IABP-Armenia and EWPPP Launch an International Interparliamentary Project for the National Assembly of Armenia

On 15-18 June 2008 IABP-Armenia and EWPPP, East-West Parliamentary Practice Project based in the Netherlands conducted the first launching event within scope of the joint project on “Aspects and Techniques of Parliamentary Practice”, with participation of present and former MPs from Armenia, the Netherlands, and Slovenia, experts and representatives of a civil society. The project is financed by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the first official event Jill Adler, Director of EWPPP, and Erik Gyulazyan, Executive Director of IABP-Armenia announced the official launching of a two year joint parliamentary project. The launching event came as a result of a six-month preparatory work jointly conducted by IABP-Armenia and EWPPP.

During three days in Yerevan, the participants conducted a number of formal and informal activities and meetings and exchanged opinions and experience on various aspects of parliamentary practice in their countries, including topics such as Internal Functioning of Parliaments, Legislative Process, Parliamentary Oversight, etc. Lively and open debate moderated by a chair for each session was the main format of communication, which sparked many questions that were thoroughly clarified by participants. Representatives of civil society of Armenia and Slovenia, as well as administration of the National Assembly of Armenia participating in the event, took an active part to the discussion.

The launching event was honoured by presence of H.E. Onno Elderenbosch, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Armenia, who took active part to the activities of the event.

The next event is planned for the autumn 2008.