In Armenia, spring has come early this year. And with it, the annual questioning about what the year will bring. This year, it’s all economy, all the time. Public and private discussions revolve around the stagnant economic situation and the worrisome business environment. The most recent Civilitas public forum focused on these issues with a panel of distinguished guest speakers: former Chairman of Armenia’s Central Bank, Bagrat Asatryan, a member of Armenia’s National Assembly, Ara Nranyan, and economist Samvel Avagyan. The forum covered questions having to do with inflation, monetary policy, government initiatives and intervention, national debt and budget deficit challenges, as well as the concerns of ordinary citizens. The speakers highlighted the need for an integrated policy on inflation, the importance of ensuring fair competition among businesses, exercising limits on monopolies and modernizing tax legislation, among other ways to relieve the current deadlock.

In the same spirit, Civilitas Board President Vartan Oskanian offered a Civilitas interview on the subject, published an article in Aravot Daily highlighting the main priorities the government should pay close attention to. The article offers four urgent steps for policymakers to overcome the stalemate, discusses the main challenges with which Armenia is confronted and offers a thoughtful and decisive proposals.

Mr. Oskanian also appeared on A1+ as the guest of Aram Abrahamyan’s P.S. daily interview program on March 31. The interview covered a host of topics including the dangers of political monopoly, Armenia’s economic dilemmas, and the efficacy of Armenia’s political institutions. The discussion revolved around the acute need for newly defined policy to support economic growth and rein in the continuing decline. Other questions included domestic issues, Nagorno Karabakh, genocide recognition, political engagement, and foreign policy.

Two programs within the Civilitas Democracy and Development Initiative also culminated this month. Within the framework of the “Libraries as Centers of Civil Society” project, supported by the US Embassy in Armenia, a number of on-site consultation visits were carried out, steering donations of books and equipment to regional libraries in Charentsavan, Armavir, Ararat, Gyumri and Ashtarak – all miles away from Yerevan. The activities culminated in a full-day training event on March 17 led by Ani Boyadjian, a US-based librarian who had worked in Armenia in the 1990s and brought a set of suggestions for librarians to do more proactive outreach, even with their limited resources. Experts from the US Embassy Information Office also offered expert advice on use of technologies to augment libraries’ resources. The head librarian at the National Academy of Sciences introduced librarians to the use of combined catalogs to better utilize their limited resources. The training aimed participating librarians to work to truly transform Armenia’s libraries, especially in the regions, into true centers of civil society. The project will thus continue to seek support from partners committed to enhancing information flow in the regions. Ernst and Young, the international firm’s Yerevan affiliate, was the first Civilitas corporate partner. Through Civilitas, the leading auditor firm kicked off its charity program by funding fully-equipped children’s corners at two public libraries in and near Yerevan. Find out more about what that busy week offered to Armenian librarians and library directors here!

The other Civilitas project also focused on rural areas. Armen and Nadya Ekcerciyan of Argentina were Civilitas’s first partners. They contributed to the Civilitas Democracy and Development initiative, with a commitment to supporting rural development – specifically, by helping dairy farmers on their way to self-reliance. As part of that project, Civilitas distributed milking machines to farmers throughout Armenia. In January, the last four automated milking machines were made available to farming households in Lori Marz, on the same 10-month repayment schedule with zero interest. This concludes Phase I of the project. In Phase II, the repaid loans will be used to purchase more machines, and contributing to poverty reduction in rural areas.
During the phase two of the program, starting this April, the repaid loans will put to use by purchasing not just more milking units, but also cows. This second, expanded phase of the program, is being supported by the Armenian community of Iran. You’ll hear more about this program in the spring. Until then, see the program factsheet here.

As always, read about daily questions and challenges facing us on the Civilitas Blog.

Finally, the second in the new Civilitas series 100 Questions and Answers features Vahan Hovannisyan, former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, and chairman of the ARF delegation. The program can be followed live on the internet at www.civilitasfoundation.org. Questions are welcome even from those who cannot attend. The previous program, the first in the session, featured Vartan Oskanian and can be viewed here.