At a Civilitas sponsored public forum in Gyumri, discussion revolved around the global crisis and the unprecedented economic downfall of recent years which has wreaked the greatest havoc in Armenia's regions, outside Yerevan. Director of the Gyumri-based Arevamanuk Foundation Armine Gmyur-Karapetyan, a panelist, said that “life has simply stopped, every family in Gyumri is deeply impacted by the crisis.” She said no area has been left unscathed. Today, residents of Gyumri live under conditions that stimulate emigration. “Even I find myself thinking about it more and more,” she says.

Discussion began with a presentation of the CIvilitas Foundation's annual report, “Armenia 2010: A Year of Uncertainty” by Civilitas analyst Tatul Hakobyan. Panelists and participants continued by exploring "A New Wave of Emigration – Why are People Leaving Armenia?” Analysis focused on social-economic issues of the Shirak region. Political analyst  Derenik Malkhasyan of Gala TV claimed that emigration from Armenia and especially from the northern region of Shirak is cyclical. After each presidential election, people leave the country, Elections are a focal point from which they expect change that doesn't materialize and leads to hopelessness.

“People leave when they feel they have no prospects. They see no future for their children in their country. Today, those emigrating are not the socially vulnerable. People protest 'by using their feet' when they find that expressing their discontent doesn't work, and so, they leave Armenia," said Derenik Malkhasyan.

The third panelist, Gyumri Competitiveness Center Executive Director Gayane Avagyan said not only are families leaving Gyumri but so are businesses. There are cases where Gyumri residents move their enterprises to neighboring Georgia, where the business environment is more favorable, and corruption is lower. “Although banks in Armenia have become more active and now provide more loans and financial instruments, very few businessmen are able to make use of that financial environment since interest rates have gone up,” Gayane Avagyan said.

The Shirak region borders both Turkey and Georgia. Discussion participants and those present generally agreed that reopening of the Turkish-Armenian border and operation of Kars-Gyumri railway can economically boost the region. However, on the other hand, until Armenia’s internal issues are resolved, there can be no serious expectations even from the reopening of the border, they agreed.