Educational and Informative Role of Local Media – October 3-4, 2015, Aghveran, Armenia, seminar organized by Democratic Society East, Poland, in partnership with Yerevan Press Club in the frames of “Support to Pro-European Communities and Local Media in Armenia” project. The participants (24 in number) were representatives of media and journalistic organizations of Armenia as well as experts from Poland. Main issues discussed: informative and educational function of the local media, including in the process of European integration on the example of the Polish experience; sources of information of the local journalist: where to seek knowledge on European politics; needs of the local community: how to integrate the local community around the fulfillment of its needs; watchdog function of the local media; local issues and publications on European topics; situation with local media in Armenia.
Support to Pro-European Communities and Local Media in Armenia – October 1-2, 2015, Aghveran, Armenia, round table organized by Democratic Society East, Poland, in partnership with Yerevan Press Club in the frames of “Support to Pro-European Communities and Local Media in Armenia” project. The participants (34 in number) were representatives of media, NGOs and political parties of Armenia, as well as experts from Poland. Main issues discussed: European issues in Armenian independent media; formation of European identity; efficiency of media in formation of knowledge, opinions and views regarding the European Union; possible future joint activities of the Armenian pro-European communities and local media.
Current Developments in Local Self-Government Sector and Media Coverage – September 25-27, 2015, Aghveran, Armenia, seminar organized by Yerevan Press Club in the frames of “Civic Engagement in Local Governance” project implemented by YPC in partnership with Communities Finance Officers Association and supported by USAID. The participants (47 in number) listed representatives of Armenian local self-government bodies, state structures, NGOs and media. Main issues discussed: presentation on LSG reforms and main issues in respective sector; two press-conference games with the representatives of LSG – Major of Artik, Shirak region, and a member of Yerevan Council of Elders; capacities of community websites and online tools; presentation of “Press Club- CeLoG” TV talk show cycle produced by YPC and broadcasted on “Yerkir Media” TV.
Problems of Local Self-Government Sector and LSG Cooperation with Media – September 18-20, 2015, Aghveran, Armenia, seminar organized by Yerevan Press Club in the frames of “Civic Engagement in Local Governance” project implemented by YPC in partnership with Communities Finance Officers Association and supported by USAID. The participants (43 in number) were representatives of Armenian local self-government bodies, NGOs and media. Main issues discussed: constitutional Reforms and LSG; two press-conference games with the representatives of LSG – Major of Ashtarak, Aragatsotn region, and a member of Yerevan Council of Elders; media coverage of LSG issues and reforms; presentation of preliminary results of the survey implemented in the frames of CeLoG project.
Armenia’s Involvement in Integration Processes: Economic and Political Consequences – September 18, 2015, Yerevan, round table discussion, organized by Yerevan Press Club with the support of Friedrich Ebert Foundation. The participants (30 in number) were representatives of political parties, civil society organizations, media and expert community of Armenia.
Role and Activity of Civil Society Organizations in EU-Armenia Relations – September 4-6, 2015, Dilijan, Armenia, seminar organized by Yerevan Press Club with the support of Friedrich Ebert Foundation. The participants (32 in number) were representatives of NGOs-members of the Armenian National Platform of Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF ANP). Main issues discussed: priorities and activities of the Armenian delegation in the proposed new format for Kiev Forum; democracy and human rights issues in Armenia and ANP activities in this regard; prospects of EU-Armenia economic cooperation amid Armenia’s membership to Eurasian Economic Union; engagement of the civil society in the environmental sector of Armenia: how to make it more efficient; development of people-to-people contacts in the framework of EU-Armenia cooperation; social rights in the agenda of the EU Eastern Partnership initiative.
Constitutional Reform: Controversial Necessity – September 4, 2015, Yerevan, round table discussion organized by Yerevan Press Club with the support of Friedrich Ebert Foundation. The participants (27 in number) were representatives of political parties, civil society organizations, media and expert community of Armenia.
Importance of Public Information During the Implementation of Local Self-Government Reforms – July 19-21, 2015, Aghveran, Armenia, seminar organized by Yerevan Press Club in the frames of “Civic Engagement in Local Governance” project implemented by YPC in partnership with Communities Finance Officers Association and supported by USAID. The participants (43 in number) were representatives of Armenian local self-government bodies, NGOs and media. Main issues discussed: peculiarities of local self-government system in Armenia; reflection of LSG reforms in the new concept of constitutional reforms; municipal official web sites and management information systems in LSG; results of public discussions on local government sector development strategy; Armenia’s civil society participation in public policy development process.
Tasks of the Civil Society in the Context of Political Developments in Armenia – July 8-10, 2015, Gyumri, Armenia, seminar organized by Yerevan Press Club with the support of Friedrich Ebert Foundation. The participants (32 in number) were representatives of Armenian NGOs and media, members of the Armenian National Platform of Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF ANP). Main issues discussed: local and international media coverage of the Armenian social/political developments: information or propaganda; CSF ANP recommendations for revision of the European Neighborhood policy; opportunities of development of policy dialogue between the civil society and authorities in Armenia; prospects of EU Eastern Partnership after the Riga Summit; civic movement against the increase of electricity tariffs: lessons learnt; process of constitutional amendments and the priorities of the civil society organizations.
Current Stage of Local Self-Government Reforms and Media Coverage – July 5-7, 2015, Aghveran, Armenia, seminar organized by Yerevan Press Club in the frames of “Civic Engagement in Local Governance” project implemented by YPC in partnership with Communities Finance Officers Association and supported by USAID. The participants (39 in number) were representatives of Armenian local self-government bodies, NGOs and media. Main issues discussed: current stage of LSG reforms; means of involving the population in the local government; administrative-territorial reform and relevant legislation; new mechanisms of financial equalization; modern methods of strategic planning and budgeting of communities.
Civil Society Engagement in Policy Dialogue in Armenia – June 3, 2015, Yerevan, round table organized by Yerevan Press Club in partnership with the Secretariat of the Armenian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum in the frames of “Civil Society Dialogue for Progress” project supported by the European Union. The participants (52 in number) were representatives of state structures, NGOs and media of Armenia. Main issues discussed: presentation of the results of the study entitled “Civil Society Engagement in Policy Dialogue in Armenia”, conducted by YPC and EaP CSF ANP Secretariat in March 2015. The research was built on in-depth interviews with competent persons (government, CS representatives, social scientists, intellectuals and journalists), focus group discussions with civil society representatives, and media monitoring on the coverage of civil society activities and its engagement in the policy dialogue.
Armenia Amid the Upcoming Eastern Partnership Riga Summit – May 11, 2015, Yerevan, round table discussion organized by Yerevan Press Club with the support of Friedrich Ebert Foundation. The participants (39 in number) were representatives of political parties, civil society organizations, media and expert community of Armenia.
Armenia Amid the Upcoming Eastern Partnership Riga Summit – May 8-10, 2015, Aghveran, Armenia, seminar organized by Yerevan Press Club with the support of Friedrich Ebert Foundation. The participants (30 in number) were representatives of Armenian NGOs and media, invited to take part in the 1st EaP Media Conference (May 20, 2015) and EaP Civil Society Conference (May 20-21, 2015). Main issues discussed: outcomes of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly and the future of the Eastern Partnership; priorities of the EaP Civil Society Forum; Eastern Partnership and main concerns of the media field development; EU-Armenia relations in the context of geopolitical and internal political developments; economic component of the EU-Armenia relations; prospect of EU-Armenia relations after the EaP Riga Summit.
