On June 9-10 in Goris, Syunik region, a seminar “The Role of European Integration
and Criteria of Sociopolitical Reforms in Armenia” was held by Yerevan Press
Club and Friedrich Ebert Foundation. Goris Press Club assisted the conductance
of the event. The seminar brought together representatives of media, non-governmental,
also journalistic, organizations.
The presentation of the Chairman of “European Integration” NGO Karen Bekarian
was dealing with the European Neighborhood Policy as the main direction of Armenia’s
European integration. The Chairman of the Helsinki Committee of Armenia Avetik
Ishkhanian presented the results of the monitoring of democratic reforms in
Armenia, conducted by Yerevan Press Club jointly with a number of NGOs (the
report itself can be viewed on YPC web-site, www.ypc.am, in “Studies” section).
The role of “the third sector” and “the fourth estate” in the process of democratic
reforms was highlighted in the presentation of the YPC President Boris Navasardian.
YPC Expert Mesrop Harutiunian spoke about the possible civil society oversight
mechanisms in the process. In the presentation of the Director of the Law and
Information Center Lilit Simonian steps were proposed to strengthen the human
rights, freedom of expression and information practices. The Vice-Chairman of
the Center of Regional Development/Transparency International-Armenia Varuzhan
Hoktanian noted the rule of law and fight against corruption as the main components
of the democratic reforms.
