Reforms in Local Self-government

On November 26, 2009, a working meeting was organized in the office of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor on issues related to local self-governmental structure.

The discussion was organized by the NGO Communities Finance Officers Association. Members of Vanadzor and Spitak avagani (city counselors), the secretary of Gugark community, students, journalists participated in the discussion.

Abraham Artashesyan, the project coordinator presented “Login Armenia” project, which is a collaboration project  between Eastern Europe and 15 countries of the Soviet Union.  It is implemented by the initiative of local self-governmental and public improvements of Open Society Institute Assistance foundation –Armenia (LGI/OSI) and is directed towards the improvements of local self-government.

During the discussion Vahan Movsisyan, the head of the NGO Communities Finance Officers Association and deputy head Davit Tumanyan, presented the bases of communities enlargement and of the formation of intercommunity unions in Armenia.

The organization worked out amendments to the laws on financial equalization and on local taxes and new draft laws.
The mentioned changes ensured the orders of executing the mayor’s liabilities. The draft on financial equalization was discussed in the National Assembly and was admitted with the first reading. The draft law was sent to the Council of Europe for testing.

The NGO Communities Finance Officers Association studied 300-400 documents related to the activity of local self-governmental bodies.
At the end of the discussion the participants suggested organizing such working meetings more often where the avagani members will present their suggestions for improvements.