2014 PFP Reciprocal Travel Program for U.S. Participants

OUTBOUND PROJECT NARRATIVE REPORT

“Creating Business Guides”

Implementing country: Armenia

Visiting Experts: Mr. Joe Ayala, Principal Deputy of Legislative Counsel of California. Hosting Institution: The State Agency National Centre for Legislative Regulation Project

Implementation Unit at the Government Staff of the Republic of Armenia Hosting expert: Mr. Gegham Gevorgyan, Chief Lawyer in The State Agency National

Centre for Legislative Regulation, Lecturer in Public Administration Academy, PFP alumnus

Dates of visit: 16 – 24 September, 2014

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PRO JECT GOAL

The implementation of the project

Goal 1. Make easier the implementation of regulations and increase their usage by the private sector.

Goal 2. Via increasing the information and knowledge about regulatory legal acts reducing the corruption during their implementation.

Goal 3. Via business guidelines to ensure the easy implementation of regulatory legal acts and reduce “black market”.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

Objective 1. - Presentation of the program and training the representatives of the State Agency National Centre for Legislative Regulation Project Implementation Unit at the Government Staff of the Republic of Armenia (NCLR) in terms of the preparation and implementation of business guides and support to the private sector in USA

Objective 2. Preparation of a sample business guide on electronic and paper versions and their presentation to the public

Objective 3. To present the idea of business guides to the state agencies, show the necessity of their application and preparation mechanisms

Objective 4. To present the idea of business guides to the private sector, listen to and discuss their suggestions

Objective 5. To discuss the mechanisms of further application of the program with the representatives of NCLR

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DAY 1 SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

The project started on the 16th of September, when our American counterparts, Mr. Joe Ayala, Principal Deputy of Legislative Counsel of California, arrived in Yerevan. As it was a long flight Joe had a small rest after which we had a short discussion about our project. In the evening we had welcome dinner in a restaurant.

DAY 2 SEPTEMBER 17, 2014

Our first visit was to US Embassy in Armenia (meeting was organized by Nane Abrahamian).

The Embassy representative Public Affair Officer -Jacqueline Deley and Country Director Karen Smith were interested about program, its practical benefits and difficulties. Joe Ayala and I short described our feelings about program emphasizing the key parts of it. At the same time we shared our experience.

Dinner with Joe Ayala, Senior Specialist of Legal Department of Government Staff - Hayk Malkhasyan.

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Picture with the flags in US Embassy in Yerevan

From left to right – Joe Ayala, Gegham Gevorgyan, Karen Smith, Jacqueline Deley

The next meeting was in the State Agency National Centre for Legislative Regulation Project Implementation Unit at the Government Staff of the Republic of Armenia (NCLR). Joe presented him and his office to the representatives of NCLR. After it Joe described the main points of e-government in California brought examples from DNV sector. Presenting the services provided to private sector by the state he mentioned the importance of present to public law regulations in easy way. Joe Ayala and the representatives of NCLR had discussion about the regulation of service provided by state and other issues too.

Cultural part of the day

Yerevan Brandy Company Tour

ArArAt has preserved the traditions of the legendary brandy manufacturing since 1887 when a merchant named Nerses Tairyan built the first wine and brandy factory in Yerevan. In

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1899 the company was acquired by a Russian industrial company “Shustov and Sons”. At the beginning of the 20th century the company “Shustov and Sons” acquired the status of Armenian brandy supplier to the court of His Imperial Majesty Nicholas II. Yerevan Brandy Company is almost as renowned a symbol of the Armenian capital as Mount Ararat. Immense reserves of precious brandy spirits, many put into barrels as far back as in the 19th century, are stored in its cellars. In 1887 the enterprise was equipped with Charente type distillers and specialized premises for spirit ageing. After Nikolai Shustov acquired the factory from Nerses Tairyan the auxiliary production units, new storage facilites and even a power plant were constructed. In 1953 the factory was moved to a new monumental building which is situated at the hill and decorated with traditional Armenian bas-reliefs, as if hovering over the city. It is only here that up to this very day the legendary Armenian brandies under ArArAt trademark are produced. ArArAt is one of the most successful brand of Armenian brandy not only in Armenia but also worldwide. It is no wonder that this precious drink with its exceptional taste it owes to the unique microclimate of the Ararat valley, the endemic grape varieties and the gentle sun of Armenia, has many friends and admirers. (http://www.araratbrandy.com/en/ybc/tour).

