ARMENIA IN 2009: PROMISE AND REALITY

The Civilitas Foundation
Tuesday, 22 December 2009

This second annual country report comes to build on the analysis
and projections made in the Civilitas Foundation’s first annual
report issued in December 2008. At that time, the newly established
foundation launched this annual publication to fill a gap – the need
to assess global, regional and domestic developments from the inside,
looking out. In other words, these annual reports come to complement
the various assessments carried out by international organizations, to
serve as the Armenian perspective on the year’s developments within and
around Armenia, and to take stock of the outlook for the coming year.

During the year, the Civilitas Foundation’s three program areas —
the Council on International Relations, the Democracy and Development
Initiative and the Generation Center – offer opportunities to publicly
and privately discuss and debate the economic and political realities
around us. The Generation Center convenes periodic gatherings with
individuals from various walks of life and different political
perspectives to identify the challenges and propose approaches. The
Democracy and Development Initiative supports the strengthening
of civil society through a variety of rural economic facilitation,
media projects and educational programs. The Council on International
Relations hosts public forums to debate the urgent issues of the day.

This annual report is the product of the work of all three of these
program areas. The editorial team distills the varying perspectives
we hear during the year from the Armenian public, as well as the
international community and experts, and combines them with reasoned
analysis. The outcome does not adhere to any one ideology or support
any one agenda.

As in the developed world, so in the developing world, this is not
always a clean and definable process. It is not always that opinions
and positions correspond to that which is expected or desirable. Our
attempt is to broaden the debate beyond black and white, beyond easy
and mutually exclusive choices, and to acknowledge the complexities
of our reality and our prospects.

Indeed, in the best international tradition, the Civilitas Foundation
reaffirms its commitment to highlight Armenia’s options in global,
regional and domestic processes and address how they affect Armenia
and the region. The Civilitas Foundation is guided by the principle
of consistent, open and objective discourse, utilizing cultural,
educational and political dialogue.