On December 18, Deputy Foreign Minister Garen Nazarian as a keynote speaker participated in a conference organized by the Partnership for Open Society Initiative, dedicated to the role of civil society in shaping public policy agenda and ensuring accountable governance in Armenia.

The public discussion was attended by the representatives of non-governmental organizations, mass media, government representatives, US and EU ambassadors to Armenia.

In his remarks, Garen Nazarian highlighted the importance of the involvement of civil society in decision-making process, noting that it is a working practice that has already become a tradition and a mandatory work style.

Deputy Foreign Minister noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has always been open for the exchange of views with all stakeholders in the course of developing Armenia’s relations with partner countries, adding that learning those views and alternative approaches greatly helps to get acquainted with the public opinions and perceptions, and take them into account throughout the stages of decision-making and implementation.

Garen Nazarian highlighted the dialogue and discussions with the Armenian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, the Partnership for the Open Society Initiative and others, expressing hope that they will continue in future as well, in parallel with the expansion of the Armenia-EU partnership agenda.

At the conference Deputy Foreign Minister answered to the questions of the participants.