An extended meeting was held headed by Minister of Environment Hakob Simidyan to discuss the legal status of the Aarhus Centers and the possible restart.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Ministers Gayane Gabrielyan, Tigran Gabrielyan, Legal Adviser to the Minister, National Coordinator of the Aarhus Convention Mari Chakryan, Acting Director of the SNCO Center for Hydrometeorology and Monitoring of the SMN Levon Azizyan, heads of professional departments of the Ministry, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, coordinators of previously operating Aarhus centers and representatives of the public sector.
This was the first meeting to discuss the legal status of the Aarhus Centers since 2017.
Welcoming the participants of the discussion, Minister Hakob Simidyan touched upon our country's obligations to ratify the Aarhus Convention and, in its context, the activities of the Aarhus Centers and the possibilities for the effective realization of their potential, emphasizing the need for the institutional formation of the centers.
"I am grateful that you have devoted your time and are present at this meeting in order to jointly find a solution to the issue of more targeted and long-term activities of the Aarhus Centers. In the chain of government-society relations, it is important to fully comply with the provisions of the Convention. As a result of studying my observations and information, I came to the conclusion that the Aarhus centers are especially important in terms of strengthening democratic values at the regional level, properly informing the public and engaging in the development of environmental legislation.
At this discussion, I expect to hear healthy and reasoned observations, suggestions that will help to understand the future fate of these centers," the minister said.
Mari Chakryan, Legal Adviser to the Minister, National Coordinator of the Aarhus Convention, presented the history, role and activities of the Aarhus Centers in the form of a report.
The Coordinator of the Aarhus Center, Silva Ayvazyan, presented the role of the Aarhus Centers in environmental issues.
Coordinator of the Gavar Aarhus Center Lianna Asoyan touched upon the work of the Gavar Aarhus Center, following the example of which a number of details of the ketrons' activities were discussed.
The participants made a number of presentations, presenting points of view in connection with the further activities of the Aarhus Centers.
Minister Hakob Simidyan once again confirmed his readiness for open, transparent and accountable work with society and especially active environmental circles.
"In any country, society-government cooperation is initially good, it is bad and with disadvantages when there are not established institutions inside the country. An institution should be understood not only as the structures of the state system, but also as social units and similar centers as such.
As an industry coordinator, I have an obligation to involve the public in decision-making processes related to the sector, but only desire and commitment are not enough for this. in order to do this properly, first of all, there must be its tools and the ability to fully collect and analyze the points of view of society.
These offices are part of this toolkit. I have a great desire for them to act, but only if we have a visible and tangible result," the minister said and concluded his speech with a reminder that his positions and the positions of society are not in conflict with the sphere.
"My activity as the Minister of the Environment is never contrary to the interests of society. Most of the time, dissatisfaction and public opinion about problems helps me to make the most effective decisions in my work. But there is often a need for a professional, expert assessment of this discontent, "which I expect from the Aarhus centers."
As a result of the meeting, it was decided to form a working group that will gather, analyze and submit to the offices the opinions of interested parties on the legal status in a short time.