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Karabakh NGO's Work Without Outside Support

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  • Karabakh NGO's Work Without Outside Support

    KARABAKH NGO'S WORK WITHOUT OUTSIDE SUPPORT
    X-Sender: Asbed Bedrossian <[email protected]>
    X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 -- ListProcessor(tm) by CREN

    Lragir.am
    30 May 06

    A round-table meeting was held in Stepanakert in the framework of the
    program South Caucasian Integration. An Alternative Start. The
    program is implemented by the Caucasian Center of Peacemaking Efforts
    (Yerevan) and includes NGOs from 6 South Caucasian countries.

    The meeting in Stepanakert was devoted to the present state and
    prospects of the Karabakh NGOs. A report was read by the director of
    the Civic Action Center Albert Voskanyan. The report says 107
    non-governmental organizations are registered with the NKR Ministry of
    Justice, the majority is not operating because of financial problems.
    Although the country's legislation provides for freedom of activities,
    the non-governmental sector develops at a low pace because it lacks
    opportunities to step into the international sphere and find external
    sources of income. Azerbaijan also creates hindrances because it
    offers political ultimatums to those international organizations,
    which are likely to set up relations with Karabakh. Even refugees in
    Karabakh do not get international aid, said Albert Voskanyan.

    Nevertheless, a tendency of development is becoming visible. First,
    several years ago a U.S.-British consortium was set up, which funds
    certain programs. Second, the NKR government gives grants to NGOs
    starting with this year. If formerly the government funded
    organizations, now the government funds programs. Certain
    organizations think this may lead to turning NGOs government
    affiliates. However, in the current situation the majority of
    organizations do not have other choice.

    On these days Dan Smith, the director of International Alert, a member
    of the Consortium is visiting Stepanakert. This organization has set
    up resource centers in Yerevan, Baku and Stepanakert, which were
    supposed to communicate with one another. This cooperation is mostly
    hindered by the Azerbaijani party. However, Dan Smith thinks that the
    frozen conflicts in the Caucasusare against the interests of ordinary
    people. He thinks that everything must be settled through dialogue,
    and the international organizations have greater possibilities to
    establish dialogue.

    It is obvious, however, that there cannot be a unilateral
    dialogue. The Azerbaijani side defies cooperation with Karabakh
    organizations. There are exceptions, but most often they refuse to
    take the hand of Karabakh.
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