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The history of the “Helsinki Citizens Assembly” and its role in the movement for a global civil society.

The collapse of the Berlin Wall and the new global political context this created gave rise to a new peace movement called the “Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly”. From October 19th to 22nd 1990, peace activists from all parts of Europe (chaired by Vaclav Havel, then president of Czechoslovakia) held a meeting. They agreed on the “Prague Appeal” and founded the HCA as a permanent forum, within which peace and civic groups, as well as individuals and institutions representing a broad spectrum of views, could exchange experiences, discuss common concerns and formulate joint campaigns and strategies. “Ordinary” citizens (and not politicians!), who share a commitment to peace, democracy and human rights, are taking stepsto promote the integration of Europe from below and to strengthen European civil society.

Statement of Mient Jan Faber, political director of HCA during the founding session:

Our presence here as members of the social part of civil society, shows what Europe needs: we need cross-relations between people of different professions and opinions, between church-related bodies, environmental movements, trade unions, political parties, human and civil rights organizations, peace movements, cultural clubs, etc. Together we want to assume responsibility for a process of European of integration that will be characterized by justice, peace and integrity. The social stratum of civil society must be strengthened within nations and throughout Europe, and made capable to cope with the huge problems that accompany the process of European integration. This is the one of the central questions to be discussed at the Helsinki Citizen' Assembly. The goal of the HCA is to become a permanent forum for civil society from the so-called “Helsinki countries”. A breeding place for new ideas and initiatives. A permanent address for exchange and policy making.

However, the first priority of the HCA is not to answer the question of how to solve this or that particular problem. If that were all, we could easily feel quite powerless. Either because we can not find the answer, or because there is no one who is willing to implement our answer. No, the first priority of the HCA is civil society itself, in other words, our own participation in citizens’ initiatives all over Europe.

Since this historic event, the HCA has developed into a network of non-governmental organizations that has a presence in most countries of Europe (Armenia, Azerbaijan, France, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Moldavia, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Turkey, Ukraine as well as most republics of the former Yugoslavia) and counts around 10.000 members. As an international organization it works with decision-makers and “ordinary” citizens to provide a forum where every individual can present his or her concerns and opinions. The common goal of all member committees is to establish links between individuals and organizations from different countries, to help citizens participate actively in democratic institutions, and to promote peaceful and productive dialogue on all levels.

HCA and the Caucasus

In December 1991, on the Armenian – Azerbaijan border in the Kazakh-Idjevan region, representatives from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia, supported by Georgian activists, issued a joint appeal for peace (“Peace Caravan”). In March of the following year, this “Transcaucasus Dialogue” was formally authorized by the international HCA movement at the Second General Congress in Bratislava, Slovakia, and the already existing HCA committees in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and in the conflict zone of Nagorno – Karabakh officially began their activities.

From the outset, the committees worked on establishing trust and consent between the people in the Caucasus region, received widespread public support in the countries concerned and built up much goodwill through HCA’s active involvement in protecting human rights and in moderating the behavior of combatants in armed conflicts. One of the major achievements of the HCA committees was their successful struggle to win the release of over 500 political hostages and prisoners of war from the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh . In 1993, Anahit Bayandour (HCA Armenia) and Arzu Abdullayeva (HCA Azerbaijan) were awarded the “Olof Palme Peace Prize” for their joint work in this regard. In 1998 Arzu Abdullayeva also received the “European Union and US Government’s Award for Democracy and Civil Society”. Over the years, local committees have been founded throughout Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia. Besides the national committee in Yerevan and the Vanadzor office, chapters of HCA Armenia are now active in Charentsavan, Idjevan and Kapan .

The importance which the global HCA movement accords to the work of its Caucasus chapters was underscored in October 2000, when HCA Azerbaijan organized the 5th international HCA Assembly in Baku, bringing together over 500 activists from all over the South Caucasus. The Armenian committees sent 41 activists (including 5 from Vanadzor!) to the Caspian Sea capital to participate in this historic event…

Our friends and partners in the South Caucasus:

HCA – Armenian National Committee
Mrs. Anahit Bayandour
hca@netsys.am

HCA – Azerbaijan National Committee
Mrs. Arzu Abdullaeva Bashir Safaroglu
180/26 370000 Baku Centre
assembly-baku@azeurotel.com

HCA – Georgian National Committee
Mr. Alexander Russetsky Tsinamdzgvrishvilistr.
31 380002 Tbilissi
hcagc@access.sanet.ge
www.iberia.ge (to be launched in June)

Helsinki Initiative 92 – Nagorno Karabakh
Mr. Karen Ohandjanian Stepanakert
karandje@hca.nk.am