11th European Youth Parliament for Water

On 12-19 May 2013 the Republic of Armenia hosted 11th European Youth Parliament for Water on “Water Resource Management”.

90 participants from 15 European countries (Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Moldova, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey) took part in the Parliament. The Armenian delegation consisted of 8 participants, of which 3 were the representatives of Country Water Partnership NGO.

The main goal of the Parliament was to discuss water resources management and to propose possible solutions for improvement of the management process and for maximal involvement of youth in the process.  

 The European Youth Parliament for Water started its activities since May 13, after the official opening ceremony in the NA Session Hall under the sounds of the RA state hymn. NA deputies, representatives of state authorities and international organizations attended the opening ceremony.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The RA NA President Hovik Abrahamyan addressed a welcoming word to the youth, having mentioned in particular:" The youth is the motivating force of the society and is our future, and its participation is very important in the search of the world problems solutions."

 Mr. Andranik Andreasyan, Head of the State Committee for Water Management, has read the message from the RA President Serzh Sargsyan.

The swearing-in of parliamentarians followed the welcome speeches, during which each delegation from 15 countries promised to work hard and to implement concrete projects on informing on the water problems after its completion.

After the official opening ceremony at the NA, 15 delegates of the participating countries have met with the RA Prime-Minister Tigran Sargsyan and addressed their questions to him.

During one-week activities of the Parliament the young parliamentarians have met and discussed with the various stakeholders problems related to water resource management, as well as there was presented the initial study by the Parliament participants, when each delegation presented the processes of  water resource management in their countries.

Playing various roles, the Parliament participants discussed water problems, as a result they concluded that water resource management represents a complex of processes closely related to each other, and that for its efficient functioning it is necessary that the system components are compatible with each other.

During the Parliament, the participants visited also the pump station in Hrazdan town, the drinking water chlorination station in Dilijan town and the household wastewater treatment plant in Gavar town. After the visits the participants met with the towns' majors and spoke to the local residents on the water supply and other problems existing in the towns.One of the main processes of the Parliament was the development of the Declaration. After representation of the development methods by the Committee, the young Parliamentarians were divided into groups to reveal the global problems specific for their countries and to propose appropriate solutions for those problems.

On May 17 in Sevan the 11th European Youth Parliament met with the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Territorial Administration, Armen Gevorgyan. The Deputy Prime Minister welcomed the participants, noting that topic of the meeting is an important and urgent topic in Armenia, like in many countries. He expressed also his joy that young people are interested in such important problems, and welcomed their aspiration to take part in their solution.

 The Parliament closing ceremony was on May 18  at the NA Session Hall. The ceremony was headed by the President and Vice-president of the new 11th Parliament elected by the young Parliamentarians.  At the closing ceremony the Declaration prepared by the Parliamentarians was officially adopted. The Declaration emphasizes the importance of including water management program into Curricula, as well as the cooperation with different countries, that will make the collaborative works even more efficient.

  The Declaration developed by the young Parliamentarians was disseminated among all participants, and each of them promised to deliver the Declaration to his/her Government.The Armenian delegations officially submitted the Declaration to the Head of the State Committee of Water System - Andranik Andreasyan, who promised that all projects included in the Declaration by the Armenian delegation will be supported by the government.