ArmenPress
July 26 2005

THE DRAFT LAW ON LOBBYING, A MEASURE TO ENHANCE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION,
DISCUSSED WITH UNDP SUPPORT

YEREVAN, JULY 26, ARMENPRESS: Today, at the Tekeyan Center in
Yerevan, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) held a discussion
of the draft Law on Lobbying, a new tool in the fight against
corruption in Armenia. The discussion was organized in cooperation
with the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Trade and Economic
Development of Armenia. Participants included representatives of
local and international organizations, central authorities and local
governance bodies, businesspeople, and experts.
The aim of the discussion was to consider the disputed clauses of
the draft law with the participation of governmental and
non-governmental sectors and other major stakeholders. Participants
discussed the international experience in regulation of lobbying
activities, methods and limitations of lobbying, financing and
reporting of lobbying, rights and responsibilities of lobbyists,
licensing and accreditation issues. Suggestions on NGO lobbying
received a special attention of the participants. Elaboration of a
regulatory framework for lobbying is in line with the Poverty
Reduction Strategy of Armenia adopted in late 2003, as well as the
national Anti-Corruption Strategy. At the same time, the law will
become an important step towards providing equal and transparent
opportunities for civic participation in policy making and is
anticipated to foster participatory processes in Armenia. In March
2005, the Government of the Republic of Armenia adopted the Concept
of the Law on Lobbying. Recently the Government has officially
circulated the draft Law on Lobbying among state agencies and the
public.
UNDP programs in Armenia aim to contribute to equal political,
economic and social opportunities for all the citizens of the
country. In this context, UNDP supports the Government of Armenia in
developing legislation and implementing policies promoting efficient
participation of citizens in decision-making processes through its
“Support to Information Society and Democratic Governance (SISDG)”
program.
Vahan Asatryan, SISDG Governance Specialist, noted in his speech:
“One of the most important objectives of regulating lobbying
activities is to ensure equal opportunities for protection of public
and business interests by the introduction of competitive and
attractive mechanisms. We believe that these new formal mechanisms
should become more viable than the existing informal and
non-transparent, but in fact more effective mechanisms. The next
discussion of the draft law will take place in August and will
feature organizations representing the interests of small and medium
sized enterprises.