“Civilitas” in Vanadzor

On February 12, 2010 “Civilitas” foundation organized a debate in Vanadzor aiming to encourage an open debate over various problems of Armenia, such as external and internal political, regional and economic problems. 

The facilitator of the debate was analyst and journalist of “Civilitas” foundation, Tatul Hakobyan, the reporters were Artur Sakunts, the coordinator of HCA Vanadzor,  Edik Hovsepyan, the head of Information and Public Relations Department of the Lori regional Administration and Tatevik Ayvazyan,  the co-ordinator of “Fuler” house- building centre - Vanadzor office.

NGOs, mass media representatives, as well as  some active citizens of Vanadzor took part in the debate and asked their questions.

Referring to the current problems Artur Sakunts mentioned that there were many problems in Vanadzor and it was mostly due to the passiveness of mass media and their bad coverage.  According to him, the community problems need to be publicized.  The government must create favourable conditions to ensure conditions for human life. 

As to the external politics, particularly the Armenian-Turkish relations, Artur Sakunts thinks the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border is very essential though any good idea can be depreciated by a bad execution.

According to Artur Sakunts, there can be no talk about political independence at all.  Electoral bribe, pressure, use of administrative resources are widely spread which, in some cases, happen with the involvement of the police department and their inactions.

Edik Hovsepyan, the head of Information and Public Relations Department of the Lori regional Administration especially referred to the problems arising from the economic crisis, which have had a great influence on small and average business.

Among his priorities are the issues related to providing the homeless with apartments and the citizens with jobs.  He also thinks that our governmental system does not meet today’s  requirements, they have changed and some changes should be taken into consideration.

Tatevik Ayvazyan,  the co-ordinator of “Fuler” house- building centre - Vanadzor office also attaches importance to the creation of favourable conditions for the homeless and unemployed.

She positively thinks of the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border but only after having solved the problems of the country.  She mentions that no matter how many neighbours you have your family problems will not be solved until the family itself solves them.

During this debate, “Civilitas” represented its report “Armenia 2009 - Promise and Reality.”