Participatory Democracy? – What is 'The Future Armenian Convention'?

 THE FUTURE ARMENIAN is a public Initiative launched by Armenians and friends of Armenia to create a common framework of understanding around the sustainable development of Armenia as a country and Armenians as a nation. Interested parties may engage in the Convention by co-signing the list of 15 goals HERE, participate in further discussions on WHATs and HOWs of The FUTURE ARMENIAN and become part of planning our next steps collectively. Since May 2021 The Future Armenian Initiative has been able to assemble more than 100 000 signatories from around the world. This initiative seeks to foster a dialogue that would lead to a mutual understanding and a future vision for Armenia and Armenians.

The Future Armenian Convention officially kicks off

 Yerevan, July 22 (Dp.net).– On November 11-13 the first Convention of The Future Armenian will be held in Yerevan based on the “citizens’ assembly” model of participatory democracy. The participants of the Convention from the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Artsakh and Diaspora will discuss the existing issues and challenges and will adopt package of proposals to overcome those challenges. The convention will be preceded by meeting of expert groups, which will be open for all professionals.

The first convention will focus on three of the 15 goals set by The FUTURE ARMENIAN Initiative. Those goals are the Armenia – Diaspora Unity, Historical Responsibility and Growing Population.

On 7th of July, the Matenadaran Institute of Ancient Manuscripts hosted the launch event of the Convention of The Future Armenian. The ceremony signaled the start of the submission of applications for participation, as well as the beginning of the process of forming expert groups.

The goals of the Convention and the specifics and format of the citizen's assembly model and the application procedure were presented during the event. A special reference was made on the outcomes of the Artsakh Forum held in Stepanakert in May 2022.

During the “Public Discourses and the Artsakh Forum” panel session the speakers – Artsakh State Minister Artak Beglaryan, the participant of the Forum Anahit Mkhitaryan, Co-Founders of The FUTURE ARMENIAN Initiative Artur Alaverdyan and Aram Bekchian – reflected on the outcomes of the Artsakh Forum. They also exchanged opinions on the format of the public discussions and the importance of bringing the outcomes of those discussions to life.

The speakers at “The First Convention of The Future Armenian and Its Topics” panel session – Co-Founders of The FUTURE ARMENIAN Initiative Noubar Afeyan and Ruben Vardanyan, Director of the Alikhanyan National Science Laboratory and Chair of the Armenian Society of Fellows Board Ani Aprahamian and Executive Director of The FUTURE ARMENIAN Development Foundation Artak Apitonian – reflected upon the importance of discussion themes of the Convention and the existing problems.

Maria Titizian, the Editor-in-Chief for the EVN Report, moderated the panel discussions. The event guests had the opportunity to ask questions to the participants during the Q&A session.

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