Author: Babajanian Karo

INCREASE IN NUMBER OF SUICIDES IN AZERBAIJAN SPEAKS OF SOCIETY DEGRADATION

19:55 08/01/2014 ” SOCIETY

“Self- immolation of Karabakh war veteran in Baku can contribute to
an increase in the number of self-immolation cases in the country,”
Azat Isazade, a psychologist said in an interview with Azerbaijani
portal Haqqin.az.

When explaining his assumptions, the physician noted that after Saddam
Hussein was hanged and his public execution was broadcasted by TV,
people in the Middle East started to choose hanging as a means of
committing a suicide more frequently.

Interesting to know, that in Azerbaijan as well people very often
choose that same way to put an end to their lives. Azerbaijani
authorities do not disclose the official statistics on suicides in the
country. However, according to Azerbaijani Media in 2013 in Azerbaijan
at least 254 people (186 male and 68 female) committed a suicide,
171 of whom hanged themselves.

According to the official statistics, recently there has been an
increase in the number of suicides in Azerbaijan; moreover those
people were of a younger age. In 2013 among the 254 cases of suicide
in Azerbaijan 98 cases represent less than 30 years old young people,
26 of whom are children under 18.

Nevertheless, this is not a complete picture, as there are cases when
the commitment of suicide is sold for a murder or an accident.

In an interview with Azerbaijani news portal Haqqin.az Azat Isazade
noted that no one in Azerbaijan is engaged in the study of suicides
at the professional level.

“We don’t deal with the regions to be able to count where there are
more and where less cases. We don’t compare the regions, age groups and
methods of suicides. We don’t compare climatic periods. Our statistics
is not reliable. Part of suicides is represented as a murder or an
accident. Well, man is dead and not to be dishonored among relatives,
we cover that suicide as an accident- he didn’t throw himself from
the balcony, he just slipped and fell,” the physiologist said .

According to Isazade psychologists should to some extant be engaged in
the study of suicides, but the Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan and the
health system in general very easily washed their hands and renounced.

As the psychologist claims, increase in the number of suicides in
Azerbaijan speaks about the degradation of the society. He thinks
that the process is already underway. Those people who are the weakest
and are most exposed to the pressure of society choose to die.

“The society is sick; there is no doubt about that. What is a suicide?

It is autoaggression; autoaggression towards themselves. The society
has generally become more aggressive towards everything. Respectively,
there is as well an increase of aggression towards themselves,”
Isazade noted.

Source: Panorama.am

Anadolu Ajansı, Turkey
Jan 7 2014

Two suspects arrested in Dink murder case

07 January 2014 19:14 (Last updated 07 January 2014 19:20)

The judges decided on the arrest of Hayal and Yavuz after they failed
to appear before the court
TRABZON

Two suspects in the murder case of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant
Dink were arrested on Tuesday in the northwestern province of Trabzon.

The judges decided to arrest Osman Hayal and Zeynel Abidin Yavuz when
they failed to appear before the court.

Dink was the editor-in-chief of still-running weekly Agos and was
considered one of the most prominent Armenian voices in Turkey.

The case on Dink’s murder in 2007 has been reopened after the court’s
ruling was overturned by the Court of Appeals, which called for the
retrial of 18 defendants.

Suspect Osman Hayal’s arrest followed shortly after Yavuz was detained
by Trabzon gendarmerie forces Tuesday afternoon and taken to
courthouse.

Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was murdered in January 2007 by
Ogun Samast, who claimed that Dinkinsulted “Turkishness”.

Samast, who was 17 at the time of the killing, was sentenced to 23
years in prison in 2011.

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Jan 7 2014

Two suspects in Hrant Dink murder case detained in Trabzon

ISTANBUL

A group of activists gathered in front of the Istanbul Courthouse
ahead of the hearing asking justice to be served, Jan. 7. AA photo

Gendarmerie forces have detained two suspects whose arrests were
demanded by an Istanbul court in the case into the murder of
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, CNNTürk has reported.

