Tweet
VILLAGE COUNCILS UNDEVELOPED YET
Azat Artsakh Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
26 Aug 05
At the local elections held in our republic people have also elected
local councils. However, not everyone knows what a community council
is, what its rights and powers are and whether this institution can be
considered accomplished. We discussed these and other questions with
the member of the community council of Stepanakert, the chairman of
the foundation `Stepanakert' Naira Petrossian. Laura Grigorian:
`Mrs. Petrossian, you have been elected to the community council twice
and already have considerable experience. What does the community
council represent and what is its role in the development of the
country?' N.P.: `The axis in building Nagorno Karabakh Republic is the
creation of a legitimate democratic national state, and on the way of
building such a country local government as a peculiar form of
democratic society is utterly important. Local governance is
instituted throughout the territoryof NKR to serve and improve the
life of the population. The community is the democratic basis of the
system of government, which is a legal person and a separate
administrative unit which deals with its property. It should be noted
that for the orderly and legal development of the local governmental
system the role and activity of the community council is utterly
important. The community council is a representational body and is
elected along with the head of the community. It possesses powers
granted to it by the Constitution and the NKR law on local
government. The community council controls the implementationof the
community budget, manages the lands located within the administrative
territory of the community, confirms the annual report of the head of
the community on the implementation of the budget. The representatives
of the community council are also involved in the standing committees
under the City Hall. ' L.G.: `What are the rights and duties of the
members of the community council and which is the circle of their
action?' N.P.: `The members of the community council may come up with
proposals referring the agenda and the questions under consideration,
prepare and propose questions, projects and messages for discussion by
the community council, demand and receive official data from the mayor
about the activity of the community. At the same time the members of
the community council must take part in the meetings of the community
council, regularly meet with the members of the community and inform
them about the work of the community council, be present at the
reception of citizensby the community council, study the proposals and
complaints of the members of the community, attend to them. The
community council must organize its work combining their rights and
duties. Of course, the sphere of its activitiesis many-sided, requires
hard work, especially that it works in the form of meetings which take
place once a month. Any questions referring to the interests of the
community may be discussed at the meeting. The council may make
decisions and issue messages. However, it should be noted that not all
the conditions necessary for the determined work of the community
council of Stepanakert are provided. And although the NKR law on local
government has been in action since 1998, the institution of community
councils cannot be considered as fully accomplished. The rights of the
community council are limited by thelaw in action and therefore are
not sufficient to place and sustain the activity of the council on a
sound basis. The members of the community council should not merely be
present at the meetings of the council. Each of them should assume the
control of one of the spheres of life of vital importance for the
city.
Not only should the members of the council be worried by the problems
of the city but these should become the subject of their everyday work
and concern.
Therefore, it is necessary that the village council have permanent and
precise mechanisms and leverages.' L.G.: `Is the communityaware of the
activity of the council?' N.P.: `The public television informs about
all our meetings, the decisions are published in Stepanakert
Weekly. That is to say our activity is transparent for
everyone. Nevertheless, I think, the activity of the community council
needs improvement and precision.'
LAURA GRIGORIAN.
26-08-2005
Azat Artsakh Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
26 Aug 05
At the local elections held in our republic people have also elected
local councils. However, not everyone knows what a community council
is, what its rights and powers are and whether this institution can be
considered accomplished. We discussed these and other questions with
the member of the community council of Stepanakert, the chairman of
the foundation `Stepanakert' Naira Petrossian. Laura Grigorian:
`Mrs. Petrossian, you have been elected to the community council twice
and already have considerable experience. What does the community
council represent and what is its role in the development of the
country?' N.P.: `The axis in building Nagorno Karabakh Republic is the
creation of a legitimate democratic national state, and on the way of
building such a country local government as a peculiar form of
democratic society is utterly important. Local governance is
instituted throughout the territoryof NKR to serve and improve the
life of the population. The community is the democratic basis of the
system of government, which is a legal person and a separate
administrative unit which deals with its property. It should be noted
that for the orderly and legal development of the local governmental
system the role and activity of the community council is utterly
important. The community council is a representational body and is
elected along with the head of the community. It possesses powers
granted to it by the Constitution and the NKR law on local
government. The community council controls the implementationof the
community budget, manages the lands located within the administrative
territory of the community, confirms the annual report of the head of
the community on the implementation of the budget. The representatives
of the community council are also involved in the standing committees
under the City Hall. ' L.G.: `What are the rights and duties of the
members of the community council and which is the circle of their
action?' N.P.: `The members of the community council may come up with
proposals referring the agenda and the questions under consideration,
prepare and propose questions, projects and messages for discussion by
the community council, demand and receive official data from the mayor
about the activity of the community. At the same time the members of
the community council must take part in the meetings of the community
council, regularly meet with the members of the community and inform
them about the work of the community council, be present at the
reception of citizensby the community council, study the proposals and
complaints of the members of the community, attend to them. The
community council must organize its work combining their rights and
duties. Of course, the sphere of its activitiesis many-sided, requires
hard work, especially that it works in the form of meetings which take
place once a month. Any questions referring to the interests of the
community may be discussed at the meeting. The council may make
decisions and issue messages. However, it should be noted that not all
the conditions necessary for the determined work of the community
council of Stepanakert are provided. And although the NKR law on local
government has been in action since 1998, the institution of community
councils cannot be considered as fully accomplished. The rights of the
community council are limited by thelaw in action and therefore are
not sufficient to place and sustain the activity of the council on a
sound basis. The members of the community council should not merely be
present at the meetings of the council. Each of them should assume the
control of one of the spheres of life of vital importance for the
city.
Not only should the members of the council be worried by the problems
of the city but these should become the subject of their everyday work
and concern.
Therefore, it is necessary that the village council have permanent and
precise mechanisms and leverages.' L.G.: `Is the communityaware of the
activity of the council?' N.P.: `The public television informs about
all our meetings, the decisions are published in Stepanakert
Weekly. That is to say our activity is transparent for
everyone. Nevertheless, I think, the activity of the community council
needs improvement and precision.'
LAURA GRIGORIAN.
26-08-2005