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April 9, 2002
Raffi K. Hovannisian Founds
The National Citizens' Initiative
Yerevan—Raffi K. Hovannisian, Armenia's first Minister
of Foreign Affairs and founder of the Armenian Center for
National and International Studies (ACNIS), launched the
National Citizens' Initiative at its new headquarters today.
In the presence of 50 staff members and journalists, Hovannisian
remarked: “It is today evident that, with ACNIS's experience
as anchor, the National Citizens' Initiative should come
forward as one of the imperatives of our time. Its purpose
is simple and straightforward: to develop and carry through
the very programs, projects, and policies that target development
in all aspects of public life. Let us work together. Acting
alone, we can often confuse good wishes and harsh realities,
but together we make it possible to turn these aspirations
into real-life accomplishment.”
“The National Citizens' Initiative is open for responsible
civic and national participation. The time is ripe for our
combined action with individuals and institutions sharing
our concern and commitment. Only in this way might we achieve
actual change in the life of one and all. Toward this end
we shall do everything under the law and in our power. Join
us in empowering Armenia,” Raffi Hovannisian concluded.
The Initiative has been launched with the purpose of realizing
the rule of law and overall improvements in the state of
the state, society, and public institutions. This entails
resolution of several key issues:
- Engagement and empowerment of citizens in public life;
- Contemporary reproduction of national values and instruction
of individual liberties and civil rights and responsibilities;
- Practical measures for the strengthening of democracy
and democratic standards by means of public initiatives,
example-setting activities and their propagation;
- Programs for the systematic institution of human rights
protection, for the civic education of all generations,
especially the youth, and for meaningful facilitation
of citizens' participation in public affairs;
- Reevaluation of the legacy of Armenian national thought
and traditions, with an eye toward forging reasoned state
policies and a public culture that guarantees steady societal
progress;
- Improvement of the legal field based on the principles
of distinct separation of powers and public accountability
for public officials;
- Development of lawful normative and administrative
acts and provision for their efficient implementation
by means of shaping public opinion; and
- Cultivation of broad support among the body public
for systemic reform.
The National Citizens' Initiative is guided by a Coordinating
Council, which includes individual citizens and representatives
of various public, scientific, and educational institutions.
Five commissions on Law and State Administration, Socioeconomic
Issues, Foreign Policy, Spiritual and Cultural Challenges,
and the Youth constitute the vehicles for the Initiative's
work and outreach. The Initiative shall cooperate with local,
national, and international organizations for the deepening
of relevant civic institutions and development of public
decisionmaking processes.
The daily activities of the National Citizens' Initiative
will be coordinated by Hrach H. Hakobyan, Armenia's former
Minister of State. Hakobyan graduated from the philological
department of Yerevan State University in 1978 and started
his career as a teacher. From 1979 to 1986, he worked at
Yerevan's City Council; from 1986 to 1990, in the Armenian
Council of Ministers; from 1990 to 1992, as Chief Administrator
of the Armenian Government; in 1992, as Minister of State
in charge of regional relations; and from 1993 to 1999,
as consultant and manager in the private sector. Since 2000,
he has been executive director of the Armenian Center for
National and International Studies.
The research work of the Armenian Center for National and
International Studies will hereafter be directed by Dr.
Tatoul Manasserian. Manasserian graduated from Kiev State
University in 1984 with a BA degree in economics. In 1987
he defended his PhD thesis at Yerevan State University,
and in 1993 received his PhD in economics from the University
of Redlands in California. From 1984 to 1989, he was analyst
and senior researcher of the Economic Research Corporation
in Yerevan. From 1991 to 1997, Manasserian served as president
of the “Armentrade” international business consulting firm
in Los Angeles. Between 1998 and 2001 he was consultant
to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, and from
2000 to 2001, head of the international department of the
Emergency Management Administration. He is a member of the
Western Social Science Association, and was recently elected
to the International Academy of Sciences on Nature and Society.
For further information, please call (37410) 27-16-00 or
52-87-80; fax (37410) 52-48-46; e-mail root@acnis.am
and NCI_Aghababyan@yahoo.com;
or visit our website at http://www.nci.am
The Armenian and
Russian versions of the press release
are attached.
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