Armenia: Civilitas Foundation

Although I know little about the Civilitas Foundation established by the previous Foreign Minister, Vartan Oskanian, it seems appropriate to at least republish a mailing I just received. This does not represent an endorsement of the foundation, but it will be interesting to see if they achieve any of their stated aims and objectives.

It is six months to the day that we began to set up the Civilitas Foundation. It was clear even as I was planning to leave the foreign minister’s chair that I wanted to remain engaged in tackling Armenia’s domestic and international challenges. I am committed to doing my part for Armenia.

I believe that today what Armenia needs most is a society that understands its rights and its responsibilities. Therefore, I created an institution that is committed to offering the tools necessary to engage actively and constructively in building our country, our society and our future.

All Civilitas programs are designed with that in mind – from helping villagers earn a dignified income to preparing meaningful and relevant talk shows for television, our intention is to do what we can to strengthen society. Our foreign policy must be understood by all of us here in Armenia, and our friends and adversaries abroad. Our citizens need dependable, objective information to think, to plan, to have hope. Our children, even those from vulnerable families, must believe that if they excel, then they will have a chance to attend college. Self -supporting rural communities need a helping hand so that their families are provided for, their produce is purchased, their animals are healthy.

The Civilitas Foundation is my way of trying to bring that kind of needed change to our country. […] Visit our web site at CivilitasFoundation.org where you will find information about our goals and programs as well as weekly news and political analyses, social commentary and guest views on events in and around Armenia. […]