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On October 31, a ceremonial event was held at the National Assembly of Armenia dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Armenia and the 5th anniversary of its effective cooperation with the National Assembly.
“Over the past three decades, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been a reliable partner for Armenia, supporting the democratic reforms implemented in the country. One of the best examples of this is the programme’s cooperation with the National Assembly of Armenia, particularly through the parliamentary support programme carried out by the governments of Sweden, Canada, Norway, and Armenia. This initiative has significantly contributed to enhancing the effectiveness of the Armenian parliament’s work, ensuring transparency and inclusiveness,” the Armenian parliament’s press service said in a statement.
The event was attended by members of parliament, representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Armenia, the United Nations Development Programme, and the staff of the National Assembly, as well as the director and staff of the Matenadaran. The opening speech was delivered by the President of the National Assembly of Armenia, Alen Simonyan.
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Development Programme’s activities in Armenia and the 5th anniversary of its effective cooperation with the National Assembly, the President of the National Assembly of Armenia, Alen Simonyan, awarded the programme a commemorative medal.
Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Armenia, Natia Natsvlishvili, said: “It has been a great honor for us to stand by Armenia over the past 30 years—from economic downturns and natural disasters to the much-desired periods of stability restoration.”
She spoke about the five years of cooperation with the National Assembly, noting that tangible results had been achieved, thanks to the close collaboration between the governments of Armenia, Sweden, Norway, and Canada.
Following this, Ara Khzmalyan, Director of the Matenadaran’s Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, spoke about the illustrated album of Anania Shirakatsi’s mathematical problems created by children, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of UNDP activities. Ara Khzmalyan expressed gratitude to UNDP for its work over the past three decades and noted that it was symbolic that the Matenadaran was also participating in the anniversary events.
Sweden’s Ambassador to Armenia Eva Sundquist, and Canada’s Ambassador Andrew Turner also delivered remarks.
Speaking about the close and reliable cooperation between Sweden and Armenia, Ambassador Eva Sundquist noted that it is based on transparency, democracy, and inclusiveness. “We have actively sought to support Armenia’s democratic institutions to strengthen their accountability capacities,” the ambassador said.
She also emphasized the importance and achievements of the National Assembly–UNDP cooperation, noting that the Swedish government reaffirms its continued support for the Armenian parliament.
The Canadian ambassador spoke about the joint efforts of partners in supporting the democratic reform process in Armenia. According to Andrew Turner, the role of the National Assembly is crucial in these democratic processes.