The First Meeting of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Multi-stakeholder Group in 2019

16.04.19
The First Meeting of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Multi-stakeholder Group in 2019

On April 16, 2019 first meeting of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Multi-stakeholder Group (MSG) in 2019 was held chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan.

Deputy Prime Minister welcomed the attendees and summed up the results of the previous year's activities and the efforts which were also appreciated by the EITI International Secretariat’s representatives.

Speaking about the works to be done in 2019, Tigran Avinyan said: "2019 is an important year from the point of view of the EITI implementation in Armenia. Armenia will publish its second EITI Report report. MSG with the Armenian government should address the problems and recommendations disclosed in the First EITI Report of Armenia, as well as Armenia will undergo an EITI validation in 2019".

The Deputy Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of raising public awareness on disclosed data and informed that a study on systematic data disclosure will be prepared in 2019.  

Tigran Avinyan referred to international partner organizations, noting that close cooperation with international partners is highly appreciated in the EITI implementation process in Armenia, and the results achieved in previous years have been recorded thanks to support of international partners of EITI Armenia. "Our main partners in the implementation of the 2019 EITI Work plan are the World Bank Armenia and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)." the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

MSG discussed the scope of the second EITI Report of Armenia and a number of decisions were made required by the EITI Standard on the framework of the Report, as well as the upcoming changes to the EITI Standard. MSG also discussed issues related to the Scoping Study on EITI Armenia's expansion in 2020. The EITI implementation ongoing activities were presented, particularly, development of the EITI concept paper on responsible mining and introduction of the responsible mining definition, works being carried out toward disclosure of beneficial owners. It was also informed that regional meetings will be held in the main affected communities to present the information disclosed in the EITI First Report of Armenia.

During the meeting MSG approved the 2018 4th Quarter EITI Progress Report and the implementation of the 2018 Work Plan of the EITI Armenia. During the meeting there were also discussed other  issues related to the extractive sector of Armenia.