OSCE Office promotes improved public services in Armenia

YEREVAN, 9 November 2010 - The OSCE Office in Yerevan, Armenia's Civil Service Council, the Union of Government Employees and the Yerevan State University agreed today to co-operate to improve the quality of civil service and reduce corruption in Armenia's public administration system.

As part of the co-operation, Armenia's civil servants will regularly take part in training courses on integrity and transparent and modern working methods.

"Effective public administration depends on professional, skilled civil servants. These training courses will promote efficient and transparent public services for all in Armenia," said the Acting Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, Carel Hofstra.

The Union of Government Employees developed the courses and a textbook to be used in them in co-operation with Civil Service Council. Course topics include integrity and ethical norms for civil servants, corruption risks in public administration and communication in providing services to citizens. The course will later be incorporated into the training system for civil servants.

The OSCE Office has co-operated with the Union of Armenia's Government Employees and the Civil Service Council of Armenia since 2007.