© 2024. PHOTOS BY EUROPABÜRO DER KONRAD-ADENAUER-STIFTUNG
“Key developments between 2020 and 2023 eroded Armenian society’s confidence in Russia. Despite 58% of the Armenian population favoring EU membership, EU-Armenia relations remain vulnerable to Russian influence. Civil society plays a crucial role in monitoring government policies, offering recommendations, and collaborating with state institutions. As part of fundamental reforms, efforts to vet the judiciary are essential to reduce dependence and prevent the capture of key institutions by Russian interference.” – Edgar Khachatryan, National Facilitator of the Armenian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum.
On November 12, 2024, the chairperson of Peace Dialogue NGO, Edgar Khachatryan, participated in the preparation and implementation of the “Armenia in Focus” dialogue discussion held in Brussels. As the National Facilitator of the Armenian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF), Khachatryan contributed to fostering meaningful dialogue on Armenia’s role in the Eastern Partnership.
Organized by the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, this event was part of the “30 in 2030” series by the Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung European Office. It brought together representatives from Armenian civil society, government officials, EU stakeholders, and think tanks to discuss Armenia’s challenges and opportunities within the Eastern Partnership framework.
Key speakers included H.E. Tigran Balayan, Armenia’s Ambassador to the EU, who highlighted significant milestones in EU-Armenia relations, and Dorota Dlouchy-Suliga from the European External Action Service, who emphasized the importance of collaborative reforms to support Armenia’s development.
Edgar Khachatryan focused on the pivotal role of civil society in advancing human rights and security sector reforms, monitoring government policies, and supporting institutional transitions. He stressed the importance of drawing lessons from Moldova and Ukraine’s reform experiences to strengthen Armenia’s democratic processes.
Additional insights were shared by Pavel Havlicek of the Association for International Affairs and David Cullen from the European Commission, who addressed regional security challenges and the EU’s ongoing efforts to bolster Armenia’s resilience and integration.
The discussion underscored the significance of multi-stakeholder engagement in overcoming Armenia’s challenges and paving the way for deeper European integration.
This event was organised by the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum and took place under the series of events “30 in 2030” of the Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung European Office.
