Issues related to the legal status and smooth functioning of the Aarhus Centers were addressed at an OSCE-organized event held during the 8th Session of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention.
The Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities held a side event titled “The Role of Aarhus Centers in the Implementation of the Convention.”
At the event, Ambassador Bakyt Dzhusupov, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, and Marco Keiner, Director of the UNECE Environment Division, emphasized the role of Aarhus Centers in implementing the Convention, particularly in strengthening its cornerstones at the local level.
Ambassador Bakyt Dzhusupov highlighted that the history of Aarhus Centers began in Yerevan with the establishment of the first Center.
Christian Melis, OSCE Environmental Governance Officer, highlighted Armenia’s position regarding the future orientation of the legal status of Aarhus Centers.
Mari Chakryan, Legal Advisor to the Ministry of Environment of the RA and National Coordinator for the Aarhus Convention, participated in the event as a speaker. She presented the options currently under discussion for determining the legal status of the Centers, emphasizing the importance of reaching consensus among all stakeholders. She noted that the independence, financial stability, continuity of activities, and transparency of the Centers are fundamental considerations in shaping their future orientation.
The Yerevan Aarhus Centre, established in 2002, currently operates under the Ministry of Environment of the RA and serves as a platform for discussing environmental issues and identifying effective solutions.