PUBLICATIONS

The current research has been implemented by Peace Dialogue NGO in the framework of the project Safe Soldiers for a Safe Armenia, which is supported by the Dutch organization PAX. The research aims at studying the perceptions of youth on political developments,foreign policy, safety and a number of other issues in Armenia.

We started with the hope that we could make a difference in the way Armenian society looked at issues around conflict, human rights and the critical thinking needed to run a truly democratic society that embraces the diversity of culture and ideas it holds and do it all in a peaceful way.

Peace Dialogue NGO initiated the publication of this book within in the framework of the project Safe Soldiers for a Safe Armenia of Peace Dialogue NGO. The project Safe Soldiers for a Safe Armenia is supported by IKV Pax Christi.

Do you consider Armenia a militarized state?” If you ask this of an average citizen in Armenia you will probably not receive a definite “yes” or “no” answer. Those who are somewhat aware of this concept or understand its main essence will most likely give you an answer like, “not more than neighboring Azerbaijan or Turkey or the USA or Russia.” They may also answer, “yes, but what is the alternative, considering Armenia՛s geopolitical situation?”

Through civil engagement (the development of civil activism) Peace Dialogue promoted a culture of peace and tried to build a peace movement. In such a culture, everyone would understand their role and responsibility in the community and in peace acquisition and maintenance in the country and the region.

After a series of capacity building exercises, the young leaders from Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Nagorno-Karabakh that have participated in the project were given the chance to develop their own peacebuilding initiatives. As a partner of the project, Peace Dialogue actively supports and will go on supporting the participants in the process of implementing their own initiatives.

Dear readers, we are happy to present to you a review of the second year of activities of Peace Dialogue NGO. We are pleased that in the first year of our existence we have had many achievements in Peace Activism. Peace Dialogue’s staff has tried its best to achieve the strategic aims that were formed so as to have ‘desired impact’. Hopefully, when you read the review you will find that Peace Dialogue’s “theory of changes” concentrates on effects and impacts, rather than only on activities.