Secretary of Heritage faction: Armenian authorities will have to reckon
with Public Council as the latter’s creation is conditioned with
restoration of public confidence in authorities

2008-07-13 17:38:00

ArmInfo. The Armenian authorities will have to reckon with the Public
Council as the latter’s creation is conditioned by restoration of
public confidence in the authorities, Stepan Safaryan, the secretary of
the parliamentary faction of the oppositional Heritage Party, told
ArmInfo correspondent, Saturday.

"I am convinced that the republic’s authorities simply have no other
way out as they think that in conditions of social and political
tension the creation of the Public Council is the shock-absorber which
should dampen the tension", he stressed. At the same time, he stressed
that public organizations may play a great role in formation of the
forthcoming dialogue between the society and the authorities, and the
public organizations are the only interlayer between people and the
authorities. He expressed confidence that a number of Armenian NGOs
enjoy public confidence, this is not a small achievement which should
become an additional factor in the process of establishment of
atmosphere of mutual understanding between the authorities and society
of Armenia, Safaryan said in conclusion.

The Public Council is being set up as an advisory body on the basis of
RA president’s decree dated June 13. A commission has been set up to
coordinate the Public Council’s formation. The commission includes
politicians and public figures, artists, scientists and sportsmen. The
Council will finally be formed before September 2008, it will consider
issues of state importance, analyze laws and acts, as well as the
president’s decrees.