Visit to the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex and Genocide Museum

The Memorial Monument dedicated to the 1,500,000 million victims of the Armenian Genocide - the first genocide of the twentieth century stands on the high hilltop of Tsitsernakaberd -- overlooking the capital. The Memorial to the Genocide was erected in 195, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The shape of the 12 "kneeling" slabs are symbolic of the 12

occupied provinces of Greater Armenia - the native homeland where the carnage took place. Within the twelve "columns" is the Eternal Fire. Next to the ringed stones surrounding the flame is the twin peaked obelisk - pointing upwards - to the stars. In 1995 on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide - right next to the Memorial - a subterranean-built Museum Institute of the Armenian Genocide was established. The roof of

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the Museum is flat and covered with concrete tiles. It overlooks the scenic Ararat Valley and majestic Mount Ararat.

In the “EL SKY” restaurant located one of the highest buildings in Yerevan. From the restaurant we enjoyed the night downtown of Yerevan and European cuisine.

DAY 3, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

The day started visiting to American Councils Office in Yerevan to meet new PFP fellows. The prospective fellows had a unique opportunity to listen to the first hand experience of the US participants and a alumna of the exchange program. Within the scope of the pre-departure orientation carried out by the American Councils for International Education in Armenia Nane Abrahamian and Karen Smith brought their experience. After the

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presentation Joe Ayala answered the question of fellows.

The discussion continues during lunch time. Joe Ayala shared his experience with fellows and alumnus of PFP (LFP) program.

Nane Abrahamian, Joe Ayala and Karen Smith

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The next meeting was in NCLR with the Director Armen Yeghazaryan and the Deputy Director Vahe Chibukhchyan. Mr. Yeghazaryan told the main goals of NCLR’s project and the problems. Mr Yeghazaryan said “The organization describes the relations of the state with the citizens & businesses, compares with the best practices in the world, prepares package of proposals with corresponding regulatory government bodies to reduce the regulatory burden, discusses it with the businesses, NGOs and presents it for the approval of the Government”. Vahe Chibukchyan added that one of the main problems of the NCLR-project is that the society does not follow legal acts regulating the state services. The reasons were different - lack of information, numerous of acts which regulated one business process, the distrust of electronic database and mechanisms for confidence. The representatives of NCLR concluded that they hoped that joint program with US host organization will help NCLR to overcome the problems and implement the project more effective. Joe Ayala shared his experience in the field of drafting legislation, creating the electronic database and guides how to use them. Mr. Ayala also added that the cooperation between NCLR and Legislative Counsel of California can be ongoing and they will be glad to help NCLR.- http://www.regulations.am/en/news/show/212/0

Cultural part of the day

Visit to Matenadaran

The Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts), commonly referred to as the Matenadaran, is a repository of ancient manuscripts, research institute and museum located in Yerevan, Armenia. It holds one of the world's richest depositories of medieval manuscripts

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and books which span a broad range of subjects, including history, philosophy, medicine, literature, art history and cosmography in Armenian and many other languages.

Dinner at the Club Restaurant (organized by American Councils in Yerevan) The dinner was nice opportunity to communicate with American Councils and US Embassy representatives, PFP Alumni, PFP Fellows. New PFP Fellows had a chance to ask questions PFP Alumna and Joe Ayala. Everyone enjoyed nice evening and georgious Amrenian Cuisine.

PFP Alumni – Tigran Tshorokhyan, Arsen Nikoghosyan, Gegham Gevorgyan and Joe Ayala

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DAY 4 SEPTEMBER 19, 2014

The forth business day Joe Ayala started by lecturing for law students in Public Administration Academy of Armenia. Mr. Ayala made power point presentation and expatiated on the overview of California, branches of Government (Judicial, Legislative, Executive), Public Agency Services, the problems related to that services and the solutions, brochures (guides) about the services, etc. The students had a chance to enjoy fantastic lecture. We were happy to discover what cultivated, well informed and erudite students attended the lecture. It was really very interactive lecture and judging by the length of questions session, it was obvious that the students were very interested and impressed by Mr. Ayala. - http://paara.am/amerikaci_pashtonyan/

After the lecturing Joe Ayala had a meeting with the representatives of Public Administration Academy - Vice-rector on Educational Affairs Khachatur Bezirjyan, Head of Law Faculty Armen Yezekyan, Head of Division of Quality Assurance of Education Avetis Gevorgyan, and Head of Davison of Practice Khachatur Ghazeyan. They discussed some issues in the field of education and the problem to involve students in public discussion and decision making processes.

