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August 13, 2010 WHITHER CSTO:
by Raffi K. Hovannisian Yerevan—The second anniversary of blitzkrieg between Russia and Georgia underscores the unresolved geopolitical undercurrents in this region among the seas. Landlocked by the forces of history from the Caspian, the Black and the Mediterranean, Armenia’s pivotal position remains encircled by a neighborhood in strategic turmoil. [full text]
June 11, 2010 TO EVERYTHING A SEASON:
by Raffi K. Hovannisian Yerevan—Today’s Turkey is the denialist bearer of the Ottoman execution of the great genocide and national dispossession of the Armenian people nearly a century ago. Israel, the carrier-state of the Shoah which followed a generation later, has long been unconscionably complicit in the realpolitik relegation of the Armenian loss of life and homeland to the footnotes of inconvenient, expendable crimes against humanity. [full text]
April 4, 2010 ARMENIA’S STAND: JUSTICE AT HOME, JUSTICE ABROAD
by Raffi K. Hovannisian Yerevan—We are at the brink of a pair of wars, civil and regional, and it is better to speak now. Armenia, that ancient civilization deprived by the tragedies of yore of its capacity for contemporary statecraft, needs immediately to put its house in democratic order. [full text]
March 1, 2010 “Armenia-Diaspora Relations: 20 Years since Independence” Unofficial Transcript Raffi K. Hovannisian First Foreign Minister of Armenia
It is an honor to be back at Georgetown University, a very important university in a very important capital city, which has always played its pivotal role throughout the modern history of the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian people. [full text]
December 2, 2009 TURKEY, ARMENIA, AND THE TERRIBLE TRUTH OR ERDOGAN, OBAMA, AND DECEMBER 7 By Raffi K. Hovannisian
Turkey has always had its share of decent folks. One close example is the righteous family who, during the great genocide and national dispossession of 1915, risked its own to save my grandmother Khengeni from certain death in the coastal town of Ordu. The stories of thousands like them have not been told because of the Turkish state’s official dialectic of denial. [full text]
November 20, 2009 Black Sea Peacebuilding Platform’s Armenia Initiative Gets Underway
Yerevan—The National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) and the Analytical Centre on Globalisation and Regional Cooperation (ACGRC) today held, at the NCI headquarters, a working discussion devoted to the start of the Armenia Initiative of the Black Sea Peacebuilding Platform (BSPP). The event brought together officials and analysts from Armenia’s leading NGOs and think tanks. [full text]
November 6, 2009 Black Sea Peacebuilding Platform initiative brings together conflict resolution experts in Bucharest On 28-31 October 2009, civil society conflict resolution experts from the Black Sea Region - including from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine, and the conflict zones of Nagorno-Karabakh and Transdniestria met at UN House and at the Radisson Hotel in Bucharest. The 25 regional conflict experts met to discuss the initiative to build a permanent standing Black Sea Peacebuilding Platform. [full text]
October 23, 2009 The Society is Still Uninformed of the Perils in the Armenian-Turkish Protocols
Yerevan—Today, the National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) convened an off-the-record roundtable discussion devoted to the dangerous terms stipulated in the Armenian-Turkish protocols, the low degree of public knowledge regarding these documents, and the potential avenues toward stopping the approval of these protocols. The meeting brought together university students, analysts from the Armenian National Assembly, and young members of several political parties. [full text]
October 15, 2009 The Police Obstruct Civil Awareness Campaign
Yerevan—Yesterday the activists from the National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) and the Nationalist Students’ Council (NSC) NGOs held a demonstration, at the Yerevan State University (YSU), to voice their protest against the recent signing and ensuing possible approval of the Armenian-Turkish protocols. During the event, the students distributed pamphlets which included excerpts from NCI founder Raffi K. Hovannisian’s “Open Letter to the Armenian Nation” and information on the more dangerous points in these protocols. [full text]
October 12, 2009 AN OPEN LETTER TO THE ARMENIAN NATION By Raffi K. Hovannisian
The history of the Armenian people has been an ordeal of suffering, tragedy, and genocide. In this millennial series of misfortunes, however, never has the nation invited destruction upon itself. [full text]
