OSCE Yerevan office supports new premises of Armenia's environmental information centre

YEREVAN, 29 October - The new office of Armenia's Public Environmental Information Centre was officially opened yesterday. The Centre has been established in May 2002, after Armenia ratified the UN Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, also known as the Aarhus Convention.

"We see public participation in environmental decision-making as an indispensable tool for democracy building," said Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, the Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, in his welcoming speech.

"The main objective of the Centre is to promote public access to information and to contribute to the implementation of the Aarhus Convention in Armenia."

The OSCE Office in Yerevan has been promoting the ratification and implementation of this convention and provided financial support for the Centre's new premises.

Armenia's Minister of Nature Protection, Vardan Ayvazyan, praised the activities of the Aarhus Centre. "Our Ministry is open for co-operation," he said, pledging full support.

The day-to-day operations of the Centre are managed by the Board of Experts consisting of nominees from the Office and the Ministry of Nature Protection. The Board of Experts receives advice and support from the Advisory Board composed of representatives from donor and diplomatic community.

Initially, the Centre was located on the premises of the Ministry of Nature Protection but lost its space in 2003 during the move of the Ministry to a new Government House. Despite this, the Centre worked in its full capacity and implemented numerous projects on environmental education and awareness-raising on ecological issues.

For more information on the Centre and its activities, please visit : www.armaarhus.am