On October 31, 2012, the Hrayr Maroukhian Foundation with the financial support of Counterpart International and USAID held its second round table for the project, “Transforming Street Action to Institutional Change: Environmental Policy Dialogue” at the Congress Hotel in Yerevan.

Taking part in the discussion were environmental activists, NGOs, university professors, experts and representatives from the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. The objective of this event was to discuss and deliberate ways to ensure more transparency and cooperation between the government and civil society in environmental policy-making. The discussions were at times heated but also very honest and constructive.

Based on the results of the discussions, HMF experts will be preparing a paper highlighting the shortcomings in environmental legislation; recommending mechanisms to guarantee the application of the laws and ensuring inclusion of all stakeholders with regard to environmental decision-making.