Zeynel Abidin Yavuz, who was said to be the first person chosen as
part of the conspiracy to murder Dink, was detained by gendarmerie
forces in the Black Sea province of Trabzon’s Pelitli neighborhood on
Jan. 7 and sent to the courthouse.

Osman Hayal, the brother of Yasin Hayal, who was charged with being
the instigator of the assassination, was also captured in Trabzon a
few hours later.

Dink, the renowned editor-in-chief of Agos, was shot dead by Ogün
Samast in front of his office in Istanbul on Jan. 19, 2007. Samast was
subsequently sentenced to over 22 years in jail for the murder.

The trial into his murder resumed on Sept. 17, 2013, with 18 suspects
being retried after the Supreme Court of Appeals ruled that all
suspects in the case had acted as part of a criminal organization,
instead of individually.

A group of activists called the `Friends of Dink’ gathered in front of
the courthouse and chanted slogans ahead of the hearing.

Popular novelist Ahmet Ümit, speaking on behalf of the group, said
their demand to try the public servants who allegedly bear
responsibility for Dink’s murder had yet to be heeded.

`Instead, these same public officials have been promoted,’ Ümit said.

January/07/2014

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Jan 7 2014

Two suspects in Dink trial sent to court following arrest order

7 January 2014 /Ä°STANBUL, TODAY’S ZAMAN

A court ordered the arrest of two suspects in the trial of the murder
of Hrant Dink — the late editor-in-chief of the Turkish-Armenian
weekly Agos who was shot dead in 2007 by an ultranationalist teenager
outside the offices of his newspaper in Ä°stanbul — following their
absence from a hearing held on Tuesday and two suspects, Zeynel Abidin
Yavuz and Osman Hayal have been found and arrested in Trabzon
province.

Following the Supreme Court of Appeals’ reversing the ruling handed
down in Dink trial in which 18 suspects are being tried, the Ä°stanbul
14th High Criminal Court resumed hearing the case. When two
defendants, Osman Hayal and Zeynel Abidin Yavuz, failed to show up for
the hearing, the court ordered their arrest. Yavuz and Hayal were
detained in Trabzon and sent to court shortly after their arrest was
ordered.

The Supreme Court of Appeals overturned a lower court ruling that
dismissed the existence of an organized criminal network in the case.
The lower court, which found no evidence that a terrorist organization
was involved in the Jan. 19, 2007 assassination of Dink by teenager
Ogün Samast, had acquitted the suspects of forming a terrorist
organization, but it said they were guilty of forming an illegal and
armed organization to commit a crime as prohibited under Turkish Penal
Code (TCK) Article 220.

The lawyer for the Dink family had previously argued that an
ultranationalist organization was established in 2004 by Yasin Hayal
consisting of several people including Dink case suspect Erhan Tuncel,
and this group’s anger at Dink, who was put on trial after being
accused of `insulting Turkishness,’ led them to plot to punish him.

Sixteen out of 18 suspects have been released pending trial and two of
the suspects incarcerated. One of the two prisoners, Tuncel, arrested
by the court in October, has complained about his lengthy detention
period and requested his release.

The lawyer of Tuncel, noting that his defendant is not to be blamed
for the extended trial period, on Tuesday said: `The decision on
whether to obey to the Supreme Court of Appeals’ reversal of the
ruling has not been reached yet. My client was arrested though his
acquittal was ordered once. If the court which is currently hearing
the case abides by the [overturning of the lower court’s] decision [to
acquit] by the Supreme Court of Appeals, and so it seems it will, the
longest the trial can last will be five years. The prolonging of the
trial should not result in my client’s unjust treatment. He was
released for two years and didn’t make any attempt to escape.’

Dink’s family lawyer, Fethiye Çetin, stated that the trial needed to
be `restructured.’

Çetin, highlighting the significance of the ongoing graft operation
that has been occupying Turkey’s agenda since it broke on Dec. 17,
said: `What this country has been going through in a way confirms what
we have constantly said since the beginning. Some state officials are
allegedly fabricating evidence. Taking that into consideration, all of
our demands should be fulfilled again and the file has to be
re-assessed.’

