The lawyer, attorney at law of "ELL PARTNERSHIP" law firm Volodya Mazmanyan participated in the public hearings held in Gyumri within the framework of the project "Listening to concerns, building a dialogue".

During the month of August 2023, the "Liberal Policy Institute" NGO commissioned a survey in a number of settlements bordering Turkey to collect information about the concerns of people living on the border regarding the possible reopening of the Armenian-Turkish border. The purpose of the public hearing was to inform citizens about possible solutions and collect their positions in this regard.

During the meeting, the participants were presented with the results of surveys conducted in Armenia-Turkey border communities and a platform was provided for the attendees to raise their emotional questions in this regard.

Vladimir Mazmanyan, candidate of social sciences Nvard Melkonyan and chairman of the NA Foreign Relations Committee, MP Sargis Khandanyan presented about the work, analysis and monitoring done during the meeting.

Among the participants of the hearing were representatives of non-governmental organizations, students, young people undergoing professional experience, who showed interest in the process of opening borders, the results of sociological surveys, the possibility of contact between societies, existing dangers and challenges.

The experts presented a brief description of their work, after which sociological surveys, the progress of the border opening works and the existing fact-finding and analysis works were discussed.

Answers were given to all the questions of the attendees, regarding the negotiation process, possible domestic developments, re-opening of borders, cooperation of the Government. They also talked about the "Crossroads of Peace" project, which is considered the most important component of dialogue, neighborliness and economic activity.

The meetings will have a continuous nature and the representatives of the society will be presented in a meaningful way about the work being done.

The project is implemented by the non-governmental organization "Liberal Policy Institute" with the support of the "National Endowment for Democracy" (NED) of the United States of America.