United Nations Development Programme Country Office in Armenia
14, Karl Liebknecht Street, Yerevan 375010, Armenia
Contact: Aramazd Ghalamkaryan
Tel: (374 1) 56 60 73
Fax: (374 1) 54 38 11
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
UNDP COUNTRY OFFICE IN ARMENIA
19 April, 2004
UNDP ENHANCES TECHNICAL CAPACITIES OF MUNICIPALITIES
Yerevan, Armenia
Today the Ministry of Territorial Administration of the Republic of
Armenia and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) held an
event to discuss financial decentralisation and hand-over computer
hardware and databases to municipalities. Mr. Vache Terteryan, the
Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration, Mr. Seyran Avagyan, Head
of the Local Self-Government Committee at the Presidency and Ms. Lise
Grande, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative
presided over the event.
In addition to providing technical support to 12 Yerevan districts and
the Yerevan Municipality, UNDP is handing-over key databases including
one on conditions in 914 communities and a second database on the
National Human Development Survey, which was conducted in 2003 and
covered 170 rural and 44 urban communities. UNDP will also provide
special software to the municipalities and the Ministry, helping to
strengthen their capacity in statistical analyses.
According to Ms. Grande: `During last few years UNDP has initiated and
successfully implemented several projects to support the process of
decentralisation and community development in Armenia. Very soon, from
May 7 to 14, UNDP Armenia will help to organise a Community Week to
raise public awareness about ongoing legislative and other reforms
affecting communities and contribute to discussions on community-related
issues.’
Mr. Terteryan noted: `The cooperation between the Ministry of
Territorial Administration and UNDP Armenia Office has a long history
and is highly successful. The Government of Armenia has adopted an
approach to delegate more authority to our communities, but we want to
ensure that the communities are ready to accept and fully implement
those rights and authorities for the benefit of the population. In this
respect, it is highly important to enhance the technical capacities and
to strengthen human resources of municipalities. We are grateful for
UNDP’s attention and ongoing support to our efforts in this area, and we
are confident that our successful cooperation will continue in future.`
Country Background: In 2002, the Government adopted a new Law on Local
Self-Government, recognising communities as legal entities and
transferring land and property to them. As part of a on-going commitment
to fiscal decentralisation, communities have also been granted a share
of the income and profit tax as well as nature protection fees. In
addition, 100 percent of property and land tax revenues have been
transferred to communities.
***
UNDP is the UN’s global development network. It advocates for change and
connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people
build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with
them on their own solutions to global and national development
challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of
UNDP and our wide range of partners.
***
For further information, please contact Mr. Aramazd Ghalamkaryan, UNDP
Armenia at [email protected].
***
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
