Armenia Diaspora

Currently, no foreign banks are authorized to operate in the country. Central bank regulations act as a disincentive for holders of foreign currency to exchange it into local currency through licensed and regulated exchange houses. As a result, unauthorized money changers are thought to process foreign exchange transactions. Much of this foreign currency is transported as cash by members of Eritrea’s far-flung Diaspora who bring the money to support their relatives and invest in real estate. ... [Read More]

Turkey

In April the Interior Ministry issued a circular requiring anyone wanting to visit Syriac villages in the east and southeast to obtain prior permission from the authorities.  Diaspora Syriac Christians and others from Europe frequently visited these villages, some of which were evacuated and re-settled by village guards, according to local observers.  In June the Prime Minister issued a circular to all Ministries stating that: Some Syriac-origin Turks had alleged that they could not visit their property or villages; these allegations had led to criticism of the country; the Interior Ministry would conduct all necessary arrangements to allow Syriac-origin Turks to "freely use their rights" to visit or return to their villages of origin. ... [Read More]

Daily Press Briefing for June 30 -- Transcript

QUESTION: Yeah. And did the United States advise the Turkey open the border with Armenia and establish a dialogue with the Armenian diaspora? ... [Read More]

Europe and Eurasia

The United States monitored and denounced the Government's hostile actions against those promoting academic freedom. Officials from the U.S. Government facilitated contact between Belarusian diaspora groups in the United States and the rector of a Belarusian language lyceum that was closed by the Government; other U.S. officials and European Governments sought support for the school. In early 2004, the Ambassador joined an 11-country diplomatic protest over the Minister of Education's efforts to close the European Humanities University (EHU). The United States later protested bilaterally and multilaterally the Government’s closure of EHU and supported scholarships to help former EHU students study in the United States, Europe and at other universities in Belarus. The United States also protested in several forums the Government’s closure of two academic think tanks and pressure against independent public opinion and polling organizations. ... [Read More]

Report on Global Anti-Semitism

January 5, 2005 Executive Summary I.  Anti-SemitismAnti-Semitism has plagued the world for centuries. Taken to its most far-reaching and violent extreme, the Holocaust, anti-Semitism resulted in the deaths of millions of Jews and the suffering of countless others. Subtler, less vile forms of anti-Semitism have disrupted lives, decimated religious communities, created social and political cleavages, and complicated relations between countries as well as the work of international organizations. For an increasingly interdependent world, anti-Semitism is an intolerable burden. The increasing frequency and severity of anti-Semitic incidents since the start of the 21st century, particularly in Europe, has compelled the international com ... [Read More]

The conflict in Nargono-Karabak between Azerbaijan andArmenia is another problem which has to be solved within theemerging structures in this region. Some have called Armenia,Azerbaijan, and Georgia the Benelux countries of Caucasia. There is a joke that says the Georgians have their Shevardnaze,the Azeri their oil, and the Armenians their diaspora. Anddiaspora is very important, from a Turkish point of view. TheArmenian diaspora and the Jewish lobby in America are themost important ones. So, Turkey has a great interest inimproving relations with Armenia, in order to gain a newrelationship with those peoples, like Israel. ... [Read More]

Europe and Eurasia

Embassy staff also monitored the Government's hostile actions against those promoting academic freedom. U.S. officials facilitated contact between Belarusian diaspora groups in the United States and the rector of a Belarusian language lyceum that was closed by the Government; other U.S. officials and European governments sought support for the school. In early 2004, the Ambassador joined an 11-country diplomatic protest over the Minister of Education's demand that the rector of the privately run European Humanities University resign and later issued a press statement describing the meeting. ... [Read More]

US Department Of State Post Report

Lastly, no discussion of public institutions would be complete without mentioning the vast Armenian Diaspora, both in the U.S. and Europe. It has become a bridge to the outside world for many Armenians and influences the direction of the country with resources and ideas. ...

Yerevan’s streets, though improving, are often rough going off the main avenues.  A car that can handle potholes (i.e. with clearance and a good suspension) makes driving less harrowing.  The national highways outside of Yerevan are mostly in good condition. Main routes are usually well surfaced enough to allow for moderate cruising speeds with occasional bad spots.  Secondary routes are sometimes quite degraded.  Ongoing construction, slowing traffic in the short term, is positive evidence of the Diaspora funded march toward better infrastructure. ... [Read More]