Support to the Armenian National Assembly Program, Seventh Quarterly Report (January 1 – March 31, 2014)

The program, implemented by Tetra Tech, aims to accomplish four objectives over the period of 2012-2016: increasing representation of citizens' interests, improving oversight of the executive branch, enhancing analytical capacity of selected committees, and making rules and procedures governing selected committees clearer and increasing institutional capacity. SANAP began working with five standing committees in its first year, including the Financial - Credit and Budgetary Affairs, Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs, State and Legal Affairs, Territorial Affairs and Local Self Government, and Ethics committees. Starting in October 2014, the program expanded its work to three additional committees: Healthcare, Maternity and Childhood, Agriculture and Environment, and Economic Affairs. The program focuses on building the capacity of selected committees by strengthening the skills and knowledge of committee Members of Parliament (MPs), enhancing rules and procedures of select committees, improving legislative analysis by staff and members, and expanding outreach to citizens and civil society. SANAP also works with individual members of parliament elected from single-member districts, assisting them in strengthening constituent links, and supports other USAID projects that deal with issues requiring parliament consideration. During the final four months of 2013, two significant events reshaped Armenian politics. The President announced his support for an EU free trade agreement, but later aligned Armenia with Russia's Custom Union. The parliament approved the sale of the remaining 20% ownership of the Armenia state gas company, ArmRusgasprom, to Russia's Gazprom, giving Gazprom the power to block natural gas imports from other countries until 2043. As this report was being prepared, two additional events occurred that will further reshape the political landscape. The Armenia's constitutional court ruled that the country's controversial pension legislation violated the law, and the Prime Minister announced his resignation. Critics of the government saw the resignation as a victory, but it remains to be seen if subsequent change in government will strengthen reform, reinforce consolidation, or simply represent a reshuffling of the status quo. SANAP may see tangible effects from these changes, including the potential appointment of one or more committee chairs to government posts. The program will need to establish relationships with the new Speaker and their team if the current Speaker becomes Prime Minister. This potential change in key NA staff reinforces the need for SANAP to remain focused on building the NA as an institution, continuing to work with individual MPs and staff to achieve long-term impact.