OSCE Office supports professional development of Armenian parliament staff

YEREVAN, 5 October, 2009 - A two-week extensive training programme aimed at strengthening the skills of the Armenian National Assembly's expert staff began today with the support of the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

"We consider expert staff crucial for the work of the parliament. The quality of their work largely determines the legislative process and the overall role of the legislature," said Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, launching the training.

The 25 course participants work in Standing Committees on European Integration, Human Rights, Social Issues, Territorial Administration, Economic Issues and other, as well as, in political factions and the administration.

Gegham Gharibjanyan, Head of the Staff of the National Assembly added: "The course is the fourth such programme that the OSCE Office organizes as part of our co-operation, and I am sure that the programmes have had a positive impact. I hope that the knowledge gained during this training course will help deepen the professional skills and capacities of our staff, as well as to the effectiveness of the National Assembly's administration in general."

The course focuses on law-drafting techniques, social protection and environmental legislation and anti-corruption and judicial reform, as well as other topics. The international experts teaching the course also will focus on experiences relating to parliamentary democracies, freedom of assembly and information.

A later stage of the programme comprises a study trip to a parliament of an OSCE participating State and a donation of literature to the library of the National Assembly.

The project is carried out within the framework of the Memorandum on Co-operation signed between the Office and the National Assembly this year that envisages a multi-dimensional co-operation and, among other activities, provision of professional capacity building.