July 30, 2009 NCI Examines Xenophobia in Armenia Yerevan—Today, the National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) convened a roundtable discussion on the topic of “Xenophobia in Armenia.” The meeting brought together NGO officials, human rights advocates, analysts, members of international organizations, and several others. [full text]
April 6, 2009 The Police Were Unable to Disperse the Young Protesters Yerevan—Today, at noon, the National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) and a group of young activists held a demonstration in front of the Armenian National Assembly. The protest was against several points that were specified in the Armenian government’s draft law on making amendments to the law “On The Police Force.” [full text]
February 28, 2009 Tax and Customs Legislation and Bureaucratic Red Tape Are Obstructing the Development of Book Publishing Yerevan—Today, the National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) hosted an off-the-record panel discussion between several publishing house directors and members of the Armenian National Assembly. The meeting also brought together economy specialists from the parliament, the Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS), and media representatives. [full text]
February 18, 2009 Women’s Potential is Primarily Neglected in Armenia
Yerevan—Today, the National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) convened a public hearing entitled “The Women in Authority Structures: Representation and Impact on Decisionmaking.” The meeting brought together political party representatives, NGO officials, members of international organizations, analysts, and media representatives. [full text]
February 3, 2009 The Rights of Free Speech and Expression in Armenia
A conference devoted to the issue of “The Rights of Free Speech and Expression in Armenia” was organized from January 30 to February 1 in Tsaghkadzor on the initiative of the “Eurasia Partnership Foundation” (EPF) with the support of the British Embassy in Yerevan and the US Agency for International Development (USAID). [full text]
December 13, 2008 NCI Examines the Blogs as Projects of Public Relations Yerevan—Today, the National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) convened an off-the-record panel discussion to look at the impact of Web logs on societal consciousness and to thoroughly consider their true role and intent. The meeting brought together MPs, policy specialists, NGO officials, and media representatives. Aside from analyzing the blogs, the discussants also explored methodological issues.
November 2, 2008 NCI Participates in the Black Sea NGO Meeting
Bucharest, Romania—The National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) coordinator Hovsep Khurshudian attended the Black Sea NGO Forum: “Time to Meet,” which was held in the Romanian capital Bucharest from October 31 to November 2. The event brought together representatives of over one hundred NGOs from the Black Sea region’s ten countries: Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Russia, Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. [full text]
August 14, 2008 NCI Tackles the Sevan Issue
Yerevan—Today, the National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) convened a public hearing entitled “Restoration of the Ecosystem of Lake Sevan: A Temporary Halt in the Restoration Process, or An Undesirable Finish Line?” The meeting brought together government representatives, MPs, scholars, social and political activists, NGO officials, analysts, and members of the press. [full text]
August 14, 2008 Escalation of the Politico-Military Tension in Georgia Could Result in Unforeseeable Consequences for the Caucasus, and the Near and Middle East
Yerevan—Today, the National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) convened a roundtable devoted to the recent developments in Georgia. The meeting brought together MPs, political scientists, human rights advocates, NGO officials, and media representatives. [full text]
June 20, 2008 NCI Explores Armenian MPs as Political Prisoners
Yerevan—Today, the National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) convened a public hearing to examine the issue of Armenian parliament members as political prisoners and the legal basis for their imprisonment. The meeting brought together MPs, social and political activists, NGO officials, attorneys, analysts, and media representatives. [full text]
June 17, 2008 Armenia’s Civil Society Believes PACE Resolution 1609 is Not Honored
