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Bonn
Prof. Dr. Wolfram Hilz/Dr. Shushanik Minasyan
(Institute of Political Science and Sociology, Bonn University)
Strengthening the Participation of Civil Society in Armenia and Georgia
October 27-28, 2016
Heussallee 18-24, FIW, Bonn University
Conference Outline
The development of participatory democracy as well as the strengthening of the civil society are
important objectives of the external policy of the European Union in the near neighbourhood. The
intensification of the political dialogue with the Union under the European Neighbourhood Policy
has created in post-Soviet space, especially in Armenia and Georgia, an atmosphere in which the
emergence of pluralistic forces and the consolidation of active civil society became possible.
However, there are still various institutional and organizational barriers that do not allow civil
society actors in Armenia and Georgia to become key factors in promoting democracy.
The aim of the workshop is to promote an exchange of views and experiences between civil
society stakeholders from Armenia and Georgia as well as some experts from Germany. In the
light of defective constitutional practice and restricted inclusion of the civil society in political
processes in both countries, we intend to create a space for a dialogue between scientists, NGO
representatives, the media as well as parts of the religious community.
27.10.2016
15:00 – 15:15 Welcome adress
15:15 – 16:45 Session I
Civil society in Armenia and Georgia: current problems and
challenges
• Prof. Dr. Giga Zedania (Rector of Ilia State University,
Georgia)
• Dr. Yevgenya Jenny Paturyan (American University of
Armenia, Armenia)
• Hans-Jochen Schmidt (Former Ambassador of Germany to
Armenia, Germany)
16:45 – 17:15 Coffee break
17:15 – 18:45 Session II
The role of the media in the sociopolitical construction in Armenia
and Georgia
• Akaki Gvimradze (Journalist, BBC Mentor in Georgia,
Georgia)
• Sara Khojoyan (Journalist, Bloomberg Yerevan, Armenia)
• Anahit Hayrapetyan (Freelance Journalist, Germany)
28.10.2016
09:00 – 10:30 Session III
Church as a mediator: How can the Church open new channels for
dialogue between the civil society actors and political players
• Dr. Kornely Kakachia (Director of Georgian Institute of
Politics, Georgia)
• Narek Mkrtchyan (American University of Armenia, Armenia)
• Dr. Detlev Preuße (Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation, Germany)
10:30 – 11:00 Coffee break
11:00 – 12:30 Session IV (Round table)
Which mechanisms could be developed for a stronger involvement
of the civil society actors in political decision-making processes in
Armenia and Georgia?
• Erika Kvapilova (UN Women Country Representative in
Georgia, Georgia)
• Dr. Stepan Grigoryan (Analytical Center on Globalization and
Regional Cooperation, Armenia)
• Hans-Jürgen Zahorka (Former MEP, Chief Editor, European
Union Foreign Affairs Journal)
12:30 End of conference