Diaries 2005

P2: Male - Arm

EXPECTATION
I expect this seminar to be a good opportunity for us(Armenians and Turks) to meet on student level and discuss matters that concern us both. Direct dialogue is an effective way for exchanging ideas in search for long term solutions. During the seminar I hope to have constructive discussions between both sides; discussions that are led by professionals and dominated by mutual respect. I hope that participants will be able to express their ideas freely and try to avoid We have learn to communicat directly in order to eliminate prejudices and misunderstandings. In ths regard I expect the organizers to do their best in providing us with the ideal atmosphere conducive to building mutual trust and understanding.
Beside formalities I hope that there will be a chance of meeting each other and getting to know each other in a rather friendly environment, and may be even making friends. This will pave the way for more active cooperations in the future. After all, we all are young people and we always have something in common.
As I am currently studying Turkish I hope this will give me the chance to speak the language and learn little bit more about Turkey, its people, their mentality and culture. Even simple and modest contacts could play a big role in shaping the opinion about a society and I hope my personal contact with it will shed light on many sides that have long stayed dark and help me find common grounds for more active cooperation.

10.08.05
As I arrived earlier than my fellow participants I waited for them to come. I was really looking forward to finding out about what kind of people I will be spending my week with. Anyway my first impressions were great. I hope this will get more and more interesting as we proceed.

11.08.05
Yesterday was very interesting. It was our first day. We had several interesting discussions that were led by professionals and dominated by mutual respect. In overall it was friendly and I had fun. We went out in the evening and we had a nice stroll in the city center. Some guys decided to go to disco. But me with some of my new friends were happy. Just to experience the night walk in Antakya.

Support to the Armenia-Turkey Normalisation Process is a programme implemented by a Consortium of eight civil society organisations from both countries with the financial assistance of the European Union under the Instrument for Stability. 

The overall objective of the programme is to promote civil society efforts towards the normalisation of relations between Turkey and Armenia and towards an open border by enhancing people-to-people contacts, expanding economic and business links, promoting cultural and educational activities and facilitating access to balanced information in both societies. 

The Consortium partners include Civilitas Foundation (CF), Eurasia Partnership Foundation (EPF), Public Journalism Club (PJC), Regional Studies Center (RSC) from Armenia; and Anadolu Kültür, the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV), Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly (hCa), and Hrant Dink Foundation from Turkey.  The programme will include a series of activities such as media support, TV talk shows and citizen reporting to contribute to better mutual understanding.

The programme will also include travelling discussions; workshops and trainings for youth and teachers; exchange of artists, architects, and entrepreneurs; fellowship opportunities and travel support to enhance encounters and cooperation across the border. Research on business and economic opportunities; celebrity discussions about the past; and opinion exchanges of high-level former officials will also be a part of the programme. 

One of the main pillars of the Programme is inclusiveness – to engage and support new actors in the dialogue process. To this end, the Consortium created a Grant Scheme to invite individuals and civil society organisations from Armenia and Turkey - other than the Consortium members - to propose and implement their own project ideas, which will contribute to the overall objective of the Programme and multiply the shared outcomes. 

The results of all activities will be shared with the public through the trilingual website, which will serve as a networking tool featuring the overall picture of the past, current, and future developments in Armenia-Turkey dialogue initiatives. 

For further information, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.