On February 11, the Civilitas Foundation presented its annual report “Armenia 2009: Promise and Reality” in Gyumri. As during the launch of the report in Yerevan, discussion revolved around Armenia’s foreign and domestic, regional and economic issues. Participating in the discussion were Levon Barseghyan, president of Gyumri’s Asbarez Journalist Club, Gala TV talk show host Derenik Malkhasyan and Shirak Center president Vahan Tumasyan. The discussion was moderated by Civilitas analyst, journalist Tatul Hakobyan. The event opened with a discussion of Gyumri’s socioeconomic issues, after which the issues of free speech, democracy and human rights were discussed, namely by Levon Barseghyan and Derenik Malkhasyan. Gyumri is the only city in Armenia that has a long history of free broadcast media that has opposed established rule. Thanks to Gala TV, unbiased reporting is more available in Gyumri. However, even though Gyumri’s public is more informed, from a human rights and socioeconomic standpoint their issues are as many and equal to those of other cities.
One important part of the discussion in Gyumri related to the issue of the Armenia-Turkey protocols and how opening the border might improve Gyumri’s economic state. Participants in the discussion and those present who were aware of the problems that occurred within the last year did not share the conviction that opening the border can resolve Gyumri’s problems.
The presentation of the report in Vanadzor took place on February 12. Participating in the discussion were Arthur Sakuntz, Vanadzor’s Helsinki Citizens Assembly president, Etik Hovsepian, Lori Regional Administration for Reporting and Public Relations administrative head, and Fuller Center for Housing Armenia’s Vanadzor office coordintor Tatevik Ayvazyan.
Tatul Hakobyan opened the discussion with one of the main problems in Vanadzor last year; the theme was the impact of the economic crisis. All those who participated in the discussion, including the government, addressed the representative regional administrator saying that despite the government’s stance, Armenia did not escape the economic crisis and especially not Vanadzor.
This was a useful opportunity for residents of Gyumri and Vanadzor to participate in a discussion on the future of Armenia, its current problems and on finding ways to solve them.