DISCUSSION IN SHUSHI ON HUMAN FREEDOMS IN POST-TOTALITARIAN SOCIETIES

KarabakhOpen
22-01-2008 15:47:26

In the framework of the project Democracy financed by International
Alert the Shushi-based Harmony NGO held a discussion on the human
freedoms in post-totalitarian societies and elections in the town
of Shushi.

The discussion started from the speech of the president of Stepanakert
Press Club, editor of the Demo, Member of Parliament Gegham
Baghdasaryan, who presented his view on different human freedoms and
dwelled on the freedom of speech, which he said is necessary to any
society, independent from the public, military and political situation.

"Freedom of speech cannot pose a threat to the security of the
country," Gegham Baghdasaryan said, pointing to the necessity of
constructive criticism to the government and the public.

According to the member of parliament, silencing negative phenomena
and the fear to have your disadvantages known leads to degradation
of the government and the society.

Gegham Baghdasaryan also touched upon the problem of freedom of
speech at wartime, as well as in the context of settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

With regard to freedom of speech in elections, the president of
Stepanakert Press Club underlined the necessity of awareness among
citizens to make the right choice. He also spoke against restrictions
of freedom of speech.

The participants of the discussion, mostly students, voiced their
opinions on the issues raised during the discussion.

According to the head of Harmony Juliet Arustamyan, the aim of the
project is to discover creative potential in young people, encourage
them to take part in civil activities, get in touch with democratic
values, transformation of the perception of the conflict, and so
on. At the end of the project the most active participants will get
training and meet with the representatives of the Azerbaijani young
people who are implementing an analogical project.

The project will last for three months. There will be more discussions
on awareness as a mechanism of establishment of democratic principles,
awareness of rights as opportunity of democratization, democratization
and possibility of conflict transformation.

The project also involves an essay writing contest about the town,
and the winners will get prizes.

Harmony NGO was set up in December 2004 in Shushi by Juliet
Arustamyan. The NGO includes over 30 women. The goal of the NGO is
the involvement of women in social activities and their leisure.

The organization also contributes to peace building and settlement
of the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. Harmony implements projects
of confidence buildings and tolerance.