Problems with Artsakh authorities
Statement by the European Movement of Artsakh
"Since February 2011, the "European Movement of Artsakh" NGO was involved in the program "Course of Artsakh", which costs nearly 16 million drams and is aimed at raising the level of education and the potential of NGOs in Artsakh. The program offered youth of Artsakh several courses and consulting to apply to foreign universities and programs. The organizations engaged in the program had the opportunity to take advantage of the office based and technically equipped in Stepanakert.
However, very soon the "European Movement of Artsakh" was left out of this program for reasons that had nothing to do with us or the donor. This is not the first pressure or intolerance against our organization, but this information hadn't been released to this day because we hoped that we would reach an agreement with the Artsakh authorities-an agreement that envisaged giving the opportunity to implement several programs that fit in with the logic of non-formal education. We have no more hope because Artsakh President Bako Sahakyan has personally petitioned to exclude our organization from the program.
The Artsakh authorities were especially frustrated by the quarter course called "International Affairs and Diplomacy"' that we organized to teach experts from Stepanakert and Yerevan. First, the authorities warned us not to invite former Artsakh Foreign Minister Masis Mailyan, who had run for president in 2007, and then pressured students attending the course, especially those studying at Artsakh State University.
The European Movement of Artsakh expresses disappointment in the fact that President Bako Sahakyan takes a decision based on what he hears. We regret that the head of state takes actions that he shouldn't take and we believe that the only way of avoiding misinformation is to hear all sides.
The European Movement of Artsakh had already initiated talks on becoming a correspondent-member of the International European Movement with the purpose of integrating into the public-international sphere. The secretary general of the International European Movement had welcomed our organization's activities and expressed willingness to visit Artsakh. But the latest events are causing a threat to this entire process.
The European Movement of Artsakh pleads the Artsakh President to not impede the organization's activities and lift the barriers caused by other government agencies.
We also express our concern that to this day, organizations of Artsakh view those visiting Artsakh from Armenia and the Diaspora as foreigners and often impede their activities. We are certain that all Armenians have the right to live, create and develop in Artsakh, regardless of where they were born."
