OSCE Office in Yerevan completes programme in support of National Assembly

YEREVAN, 30 December 2004 - The OSCE Office in Yerevan has completed its programme in support of the National Assembly and provided it with some 60 books as well as reference training materials.

During the year, the OSCE Office, with the assistance of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, implemented the programme on Support to the Standing Committees of the National Assembly. It included a three-week advanced training course in June for 24 experts of the National Assembly and an exchange programme in October in the National Assembly of Hungary.

"The training and the experience exchange, as well as the donation of literature, were aimed at building the professional capacities of the National Assembly and help it facilitate a more effective law-making process," said Elaine Conkievich, Deputy Head of the OSCE Office.

Haik Kotanyan, Head of Staff of the National Assembly expressed gratitude to the OSCE Office in Yerevan for launching the programme, saying: "The innovative methodology and format of the programme were highly appreciated by our staff members".

Mher Shahgeldyan, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Defence, National Security and Internal Affairs said: "This initiative serves to strengthen the parliamentary Standing Committees".

In 2004 the programme focused on the expert staff of the three Standing Committees: on Foreign Affairs, State and Legal Affairs, and Defence, National Security and Internal Affairs. It was also attended by staff members of the departments on Law Development and Analysis and Foreign Relations.

The OSCE Office in Yerevan plans to continue the programme in 2005 with the Standing Committees on Science, Education, Culture and Youth, Social, Health Care and Environmental Protection Affairs, and Financial, Credit, Budgetary and Economic Affairs.