Intercommunity Conference held in Tsakhgadzor

October 28-29, 2006 – Civil Society Institute in cooperation with its partner organizations organized a two-day Intercommunity Conference within the frameworks of the Civil Society Network Program. The purpose of the conference was to raise issues within the various communities that this program has been working in, to find solutions to certain problems through discussions and most importantly, to initiate the development of intercommunity collaborative efforts. Conference participants were representatives from the six communities in the Tavush and Gegharkunik marzes where the Civil Society Network program has been working in.

CSI President Artak Kirakosyan opened the conference with a welcoming address to the participants. Opening words were also presented by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) representative, Arev Movsisyan. Following these remarks, an interesting panel discussion was held which regarded actual issues within this sphere. Panelists included Republic of Armenia Constitutional Court member Valeri Poghosyan, political expert Manvel Sargsyan, artist Susanna Gulamiryan and Tchambarak Deputy Mayor Azat Torosyan.

After the panel discussion, the participants were split into working groups. Representatives from the different communities told about their participation in the events organized within the framework of the Civil Society Network program which took place in their communities and provided their evaluation of these events. They raised a series of important issues and stated interesting suggestions for the direction of the program.

During group work sessions on the second day of the conference, participants reviewed and concluded their discussions. Among all of these discussions and efforts, people began to realize that as a result of the program there have been certain changes within the communities’ civil society development sector, as peoples’ mindset has changed towards self-consciousness.

Also discussed at the conference were various other issues which included organizing entrepreneurial business lessons, reporting about activities of local self-governance bodies, passing on experience and lessons among the marz communities themselves, local newspaper, publication of legal reviews and more.

With this it is possible to say that the preliminary steps have been taken. Within these days, progress was made towards contact making among the participants, formation of close relations, which will be necessary as a source for future collaboration. A confirmation of these efforts was followed by the Children’s Theater group of Hagharcin performing in Tchambarak on November 8th.