The days when the representatives of civil society only notice the negative aspects of the government agencies and raise the issues have already passed. Its already time for civil society to offer solutions, and in case of having corresponding resources support the state to solve them as well. Mr. Karen Zadoyan, the President of the Armenian Lawyer’s Association, “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” Project Manager said today during the meeting with the RA Minister of Nature Protection.
At the beginning of the meeting, Minister Artsvik Minasyan stated that the implementation of such programs is welcomed and expressed willingness to cooperate. At the same time, he noted that the Ministry also has taken steps to make its activities more transparent and enhance public relations.
Representatives of the RA Ministry of Nature Protection Mr. Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, the Acting Head of the Staff; Mr. Artsrun Pepanayan, Advisor to the Minister; Ms Marine Karapetyan, Press Secretary of the Minister; Mr. Artur Danielyan, Head of Department of International Cooperation; Mr. Khachatur Khachatryan, Head of Legal Department were present at the meeting. Representatives of the organizations implementing the project Mr. Aleksander Shagafyan, the President of Armenian Center for Democratic Education (CIVITAS), Mr. Vahram Vardanyan, representing the Union of Communities of Armenia and Miss Syuzanna Soghomonyan, Member of the ALA Board were present at the meeting as well.
Mr. Karen Zadoyan presented the project and informed that a consortium of 6 CSOs is implementing the project. Armenian Lawyers’ Association is leading the Consortium.
This project should have 9 target areas, 3 areas have already been selected. The management staff of the project is conducting meetings with the representatives of the government and CSOs for the selection of the 6 remaining areas the project raising the issues and mapping. ALA President said that it will be primarily directed to capacity building of CSOs that work in the target areas. Thus, the civil society representatives will be able to assist the state.
“You know, that a lot of laws do not really reflect public expectations and interests: therefore they remain on paper and are not implemented. We shall try to direct the public strength that is accumulated in the CSOs to the new qualitative level of expertise so that the government could take advantage of it. We have such experience in the field of anti-corruption. As you know, all the documents that we have developed were accepted: even the legislative package for of criminalization of illicit enrichment was passed, signed by the President and shall enter to force from 1 July,” Karen Zadoyan said.
Welcoming the idea of the project, Minister Artsvik Minasyan said that they are ready to provide complete information to map the problems of the sector, and to continue to cooperate.
The “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” Project is implemented with the financial support of the European Union by the “Armenian Lawyers’ Association” NGO in cooperation with its partners; Agora Central Europe o.p.s (an NGO from the Czech Republic), Armenian Center for Democratic Education-CIVITAS, “International Center for Human Development” Public Organization, SME Cooperation Association and Union of Communities of Armenia.
Astghik Karapetyan
Aleksander Sargsyan