Dink’s friends and family gathered in front of the courthouse on
Tuesday to protest against the seven-year failure to bring the trial
to a conclusion.

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Jan 7 2014

Russia grows strong; Europe and the USA weaken

7 January 2014 – 11:33am
By Vestnik Kavkaza

At the end of 2013, right after terrorist attacks in Volgograd, the
Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs made a statement on its intention
to continue `the struggle against the cunning enemy who knows no
borders and can be stopped only collectively.’

According to Russian diplomats, `crimes committed in Volgograd, like
the terrorist attacks in the USA, Syria, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan,
Nigeria, and other countries are of the same mould and have similar
inspirers. In the context of provocation urges by heads of militants
to consolidate jihad forces and involve new terrorists into the war,
the position of some politicians who try to differentiate `good’ and
`bad’ terrorists, depending on the settlement of their geopolitical
goals, is obviously wrong.’

But for the failure in the struggle against the international
terrorism, last year (at least its second half) would be beneficial
for the Russian foreign policy. Alexei Pushkov, Chairman of the State
Duma Committee for International Affairs, believes that not only the
Syrian, but also the Armenian and Ukrainian directions were successful
for Russia.

`There are several reasons for this. First of all, we see a relevant
weakening of the USA’s role in international policy. The second fact
was the weakening of the European Union as a foreign political player.
This weakening is connected with a very serious crisis which is taking
place in the EU. It explains the inconclusive policy by the EU toward
Ukraine. The offer made to Ukraine by the EU was absolutely
scandalous. What was offered? We give you our standards, we allocate a
certain sum for development of democratic institutes – 660 million
euros (not for the economy), and we give you an opportunity to
persuade yourself that someday you will join Europe. A European myth
was offered Ukraine. And for this they had to release Yulia
Timoshenko, increase gas prices for the population, stiffen their
budget policy, take IMF loans under very strict conditions. Actually,
the country was offered a path to financial default and social
instability,’ Pushkov is sure.

According to him, if Ukraine signed the association agreement, it
would turn into an economic semi-colony of the European Union, and the
result of the elections of 2015 would be predetermined in the context:
`The EU would gather all its forces in Ukraine to sabotage
Yanukovych’s positions. It also confirms the weakness of the European
Union. The $20 billion which Yanukovych asked from the EU to find a
way out of the financial crisis in Ukraine is not a sum off the scale.
A tenfold bigger sum was allocated to Greece. However, the EU didn’t
go on the path. The EU failed to fulfill the task which it faced, if
it really wanted to take Ukraine into the European zone of influence.’

Pushkov thinks Ukraine should be considered in the context of
Armenia’s decision to join the CU: `The Armenian decision was less
discussed, but it was the beginning of the crisis in the Eastern
Partnership. It was a shock for Brussels when they found out that
Yerevan rejected the signing of the association agreement. The domino
effect reigns here. If one country signs, the second signs, and so on.
And the EU counted on greater influence on Azerbaijan in this case,
which doesn’t want to sign it, and that Azerbaijan will someday choose
the path of the countries which have signed the agreement. But when
neither Ukraine nor Armenia signs it, an absolutely different
situation is established.’

Pushkov is sure that Russia `showed that it can use not only the
financial leverage which we have, but also a diplomatic line.Russia
didn’t set any conditions, nobody speaks about the Customs Union. It
is about reduction of gas prices and Russia’s purchasing of Ukrainian
state bonds, which will enable Ukraine to pay its debts off. I think
the position is right. If it leads to something new in relations
between Russia and Ukraine, it will be wonderful, but the choice is
Ukraine’s. We don’t hide our interest in integration with Ukraine. But
one thing is to show our interest and another thing is to impose any
agenda on Ukraine. The year is coming to an end on a high note for
Russia. It confirms the strengthening of our capacities and the
weakening of the force centers which used to determine the
international agenda.’

