RA LAW ON LOBBYIST ACTIVITY – A SOURCE OF CORRUPTION RISK

ArmRadio.am
07.06.2006 14:30

What does RA Law on Lobbyist Activity envisage: expansion or
restriction of opportunities for defense of society’s interests? The
Law has been already approved by NA Standing Committee on State
and Legal Issues and will be discussed during the coming four-day
sitting. About 100 NGOs are confident that the Law is an obstacle to
public participation and a source of corruption risk.

Adoption of the Law is part of the Poverty Reduction Strategy
Paper. NGO representatives, however, are not confident that it will
help overcome poverty in our country.

In reality, the Law on Lobbyist Activity is a mechanism of interests,
which should allow this or that group of the society defend its
rights. It should guarantee the link between voters and legislators,
but the bill does not envisage this connection. NGO representatives are
concerned that the Law will be disputed by financial organizations:
any NGO is weak, it possesses no additional sources of financing to
defend its rights through a lobbyist.

Legal adviser of “Internews” agency David Sandukhchyan considers
that the Law on Lobbyist Activity is characterized with non-distinct
objectives and sharp legislative shortcomings. The approaches and
methods are suspicious and non-democratic.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress