Armenia

Armenian National Committee of Helsinki Citizens' Assembly

$53,466
To support a think tank program which will consolidate civil society around democratic ideals and encourage those values in the rural regions of Armenia. The program will consist of roundtables in Yerevan, a three day “master class,” and 20 seminars in small cities of Armenia. The organization will also publish a booklet and maintain a web site.

Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)

$151,073
To assess barriers to business development and will develop an advocacy program. After problems are identified, prioritized solutions will be compiled and published. The project will provide advocacy training to the existing network of business interest groups and will assist the business community in advocating reform at the national and regional levels.

Helsinki Association

$52,000
To monitor and report on torture and other forms of abuse in places of detention. The Helsinki Association will produce a report on torture to be presented to the UN Committee Against Torture, provide legal assistance to victims, and conduct national opinion polls on the roll of the police. It will also publicize its findings within Armenia to build public support for oversight of the law-enforcement and penal system.

Investigative Journalists

$22,185
To expand the operation of the weekly Hetq Online, into a website with continually updated news and analysis. Articles will be published in Armenian and in English and will focus on: domestic politics, foreign relations, social issues, the environment, Nagorno-Karabakh, the economy, the media, the judiciary, Caucasus-regional politics, and life in the regions.

“Meltex Ltd.” (A1+ TV)

$42,120
To report about the presidential elections using a talk show, a blog, and special reports on the organization’s website. The shows will focus on current events and the policies of the new president and be carried by the Hamaspyur network of independent regional televisions broadcasters. A1+ will also produce video clips and other news items for its blog and website.