YERITAC continues its active involvement in international and regional projects: we are now involved in the group of NGOs platform in Armenia (Yeritac, Youth initiative Center in Gyumri, CSI Armenia, International Center of Intercultural Research learning and Dialogue) and in Turkey. The aim of this NGO platform with International Hrant Dink Foundation (based in Istanbul) is to run a Mobility Project across Armenia and Turkey with a view to bolster the dialogue process of the two neighboring countries, which had no ties for decades.

At the 3-7 of January, 2010, the organizers team of Armenian NGOs platform visited to Istanbul, where  very constructive meetings took place with the Turkish supporting organizations platform (International Hrant Dink Foundation, Helsinki Citizens Assembly of  Turkey, Community Volunteers Foundation TOG, Community Education Foundation TEGV, STGM- Civil Society Development Centre, Association for Social Change, Bilgi University Youth Studies Unit, “Overteam” website designers). It was decided to organize and run both in Armenia and in Turkey the Manifesto signing process, with these various Ngo-s who would like to join and support the idea of  Mobility Found. Now the first formal step is done. In Armenia, the Manifesto signing process has already launched at 30 of January, 2010, at CSI Office in Yerevan.

The Manifesto text:

“AN ARMENİA-TURKEY INİTİATİVE BEYOND BORDERS…”

“We, the civil society organizations of Armenia and Turkey, support the building of ties between our countries. With a view to encourage the peoples of both countries to cross the border, to build relations with the neighbour, to act together in future through individual and civic initiatives, and to enhance interpersonal contact we are launching the Armenia-Turkey Initiative “Beyond Borders”. We grant our support to the “Beyond Borders Initiative” to be started under the umbrella of the International Hrant Dink Foundation so as to make borders insignificant, to make peace with one another and to build our future together. We firmly believe that a world where peace prevails can be achieved through civic initiatives, by overcoming borders, and by putting into life joint projects that advocate communication, understanding and coexistence. The “Beyond Borders Initiative” is opening up the doors of this new world by progressively eliminating borders and by encouraging people to travel. Let the doors open and never close again…”