FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ANNUAL AWARD CEREMONY 2009

PrintE-mail

Yerevan, Armenia - On September 28, 2009, the Freedom of Information Center of Armenia (FOICA) through USAID support organized the Freedom of Information Annual Award Ceremony at Regineh Hotel in Yerevan. This annual event, organized by FOICA since 2003 with the purpose of promoting transparency and good governance in Armenia, was devoted to the International Right to Know Day set aside in 2002 by a group of freedom of information advocates around the world. Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, U.S. Ambassador Marie L. Yovanovitch and FOICA President Shushan Doydoyan made opening remarks at the ceremony, attended by representatives of the Armenian government, international and local organizations, NGOs and the media. 

By FOICA tradition, the winners of “positive awards” are presented with ‘Golden Keys’ as a symbol for openness and transparency, while the winners of “negative award” receive a ‘Rusty Lock’ as a symbol of secrecy and refusal for information sharing. Nominations this year were selected by an independent jury, comprised of nine local NGO representatives, journalists and scientists, and featured five positive and one negative awards.

USAID/Armenia Deputy Mission Director John Seong presented a Golden Key award to the Ministry of Territorial Administration for the best e-governance system. Other nominations included:

• Positive Award for the most transparent institution/agency - presented to Azatan village administration, Shirak region
• Positive Award for an NGO, which has contributed to the exercising of the access to information right - presented to “Huysi Kamurj” (Bridge of Hope) NGO
• Positive Award for the journalist/media of the best freedom of information related article/broadcast program - awarded to Grisha Balasanyan from “Aravot” and “Hayq” newspapers
• Positive Award for a citizen who has actively exercised his/her right of access to information - awarded to citizen Armen Galstyan