Petition asking Switzerland to appeal the ECHR judgment on Armenian
Genocide denier

12:23 07.01.2014

In the struggle against the Turkish denial, the Coordination Council
of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF) has decided to launch a
petition asking Switzerland to appeal the judgment of the European
Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which found that the ultra-nationalist
Dogu Perinçek, president of the Workers’ Party of Turkey could not be
condemned for saying publicly in Geneva in 2007, the `so-called
Armenian genocide is an imperialist lie’. This is in compliance with
the Freedom of Expression according to Article 10. The petition posted
on Change.org reads:

Denialism: Petition against the rogue decision of the European Court
of Human Rights

In a decision of 17 December 2013, which will remain an absolute
disgrace in the history of the European Court of Human Rights, this
jurisdiction which has never so little deserved its name, decided to
give reason to Dogu Perincek, the zealous and determined denier of the
Armenian Genocide by proposing to condemn Switzerland for its
infringement of freedom of expression!

Co-founder of the Talaat Committee (the Turkish `Hitler’), a backroom
created by Ankara to export the denialist theses of Turkey to Europe
and beyond, Dogu Perincek had appealed against a decision pronounced
by the Swiss courts, fining him twice for his denialist statements.

At present imprisoned in Turkey for taking part in the attempted coup
by the Ergenekon organisation (which did not prevent Ankara from
defending him before the ECHR in this particular case), Dogu Pericenk
had indeed claimed that the `Armenian Genocide’ was an `international
lie’ at a series of meetings in Switzerland.

These statements, offensive against the memory of the victims and
defamatory against their descendants, were condemned under the Swiss
law on the repression of denialism. The European Court of Human
Rights, to which he had appealed, is therefore considering condemning
Switzerland, in the name of an inconsequential reading of the freedom
of expression and a restrictive interpretation of human dignity. This
jurisdiction, in a judgement that is just as irresponsible as it is
grotesque, thus gave its support to the denialist propaganda on the
Armenian Genocide. And this in accordance with the following arguments
: 1) There would not be any consensus on the facts since only about
twenty of the 190 States have recognised them (whereas the
international community of historians having seriously dealt with this
issue is unanimous on their qualification as genocide and that a
number of lobbies, including that of the Turkish government, repeat
that it is not for the Parliaments to legislate on history…). 2) There
has not been any international judgement qualifying them (whereas the
Treaty of Sèvres signed in 1920 by the European Powers provided for
the Judgement of the persons responsible for this crime against
humanity, treaty replaced in 1923 by that of Lausanne in which these
same European Powers, in an attitude typical of Munich before its
time, were to abandon any idea of rendering Justice to the Arminian
people in the name of new relations with Kemalist Turkey). 3) The
notion of genocide would remain unclear and therefore offer scope for
debate (whereas the crime of genocide is clearly established by the
Rome Statute establishing the International Criminal Court and that
the very concept of genocide was forged by Raphaël Lemkin, starting
precisely from the extermination of the Armenians of the Ottoman
Empire).

At one year from the commemorations for the hundredth anniversary of
this crime against humanity, as it was named on 24 May 1915 by France,
England and Russia at a time when the word genocide had not yet been
created, the ECHR has just assassinated the one and a half million
victims of the `Young Turk’ government for the second time. And this
following an unfair trial in which only the Turkish party was able to
plead, while the Arminian party and those who defend its universal
just cause were not invited to the proceedings.

Switzerland, which, in addition, decided on 10 October to reinforce
its strategic partnership with Turkey, has until 17 March to lodge an
appeal against this unfair judgement which, in sentencing it, also
opens the road to an unbridled propagation of denialism.

Through this petition, we should like to call on the Swiss authorities
to lodge an appeal against this judgement before the Grand Chamber of
the ECHR and, in so doing, allow an open debate to be held and a fair
trial on a essential issue for our times and our European identity, by
giving other States, including France, the possibility of being heard.
Furthermore, such an appeal would allow the Arminian party, excluded
from the hearing until now, to be equally represented with Turkey,
which would bring a minimum balance to this `justice’ which, until
now, has only been based on one side of the scales.

