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Structures similar to Armenia’s Public Council function in more than 70 countries around the world. Naturally, if they were inactive structures, there would hardly continue to function in so many countries. The Public Council of Armenia was established in 2008. For more than 10 years the activity of the council has caused no doubts. But most recently the efficiency of the structure has been called into question. Amid all the criticism, Vazgen Manukyan, who headed the Public Council since 2008, stepped down in November this year, and now the structure has a new chairman. Under his leadership, the council has not yet convened a meeting.

Speaking to Panorama.am, member of the Public Council, lawyer Marat Atovmyan stated the structure serves as a bridge between the authorities and the society.

“The Public Council should not be limited to the 45 individuals who serve as members of the council. The Public Council is made up of 15 professional, sectoral committees, with dozens, hundreds of NGOs joining each committee. It provides a good opportunity to gather, to discuss issues and to make proposals. In this regard, I consider the activity of the Public Council useful as a model,” the lawyer said.

He stressed that the approaches of different sectors of society are voiced during the Public Council discussions, so it can be considered a genuinely public institute.

“It has brought together people with various knowledge and experience, with each of them having their own position on any issue. Sometimes the council hosts heated debates, which is a normal process,” Atovmyan noted.

Asked what are the primary issues for a Public Council member to raise during the upcoming meetings, the lawyer said the most important thing is the future of the Public Council at the moment. “There have been some structural changes, which may have affected the way all members envisage the future activity of the council. All the issues of public importance will be raised,” he said.

Gevorg Mkrtchyan, the deputy director of the Armenian State Philharmonic Hall and a Public Council member, said each of the 15 committees of the council discusses issues raised in almost all public sectors in participation of experts, makes formulations and submits them to relevant departments. He noted that in this respect, the Public Council really serves its purpose, meantime stressing the members of the Public Council are elected from different sectors of society.

Asked whether the council serves the interests of the government, Mkrtchyan said: “I don’t know what is to come in the near future, but no such thing was discussed or imposed in the Public Council under the former chairman. On the contrary, we discussed issues concerning different sectors of society and felt free to express our ideas and opinions. I've never faced such a problem in the Public Council,” he said.