OSCE Office responded
"The Aarhus Centre of Gyumri is one of the most active Centres and over the last three years, it has consistently and enthusiastically worked towards raising environmental awareness and legal recourse among the population of Shirak province," as stated today in the statement issued by the OSCE Yerevan office.
Since the closure of the Aarhus Centre may significantly harm these activities, the OSCE Office calls on the quick restoration of the operation of the Centre and is currently in the process of negotiations with the Ministries of Territorial Administration and Nature Protection.
Let us remind that the Aarhus Centre of Gyumri has been closed by the Shirak province head since January 13, 2010. The reason for the closure is that the contract of the Centre's coordinator has expired and "according to the tripartite memorandum, the council of the RA Shirak province is responsible for the Centre's items and belongings and takes hold of the property until the signing of a new contract."
According to the OSCE press release, an agreement has been reached for the staff of the Gyumri Centre to be able to organize events in the Centre's premises prior to a final solution to the technical issues.
The OSCE Office in Yerevan has been involved in promoting the principles of the Aarhus Convention in Armenia since 2001. It includes access to information, access to justice and public participation in decision-making on environmental issues. During the past 10 years, the Office supported the establishment of 14 Environmental Public Information Centres (Aarhus Centres) in different provinces of Armenia, including the one in Gyumri.
