LORI, ARMENIA 17 MAY 2022
Breaking down barriers, overcoming obstacles, building friendship, and promoting a common vision for a shared space are among the expectations of Mayors and senior local officials from Armenia and Georgia who have come together in the Debed River valley for the 1st Stage of Leadership Academy Programme for Cross-border Cooperation (LAP for CBC).
The aim of the Council of Europe is to bring countries closer together based on shared principles and common heritage which transcend boundaries. Building on the Conclusions of the Budapest Conference on Cross-border Cooperation, the Centre of Expertise for Good Governance has launched this interactive training programme in the context of the Democratic Development, Decentralisation, and Good Governance in Armenia project.
The activity was launched by two deputy ministers and members of the European Committee on Democracy and Governance: Mr Vache Terteryan, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia, and Ms Mzia Giorgobiani, Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia. Participants from several municipalities on each side of the border were joined online by their colleagues from central and local administrations eager to follow the training activity based on Council of Europe standards such as the 12 Principles of Good Democratic Governance.
The first stage of the LAP for CBC also offers participants the opportunity to develop ideas for cooperation based on culture, heritage, and technological cooperation through visits to the COAF Smart Centre, the House Museum of H. Tumanyan, and a tour of the Sanahin Monastery and Mendz Er Cave.
The project is implemented by the Centre of Expertise for Good Governance in the context of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia and funded by the Austrian Development Agency.