Yerevan—By the initiative of the National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI), Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center, as well as the “Huis,” “Helsinki Civil Assembly”, and “Mijnaberd” NGOs, the representatives of Armenia’s civil society—and specifically members from over thirty public associations—today gathered at NCI headquarters to attend the summary discussion with respect to the fulfillment of the requirements that were stipulated in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe’s (PACE) Resolution 1609 of April 17, 2008. [full text]
STATEMENT OF THE CIVIL SOCIETY REPRESENTATIVES WITH RESPECT TO THE FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF PACE RESOLUTION 1609 OF 17 APRIL 2008 Having examined the domestic political situation and the measures taken by Armenian authorities to fulfill the requirements stipulated by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe’s (PACE) Resolution 1609, we, the undersigned participants in the summary discussion on PACE Resolution 1609 of 17 April 2008, hereby affirm that: [full text]
PETITION To: Mr. Raffi K. Hovannisian
April 16, 2008 Armenia’s Civil Society is Unwavering in Its Rightful Demands From the Authorities
Yerevan—By the initiative of the National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI), Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center, as well as the “Huis” and “Helsinki Civil Assembly” NGOs, the representatives of Armenia’s civil society—and specifically members from over fifty social associations—today gathered, at the Business Center of the American University of Armenia, to discuss the present-day situation in the country. [full text]
March 20, 2008 Armenian civil society will not succumb to reckless authorities Yerevan—The National Citizens' Initiative (NCI) today convened a public hearing which brought together social activists and NGO representatives. The roundtable participants thoroughly discussed the current situation in Armenia and adopted a joint statement, which they began to circulate for endorsements from all social organizations, civil society representatives, and intellectuals. [full text]
November 29, 2007 NCI Focuses on Armenia’s Mining Sector Yerevan—The National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) today convened a public hearing to examine the advantages—in terms of economic growth—and the drawbacks—with respect to environmental catastrophe—of a project toward the operation of a copper-molybdenum mine in the area surrounding the Teghut village in northern Armenia. The meeting brought together social and political activists, NGO officials, analysts, and media representatives.
NCI associate Davit Sanasarian welcomed the audience with opening remarks. “The exploitation of the Teghut mine is an actual matter and it calls for serious discussions and proper suggestions prior to the undertaking of this project,” he said.[full text]
September 27, 2007 NCI Looks at the Influence of Foreign Films Yerevan—The National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) today convened a public hearing to examine the growing presence of dubbed foreign movies in Armenia. The meeting brought together movie actors, theatric performers, men and women of the arts and letters, social activists, leading analysts, government officials, MPs, and media representatives.
NCI associate Davit Hakobian welcomed the audience with opening remarks. “Since the dubbing of foreign films into Armenian is a societal demand and a fact, a comprehensive discussion of this matter becomes all the more imperative,” he said. [full text]
July 12, 2007 NCI Broaches the Issue of Political Prisoners Yerevan—The National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) today convened a public hearing to examine the matter of political prisoners in Armenia. The meeting brought together social and political activists, human rights groups, government officials, representatives of international organizations, MPs, and media representatives.
NCI coordinator Hovsep Khurshudian welcomed the audience with opening remarks. “It is a pity that as a result of social apathy—as was the case during election fraud, lock-down of party headquarters, and infringements upon free speech—the shameful concept of political prisoner, from which no one is immune, is growing worse in Armenia,” he said. [full text]
June 8, 2007 NCI Addresses the Death of Levon Gulian Yerevan—The National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) today convened a public hearing to examine the criminal investigation launched into the mysterious death of Levon Gulian, a 31-year old Armenian citizen. A witness concerning a murder case, Gulian died on May 12 when he was apparently thrown out a window at police precincts. The meeting brought together Gulian’s relatives, social and political activists, human rights groups, state authorities, representatives of international organizations, MPs, and media representatives.
