STATEMENT BY FREEDOM OF INFORMATION CIVIC INITIATIVE
Support A1+!Freedom of Information Civic Initiative on behalf of three Armenian NGOs has disseminated the following Statement:
In February 12 the Armenian Government has approved a draft Law developed and produced by the Ministry of Justice. This draft Law changes essentially the recently adopted Law on Freedom of Information, recognized by various international organizations as one of the best Laws on Freedom of Information in the world as well as one of the best laws adopted in Armenia in 2003. Indeed, the acting Law gives everyone the opportunity to receive the needed information from any state body without obstacles and groundless financial expenses.
The Draft Law deprives people of real opportunity to receive information. It endangers all present anti-corruption initiatives and does not give opportunity to the state bodies to operate transparently and to be open and accessible for the general public. Moreover, withdrawal of the Acting Law approved by the Government, the National Assembly, and the President just three months ago is discrediting all those bodies and the state itself. The legislative initiative of the Ministry of Justice may damage the public’s confidence in the authorities as well as the image of the state outside the country.
Hence, we request withdrawal of the draft Amendments to the Law on Freedom of Information and we require the implementation of the Acting Law with great positive potential. We strongly believe that implementation of the Acting Law will become an outstanding achievement of already declared political will of the authorities of Armenia.