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Cultural part of the day

Dinner in Armenian national restaurant

DAY 5-6 SEPTEMBER 20-21, 2014

Walking tour in Yerevan

Celebrating Independance day

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Tour in Holly City Ejmiatsin

The religious buildings and archaeological remains in Echmiatsin and Zvartnots bear witness to the implantation of Christianity in Armenia and to the evolution of a unique Armenian ecclesiastical architecture, the Armenian central-domed cross-hall type, which exerted a profound influence on architectural and artistic development in the region

Saint Shoghakat. Saint Shoghakat Church was erected in 1694 by Prince Aghamal Sorotetsi during the time of Catholicos Nahabed I in the present day city of Ejmiatsin, in Armavir Province of Armenia. This church together with other nearby sites is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Saint Gayane Church is a 7th century Armenian church in Ejmiatsin, the religious centre of Armenia. St. Gayane was built by Catholicos Ezra I in the year 630. Its design has remained unchanged despite partial renovations of the dome and some ceilings in 1652. Gayane was the name of an abbess who was martyred with other nuns by Tiridates III of Armenia in the year 301, and subsequently made a saint of the Armenian Apostolic Church. St. Gayane is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List 2000.

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The Cathedral of Holy Echmiatzin is the most ancient Christian place of worship in Armenia, built in 301-3 by Gregor Lousavorich, the founder of the Armenian Apostolic Church, in Vagharshapat, the capital and religious centre of Armenia at that time. It was originally a vaulted basilica but, following serious damage as a result of political upheavals it was given its present cruciform plan during restoration work in 480. In 618 the wooden cupola was replaced with an identical one in stone which survives almost unchanged. Its mass is supported on four massive independent pillars connected by slender arcades within the exterior walls; those on the northern side belonged to the 4th and 5th centuries. A three-tier belfry was built in front of the western entrance in the 17th century. The six-column rotundas on four-pillar bases, built at the beginning of the 18th century over the northern, eastern and southern apses, give the cathedral a five-domed outline.

The tour and lunch in Armenian Cross Unity (CAU). We can enjoy exhibition of carpets, Pieces of CAU's pottery studio, etc. In the end of the tour we had traditional Western Armenian foods.

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DAY 7

SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

On September 22 there was organized the meeting with the first deputy of Ministry of Justice Arsen Mkrtchyan. Mr. Mkrtchyan told about Armenian legislation, the role of Ministry of Justice. The Deputy of Ministry told also about the regulatory impact assessment of laws and asked Joe Ayala how they did regulatory impact assessment in California.

Mr. Ayala shared his experience, told about the legislative process in California, and emphasized the similarities and differences between Armenia and USA legislative processes. Gegham Gevorgyan said that during his fellowship in California he found a lot of similarities between the system of electronic database of legal acts, the official publication of electronic and paper version of publication of legal acts and ask Mr. Ayala to told about http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/ and the process of drafting laws. After it Joy Ayala shared his experience and expressed willingness to cooparate with Armenian colegues. Gegham Gevorgyan compared Californian legislation www.leginfo.ca.gov and Armenian legislation www.arlis.am portals and the electronic mechanisms of drafting legal acts.

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Cultural Part of the day

Dinner in Gegham Gevorgyan's house

DAY 8

SEPTEMBER 23, 2014

On the last business day Mr. Ayala and the representatives of NCLR discuss further implementation of the program, and the ways of further cooperation of Armenian and Californian counterparts. Both sides mentioned the importance of that cooperation.

Tennis competition in Incort Tennis Club. Joe Ayala beat NCLR's employees in tennis.

It was a great pleasure to invite Mr. Ayala to my house. I enjoy the time with my family, friends and Joe. We also tried Armenian traditional foods in home made version.

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Cultural Part of the day

Tour in Armenia

DAY 9

SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

In the early morning Joe Ayala traveled to USA, giving us professional great experience and a part of California, and takes with him our experience and a part of Armenia.

Joe had a trip in Armenia. He visited to Noravank (13th-century Armenian monastery, located in a narrow gorge made by the Amaghu river, near the city of Yeghegnadzor), Areni village (it is best known for its wine production), the city of Yeghegnadzor, etc.