Presse arménienne : Revue des 26 et 27 décembre 2013

Publié le : 06-01-2014

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
présente cette Revue de Presse parue sur le site de l’Ambassade de
France en Arménie le 27 décembre 2013.

Revue de la presse arménienne des 26 et 27 décembre 2013

I. Questions régionales

1. La feuille de route de l’adhésion de l’Arménie à l’Union douanière
approuvée/ L’ensemble de la presse rend compte de la réunion du
Conseil économique supérieur eurasiatique à Moscou, au cours de
laquelle la « feuille de route » de l’adhésion de l’Arménie à l’Union
douanière a été approuvée par les trois Etats membres (Russie,
Kazakhstan, Biélorussie), le Président kazakh ayant néanmoins exprimé
des réserves sur l’adhésion de l’Arménie en raison du conflit du HK.
Sa signature est assortie d’une « mention spécifique ». Dans son
intervention, M. Nazarbayev a insisté sur la question de la frontière
de l’Union douanière, se demandant si elle intégrait bien celle de
l’Arménie internationalement reconnue. Les quotidiens relèvent que ce
n’est pas la première fois que le Président kazakh, « ami » d’Ilham
Aliev, prend parti en faveur de l’Azerbaïdjan au détriment de
l’adhésion de l’Arménie à l’Union douanière. Le Président Poutine,
quant à lui, n’a fait aucun commentaire sur la question du Karabagh
mais au contraire salué « le degré élevé de préparation des
partenaires arméniens dans la perspective de l’intégration ». Azg
intitule son article « A Moscou, la feuille de route signée engage
l’Arménie sur un chemin incertain »…Commentant la prise de position du
Président kazakh, le vice-président du parti Républicain, Galoust
Sahakian, l’a jugée « non acceptable pour l’Arménie ». Selon lui, le
HK devrait faire partie intégrante de l’Union douanière à l’issue des
négociations. Les représentants de l’opposition se sont montrés moins
optimistes. Aram Manoukian du CNA a accusé le Président Sarkissian
d’avoir compromis la situation de l’Arménie au point « qu’un pays
tiers puisse prendre position sur le Karabagh, sans même tenir compte
du Président Sarkissian ».

Dans un entretien à RFE/RL, Artak Chaboyan, Président de la Commission
d’Etat pour la protection de la concurrence économique a défendu le
choix de l’Arménie en faveur de l’Union douanière, qui renforcera,
selon lui, la concurrence et libéralisera le marché intérieur. Et
d’ajouter que l’adhésion à l’Union douanière ouvrira de grandes
opportunités en termes d’exportation.

2. Nouvelles perspectives de coopération entre l’Arménie et la Russie/
Les quotidiens rendent compte de la visite à Erevan du Président du
géant russe Rosneft, Igor Setchine, qui s’est entretenu avec le
Président Sarkissian. Selon un communiqué de la présidence, les
négociations ont été suivies par la signature d’un accord de
joint-venture concernant la fabrication de caoutchouc synthétique.
Selon les quotidiens, Rosneft serait intéressé par l’acquisition de
l’usine chimique Naïrit, mais ‘ ce stade l’éventuelle cession du
combinat chimique au géant russe n’est pas confirmée.

3. L’Arménie et la Russie ont lancé un processus de libéralisation de
l’aviation civile/ Les Gouvernements d’Arménie et de Russie ont signé,
le 24 décembre à Moscou, à l’occasion de la visite du Président
Sarkissian, un accord de libéralisation, qui supprimera les
restrictions appliquées jusqu’à présent aux compagnies qui desservent
Zvartnots. Selon Hayots Achkhar, l’Arménie ayant opté pour un
dispositif « ciel ouvert » signera des accords similaires avec
plusieurs autres pays en 2014.

