Freedom of Information Center of Armenia.

Freedom of Information Center organized a two-day workshop on the FOI law implementation in Armenia for the representatives of Central and Local Government Bodies. The workshop took place in Tsaghkadzor on January 19-20.

Workshop speaker Mrs. Marine Hakobyan, National Assembly and FOICA expert represented the officials their rights and responsibilities stated by FOI law. Mrs. Gergana Jouleva, “Access to Information Program” President presented the FOI situation in Bulgaria, as well as talked about the experience of other countries.

Mrs. Hasmik Khachatryan, Head of the PR Department of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs spoke about their work and noted that the biggest challenge they faced in FOI sphere is unawareness of the officials about their legal obligations. Ms. Khachatryan hoped that such workshops will come to decrease of the number of such officials.

Mrs. Armine Udumyan, Head of the PR Department of the State Commission of the Protection of Economic Competition and Mrs. Sona Trusyan, Press Secretary of General Public Prosecutor also shared with their experience. They were both honored “Golden Key” by the Freedom of Information Center during its Annual Award Ceremony for their open and transparent work.  “Departments serve for the society and they are to inform people about their work and not keep the information under the lock”,- said Mrs. Truzyan.

At the end of the meeting the participants agrred on forther cooperation and expressed willingness to participate in FOI law  campaign in RA regions.