Civil organisations set to work over Armenia-Turkey relations

A Consortium, involving four civil organisations of Armenia, has been established to work over the Armenia-Turkey relations, organisation’s members announced at today’s press conference.

The Consortium consists of the International Center for Human Development (ICHD), Armenia’s Union of Businessmen and Industrialists, the Yerevan Press Club, and the Eurasia Cooperation Found. The organisations signed a memorandum on April 26.

ICHD Executive Director Tevan Poghosian pointed out that the Consortium is not a political body. “Henceforth all our initiatives and events, aimed at the normalisation of relations with Turkey, will be carried out by joint efforts,” he said.

President of Armenia’s Union of Businessmen and Industrialists, Armen Kazarian, said that despite the ratification of Armenia-Turkey protocols had been suspended, the initiatives by the civil sector can be useful.

“We can hardly move to friendly relations with our neighbors without rapprochement between the two civil societies, without the public diplomacy,” said Armen Kazarian.

The members of the Consortium experienced the implementation of programmes, aimed at the reconciliation between Armenia and Turkey; they have established relations with nearly 150 partners, and will cooperate with them within the framework of Consortium’s activities.