II. Politique intérieure

1. Pas de publicité sur la chaîne publique à partir du 1er janvier
2014/ En vertu d’une décision du Conseil des Ministres, à partir de
janvier 2014, la télévision publique, financée sur fonds budgétaires
ne pourra plus diffuser de publicités commerciales. Seules les
campagnes sociales seront autorisées, ainsi que l’annonce des sponsors
pendant des émissions culturelles ou sportives. / Azg, Haykakan
Jamanak

Rédaction : Meri Hakobian

Retour à la rubrique

Source/Lien : Ambassade de France en Arménie

Non-Governmental Organizations in Armenia

BY STAFF
– POSTED ON JANUARY 6, 2014POSTED IN: UNCATEGORIZED

By Areg Gharabegian

January 2014

There were almost no non-governmental organizations (NGO) in Armenia
during the Soviet era. After the devastating earthquake of December
1988 and during the years of war in Artsakh, NGOs began forming in
Armenia and they were heavily involved with relief and humanitarian
efforts. The Government of Armenia was unable to cope with the dire
situation resulted from the earthquake and war; therefore, it had to
accept the active participation of civil society organizations (CSOs).

Alongside humanitarian aid, major international organizations and NGOs
started contributing to the development of the local non-government
sector. Also, the major Armenian organizations from Diaspora provided
humanitarian aid and contributed greatly to the reconstruction
process.

This period can be considered the first stage in the formation of
local NGOs. The focus of these new NGOs was on refugees, women,
children, the elderly, and the disabled but their activities were
somewhat limited. NGOs’ inability to meet growing demand for emergency
services and operations was due to the lack of local NGO skills,
knowledge, capabilities, and absence of an appropriate legal
framework.

Even though most of the NGOs were located in Yerevan, local NGOs began
emerging in the marzes (provinces) too. Local NGOs began implementing
projects in education, health, culture, community development, and
income generation. In 1997, the number of local NGOs reached more than
500. By 2001, data from the State Register showed that there were
2,585 NGOs officially registered. In 2010, the State Register reported
45 international NGOs and 5,700 local NGOs. However, out of the total
number of local NGOs registered, only less than 15% can be considered
operational. As of these operational ones, most are small outfits
which are not active and some have vague and obscure missions. The
following are missions of few of such NGOs:

The main goal of the organization is to participate actively in social
and legal life of the country in order to promote free and safe life
for the youth.
The main goals of the organization are to develop the art and
psychology and to form civil society.
To organize and collect all the recipes of Armenian national cuisine
and publish it. To participate in international contests, seminars,
and meetings.

Table 1 presents a list of operational NGOs and their fields of
activities but not all are necessarily active.

International NGOs can be classified under the same categories as
local NGOs, but with two additional categories:

infrastructure development and construction; and
capacity building and technical assistance for local CSOs,
self-governing bodies, and community councils.

A survey conducted by World Learning revealed that, in the 1990s, 70%
of NGO leaders were women. However, by 2001, 58% of NGO leaders were
men, and in 2009, the percentage of male NGO leaders was 63%. While
the Government of Armenia and the Armenian CSOs do not practice gender
discrimination to cause this shift; therefore, this shift could be
based on the fact that men came to view NGOs as a job opportunity and
a means to further their careers.

In 2004 there were approximately 75 international NGOs operating in
Armenia but recently the number has decreased. The reason for this
decline may be the stable economic growth in Armenia in 2006 and 2007.

Source: The Professionals for Civil Society NGO

Government Involvement

The gradual increase in the number of international NGOs in Armenia
and the corresponding need to regulate the activities of all types of
CSOs led to the Government of Armenia adopting its first Law on Civil
Society Organizations in 1996. The law encouraged international NGOs
to shift their activities from emergency response to development, the
protection of human rights, and enhancing the capacity of local NGOs.
The law states that Armenia recognizes the crucial role of NGOs in the
development of civil society and aims to promote the establishment of
NGOs as legal entities. The government has also passed decrees,
regulations, memorandums, and agreements related to cooperation with
NGOs, and formed institutional bodies and units in community and
national levels.

Voluntarism

NGOs in Armenia utilize informal and less structured volunteering
process when they are interacting with the society in comparison to
Armenian NGOs in Diaspora. NGOs in Armenia also have issues with
volunteer mismanagement; sporadic volunteer recruitment; lack of
skills assessment, orientation, and training for volunteers; and
recognizing volunteer contributions. Engaging volunteers in long-term
regular commitments, instead of ad hoc projects could better utilize
this important resource.