NCI founder and newly elected MP Raffi K. Hovannisian first expressed his condolences to—and affirmed his solidarity with—the family of Levon Gulian. Hovannisian then welcomed the audience with opening remarks. “Armenia cannot demand justice from the world when it does not respect its own citizens’ God-given right to life,” he said. Hovannisian reserved condemnation not merely for the murderers of Levon Gulian, but for the demeanor of the authorities, who failed to respond to the incident in proper measure. [full text]
May 10, 2007 NCI and ACNIS Conclude Monitoring of Pre-Election Media Coverage
Yerevan—The National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI), together with The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS), today convened a policy roundtable to present the final results of its monitoring project that focused on media coverage in the run-up to the parliamentary elections of May 12. The meeting brought together NGO representatives, leading analysts, policy specialists, and members of the press. ACNIS director of research Stepan Safarian opened the conference with the reminder that, at the beginning of 2007, a specialized monitoring group under the auspices of ACNIS had launched a four-month project to analyze television and print media coverage, specifically as they relate to the forthcoming elections. The monitoring, which covered the country’s [full text]
April 13, 2007 ACNIS and NCI Monitor Pre-Election Media Coverage Yerevan—The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS), together with the National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI), today convened a policy roundtable to present the results of its monitoring project that focuses on media coverage in the run-up to the parliamentary elections scheduled for May 12. The meeting brought together NGO representatives, leading analysts, policy specialists, and members of the press.
ACNIS director of research Stepan Safarian opened the conference with the reminder that, at the beginning of the year, a specialized monitoring group under the auspices of ACNIS had launched a four-month project to analyze local television and print media coverage specifically with respect to the forthcoming elections. “The results of the second [full text]
March 6, 2007 NCI Tackles the Issue of Political Prisoners Yerevan—Today the National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI), together with the parliamentary group that is investigating the true motives behind the recent arrests of Colonels Zhirair Sefilian and Vardan Malkhasian, devoted volunteers of the national quest for liberty and self-defense, convened a roundtable to examine the real reasons for these arrests. The meeting brought together social and political activists, human rights advocates, NGO officials, MPs, and media representatives.
NCI coordinator Hovsep Khurshudian welcomed the audience with opening remarks. “The widespread corruption, permissiveness, and arbitrariness—demonstrated by the very public seizure of Sefilian and Malkhasian nearly three months ago—by the ruling clique are growing worse. What is more, in the run-up to the parliamentary elections they are becoming more apparent,” he said. [full text]
May 1, 2006 RAFFI HOVANNISIAN IN BELGIUM FOR TRANSATLANTIC FORUM Brussels—Raffi K. Hovannisian, Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs, represented Armenia at an international policy conclave which was convened here from April 28 to 30 under the auspices of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, the Federal Government of Belgium, and the Bertelsmann Stiftung of Germany. [full text]
April 20, 2006 NCI Targets Corruption in Armenia
The meeting brought together social and political activists, human rights advocates, analysts, experts, and media representatives. Members of world donor organizations were likewise invited to the event. [full text]
March 31, 2006 NCI Focuses on Armenia’s Informational Predicament
NCI coordinator Hovsep Khurshudian welcomed the audience with opening remarks: “Today, when... [full text]
March 16, 2006 NCI: Armenia’s First Ombudswoman Presents Her Special Report
NCI coordinator Hovsep Khurshudian welcomed the audience with opening remarks, “The authorities had declared the constitutional referendum of 2005 as a crucial step toward the establishment of democracy and legitimacy in Armenia. [full text]
December 6, 2005 National Citizens' Initiative Looks at Voting Abuse during Constitutional Referendum
The meeting brought together international organizations, human rights associations, legal defenders, representatives of state structures, heads of political and non-governmental associations, human rights advocates, analysts, experts, and media representatives.[full text]
December 2, 2005 The “New” Constitution Continues to be “Blessed” by Abuse
