsakh have suffered significant human and material losses due to the war unleashed by Azerbaijan, having lost their homes, property, and, particularly painfully, some have also lost family and loved ones. The Fund is currently implementing a program to support them. However, today, I want to turn your attention to a very important issue. This issue can be summarized in one word: trust.”

“I have previously stated that as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Hayastan Fund, I am deeply concerned that the funds donated to the Fund by our compatriots and friends have led to some unease and dissatisfaction regarding the operations of the Fund due to their transfer to the government. This has been expressed both in writing and verbally, and even by some members of the Fund's Board of Trustees. This fact has also become a source of speculation.”

“We will try to find very specific and practical answers together with you and resolve this issue so that the Fund can continue its activities and realize the important programs for which it was created. Everything must be done to ensure that the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund maintains crystal-clear trust and is not endangered in any way.”

“When I was elected Chairman of the Fund's Board of Trustees, I expressed the opinion that the Fund needs significant changes. During the first meeting, I even proposed to submit suggestions on how to improve and enhance the Fund's activities. Today’s extraordinary session is an opportunity to discuss not only the issue of trust and its restoration but also to think about or at least begin to think about truly radical steps to transform the Fund as an institution and a pan-Armenian phenomenon.”

“Let us not only think but also take action in this direction. This concerns not only the statute but also the strategy and tactics, as well as culture and way of thinking.”

“On the other hand, I want to reiterate a point expressed at the previous meeting of the Board of Trustees: any changes related to the Fund’s activities, from legal to moral and psychological, should have one clear message. The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund must be an institution free from doubts, assumptions, and speculations, with target areas being Armenia, Artsakh, the Diaspora, and the Armenian nation.”

“I continue to believe that a new vision and operational program that is in line with today and tomorrow is necessary because today Armenia and Artsakh are different than they were months ago. Today the world is different. Our compatriots, who are our donors, live in a new, changing world; therefore, we must also be a modern fund. And of course, the consequences of war and the pandemic have put us in front of very serious challenges.”

“As a pan-Armenian institution, the Fund has an obligation to be at the forefront of solving these problems. Primary among them should be support for the families of our fallen compatriots, injured soldiers, as well as solutions to their health issues and housing for our compatriots from Artsakh who have been displaced from their homeland. In addition to all of this, development projects must be initiated and implemented.”

“In this meeting, we will discuss issues that are urgent and vital. I wish us all fruitful work. At the same time, I call on everyone to set aside all political, personal, and other interests and aim to make balanced decisions that will contribute to the restoration of trust in the Fund and genuinely turn this institution into the locomotive that will lead along the way with other charitable Armenian organizations.”

Discussions on the agenda followed the President's opening remarks.