EcoLur
Challenges and problems raised in front of the civic society became a topic for the discussions held by the Partnership for Civic Society in Yerevan on 5 November.
More than 60 NGOs took part in the discussions. The pressure of the executive power on the civil society and pressurizing mechanisms cause concerns, particularly about the concept of developing a civic society worked out by the Public Council. The concept has been presented by the member of the Public Council, Lawyer Hovhannes Hovhannisyan.
In his introductory speech OSI Assistance Foundation Armenia Director David Amiryan said that eminent representatives of the civic society and active public figures didn’t take part in the development of this concept. “We have serious pressure on the independent mass media and courts. We can see that even the Public Prosecutor’s Office depends on the executive power,” said David Amiryan outlining that the civil society should be free in its actions. Avetiq Ishkhanyan (Helsinki Committee of Armenia), Arthur Saqunts (of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office), Stepan Danielyan (Cooperation for Democracy Centre), Levon Barseghyan (“Asparez” Journalistic Club) disfavoured the concept rather negatively. “It’s better not to hinder the civic society,” Levon BArseghyan said.
November 05, 2012 at 17:50