Two individuals in civilian clothes, without introducing themselves, grabbed Hakobian by the arms, forced him into an unmarked car and took him to Kentron Police Station. There, these two officers wrote a report addressed...[full text]
November 30, 2005 RAFFI HOVANNISIAN DETAINED AT YEREVAN AIRPORT Yerevan—Raffi K. Hovannisian, Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs, was detained today for detailed questioning and inspection before boarding an Austrian Airlines flight to Vienna. Awaited and confronted by an airport national security (formerly KGB) agent identifying himself as Arsen Poghosyan and saying his job was to ensure...[full text]
November 24, 2005 National Citizens’ Initiative Examines Legalized Arbitrariness in Armenia
The meeting brought together human rights organizations, legal defenders, representatives of state structures, heads of political and non-governmental associations, human rights advocates, analysts, experts, and media representatives.[full text]
November 10, 2005 National Citizens’ Initiative Targets Youth Empowerment
NCI coordinator Hovsep Khurshudian welcomed the audience with opening remarks. “Different connotations are attached to our youth of today: they are described as...[full text]
October 13, 2005 National Citizens’ Initiative Holds Public Hearings on Property Rights and Their Violation
By means of the event, NCI brought a new stimulus to the civic movement against the human rights infringements taking place during implementation of the new construction plan for Yerevan. On August 24, at the time of the first hearings devoted to this issue, NCI had underscored...[full text]
October 6, 2005 National Citizens’ Initiative Participates in Another Rally this Time Before the Attorney General’s Office of Armenia Yerevan—The Civic Council Defending the Rights of Araik Zalian, Musa Serobian, and Razmik Sargisian, with the active participation of the National Citizens' Initiative (NCI), held a second demonstration to protest the illegal sentencing of the three servicemen. This time the demonstration took place across the Office of the Attorney General located at 5 Vazgen Sargisian Street. [full text]
September 27, 2005 National Citizens’ Initiative Takes Part in Demonstration in Front of the Military Prosecutor’s Office of Armenia Yerevan—The Civic Council Defending the Rights of Araik Zalian, Musa Serobian, and Razmik Sargisian, with the active participation of the National Citizens' Initiative (NCI), held a protest on September 27 across the Military Prosecutor's Office located at 66a Sundukian Street. [full text]
September 22, 2005 National Citizens’ Initiative Takes On Youth Issues
NCI coordinator Hovsep Khurshudian welcomed the audience with opening remarks. “The nationwide awakening in 1988 and, starting from 1991, the institution of Armenia’s sovereignty inspired hope that the new generation that was formed...[full text]
September 15, 2005 National Citizens’ Initiative Examines the Role of Women in Politics
Raffi K. Hovannisian, chairman of the Heritage Party and founder of NCI, welcomed the audience with opening remarks and wished the participants productive work. “Pursuant to its program focus on securing broad civil participation and public empowerment and in particular on underscoring women’s and youth issues, NCI today enters a new phase.”[full text] August 31, 2005 RAFFI HOVANNISIAN IN POLAND FOR SOLIDARITY ANNIVERSARY Warsaw—Raffi K. Hovannisian, Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs, represented Armenia at an international conference marking the Solidarity movement’s 25th anniversary, which was held here from August 29 to 31 under the auspices of the Solidarity Center Foundation and the Lech Walesa Insitute. [full text] August 24, 2005 National Citizens’ Initiative Starts Examining Violation of Property Rights in Armenia
NCI coordinator Hovsep Khurshudian welcomed the audience with opening remarks and wished the participants fruitful work, while stressing this matter’s importance for the Armenian society and the state. “The institution of a market economy in Armenia is unimaginable without...[full text]
August 19, 2005 Raffi Hovannisian-Kostas Karamanlis Consultations
Karamanlis and Hovannisian, who studied together at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy... [full text] August 10, 2005 National Citizens’ Initiative Examines Likelihood of Revolution in Armenia
The meeting brought together public figures, policy makers, media representatives, analysts and experts. [full text] June 15, 2005 RAFFI HOVANNISIAN AWARDED FRIDTJOF NANSEN GOLD MEDAL
NCI members, Heritage party supporters, journalists, and university students from across Armenia took part in the event. [full text] March 31, 2005 National Citizens’ Initiative Points to Old Realities or New Imperatives
