Armenia

Social Event 1

Drafter: Haykanush Chobanyan
Type of event: Business meeting, Public Lecture, Reception
Location, date and duration: Congress Hotel, March 15, 2.5 hours
Description of the event: Alumni Council of Armenia (AC AR) had meeting   with Dr. Warner and Ms. Celine Glutz, CABIR Coordinator. They were visiting Armenia also to conduct interviews for selecting candidates for CABIR 18 and the Swiss Leadership Award 2010. During the meeting Dr. Warner informed that the upcoming CABIR 18 course on Economics will take place in Tbilisi at the end of April for participants from Georgia and Azerbaijan.
He also informed that the evaluation of CABIR program is going to be conducted by independent experts. The organization of a joint business meeting among the Alumni Councils’ of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia in Tbilisi was also discussed.
AC AR presented the “CABIR Alumni Inquiry” whose goal is to evaluate and learn Alumni’s views and opinions about the Alumni Council activities and to be aware of what they expect from CABIR network. This exercise should serve mainly to improve the Alumni Council’s work, to make it more relevant to CABIR’s Alumni and to match their professional interests and expectations, and to find ways to closely network, to involve them into CABIR’s activities.
Dr. Warner`s gave a speech on “The South Caucasus on the Periphery of West-East Politics”. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ms. Karine Khazinyan and a high number of participants including: CABIR Alumni, students, representatives of governmental and international organizations, as well as NGOs participated to the event.   The Director of AC Armenia introduced Dr. Warner to the audience and welcomed him.
Dr. Warner delivered a very interesting talk on the current situation of global force distribution and the leading players’ position concerning the smaller states in particular emphasizing the place of South Caucasus, the conflict of interests and relevant policy alternatives. The talk touched the nature of the current globalization discourse, and different theories of globalism. D. Warner emphased the motives lead countries to establish regional political-economic cooperation and alliances. Especially interesting was to hear about the role and place of the Caucasus region in these trends and developments.
At the end of the lecture an active discussion ensued and interesting questions were addressed.
The main questions were about the role of NGOs in making globalization work for peripheral countries, the future and feasibility of the Russian Initiative of the Pan-European Security System, the role of NATO in the region, etc.
After the lecture all participants were invited to the reception. This was a good opportunity for all of them to have informal discussions.
Purpose: It was a great opportunity and a pleasure to meet and listen to Dr. Warner’s lecture on an interesting topic. The reception provided an informal atmosphere to continue discussions and to refresh CABIR Alumni network.
Total number of participants: 60
Geneva Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies: 2
CABIR Alumni: 23
US Embassy in Armenia: 3
International Organizations: 5
Media: 1
NGOs: 6
Students: 20 (5 - from Diplomatic Academy of MFA Armenia)

Social Event 2

Drafter: Haykanush Chobanyan
Type of event:

1. Business meeting
2.Public Lecture
3.Reception
4.Business lunch

Location, date and duration:

September 6, 17.15-18.00, Congress Hotel, “Combined Meeting Room”
September 6, 18.00- 19.00, Congress Hotel, “Picasso Conference Hall”
September 6, 19.00-20.00, Congress Hotel, “Rafael Restaurant”
September 7, 13.00-14.30, “Café Central”

Description of the event: Alumni Council of Armenia (AC AR) had a business meeting with Dr. Warner, Ms. Celine Glutz, CABIR Coordinator and Ms Keti Dolidze, CABIR National Regional Coordinator. The aim of their visit to Armenia was to conduct interviews for selecting candidates for CABIR 19 as well. During the meeting Dr. Warner informed that the upcoming CABIR 19 course on International Human Rights Law and Environmental Law will take place in Yerevan at the end of September and beginning of October for participants from Armenia and Georgia.
He also informed that the evaluation of CABIR program, which has been recently conducted by the independent experts, was very positive and the final decision on continuation of the CABIR program will be announced soon. After AC AR briefly presented its activities done from January-September 2010.
Dr. Warner gave a public lecture on “The Concept of Human Security: Global Context and Regional Implications”. He delivered a very interesting speech on the states’ obligations, the role of International community and the regional implications with regard to protection of state and individual rights. It was also mentioned that each state has a right to decide its policy for protection of its own citizens. But when there is a lack of human security then other actors are involved in these issues. Good governance is not simple and to become independent is not easy, states should not rely only on international humanitarian organizations.
At the end of the lecture an active discussion ensued and interesting questions were addressed. The main questions touched upon during the discussion related to security issues of the South Caucasus region; from whom we need to be protected; and if human being should protect him/her.
After the lecture all participants were invited to the reception. This was a good opportunity for all of them to have informal discussions.
The next day AC AR had a business lunch with Ms. Glutz and Ms. Dolidze. During the meeting financial issues, prospective activities for 2010 and problems/challenges concerning the AC work were discussed.
Purpose: It was a great opportunity and a pleasure to meet and listen to Dr. Warner’s lecture with such an interesting topic. The reception provided an informal atmosphere to continue discussions and to refresh CABIR Alumni network.
Total number of participants: 20
Geneva Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies: 3
CABIR Alumni: 13
International Organizations: 2
Human Rights Defender Office: 1
Ministries: 1

Social Event 3

Drafter: Haykanush Chobanyan
Type of events: Reception “On the Occasion of CABIR 19”
Location, date and duration: Best Western Congress Hotel, October 7, 19:30-20:00
Description of the event: CABIR 19 course entitled “International Human Rights Law and Environmental Law” took place in Yerevan from September 25 to October 9, 2010 for participants from Armenia and Georgia. As usual at the end of every CABIR course a reception is organized to welcome new Alumni. The reception, organized for CABIR 19 Alumni, was held in a very warm atmosphere which resulted in an active interaction between the participants. Aneta Babayan, Director of the AC Armenia, welcomed new Alumni, introduced the members of Alumni Council and wished all the new Alumni to be active in forthcoming events. The new Alumni of CABIR 19 were included into the network and got acquainted with the others. They were much interested in the network and the AC activities in the countries.
Purpose:
The event held was aimed at promotion of activities within CABIR in Armenia. The main goal was welcoming and including new Alumni into the CABIR network, strengthening contacts between Alumni.

Total number of participants: 41
Geneva Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies: 3
Alumni Council members: 6
CABIR Alumni: 14
CABIR 19 participants: 18 (Georgia – 5; Armenia – 13)