Vardan Mousheghyan, President of the Committee of Diaspora Armenian Organizations of Russia, minced no words when referring to the myriad of concerns that keep Armenians from overseas in setting up businesses in the RA. He said diaspora Armenians are afraid of being robbed, of being scammed; in a word – they have no sense of protection.

Mr. Mousheghyan argued that Armenia had turned off those thinking about starting a business in the homeland both politically and economically. When asked, he said he was referring to the state of Armenia-diaspora affairs that existed during the tenure of Levon Ter-Petrosyan and partly during the Kocharyan years. "Back then, we were regarded as ‘cows to be milked’" Mousheghyan commented. He painted a totally pessimistic picture of Armenia by saying that he saw no real positive change in the country since the early 1990’s. "If there is corruption, Armenia will never progress. Thus, our nation is suffocating," was the way Mousheghyan put it. Responding to reporters who argued that, nevertheless, the diaspora was investing in Armenia, Mousheghyan argued that the amounts had significantly dropped off and that even the figures presented were misleading. He added that Armenia’s economy was in the hands of a few families who cannot tolerate competition. Thus, the business climate is far from favourable for outsiders. Arguing that Armenia had much to benefit from the potential exisiting in the diaspora, he called on legislation to provide certain safety guarantees to investors from the diaspora. He lamented the fact that to date no professional study has been undertaken to gauge the real financial and commercial resources of the diaspora. Mr. Mousheghyan cited a personal example regarding the unprofessional level that exists in the upper echelons of the Armenian government. He said that three months ago he sent a letter to President Sargsyan about his concerns and suggestions. He also sent a letter to the Ministry of the Diaspora regarding educational and cultural problems facing the diaspora. Mr. Mousheghyan said he never received an acknowledgement from the President’s Office and a very general response from the Diaspora Ministry. When a reporter asked Mr. Mousheghyan if Armenians in Russia would ever return to Armenia and serve the homeland, he sardonically replied, "And where would they serve? Do you have jobs for them?"