By Valeria Sargsyan
On April 18, at Ani
Plaza Hotel, recently released results of the Caucasus Barometer 2013,
an annual cross-border survey in the South Caucasus region, were
presented to the public. Over 80 participants of the presentation were welcomed
by the Yerevan State University vice-rector
Dr. Ruben Markosyan, World
Bank (WB) External Affairs Officer Vigen Sargsyan, and CRRC-Armenia Research Director Artak
Ayunts.
Dr. Markosyan emphasized the need for
such high-quality research in the region, as the one CRRC-Armenia provides, and
expressed deep satisfaction with a possibility for researchers, analysts, and
all interested people to compare data on different issues across the countries
in the region. Mr. Sargsyan, in his turn, underlined the importance of
CRRC-Armenia research and expressed regret on not fully using that invaluable
data. He also expressed gratification to the CRRC culture to openly share the
primary datasets, which goes on line with the WB open-access approach.
CRRC-Armenia CEO Heghine
Manasyan began her presentation with extending gratitude over EPF-Armenia, Yerevan
State University, National Statistical
Service of Armenia, Carnegie Corporation,
and CRRC-Armenia staff for
many years of fruitful, productive and efficient cooperation. She presented findings
based on new questions regarding awareness of regional conflicts, Armenia's
joining the Eurasian Customs Union, and human rights and social media
usage questions, as well as traditionally covered population's attitudes
on economic, social, political and other vital issues in the South Caucasus.
As in previous years, unemployment and poverty are issues
worrying people most in Armenia (45% and 16%) and in Georgia (54% and 10%),
while Azerbaijanis tend to mention regional conflicts (38%) followed by
unemployment (25%) as the most important issues being faced by their country.
Attitudes towards
country's membership in the Eurasian Economic Community-Customs Union (EEC-CU)
and European Union (EU) across countries were diverse as well: 65% of Georgians
support the country’s membership in EU, while only about 41% of Armenians and
34% of Azerbaijanis do so. Instead, 55% of respondents in Armenia support its
membership in the (EEC-CU), against 32% of Georgians. Not surprising then 83% of
Armenians considering Russia as the main friend of the country.
It is worth mentioning that 34% of Armenian thinks that the country is
not a democracy, as opposed to 18% of Azerbaijanis and 11% of Georgians
thinking the same way. Moreover, this figure has been growing during past 3
years in Armenia (28 and 27% in 2012 and in 2011 years respectively).
Nevertheless, majority of people in all three countries think they have the
right to openly say what they think:
As observed, people in South Caucasus
countries are not well aware of the regional conflicts in their neighboring
countries: around half of the Armenians and Azerbaijanis haven’t even heard
about Georgian-Abkhaz conflict; however, 62% of Georgians said they have heard
about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Moreover, the very fact that 35% of Azerbaijani
people believe that this conflict could be solved by peaceful negotiation
raises hopes for better future.
As part of the social capital and values fragment of the presentation, Dr. Manasyan noted that 35% of Azerbaijanis
tend to think that education is the most important factor for getting a good
job (as opposed to 19% in Armenia and 28% in Georgia) and for well-being of the
children: 41% against 28% both in Armenia and Georgia.
Still, people’s attitude towards economic future in Armenia leaves much
to be desired yet: only 30% hope that financial situation of their children
will be better off when they reach their age, with average score of 5.2 from 10
on perceived household economic rung.
As in previous years, Armenia shows higher figures for interest in
emigration, either temporary (60%) or permanent (31%). And finally, Georgia
brings up the rear with the traditionally highest level of happiness in the
region: 7.0 from 10 against 6.6/6.7 in Armenia/Georgia.
The presentation, followed by question and answer session, was mainly
attended by researchers, NGO and government representatives, policy analysts
and other interested parties.
All the Caucasus Barometer related materials and documents are
available on the CRRC-Armenia webpage.
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