The inhabitants of Stepanavan gathered in Mayor’s office. The meeting in “World Café” format was organized by the “Armenian Young Lawyers Association” using the IT means.
“The main aim of the project is to contribute to the citizens’ participation in the decision making processes of the local self governance bodies, as well as the implementation of the public control over the activities of the local self governance bodies,” said Karen Zadoyan, the President of the “Armenian Young Lawyers Association”, the Project Manager of “Citizens’ Participation in the Decision Making Processes of Local Self-Governance Bodies: Introduction of EU Experience” Project.
“Today a vacuum is created, a law is adopted, a change is made in the law but it is not applied in a way that will contribute to more effective organization of our work,” mentioned the Chief of the staff of Stepanavan community, Melania Ghazaryan.
The Czech Republic has a big experience in ensuring citizens’ participation in the local self governance bodies. The experience of the small city, Cesky Brod is presented as a successful example. City forums, public discussions on strategically important documents, public discussions on specific topics, etc. are discussed. In this way the authorities work with the inhabitants of the city.
“The public discussions, I think are quite important since a person expresses his/her opinion and there is an opportunity to make conclusions in order to do the work in a more effective way,” mentioned the deputy director of Stepanavan Art school,Nara Vermishyan.
After the presentation of the experience of Cesky Brod the inhabitants of Stepanavan were divided into groups and started discussing the transparency and integrity of the elders’ council activities, their efforts to ensure the citizens’ participation and raised the strong and weak sides.
“We were not aware that we can participate in the sessions of elders’ council, draw questions and now we are informed,” sincerely said Liza Vardanyan.
“The citizens’ participation in the local self governance must be big, the inhabitants must be active, must cooperate with governing bodies, raise the questions they are interested in and if the cooperation is active the result is more substantial,” mentioned the pedagogue, Naira Sukiasyan.
The leading specialist of the Media and Public Relations Department of the Mayors’ office, Nazeni Avagyan notices that in the last years the citizens are more active in the city life but not all of them.
“Recently a grandmother wrote that she wants benches to be placed in a specific place. I presented that suggestion myself to the Mayor who welcomed the suggestion and the benches were placed,” mentioned the leading specialist of the Media and Public Relations Department of the Mayors’ office, Nazeni Avagyan.
“We know that the mayor will assist us with any request,” said the student, Lilit Iritsyan.
“Citizens’ Participation in the Decision Making Processes of Local Self-Governance Bodies: Introduction of EU Experience” Project is implemented by the “Armenian Young Lawyers Association” NGO in partnership with the “Georgian Young Lawyers Assoication” NGO and Agora Central Europe. The project is financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.

“There were questions which got answers but those questions which are related to money and desires haven’t received any solutions yet,” mentioned the president of “Condominiums center” NGO of Lori, Bero Arakelyan.
“I must mention with big happiness that there are many positive changes in the attitude of the head of the community and the staff in the work with the NGOs,” mentioned Husik Martirosyan, the coordinator of the regional development program of Stepanavan of World Vision Armenia International charitable organization.
The meeting came to its end. The organizers could raise problems through the group work.
“There is only a problem with applying the law, first related to giving the opportunity to apply the law by the local self governance bodies, then the inhabitants don’t use their opportunities,” mentioned Artur Sukiasyan, advocate and the expert of “Citizens’ Participation in the Decision Making Processes of Local Self-Governance Bodies: Introduction of EU Experience” Project.
“In the framework of the meeting we were able to raise those issues that the citizens are passive in the processes of participation in community governance. The next important problem that exists in the community: the issues on the agenda of the elders’ council and in the sessions are not announced in time and are not spread,” said Syuzanna Soghomonyan, advocate and the expert of “Citizens’ Participation in the Decision Making Processes of Local Self-Governance Bodies: Introduction of EU Experience” Project.
Such kind of urban meeting was organized by the “Georgian Young Lawyers Association” NGO in “World Café” format in Akhaltsikhe urban community of Samtskhe-Javakheti region. The final goal: the implementation of the reforms in citizens’ participation in the decision making processes of the Local Self Governance Bodies and the public control.
Iravaban.net