The meeting brought together public figures, policy makers, media representatives, academic circles and NGO members to address historical facts and modern developments in an open and genuine manner. [full text] September 24, 2004 National Citizens’ Initiative Assesses 13 Years of Armenian Independence
On the occasion of the thirteenth anniversary of the Republic’s independence, the meeting brought together policy makers, public figures, academic circles, and representatives of the mass media and NGO communities to highlight Armenia’s sovereign track record and… [full text] September 9, 2004 National Citizens’ Initiative Examines Armenia’s Place in Regional Security
In view of Russia’s apparently scaled-back, and the US’s and European Union’s evidently growing, impact upon the region the roundtable brought together policy makers, public figures, academic circles, and representatives of the mass media and NGO communities to consider Armenia’s challenge of making a strategic choice… [full text] July 8, 2004 National Citizens’ Initiative Determines Trends of Armenian Economic Growth
The discussion, focusing on the challenges of this vital issue of public concern, brought together government officials, academic circles, experts of the field, public figures, and the media community to define the priorities and development opportunities in the economic sphere… [full text] June 10, 2004 National Citizens’ Initiative Considers Karabagh Conflict
What does the decade-old cease-fire promise, is a mutually acceptable solution feasible in the foreseeable future, do the authorities representing Armenian national interests enjoy a broad public mandate in and for peace talks, might an unfavorable arrangement be imposed on the Armenians? These and other issues critical to the future of Karabagh and the entire Armenian nation forged the day’s agenda. [full text] June 3, 2004 National Citizens’ Initiative Examines Armenia’s Road to Democracy
Raffi Hovannisian, founder of NCI and the Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS), greeted the capacity audience with opening remarks. “Against the background of national interests and geopolitical transformations, European integration has become a principal part … [full text] May 20, 2004 National Citizens’ Initiative Examines Army and Society
Public alienation, draft evasion, issues of law and justice in the armed forces, and the roles of political forces, civil society, and the intelligentsia in strengthening the army were in the focus of the day’s deliberations. Raffi Hovannisian, founder of NCI and the Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS), greeted the capacity audience with opening remarks… [full text] May 6, 2004 National Citizens’ Initiative Examines Political Confrontation in Armenia
Raffi Hovannisian, founder of NCI and the Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS), greeted the capacity audience with opening remarks on the "Political Confrontation in Armenia: Causes, Effects, and Solutions." "Even a cursory analysis of the past few years demonstrates why we have so frequently lost in the course of our history. In our heart of hearts and in our inner consciousness, each of us knows that the situation in the country, as it stands now, is not durable. Whether we consider last year’s elections a cause or an effect, they evidenced the commission of a big national mistake, the correction of which is crucial. [full text] March 21, 2003 National Citizens’ Initiative Examines Iraq and Regional Implications
NCI coordinator Hrach Hakobyan made opening remarks to the capacity audience. “The crisis in Iraq and the ongoing developments flowing from it will substantially influence Armenia’s strategic prospects. In order to promote an informed public dialogue, it is necessary to facilitate a multi-disciplinary, policy-oriented discussion on this pivotal issue. The Iraqi problem and its plausible impact on Armenia’s relations with Turkey, Iran, Europe, Russia, and the United States will inevitably be placed in priority on Armenia’s foreign policy agenda among other matters of current concern,” he opined... [full text]
The National Citizens’ Initiative is a public nonprofit association founded in December 2001 by Raffi Hovannisian, his colleagues, and fellow citizens with the purpose of realizing the rule of law and overall improvements in the state of the state, society, and public institutions. The National Citizens’ Initiative is guided by a Coordinating Council, which includes individual citizens and representatives of various public, scientific, and educational establishments. Five commissions on Law and State Administration, Socioeconomic Issues, Foreign Policy, Spiritual and Cultural Challenges, and the Youth constitute the vehicles for the Initiative’s work and outreach.
NCI Seminars and Roundtables in 2002
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