June 3, 2004

National Citizens’ Initiative Examines Armenia’s Road to Democracy

Yerevan—The National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) today convened a specialized policy discussion on “Armenia’s Current Phase of Democratization: The Backdrop of European Integration.” The assembled policy experts and public figures addressed the specific characteristics of the Republic and its integration into the European family of nations, as well as the three-year track record of its Council of Europe membership and further development prospects.

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 of Armenia’s policy agenda. Given the results of ACNIS's recent expert opinion surveys, the integration inclinations prevalent in Armenian society are viewed largely within the context of safeguarding the country's sovereignty and preserving its national value system,” Hovannisian said.

In a paper on “The Three-Year Track Record of European Integration: Advance or Retreat?,” parliamentarian Shavarsh Kocharian, who serves in Armenia's delegation to the Council of Europe, focused on the fact that the Armenian public shares the pivotal principles of the Council: development of democracy, establishment of the rule of law, honoring of minority rights, maintenance of unique cultural heritage, and other provisions of the European system of standards which correspond to our national mindset and historical experience. “We had rather favorable conditions to integrate into all European institutions, ensuring advancement in all relevant spheres. Unfortunately, our authorities and a certain segment of society do not realize the real significance of the Council of Europe, and thus the last three years have turned into a period of lost opportunities,” Shavarsh Kocharian held.

Tigran Jrbashian, executive director of the Armenian-European Policy and Legal Advice Center, delivered an illustrated lecture on “Armenia in the Conception of 'Enlarged Europe’: Promises and Prospects.” European integration paves a way to the future, he asserted, as the new and wider Europe is aimed at enhancement of democracy and security of peoples. “Membership in the enlarged Europe, apart from accounting for serious material support, offers an excellent chance to partake in common European programs such as cultivation of socioeconomic policy and close cooperation in the fields of energy, transport, culture, science and education, and, most importantly, the refinement of our own institutional values.”

MP Armen Rustamian’s presentation on “Armenia’s Fulfillment of Its Council of Europe Commitments” did not take place because of his absence, but the ensuing discussion considered in detail all the issues flowing from it.

The second session was completely devoted to exchanges of views and policy recommendations among the public figures and policy specialists in attendance. Noteworthy were contributions by former prime minister Khosrov Harutiunian of the Christian Democratic Union; former ambassador and current Yerevan State University professor Davit Hovhannisian; Haik Sargsian, dean of the economics faculty of Yerevan State University; Hrant Khachatrian of the Constitutional Law Union; Mushegh Lalayan of the Republican Party; Petros Makeyan of the Democratic Fatherland Party; Levon Zourabian of the Capital Markets Development Project; Vardan Khachatrian, theology professor at Yerevan State University; Tamar Gevorgian of the United Labor Party; law professor Hrair Tovmasian; and many others. The speakers attached prime importance to democratization within the framework of European benchmarks, institutional reforms, legislative improvements, and Armenia’s fulfillment of its Council of Europe commitments.

ACNIS analyst Hovsep Khurshudian closed the seminar with summary remarks and words of gratitude. “Armenia’s drive toward European integration is not an end in itself,” he said. “It is based on Armenia’s own vital interest, and among all else helps to resolve its security concerns. In this respect, today's deliberations have been very useful.”

The National Citizens’ Initiative is a public non-profit association founded in December 2001 by Raffi K. 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.

For further information, please call (3741) 27-16-00 or 27-00-03; fax (3741) 52-48-46; e-mail info@nci.am