`Socialist Approaches to Challenges’ Forum Opens in Yerevan

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By Asbarez Staff on Mar 25th, 2010

YEREVAN – An international conference entitled Socialist Approaches to
Armenia’s Challenges `Socialist Approaches to Armenia’s Challenges:
Global Perspectives, Local Realities,’ organized by the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation kicked off on Thursday.

The two-day gathering includes both Armenian and non-Armenian
delegates from around the world who have converged in Yerevan to
discuss workable solutions to Armenia’s challenges.

In his opening remarks to the conference, ARF Bureau member Davit
Lokian stated that the ideas generated from the conference will be
compiled together in an official packet of proposals, which will open
new opportunities for tackling the socio-economic problems accumulated
in Armenia.

Some of the questions to be explored by the conference include the
modern applications of socialist ideology and practice; paths
socialist and social-democratic parties have chosen to take in recent
years; and the positive outcomes these parties have secured in the
sphere of economic reform and social justice in their countries.

In a press conference earlier this week, ARF member and vice-president
of the Socialist International, Maria Titizian, elaborated on the
motivation behind the conference by stating, `Today in Armenia, we
have extreme wealth amid extreme poverty, issues of higher education,
women’s rights, and the protection of children’s rights. In this
regard, it is important to analyze the experience of other nations,
which is what we will be attempting to do with this conference.’

Participants in the conference include experts and activists from such
countries as Russia, the US, France, Sweden, Greece, Argentina, Chile,
Iran. There are also participants from Armenia and various Diasporan
political, intellectual and public institutions.

ARF Bureau member Vahan Hovannesian also addressed the conference
opening today, noting the importance of such a gathering in the
context of the world economic crisis – a time when the government’s
public policies have become highly disputable. The conference was
organized with the direct intent of laying answers down to these
pressing issues, he said.

Following the opening remarks, presentations were also given by, among
others, ARF Bureau member Mario Nalbandian and President of the
Swedish Association of Christian Social Democrats, Peter Weiderud.

ARF Supreme Council of Armenia chairman Armen Rustamian also added
that the conference aimed to offer tangible solutions to the grave
problems facing Armenia and propose solutions that the Armenian
society, as a whole, can engage in the reform processes.

`Government policies to combat poverty have failed. Serious economic
and social reforms are needed to address these and other critical
challenges,’ said Rustamian.