PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS PROPOSE PARTIES PARTICIPATING IN ELECTIONS TO ASSIST DEVELOPMENT OF NGOS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 17 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN. A joint discussion of representatives
of public organizations and political forces participating in the
National Assembly elections was organized at the Yerevan hotel
on April 17, on the initiative of the "Professionals in the Name
of Civil Society" NGO. The goal of the event was to draw parties’
attention to problems of NGOs.

The package of legislative amendments worked out by organizers was
presented for the discussion. It was particularly proposed by it
to raise the level of financial independence of NGOs, allowing to
involve in the latters’ property sources the resources appeared as
a result of commercial activity of companies founded by them or with
their participation.

As Artak Zeynalian, a member of the heading body of the "Hanrapetutiun"
(Republic) party mentioned, problems arisen by NGOs are indirectly
involved in the pre-electoral list of the party. The party,
particularly, proposes to re-instruct some functions of the state
to NGOs. The same principle is also fixed in the program of the
Liberating-Progressive Party of Armenia which refused nomination at the
parliamentary elections by the proportional electoral systems. "Nor
Zhamanakner" (New Times), in the words of party board member Hrachia
Sargsian, attaches importance to future working out and adoption of
the law on security of functional role of NGOs in the civil society.

Participants of the discussion, attaching importance to the role of
NGOs in formation of the civil society, mentioned at the same time
that a small part of about 5 thousand of NGOs registered in Armenia
promotes active activity.

To recap, only 7 of the parties participating in the coming NA
elections responded the invitation to participate in the discussion.