Council of Europe drafts 15mln EUR plan of action for Armenia

• Friday, June 29, 02:02

 The Council of Europe has drafted a plan of action to foster progress in Armenia in 2012-2014. The plan will be presented in Yerevan July 12, Claudia Luciani, Director of Political Advice and Co-operation, Directorate General of Democracy and Political Affairs of the Council of Europe, said in an interview
with ArmInfo's own correspondent in Strasbourg.

She said that the plan is supposed to help Armenia to put its laws into practice as they are good only on paper. Luciani said that their objective is not to change the laws but to help the country to enforce them in compliance with the CE standards.

She said that the plan covers such crucial spheres as elections, legal proceedings, combat with corruption and cyber-crime.

Luciani said that it took them one year to draft the plan. The initiative has already been coordinated with the Armenian authorities.  It will require much work and active financing.

Luciani said that the plan is a proof of the CE's special commitment to Armenia as its partner. It will involve both the government and the civil society and is expected to bring the country closer to the CE.

Luciani said that there are similar plans for Ukraine and Azerbaijan.

She noted that the plan will need financial support. So, the key goal of its presentation in Yerevan is to attract donors. Luciani explained that the CE has a lot of human resources but in terms of financing it needs support.

The estimated cost of the plan is 15mln EUR. 5mln EUR is already available and will be spent on 19 human rights protection and democracy building projects. The money has been provided by the EU, Denmark, Norway and Switzerland.