As Armenia prepares to celebrate the 28th Local Self-Government Day on 11 November 2024, Congress Secretary General Mathieu Mori visited the country and participated in a public discussion on social policy in the context of decentralisation. 

In bilateral meetings with Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sarosyan and Minister of Labour and Social Issues Narek Mkrchtyan, the authorities confirmed their commitment to further decentralisation as a means of strengthening local government and delivering quality public services accessible to citizens.  

In a visit to Aparan municipality, Mr Mori witnessed first-hand how local initiatives are advancing social rights and empowering young people.  Youth leaders and civil society activists from the vibrant local community have been nurturing youth engagement and fostering active citizenship in cooperation with counterparts from neighbouring Nairi municipality.  Aparan has also developed a social services centre to serve as a pilot in delivering these crucial services to citizens.

The visit also served as an opportunity to inform Armenian authorities of the planned monitoring mission of the Congress to Armenia in 2025. Mayor of Yerevan Tigran Avinyan highlighted the importance of pursuing financial decentralisation in order to strengthen local autonomy. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Paruyr Hovhannisyan underlined the value Armenia places on cooperation with the Council of Europe. Deputy Minister of Justice Karen Karapetyan informed of ongoing preparations for unified codes of conduct at central, regional and local levels, and expressed hope that the Congress could help in building capacities of anti-corruption enforcement officers.

 Message from the Congress Secretary General on the occasion of Local Self-Government Day