The Director General of the Union of Communities of Armenia, Armen Harutyunyan, participated in the two-day conference entitled “Strengthening Intermunicipal Cooperation in Armenia: Legislative Reforms and Municipal Governance Practice”, held in Dilijan. The conference brought together representatives of local self-government bodies, state institutions, international partners, and experts working in the field of community development.

The initiative was implemented within the framework of the "Integrated Community Development in Armenia" program implemented by GIZ, with co-financing from the governments of Germany and Switzerland and in close cooperation with the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia.

In his remarks, Armen Harutyunyan emphasized the importance of establishing and strengthening intermunicipal ties, noting that effective cooperation among communities can become one of the key instruments for the sustainable development of the local self-government system.

He highlighted that communities often face challenges whose effective resolution is possible only through joint efforts, the exchange of experience, and the pooling of resources. In this context, intermunicipal cooperation creates opportunities to strengthen community capacities, improve the quality of services provided to residents, and ensure more efficient governance.

Armen Harutyunyan also addressed existing challenges in the field, stressing the need for the further development of legal and practical mechanisms that facilitate cooperation. He underscored the importance of creating conditions that enable communities to establish long-term, sustainable, and mutually beneficial partnerships based on shared objectives and the genuine needs of local communities.

During his presentation, approaches to the proposed reforms were also discussed, with particular emphasis on the idea that the development of the local self-government system should focus on strengthening community autonomy, improving governance efficiency, and ensuring higher-quality public services for citizens.

The discussions held throughout the conference once again demonstrated that intermunicipal cooperation can become a significant driver of community development in Armenia, contributing not only to more effective governance but also to the exchange of knowledge, experience, and successful practices among communities.

The Union of Communities of Armenia will continue to play an active role in these processes by representing the interests of communities, supporting reforms in the local self-government system, and contributing to the development of stronger, more cooperative, and more resilient communities.