Armenia

The theme of Armenian Genocide is currently taught in Armenian schools in eighth grade history classes. Though according to the recent field observations, the 100th anniversary commemoration reveals a considerable shift from what used to be, something, which deserves deeper analysis in the future.

The amount of materials regarding the perceptions of various Genocide commemoration initiatives by different social groups in Armenia is huge in terms of quantity, diversity and ever-changing quality. The variety of initiatives, their scope and coverage spanning from one-time grassroots events, ongoing regular activities and all-encompassing government interventions to internal political and social debates, in addition to cultural undertakings and worldwide campaigns for Armenian Genocide recognition by different states and prominent individuals. Public sentiment constantly evolves under the growing pressure of commemoration activities.

Armenia and Turkey have close historical ties. Despite all ups and downs at the official level, changing governments in the offices of Armenia and Turkey and usually mutually hostile rhetoric – especially on the eve of Centenary of the Armenian Genocide – the two countries are historically inseparable.

In spring 2015 the streets of Yerevan are full of images of forget-me-nots, the symbol chosen for Genocide remembrance, often accompanied by the motto “Remember and demand.” The meaning of the first part of this statement is obvious for all Armenians: honoring the memory of victims of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey in 1915.

Since a controversial decision to sacrifice an Association Agreement with the EU in favor of joining the then-Customs Union, Armenia has gradually comes to terms with its new, more limited position.

(closed project) On February 2014 the Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (Yerevan, Armenia) with financial support of the Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office started implemetation of the project "Designing Democratic Public Space in Yerevan".

In institutional terms, Armenia's integration into Europe began the day Armenia and the EU signed a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA).

In a largely unexpected development, on September 3, 2013 Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian announced a dramatic U-turn in Armenian policy.