Activity of network of Secretaries General of Parliaments of Eastern  Partnership countries with GIZ effective this year - Armenian NA

ArmInfo.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.

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.