If you read that during his visit to London president Serj Sargsyan have met with the Armenian community, do not take it as a fact. Quite a few Armenians in London were wondering when and where he is going to have a meeting with them. Well, I have to disappoint them. There will be a meeting, of course, but only with selected VIP ones. Why not have a broader meeting? Why not communicate and listen to the voices of those who may not have millions in their bank accounts but may have something valuable to say and contribute?
And this is not just president’s or his entourage’s fault. It is also a failure of (self-proclaimed) ‘leaders of Armenian community’ in London. Some of them are pretty protective of a circle they’ve created, and wary of letting others to challenge, let alone get in or even collaborate with.
There is such a huge potential in Armenians living or residing in Britain. It’s a relatively small but
highly successful community.
ARMENIAN immigrants and their descendants are the most successful ethnic group in the country, according to an analysis of “melting pot” Britain.
It is therefore such a shame for not using this potential. And I am not referring here to using it for propaganda purposes or ‘information wars’, but to facilitate Armenia’s democratic transformation. For now, this aim - the most important, in my opinion, aim - does not seem to be high (or at all) on the list of priorities of those in the community who will be meeting president Sargsyan during his visit in London.
If I were to use Twitter hashtag here, it would be #fail.
* I use the word “community” loosely here, meaning not so much a “group” but PEOPLE.