Because voluntarism for social society was not a common practice
during Soviet era, there is a need to widely publicize the value of
volunteerism to get more people interested in becoming volunteers for
different causes. Presently this important resource is underutilized
by NGOs in Armenia. NGOs also should realize the expectations of the
volunteer in order to retain involvement and commitment over time. A
non-profit organization with a strong and committed volunteer base is
more likely to attract new funds.

Democratic Governance

The internal democratic governance of NGOs in Armenia is another issue
that needs to be addressed. NGOs have developed written policies for
democratic governance but often do not follow these policies. NGOs
hold elections to select their internal leadership, yet the rotation
rate of such leadership is low. Typically founders of NGOs hold their
positions for a long term, which affects the formation of independent
boards of directors.

Most Armenian NGOs have bylaws and constitutions that outline their
governance mechanisms but it seems sometimes these mechanisms are
developed to get the required permits and to attract new funds, rather
than a genuine intention of democratic management. Members are also
often excluded from decision-making processes. Unless NGOs embrace
these democratic procedures into their regular operations they cannot
establish a credible reputation in the community.

Funding Sources

Financial sustainability is one of the main challenges that local NGOs
in Armenia face. It is this challenge that limits their capacity for
impact and distorts the image of civil society as a financially
dependent sector. It is necessary to diversify source of funding by
fostering partnerships with a full variety of potential funders, such
as individuals, corporations, and government. NGOs in Armenia
undertake fund-raising activities through various events, exhibitions,
concerts, and other activities. However, the majority of NGOs have
difficulty with fundraising because they lack experience in
fundraising methods, basic marketing, and financial management skills.

Activities of Armenian NGOs are heavily reliant on external funding.
Some donor organizations work directly with NGOs, while others operate
on a bilateral or multilateral basis. The Armenian Diaspora also
assists the local NGO sector by allocating funds or providing in-kind
assistance. Many NGOs believe that if donor organizations leave
Armenia, the scope of NGOs’ activities will be curtailed and many of
NGOs will become non-operational due to lack of funding.

The Civil Society Fund is one of several programs supported by the
World Bank, which has provided grants since 1999 to NGOs and other
CSOs in Armenia. The grants support activities related to civic
engagement, and the focus is on empowering people who have been
excluded from society’s decision-making processes. The individual
grants are between $8,000 and $10,000.

Today’s unfavorable legislative framework related to the donations to
nonprofit organizations does not provide the NGO sector with an
opportunity to acquire alternative financing. Therefore, limited and
unsustainable funding from donors and the government make the NGO
sector more dependent, affecting their independence and
sustainability. The Armenian business sector does not invest in NGO
development. If they do support them, the investment is limited to
one-time, project or event base charitable contributions. Often NGOs
take funding for a project that is not in line with their mission,
values, and principles, but project requirements are determined by the
donor’s agenda, which then affects credibility of the organization.
Armenia’s state budget allocates some funds for NGOs on a competitive
basis.

Lack of transparency and accountability is another issue with NGOs
where most of them do not produce and disseminate annual reports and
financial statements. The majority of NGOs claim that their financial
information is publicly available, yet on closer inspection, it
becomes clear that they rarely report to their beneficiaries when it
comes to the finances and the quality of their work. The majority of
Armenian NGOs think that the preparation of reports requires
additional financial expenditure. Reporting of finances and activities
would improve the public’s perception of NGOs.

Effectiveness of NGOs

One of the underlying causes of civil society’s weak impact on policy
and pressing social issues is that the sector’s achievements are
predominantly due to the support of only a small segment of the
Armenian population. The NGOs have failed to extend their outreach and
rally greater support and higher levels of citizen participation in
their activities.

Long-term financial insecurity stands as another hindrance to the
levels of CSO organizations in Armenia. Armenian NGOs have relied
solely or predominantly on international donor funding, without
diversifying their income sources or developing a long-term strategy
to change this situation. As a result, the instability of work in the
NGO sector does not attract young specialists.

