PanARMENIAN.Net

Armenian and Turkish NGOs forum kicks off in Yerevan
14.03.2009 15:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian and Turkish NGOs forum, initiated by Civil
Society Institute and Civil Society Development Center (STGM) launched
in Yerevan. 20 Turkish NGO representatives arrived to Armenia to
discuss bilateral cooperation issues during a 2-day forum.

`We believe that forum will help promote stabilization of
Armenian-Turkish relations. The authorities of both countries play an
important role in the process, yet social organizations also
contribute significantly to the decision-making,’ STGM representative
Levent Korcut stressed. He emphasized that Armenian and Turkish NGO
representatives have met before, and expressed a hope that the forum
will become the first stimulus for dialogue development.

The representative of Civil Society Institute Artak Kirakosyan
emphasized that the civil society can do much to promote relations
between Armenia and Turkey. `We’re glad that during such events we and
our Turkish colleagues can touch upon the most sensitive issues,
especially now, at the onset of new collaboration stage between
Armenian and Turkish NGOs.’