It is planned to organise a policy design and evaluation course, specially tailored for the Armenian context, for a group of Armenian public servants and junior university lecturers, using experience and know-how provided by Armenian experts and V4 partners (Budapest Institute, Institute for Politics and Society, Res Publica Foundation, and Strategic Analysis Think Tank). Case studies and practical examples taken from different countries’ experience will help the participants to relate to the approaches presented, and to compare policy approaches in Armenia, V4 states and beyond. The course will help the participants to place public policy in a wider web of endeavours and disciplines.
The project will deepen our already established cooperation with policy experts in both Armenia and V4 states, let to develop the policy dialogue with Armenian state agencies, educational institutions and civil society organisations, and to collect information for adjusting future courses’ curricula to different state agencies’ specific needs.
The conference ‘Disinformation and false narratives as component of hybrid threats’ was organised in Yerevan on 5 December, with live streaming by 1in.am (in Armenian). The presentations at the first panel of the conference, ‘The dilemma "security vs democracy": disinformation and false narratives about Armenia’s political situation and foreign policy’ were also covered in detail by the Aravot daily on 12 December and 13 December. Then, the expert discussion ‘Democracy and security’ was hosted by the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor on 15 December. Two online expert discussions involving distinguished foreign experts took place as well: ‘The role of social media in dissemination of disinformation’ (video in English available) on 11 December, and ‘Disinformation and false narratives about Armenia's cooperation with the EU’ on 18 December. Collection of articles on disinformation and propaganda narratives related to Armenia’s cooperation with the EU, identity issues, and the role of social media has been published (in Armenian).
Between 23 and 27 October, CPS organised the study visit of a group of Armenian experts to Germany within the project framework. In addition to meetings with researchers and representatives of German NGOs working on the issue of disinformation, the group also discussed the current state of Armenia's relations with Germany and EU and the possibilities for development of relations with officials and think tank representatives. The group was also accepted by the ambassador of Armenia to Germany, H.E. Victor Yengibaryan, and discussed the project and other possibilities for cooperation.
Also in the project framework, media literacy trainings for teachers, young activists and students were organised: in Yerevan on 26 September; in Armavir on 30 September; in Gyumri on 14 and 15 October, with two groups of participants; on 25 November in Ijevan; on 26 November in Talin; on 16 December in Masis; on 17 December in Vanadzor; and on 26 December in Yerevan. Certificates were awarded to 175 participants.
The project also included series of trainings for young researchers and students, covering topics such as research design and methodology, media literacy, effective communication, and ways of dealing with hate speech. The project library is mainly in Armenian, with a few related articles in English.
Roundtable discussions The current stage of EU-Armenia relations and anticipated developments and Thirty years since the system change in Europe: lessons learnt, and contemporary challenges and opportunities were organised in October and November 2019. Further events were cancelled because of the pandemic. However, the EaP Monthly Bulletin was published in English for several months afterwards, from March 2020 till January 2021. It is available in our online library: 2020 and 2021.
phone + 374 93 821185, e-mail cps[at]centreforpolicystudies.org