ROUND-TABLE MEETING IN KARABAKH
E. Babayan

Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
05 June 2006

In late May the Karabakh branch of the human rights organization
Civic Action Center held a round-table meeting in Stepanakert on
the problems and prospects of development of the non-governmental
sector in Nagorno Karabakh in the framework of the initiative “South
Caucasian Integration: Alternative Start.”

>From Yerevan Georgy Vanian, the director of the Caucasian Centre
of Peace Building Efforts, and Louisa Poghossian, the coordinator
of the project “South Caucasian Integration. Alternative Start,”
participated in the round-table meeting. The first meeting of the
representatives of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia in the framework
of this initiative took place on July 19, 2005 in Yerevan. In March
2006, the second meeting took place, funded by Caritas (France). The
representatives of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Abkhazia, Nagorno
Karabakh and South Osetia took part. On July 8-13 the six recognized
and unrecognized states of this region will meet to discuss the
problems of establishment of democracy and settlement of conflicts,
humanitarian problems in conflict settlement and conciliation,
effectiveness of human rights and peacemaking NGOs, their establishment
in unrecognized states, etc. The director of the Civic Action Centre
Albert Voskanian presented a report on the non-governmental sector in
Nagorno Karabakh, prepared by CAC, Young Democrats NGO and Harmony
NGO. “Although the NKR legislation does not hinder the development
of NGOs in NKR in any way, the development of the non-governmental
sector is very slow.

107 NGOs are registered but the majority do not operate. They say the
reason is the money problem, the lack of opportunities to establish
partnership with organizations abroad. The reason why international
organizations and donors often reject cooperation with Karabakh
NGOs, including humanitarian sphere, is that the country is not
recognized. As a result, the Nagorno-Karabakh refugees do not receive
aid from international funds and organizations.

Nevertheless, certain progress is reported in the non-governmental
sector,” said Albert Voskanian. The participants of the round-table
meeting came up with proposals, namely on cooperation between the
Karabakh NGOs and the Armenian Diaspora, international assistance
to the development of democratic institutions in Nagorno Karabakh,
relations with the government. Most participants approved the draft
report. They think it reflects the state of the NKR non-governmental
sector adequately. Georgy Vanian, Caucasian Centre of Peace Building
Efforts: “It is necessary to shift from office peace building to real
peace building efforts, meet people, work at places, disseminate peace
building ideas, and be consistent. On May 5-17 the Armenian-Azerbaijani
task force of the project “South Caucasian Integration. Alternative
Start” had meetings in Georgia, South Osetia and Abkhazia, our
website was presented (which is an important factor for integration),
the topics of the July 8-13 working meeting of the six states in
Yerevan (including the representatives of South Caucasian NGOs,
and citizens of all these states) were specified. A joint document
will be adopted during these debates, which will be extended to the
societies of all the six states.” Louisa Poghossian, Coordinator
of the project South Caucasian Integration. Alternative Start:
“A tenacious approach and frankness are essential to the settlement
of problems. During the meeting in July in Yerevan we are going to
break up in groups. One of the groups, for instance, will include
representatives of Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh, and will deal
with specific issues. The parties will work out and sign a document
and assume its joint fulfillment.” Recently the Caucasian Centre of
Peace Building Efforts and the Civic Action Centre conducted a survey
among 24 Nagorno-Karabakh NGOs and 3 labor unions to find out the
problems that hinder establishment of relations with international
organizations, participation in international and regional seminars
and trainings. Particularly, as a major obstacle to partnership with
Azerbaijanis NGOs 12 pointed to financial problems, 11 emphasized the
political situation, 6 pointed to the lack of interest, 4 mentioned
the reluctance of the government and politicization of the issue,
2 point to the lack of means of communication, 1 emphasized the
unsettled conflict and 1 pointed to the atmosphere of distrust. One
NGO answered that there are no obstacles at all.

6 participants declined to answer this question. With regard to
cooperation with NGOs of other countries 13 pointed to financial
problems, 3 said the problem is that the country is not recognized,
2 said there are no means of communication, 1 pointed to the low level
of awareness. Three NGOs think there are no obstacles, 7 participants
declined to answer this question. The participants of the survey came
up with the following proposals on overcoming these problems: setting
up direct relations among NGOs 6, development of a civil society 5,
assistance from international organizations 4, elimination of distrust
4, government assistance 3, persuading Azerbaijan that direct relations
with Karabakh are vital 2, prevention of politicization of the problem
2, international conferences 2, exchange of visits 2, engagement in
regional and international projects 3, alternative sources of funding
1, solidarity of NGOs 1, creation of a website with details about
potential partners 1, regular seminars and trainings 1. By the way,
this year the government decided on funding projects of NGOs, which
will promote greatly the non-governmental sector in Karabakh.