THE STATE OF ARMENIA'S ENVIRONMENT

ARMENIA-DIASPORA RELATIONS: 20 YEARS SINCE INDEPENDENCE

YEREVAN'S 2009 MUNICIPAL ELECTION

IMPLICATIONS OF FINANCIAL CRISIS FOR ARMENIA

ARMENIA’S 2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

PFA’s Report on “The State of Armenia’s Environment” provides an overview of environmental challenges facing Armenia and highlights the severity of the current situation. It is intended to serve as a reference to a complex set of environmental problems and issues that are closely intertwined with the country’s development. Through the combined application of academic analysis and practical experience of its authors, the Report argues that improving environmental governance requires increased transparency and public participation in key policy decisions as well as the effective implementation and enforcement of existing environmental laws. The open pit mining operations in Northern Armenia—the subject of the Teghut case study contained in the Report—is an example of one facility where both urgent policy changes and adequate enforcement of existing policies are needed. Corruption and environmental activism are also discussed in some detail in the Report.

Armenia-Diaspora Relations: 20 Years Since Independence

PFA’s first State of the Nation Report entitled “Armenia-Diaspora Relations: 20 Years Since Independence” focused on the relations between Armenia and its worldwide Diaspora. As part of the series that intends to take assessments of developmental and national security issues of importance for Armenia and the Diaspora, the report produced an evaluation of the engagement between the two halves of the nation following the inception Armenia’s independence movement in 1988. It offers a comprehensive review of Diaspora’s engagement in Armenia on three critical dimensions: economic development, governance and public sector reform, and civil society strengthening. While acknowledging the enormous effort required and the sacrifices made to support Armenia during early years of independence, the review is critical to what has been achieved on these important dimensions and provides reasons behind these outcomes. Finally, the report makes the case for a collective action, which—if calibrated properly and with the focus on right values and objectives—could help better address the developmental and geopolitical challenges faced by the nation.

Yerevan's 2009 Mayoral Election: Statistical Analysis

To build on the analytical work laid out in the 2008 Election Report, PFA embarked on another election-related report entitled “Yerevan’s 2009 Municipal Election: Statistical Analysis.” The objective of the report was to examine the statistical properties of the data—including by comparison with 2008 and 2007 election data, where relevant—to reveal election irregularities. Similar to PFA's assessment of the 2008 presidential election, we found that the outcome of the May 31, 2009 municipal election in Yerevan did not produce any surprises. As in the previous report, the focus here was on indications of fraud that can be detected by statistical inference: ballot stuffing and artificial augmentation of vote counts. All four empirical tests utilized in the analysis offered evidence of fraud and irregularities, including but not limited to ballot stuffing and stealing of opponents’ votes during the vote count, all of which should be taken into serious consideration by all stakeholders involved.

Implications of the World Financial Crisis for Armenia’s Economy

Responding to the growing concerns about the potential implications of the world’s financial crisis on Armenia’s fragile economy, PFA produced its second report on “Implications of the World Financial Crisis for Armenia’s Economy.” The Report begins with a sobering discussion of global economic conditions and their causes. It predicts that the existing adverse conditions in the world’s financial markets and real economies will have a strong impact on Armenia’s economy regardless of how isolated its relevant sectors are from the rest of the world. The Report offers a detailed account of Armenia’s vulnerabilities to the world’s crisis by focusing on the flow of remittances, trade- and investment-related factors, financial sector, and official financial assistance. In conclusion, the Report offers a set of specific recommendations that are likely to reduce the impact of the adverse global conditions on the Armenia’s economy.

Armenia’s 2008 Presidential Election: Select Issues and Analysis

Consistent with its mission and operational objectives, and responding to events unfolding in Armenia, in July 2008, PFA published its first special reports entitled “2008 Armenia’s Presidential Election: Select Issues and Analysis,” provided a thorough and multi-disciplinary analysis of events surrounding the February 19, 2008 presidential election in Armenia. The Report provided analysis of the election outcome and the civil and political disturbances that ensued and was very well received by a broad range of stakeholders. The key issues analyzed in the Report include the election irregularities and human rights abuses observed before and on February 19 and March 1-2; the role of civil society in the aftermath of the election; and the political developments that followed. The Report provides a detailed statistical analysis of the election outcome and illustrates the massive deviations from the norm through identifiable forms of election fraud, including ballot stuffing and vote steeling.

(Armenian version)

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