On May 2 in the National Assembly a seminar was held on the theme “The Methods and Publications of Freedom House of Democratic Progress and Good Management Assessment,” where MPs, representatives of Freedom House NGO, NA staff attended.

Opening the works of the seminar the NA President Artur Baghdasaryan noted that in the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia the report of the Freedom House NGO is presented for the first time. He highlighted the deepening of democratic reforms, the freedom of speech, ensuring that the role and mission of Freedom House organization is great in this issue.

Thomas Melia, Deputy Executive Director of Freedom House in his report “The Publications of Freedom House, Methods of Good Management Assessment” presented the way of working and programmes of the organization informed that the latter makes studies on election process, national democratic management, civil society, judicial system and corruption, hence recording the level of democratic development in those countries. Mr. Melia highlighted the report, which specifies the mechanism of democratic development in Armenia. The annual studies of “Freedom in the World” and “Freedom of Press” were also introduced.

Anna Walker, Editor-in-Chief of Economist Intelligence Unit presented her report “Freedom House, Countries in Transition,  2006.” Mrs. Walker noted that after the declaration of independence Armenia launched a difficult path of democratic development, considering as an obstacle on that path the struggle with Azerbaijan and the economic key problems. Anna Walker presented the level of democratic development in Armenia, saying that the absence of an effective system of checks and balances, the centralization of presidential powers, the hierarchy of management system and the lack of independent civil society have been the basis of weakness of management system and corruption spreading. As Mrs. Walker observed, the improvement of macroeconomic policy and economic and financial indices is a positive move. As he said, the Freedom House makes studies and analyses based on the reports of Ombudsman, organizations on Human Rights and on Civil Issues of the Council of Europe. According to Anna Walker, the financial restrictions impede the freedom of mass media in Armenia.

MP Hovhannes Margaryan highlighted in anticorruption fighting the activity of the committee “Parliamentarians Against Corruption” set up on the initiative of NA President Artur Baghdasaryan. Touching upon the transparency of electoral processes, Mr. Margaryan highlighted the reforms of Electoral Code.

Wrapping up the works of seminar Ashot Khachatryan, Head of NA Legislative Analysis and Development Department ensured that the studies of Freedom House will promote the development of democracy.