PARTNERSHIP STATEMENTS
Statement on Association Agreements between the EU and Armenia
On May 10, 2010, the EU General Affairs Council approved the negotiating directives for the future Association Agreements between the EU and Armenia. It is stated that deepening of the relationship between the EU and the countries of the South Caucasus are to progress on the basis of shared values and principles, including democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights.
Discussion on Media Legislation and Self-Regulation Initiatives
«Partnership for Open Society» Initiative, representing more than sixty civil society organizations, is pleased to invite you to participate in the discussion on Media Legislation and Self-Regulation Initiatives that will take place on May 14, 14:00-17:40 at the AUA Business Center on Alek Manoogian 9.
Open Letter to Members of National Television and Radio Commission
According to Article 83.2 of the amended Constitution of the Republic
of Armenia, "an independent regulatory body shall be created with the
aim of ensuring the freedom, independence and diversity of broadcast
media. Half of the members of this body shall be selected by the
National Assembly for a period six years, and the other half shall be
appointed by the President of the Republic of Armenia for a period of
six years.
Unresolved problems with the human rights and civil liberties
On March 11 the MCC left the suspension of the funding for roads within the MCA-Armenia Compact in place. The initial suspension in June 2008 was motivated by unresolved problems with the human rights and civil liberties and the last decision not to lift suspension was due to insufficient progress in solution of these problems.
Fundamental right of freedom of assembly
We, the
undersigned, are deeply concerned with the fact that even the minimal
requirements to restore some democratic practices, outlined in the PACE
resolutions 1609 and 1620 and acknowledged by the Armenian government
as urgent, have not been implemented, and that instead new restrictions
are being enforced by authorities. We are especially concerned about
the fundamental right of freedom of assembly enshrined in the
Declaration of Human Rights and in the Armenian Constitution.
Statement on Abstaining from Nomination or Supporting of Candidates during the 3rd Stakeholder Committee Elections of MCA-Armenia
We, the representatives of the undersigned organizations, have actively
participated in all stages of the MCA-Armenia Project including
development of proposals for the Compact in the preparatory stage,
development of the procedure for the formation of the Stakeholder
Committee (SC), organization and conduct of elections to the SC,
monitoring of the Compact implementation and raising public awareness
of the Project to ensure transparency of the processes at all levels.
Alongside with this, we closely followed the role of civil society
organizations in the Millennium Challenge Account - Armenia during the
last 2 years and decided against nominating candidates for the 3rd SC
elections and against collectively supporting any candidate for the
following reasons:
Statement on Presidential Elections 2008
We, the undersigned civil society organizations, express our deep
concern with the presidential elections on February 19, 2008, the
pre-election period, the election campaign and the post-election
processes in the country. The assessment of international observers,
even though portrayed in a positive light by the government and the
government controlled media, was critical.
Open Letter on the Issue of Construction of Teghut Ore Mining and Processing Enterprise and the Oper
The Environmental Public Alliance of 34 non-governmental organizations
and “Partnership for Open Society” Initiative of 63 organizations
express their concern about the current processes regarding the
exploitation of the country’s natural resources and in particular, over
the construction of Teghut ore mining and processing enterprise and the
operation of Teghut copper-molybdenum mine.
Statement on Armenia’s joining a number of CIS countries in requesting changes in OSCE election observation procedures
A number of civil society organizations united in the Partnership for
Open Society Initiative hereby express our opinion on the matter of
Armenia’s recent joining a number of CIS countries in requesting
changes in OSCE election observation procedures.
Statement of Partnership for Open Society Initiative on RA Law “On Lobbyist Activities”
The POS, a coalition of civil society actors, expresses its concern
with regard to the draft law “On Lobbyist Activities” that was approved
by the government and submitted to the RA National Assembly. We
believe that if the current version of the draft law “On Lobbyist
Activities” is approved by RA National Assembly, it will become a
serious obstacle for any civil society participation in formulation of
the legislative framework as well as for any democratic participatory
process in policy analysis and development in the country.