The Civilitas Foundation's monthly public debate focused on Armenia's prospects and obstacles in European integration and cooperation processes. The debate was moderated by Tatul Hakobyan, journalist and Civilitas analyst, with panel participants, Tevan Poghosyan, Executive Director International Center for Human Development, as well as Nune Sargsyan, Executive Director of Internews Armenia.
The Civilitas Foundation hosts a public debate between Armenian and Turkish public figures regarding Armenia-Turkey Relations, Protocols, and the historical relationship and trauma between both nations.
The Civilitas Foundation hosted a forum on September 22, 2009 during which Mr. Vartan Oskanian, chairman of the board of the Civilitas Foundation, and former Foreign Minister of Armenia, addressed and rejected the formulation of the protocols and the way in which the process is moving forward.
The Civilitas Foundation organized a unique exhibition of postcards, printed and mailed in Turkey, from the collection of Orlando Calumeno. The exhibition is curated and edited by Osman Koker and reflects the reality of life for an integrated community in nearly two dozen cities throughout the Ottoman Empire. The thousands of cards testify to the lives of individuals, businesses, schools, churches and other Armenian institutions living and functioning there.
Vartan Oskanian's interview with A1+ discussing negotiations regarding the Nagorno Karabakh Conflict Resolution, the OSCE Madrid Principles, and the current condition of Armenia-Azerbaijani Negotiations within the OSCE Minsk group framework.
More than a hundred guests were present at the public discussion on “Vulgarity vs. Political Debate," organized by the Civilitas Foundation on July 7, 2009. The speakers were Artsvik Minasyan, member of the ARF faction of the National Assembly, Hranush Kharatyan, a noted ethnographer and public commentator, and Naira Melkumyan, former foreign minister of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and founder of the “Aybengir” publishing house.
Opening the discussion, Civilitas Foundation director Salpi Ghazarian spoke on how the absence of a culture of political debate within Armenia forces us to seek platforms elsewhere. Thus when we do not have the means to defend our rights in Armenian courts, we are compelled to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, or if there is no possibility of debate in Armenia’s parliament, the issue moves to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
A montage of speeches delivered by Vartan Oskanian, founder and Chairman of the Board of the Civilitas Foundation, during his time in office as Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia (1998-2008).
Vartan Oskanian's Interview with Gala TV discussing the Civilitas Foundation's "The Right to Elect" public discussion, the 2008 Armenian Presidential elections, and the lack of 'Free & Fair Democratic Elections' in the 17 year old Independent Republic of Armenia.
Our previous question was: "Do you believe that free elections (one where even an incumbent can be defeated) can change a country?"
Opinions were mostly divided. Of those who answered the question, 53% thought that such elections could bring positive change to the country; 43% thought they could not. Around 4% did not have an answer.
Sharistan Melkonian is a director at the Armenian Volunteer Corps (AVC), a non-profit that helps skilled Armenian Diasporans come to Armenia to work and live, while at the same time, helping them transition from one society into another by facilitating their placements into schools, non-profit organizations, churches, and the business sector.
The project aims to enhance the visibility and increase the resource mobilization possibilities of civil society organizations (CSOs) operating in Armenia by designing, developing and maintaining a publicly accessible database of all active NGOs, foundations, associations, and international NGOs and organizations working in Armenia.
