PRESIDENT SERZH SARKISIAN DISCUSSES FORMATION OF PUBLIC CHAMBER WITH PROMINENT INTELLECTUALS AND PUBLIC FIGURES

ARMENPRESS
June 9, 2008

YEREVAN, JUNE 9, ARMENPRESS: President Serzh Sarkisian invited today a
group of prominent intellectuals and public figures to the presidential
residence for a discussion on formation of Public Chamber.

According to the presidential press office, the president said,
"I have said many a time and it is my conviction that we have to
combine all available public resources so that we are able to direct
them for resolution of our country’s urgent problems. I think no one
of you questions the fact that there are still many such problems.

I believe frankly that we can combine our efforts, I believe frankly
that all nations face this problem, because no party and no individual
can win 100 percent of any election. Naturally, there are political
forces and individuals, who are in the first place discontent and
secondly, they do not emphasize the need to join others for resolution
of the country’s problems. In this sense I think the assertion that
we have parliament for this and there is no need for Public Chamber
is not right.

I think we should be able to give the society, the people, individuals,
in formal and informal formats, opportunities to participate in
discussions on their issues of concerns, to take part in processes
which are necessary to move the country ahead.

I have to admit that I have some, not big, inspiration because after
my instruction, my aides reported that it brought about numerous
reactions, even draft regulations were proposed, even candidates were
offered, but I think we do not need a rush here.

I think you are able to exercise your authority so that to keep this
process of Public Chamber formation away from being a formal process.

This is important. I ask you, please exploit your authority, your
knowledge and prompt me how we should form the Public Chamber so that
not to make it a routine process, so that not to make it look like a
government structure, so that it becomes a forum for frank discussions,
so that it gives birth to ideas, so that it becomes an extra channel
for us to have a clear picture of the situation and take measures."

In terms of forming a right idea of the process the president made
some explanations by saying, "I do not look at the present as a
working group. I regard them as seasoned people enjoying the society’s
respect and want their experience and popularity to be used for right
organization of the process."

The presidential press office said the participants of the meeting
presented their observations and ideas regarding the Public Chamber’s
creation. They welcomed the president’s initiative considering the
Public Chamber as a mechanisms for open and constructive dialogue, for
taking the society’s concerns to the highest leadership of the country.

The present were unanimous that the Public Chamber should incorporate
representatives of broad segments of the society, that it should
become a place to generate new ideas, a rostrum for revealing different
opinions, a place for discussion of issues of concern and suggesting
solutions.

Serzh Sarkisian specified that the creation of the Public Chamber is
not prompted by the situation, saying he has been talking about its
necessity for long time. The president described such discussions as
very useful making an arrangement to continue this process.