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On June 28 the RA NA Standing Committee on Defense, National Security and Internal Affairs with the support of the Geneva Centre for Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) organized parliamentary hearings on the theme “The Transparency in the Sphere of Defense Governance,” where NA deputies, experts of law enforcement bodies and NGOs were taking part.

The RA NA Vice President Hermine Naghdalyan welcomed the participants of the hearings and wished effective cooperation. Highlighting the transparent work style adopted by our country Mrs Naghdalyan has noticed that it gives opportunity to record the achievements, gaps and shortcomings. The NA Vice President has noted that numerous recommendations have already been received, which are aimed at improving the sphere.

In the word of the Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Defense, National Security and Internal Affairs Koryun Nahapetyan, the aim of the hearings is through comprehensive discussions to promote the rise of efficiency of the governance system of the defense, discuss the state of transparency in the sphere, the existing challenges and submit recommendations to make efficient the defense system. He has noted that the Committee pursues initiative policy, from now on the RA Ministry of Defense regularly will submit to the Committee the existing problems and information regarding the works being done. The Committee Chairman has noticed that in the sphere, particularly, in the procurement process certain positive moves are visible during the recent years. According to him, there are things to be done in the parliamentary oversight of the military budget.

The RA Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan also touched upon problems of the armed forces, the transparency and reporting of the sphere. The Minister has noticed that the parliamentary hearings and various discussions that has become continuous, increase army-society connection, and foster the publicity and solution of the existing problems in the sphere. In his word, the invited international experts’ best experience also promotes the increase of the improvement and governance transparency.

Positively assessing the cooperation with the RA NA Standing Committee the Deputy Director DCAF Philipp Fluri has noticed that there are still things to be done in the processes of state procurement, sowing good behavoiur and strengthening it.

Highlighting such discussions regarding the sector the Chairman of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office NGO Artur Sakunts has touched upon the data on the situation of the human rights in the RA Armed Forces, which are not satisfactory. He deemed concerning the process of the examination of the criminal cases in the armed forces and continuity of the recorded violations.

The speakers answered the participants’ questions, which were relating to the transparency of procurement in the armed forces, the conscription, the speculations recorded in the sphere, the procedures of the filed criminal cases and the responsibility of those guilty, the cases of corruption and the rise of confidence of the public towards army.

Touching upon the issues the RA Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan has said that works are underway, which aim at eliminating the existing problems in the sphere and strengthening confidence of the public towards the army.

Summing the hearings Koryun Nahapetyan has expressed confidence that the trilateral parliament-Ministry of Defense-community will have favourable impact on the sphere and has assured that the Committee will discuss the submitted recommendations and remarks.