Visit to Nagorno Karabakh

The staff of the project “Formation of Young Peacebuilders’ Brigade” implemented by HCA Vanadzor had a visit to Nagorno Karabakh from December11-13.

The goal was to present the authorities of Nagorno Karabakh the results of the survey made there in 2008-2009.

The youth involved in the project, including those from Nagorno Karabakh, studied the problems of conflict victims – refugees, former prisoners of war and families of missing persons. The results were then sent to the government, National Assembly and members of Parliament with the recommendations directed towards the solution of the problems of conflict victims.

The young peacebuilders from Nagorno Karabakh also participated in the meeting with Ashot Ghulyan, chairperson of the National Assembly of Nagorno Karabakh. Artur Sakunts, the coordinator of HCA Vanadzor, presented the problems revealed and underlined the participation and role of civil society, in particular, of youth in their solution.

Ashot Ghulyan said that permanent cooperation between public and state structures is still a problem. If ongoing cooperation is ensured the work done for the solution of different layers of society, including conflict victims will be more effective. However, the chairperson of the Parliament mentioned that they work on the solution of the problems of this group with the state means as much as possible.   

In Nagorno Karabakh the only source for the solution of the conflict victims’ problems is the state; the role of international organizations is too little due to the legal status of Nagorno Karabakh.

A. Sakunts presented A. Ghulyan with the experience of the organization in advocating the rights of conflict victims. The chairperson expressed willingness to cooperate on the systematic solution of the problems of refugees, former prisoners of war and families of missing persons of Nagorno Karabakh.

The project staff and the young peacebuilders also met with the party “Azat Hayrenik” and “Armenian Revolutionary Party-Movement 88” alliance.

According to Gagik Petrosyan, member of “Azat Hayrenik” party and member of Parliament, Nagorno Karabakh lacks in structures, which could deal with the issue of conflict victims. He also attached importance to the role of NGOs in this process.

Member of Parliament Armen Sargsyan from “Armenian Revolutionary Party-Movement 88” alliance spoke about the refugees, underlining that they do not have problems in Nagorno Karabakh.

“We need to have separate legal status of those who became vulnarable groups in different situations”-said Armen Sargsyan meaning complete study of the problems of conflict victims by the government and differentiation of statuses and privileges defined by law.

Independent Member of Parliament, head of the Press Club Gegham Bagdassaryan distinguished the problems of refugees mentioning that they need to have a systematic solution. He pointed out the difficulties with integration and language.  He considers that NGOs can be a possible option for solution. He suggested creating relevant organizations, which would deal with the problems of conflict victims by making ties with different structures and involving the conflict victims.

Apart from this, the staff met with Vera Grigorian, head of the Union of Missing Persons’ Relatives.  The parents of missing persons had the opportunity to watch the documentary “Conflict Victims” made within the framework of the project “Formation of Young Peacebuilders’ Brigade” which is implemented with the support of the British Embassy in Armenia.