Increasing the professional skills of CSOs, through trainings and
staff development could help strengthen the level of organizational
development and achievement. What is of most importance is to focus on
staff retention, and retain the professionals in the sector, as well
as to establish a culture of information sharing and knowledge
transfer.

Fragmentation and competition among NGOs occur frequently, resulting
in an ineffective system for Armenian CSOs. Because of limited
coordination among NGOs, the sector lacks updated information and a
database of NGOs. This creates an inadequate picture of these
organizations and, consequently, gives people a poor perception of
NGOs. This also affects the ability of NGOs to influence the
decision-making process in the public administration.

Some issues facing the civil society include a short-term approach,
lack of strategic thinking, clustering around pro government or
opposition groups, and poor organizational capacity. In order to
increase citizen participation and sponsorship, NGOs need to realize
that they need to be deriving their legitimacy from the society, as
they depend on popular support. Increased transparency and
accountability are vital to support this action. This includes
reporting to their beneficiaries just as they do to their funders and
presenting an inclusive account of all aspects of their activities.
Improvements in these fields will contribute towards increased levels
of trust towards the civil society sector by broader society and will
foster increased citizen participation.

Sources

Civil Society Briefs, Asian Development Bank, Armenia Resident
Mission, November 2011.

Armenian Civil Society: from Transition to Consolidation, CIVICUS,
Civil Society Index Policy Action Brief, 2010.

The Professionals for Civil Society NGO, database of NGOs, World Learning, Inc.

MesOpinions, France
6 jan 2014

Un timbre-poste pour le 100ème annoversaire du génocide arménien

Association culturelle ARMENIA

10 Signatures

Signez la pétition Voir toutes les signatures

À l’attention : du Président de la République, M. François Hollande

La France a reconnue le 29 Janvier 2001 par une Loi le génocide arménien.

En 2015, les Arméniens commémoreront en Arménie et à travers le monde
le 100 ème anniversaire du génocide arménien de 1915 commis par la
Turquie et qui fit 1,5 million de victimes arméniennes.

L’association culturelle Arménia demande au Président de la
République, M. François Hollande, l’émission par la France le 24 Avril
2015 d’un timbre-poste pour la commémoration du 100 ème anniversaire
du génocide arménien.

Association culturelle Arménia, 130 rue Marcel Paul 26500 Bourg-les-Valence.
Mail: [email protected]

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Jan 6 2014

France spares no effort for speedy, peaceful resolution to
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

6 January 2014, 09:44 (GMT+04:00)
By Sara Rajabova

French ambassador to Baku Pascal Monnier has said that France will
spare no effort for a speedy and peaceful settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Although the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was gone too far, but everyone
hopes for a speedy resolution of the conflict and dreams of a peaceful
settlement, he said in an interview with AzerTag news agency.

“Observers believe that new hopes was fostered during the Vienna
meeting of presidents Ilham Aliyev and Serj Sargsyan and this is a
manifestation of the political will to meet in the new year,” Monnier
added.

The presidents met in Vienna on November 19, along with the co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group, to eye the ways to resolve the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.

Noting the recent Kyiv meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign
ministers, Monnier said new meeting of the two ministers in Paris in
late January is on the agenda.

“Thus, the positive trend is noticed in negotiations,” he added.

“We’ve accepted the civil society representatives of Azerbaijan and
Armenia in Strasbourg,” he said.

He said they will meet again in Paris in 2014 and intend to prepare
the declaration proposed for approval.

“The hopes are high for resolution the conflict, but the problem
should be approached with real and careful. In any case, France will
not spare efforts in this positive development,” Monnier said.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict emerged in 1988 when Armenia made
territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since a lengthy war in the
early 1990s that displaced over one million Azerbaijanis, Armenian
armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s
internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and
seven adjacent regions.

Long-standing efforts by US, Russian and French mediators have been
largely fruitless so far.

The UN Security Council has passed four resolutions on Armenian
withdrawal from the Azerbaijani territory, but they have not been
enforced to this day.