The accountability and transparency of the works are the main cornerstones, based on which we implement our joint programmes, As the previous years, this year also was full of joint work achievements, and which prepare a basis for the fulfillment of the future new programmes. The Chief of Staff, Secretary General of the National Assembly Davit Arakelyan said, welcoming the guests on November 13 at the next meeting coordinating the partners implementing parliamentary support. To his observation, the regular meetings which became traditional are aimed at not only strengthening the partnership relations, but also to be accountable for the joint work which is done.
The NA Chief of Staff, Secretary General thanked the partners for the unprecedented assistance being shown to the NA Staff. “This year also we had examples of cooperation synergy, when several international organizations worked on a project: this experience is exemplary for us and is worth of high evaluation. The NA experience that I am sure will be continuous and will include different spheres,” Davit Arakelyan said.
According to him, the purpose of the cooperation is to develop and strengthen the capacities of the Staff employees, studying the world best experience, to localize it, taking into consideration the legislation of Armenia, the working and human peculiarities.
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The NA Chief of Staff, Secretary General highlighted the expansion of cooperation of the National Assembly Staff of Armenia with the Staffs of the parliaments of different countries, as well as the creation of special platform of working cooperation, including the NGOs.
“Canada has opened an Embassy in Armenia, as Armenia has committed democratic processes, the witness of which we are in recent years. This has strengthened the ties between the two countries, as well as gives wider opportunities for cooperation. We should understand how Canada can support the strengthening of democracy in Armenia. One of the key issues, certainly, is the work with Parliamentary Centre,” the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada in the Republic of Armenia Andrew Turner said.
“This is an important meeting, where all the partners share the information, learn from each other, as well as plan the implementation of the future programmes. A few years after approving this platform by the UNDP Modern Parliament for a Modern Armenia (MAP) Project, the Parliament of Armenia takes in its hand this cooperation, which is an excellent advancement, achievement within the frame work of our cooperation,” the Resident Representative of UNDP in the Republic of Armenia Natia Natsvlishvili said, adding that the goal of the programme is to promote the development of the mechanisms for elaboration and control of policies. Speaking about the achievements of 2023, Natia Natsvlishvili underlined especially the cooperation through synergy, the involvement of the National Assembly in the works of civil society and community.
The RA NA Deputy Chief of Staff Heghine Khachikyan presented jointly with her partners the implemented works. To her assessment, in terms of result indicators rather serious achievements have been registered.
Heghine Khachikyan noted that the activity of the network of the Secretaries General of the Parliaments of the Eastern Partnership countries with the GIZ have been rather effective this year. She touched upon the holding of the thematic workshops inside the network, the educational visits implemented in the German Bundestag, as well as the training of the women leaders of the network member parliament in the Hertie School of Governance of Germany.
The Regional Project Manager, National Coordinator of Projects in Armenia GIZ Country Office in Armenia Hrach Yarmaloyan noted on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany and the German Agency for International Cooperation that the NA Staff has a number of innovations and achievements, which can be exported and imported in the experience of other countries. He stressed that within the framework of the Eastern Partnership platform the effective work will continue. Speaking about the upcoming programmes, Hrach Yarmaloyan mentioned that the cooperation will continue with the German Bundestag and the local parliaments.
Speaking about the works implemented with the International Republican Institute (IRI), Heghine Khachikyan mentioned that within the framework of the programmes of the development of the Staff capacities all the trainings designed this year were included in the programme Autumn School. The best specialists hold the thematic trainings with packed agendas. She underscored the thematic inquiries being carried out every year by the IRI, as a result of which the received information is important for the NA Staff to value the working indicators of the activities.
The Program Director of the International Republican Institute (IRI) in Armenia James De Witt gave details on the work done with the NA Expertise and Analytical Department, practical trainings, online discussions. “We have done hard work within the framework of the strategy of the social network management. After long-term discussions the strategy of the communication organization through social media platforms of the RA National Assembly,” James De Witt detailed, adding that it will help the NA Staff for effectively communicating with the community. According to him, the IRI always is ready to support the Staff of the Parliament in such initiatives.
Speaking about the programmes implemented with the National Democratic Institute (NDI), Heghine Khachikyan mentioned that in 2024 the NA will host the fellows recruited by the NDI and the NA already for the fourth time. The RA NA President Alen Simonyan had already met with the participants of The Porgramme of the Parliamentary Young Specialists. Heghine Khachikyan underscored that we have success stories about the fellows, who also continue their work in the Parliament of Armenia.
The representative of the NDI Women’s Strengthening Program Laura Simonyan underlined that the NDI also closely works with the NA all factions, and its goal is to provide the connection of the factions with the citizens through different community meetings. Work is done, preparing video within the half year brief reports of the factions. Target support is provided to women deputies, the goal of which is to foster the rise of their role and the public recognition and leadership.
About five years the UNDP Modern Parliament for a Modern Armenia (MAP) Project functions, which will end after several months. Heghine Khachikyan expressed hope that new programmes will come up with the UNDP programme. She distinguished three result indicator: Improvement of the quality for the legislative control and elaboration of the policy, Transparency and accountability and legislative quick response, inclusiveness and participatory approach invested in the deputies’ work.
Speaking about the works being done with the Parliamentary Centre (Canada) already the fourth year, Heghine Khachikyan mentioned that a strategic program had been introduced as a result of needs assessment. She emphasized the ensuring of the platform of the joint works of the NGOs being engaged with the youth, women and persons with disabilities and the Staff,
Heghine Khachikyan also referred to the organization of exchange of experience between the Staffs of the parliaments of Armenia and Canada, the continuation of the parliamentary internship on the citizens’ involvement and inclusiveness.
Natia Natsvlishvili thanked the partners for the impressive work, underlining the inner cooperation and coordination existing around different programmes: “Ther eis dynamics, there is spirit, coordinated efforts…We have ambitious programmes, when it goes about having an effective, transparent, professional legislative body as a component part of democracy of Armenia. Time and joint efforts are demanded for going through this path,” the Resident Representative of UNDP in the Republic of Armenia noted.
The Chief of Staff, Secretary General of the National Assembly Davit Arakelyan mentioned that the Parliament of Armenia is ready for new cooperation and implementation of realistic programmes.
National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia