Upon successfully finished joint European Voluntary Service project, LDA Central and Southern Serbia, based in Niš, has been invited by Associação Mais Cidadania to join their international “More Citizenship Network”. Born in 2008, this network links international partners to Portuguese organisation AssociaçãoMaisCidadania to discuss and deepen themes linked to citizenship and search paths and strategies to answer to the challenges of our society at local and European level.
LDA Niš will share good practices with other members of the Network through development of common projects and will actively work on promoting citizenship, youngster’s engagement, intercultural dialogue, cultural debate, social inclusion and active participation of young people in the society.

The LDA Kosovo with its further activities will be a bridge towards Europe not only for the host city, Peje/Pec, but for the all the country as a whole.
All the participants to the opening ceremony of the new offices of the LDA, that took place in Peje/Pec the 21st of November, stressed that this is not just a hope, but a certainty.
Kosovo need Europa as Europa need peaceful relations between Kosovo and Serbia and the completion of the diplomatic path between the two countries, sine qua non condition for the stability of the entire region.
The LDA Kosovo wants to play an important role in this game.
The ceremony was attended, among others,by Mr.Ali Berisha, Mayor of Peje/Pec, the host city and local partner of the LDA, Mr.MaurizioCamin, President of TavoloTrentino con ilKossovo, Colonel AndreaBorzaga new Commander of the Italian contingent in Kosovo and Commander of the Multinational Battle Group West KFOR (Kosovo Force), andMrs. Antonella Valmorbida, Director of ALDA, in connection from Italy.
During the meeting was finalised and signed by partners the Agreement that will be the operational basis of the LDA, the Association “TavoloTrentino per il Kosovo” was confirmed lead partner and was appointed the Director of the LDA, Mr. Elbert Krasniqi.
The LDA is promoted by ALDA under the auspices of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, in cooperation with international and local partners.
The ribbon cutting for the new headquarters at the Shtepia e Kultures (rrEnverHadrip.nPeje/Pec),gave to the ADL a physical place where start to implement projects and activities that already are in its agenda.
LDA Kosovo can count on the support of the network of ALDA and other 12 LDAs currently active in the Balkans and South Caucasus.
Decentralisation of power and development of administrative capacities at the local level, together with a capable and vivid civil society, represent a fundamental step in the process of democratisation, stability and development of Kosovo.
With these aims, the LDA Kosovo will develop projects which will foster inter-ethnic dialogue, promote international cooperation, encourage civil society to participate actively in the life of the local community, develop the growth of democracy and good local governance, promote the economic development, giving answers to problems and needs of the population.
The international partners of the LDA are actively engaged in Kosovo since several years, as the Lead Partner Association Table Trentino with Kosovo (TCK) – (Italy and Kosovo) for over 10 years working with the Municipality of Peja/Pec and numerous local organisations, AiBi, Friends of the Children (Italy and Kosovo), RTM Reggio Third World (Italy and Kosovo), the Only Equal Rights Association (Italy), ALFA Formation (France), the town of Yalova (Turkey). LDA local partners are the Municipality of Peja/Pec, which is also the host city, and AKM, Association of Municipalities of Kosovo.
The role of the international partners will be to provide core financial support, participate in activities where they have the skills and capacities, to encourage their own partners to participate in the work of the LDA and to promote the work of the LDA in their own community and encourage wider participation.
On occasion of the opening of new offices of the LDA, an international conference took place on the anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, approved by the UN General Assembly on 20 November 1989, which ended with a series of entertainment activities organised for children and families in Peje/Pec at the Youth Centre.

Programme 2012 and development of the LDAs were the main topics of the ALDA Governing Board held in Rome in the representative office of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region (18 November 2011).
Mrs. Anna Maria Menosso, Vicepresident of FVG Region, attended the meeting bringing the greetings of the Administration to the participants.
She stressed, among the many initiatives of the network of ALDA involving her Region, the support for women of Montenegro (Friuli Venezia Giulia is the lead partner of the LDA Montenegro) through the revival of the ancient practice of lace in collaboration with the School in Gorizia.
Attended the meeting also the Honorary President of ALDA, Mr. Gianfranco Martini and Mr. Alessandro Perelli, representative of the Region Friuli Venezia Giulia.
The Governing Board discussed the proposal of programme for 2012 and the expected budget,
and the development of the LDAs, in particular the development of partnership, the follow up of the meeting in Sisak (3rd to 4th of November 2001), about situation in Croatia, cofunding issue for the LDAs, opening of the LDA in Armenia and further process for Azerbaijan.
The members of the Governing Board discussed also the preparation of the ALDA General Assembly 2012, that will take place in Trieste.

Restudy the recent history of European countries to strengthen the ideals of peace, tolerance and participation and help the building of an Europe ever more land of cohesion, stability and prosperity.
This is the main aim of the project PEACE, implemented by ALDA, the Association of Local Democracy Agencies which final conference. will take place in Strasbourg the 22nd and 23rd of November (CIARUS, 7 rue Finkmatt).

The main subject of the conference will be active remembrance. It will unite around 100 participants from several European countries, all professionals of historical education and active remembrance (educators, teachers, researchers, memorial curators and peace educators). Through presentations on the treatment of repressed pasts in Europe and exchange between the participants, the conference will bring new insights on how to deal with different pasts.
All participants will be encouraged to actively bring their specific experience in different workshops. Debates will be held on subjects such as remembrance and its relation with active citizenship and a positive attitude towards Human Rights and peace.
One of the aims of the project is to develop efficient activities in this field.
The event will combine different methods such as round tables and working groups in order to promote a wide debate benefiting from both multilateral and specific perspectives.
Informal exchange with other participants will be a central element of the conference and will be encouraged.
Participants will participate also in a visit to “Le Mémorial de l’Alsace-Moselle”.

The Local Democracy Agency (LDA) in Kosovo, organised by ALDA, the Association of Local Democracy Agencies, under the auspices of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, in cooperation with its international and local partners, will be operative by the end of 2011.
The ribbon cutting for the new headquarters of the ADL, taking place on November 21, the registration of the ADL as a local NGO in accordance with current legislation in the country and the appointment of the Director, Elbert Krasniqi, who will head the office, will complete the bureaucratic process began last year with the signing of the agreement between the partners, joined in recent months by the diplomatic work done by partners to ensure a good start and effective activity of the LDA.

The LDA Kosovo can count on the support of the network of ALDA and other 12 LDAs currently active in the Balkans and South Caucasus.
“Decentralisation of power and development of administrative capacities at the local level, together with a capable and vivid civil society, represent a fundamental step in the process of democratisation, stability and development of Kosovo”, says ALDA President, Per Vinther.
The LDA Kosovo, like the others, will develop projects which will foster inter-ethnic dialogue, promote international cooperation, encourage civil society to participate actively in the life of the local community, develop the growth of democracy and good local governance, promote the economic development, giving answers to problems and needs of the population.
The international partners of the LDA are actively engaged in Kosovo since several years, as the Lead Partner Association Table Trentino with Kosovo (TCK) – (Italy and Kosovo) for over 10 years working with the Municipality of Peja/Pec and numerous local organisations, AiBi, Friends of the Children (Italy and Kosovo), RTM Reggio Third World (Italy and Kosovo), the Only Equal Rights Association (Italy), ALFA Formation (France), the town of Yalova (Turkey). LDA local partners are the Municipality of Peja/Pec, which is also the host city, and AKM, Association of Municipalities of Kosovo.
The role of the international partners will be to provide core financial support, participate in activities where they have the skills and capacities, to encourage their own partners to participate in the work of the LDA and to promote the work of the LDA in their own community and encourage wider participation.
On occasion of the opening of new offices of the LDA, an international conference will take place on the anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, approved by the UN General Assembly on 20 November 1989, which will end with a series of entertainment activities organised for children and families in Peja/Pec at the Youth Centre.
To the conference will attend, among others, Ali Berisha, Mayor of Peja/Pec, Michele Giffoni, Italian Ambassador to Kosovo, Emiliano Bertoldi, Trentino table for Kosovo, Antonella Valmorbida, Director of ALDA, Corkadiu Sabah, Director of Human Rights Department of the Municipality of Peja/Pec, and Naim Berisha, a sociologist and Assistant Director of the Gymnasium.
On 22nd of November will take place a partner meeting to plan activities for 2012, in particular the project Youth in Action “Youth wears Green”, already approved, which will be developed in 2012, and to analyse the proposals for other projects.

More participation of citizens, more countries involved, more debate on the issues and European values.
This is the idea of the European Commission for the reform of twinning in the next program, 2014-2020, confirming the budget of 30 million a year to fund the twinning projects with the intention of making more effective their performance.
It’s what said Anna Cozzoli, Department of Citizenship EACEA, the Executive Agency Education, Audiovisual and Culture of the European Commission, in liaison from Brussels, to the participants at the international conference organised by ALDA in Venice, within the project INTACT.
The central theme of the conference was just the future of twinning in view of their protagonists, municipalities, nonprofit associations, economic groups and companies that, even in the Veneto region, is taking a greater interest in public-private partnership programs, a new variation of twinning, which puts more emphasis on activities that can generate local economic development and prosperity for the population.
In Venice, representatives of these groups from seven countries (France, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Malta, Albania) as well as a large Italian representatives have discussed these issues.
“The Euro Info Veneto collects more and more requests for participation of companies in the European Partnership programs and projects, new opportunities for relationships and potential development tools,” said Gian Angelo Bellati, director of Unioncamere Veneto and Euro Info.
The future of twinning is therefore positive, as indicated in the idea of reform, summed up in less dinners and football games, more partners and more countries involved from any single project, more companies, more meetings where people talk of European issues and ideas of sustainable development, so that the exchange of good ideas and good practices may arise concrete growth opportunities for the territory and for Europe as a whole.
“For the harmonious development of the European territory as a whole and the strengthening of economic, social and territorial cohesion – stressed Antonella Valmorbida, ALDA Director – is therefore necessary to strengthen the transnational territorial cooperation”.
During the two days of the conference the best practices and experiences gained by the partners of the projects were presented and shared during workshops on city diplomacy, technical assistance to the twin cities, private sector involvement.
“The work has revealed the need and the will to the relaunch of twinning – said Massimo Ciullo, lead partner of the ADL Albania – although certainly with new perspectives and content, because every relationship, especially internationally, is also useful to economic development at this particular moment of crisis”.
The meeting in Venice was promoted in cooperation with the Council of Europe and the main economic actors of the Veneto Region, Eurosportello Unioncamere, CIA, Italian Farmers Confederation, represented by the Regional President Daniele Toniolo, CAN, National Confederation of craft, Lega of Cooperative.
The INTACT project, lasting two years, has seen the organisation of numerous events and activities in many European countries, as international workshops, local activities, a Summer School on the themes of active citizenship, local economic initiatives and international relations between local authorities.
These activities have strengthened the link between the twenty partners of the project (NGOs and local authorities) from seven countries, particularly involved in the theme of citizen participation, promotion of European values and integration process.

Yerevan hosted a conference entitled “Eastern Partnership: National & European Dynamics” that has been organised by the International Center for Human Development (Armenia) in cooperation with the EU delegation to Armenia. This is the 7th annual conference on European integration aimed at enhancing the role of civil society and NGOs in policy- and decision-making. Among the participants were delegates from Armenia, Czech Republic, Turkey European and international agencies.
Mrs. Antonella Valmorbida, ALDA Director, attended the Conference, also as Co-Chair of Civil Society Forum of EaP, and intervened with a speech on “The Role of Civil Society in European Integration: What are the formats and mechanisms enhancing its Input?”.
Speaking at the conference Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan said that the European direction has always been regarded as one of the imperatives of Armenian foreign policy. He recalled the words of the president that although Armenia does not set the task of joining the EU, it accepts European standards and the European rules of the game.
In general, it was at the conference that Europe will continue to support reforms in Armenia. Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Raul de Lutzenberger noted positive developments in the country.
“In the near future Armenia has an opportunity to distinguish itself in electoral processes during the elections of the parliament and the president. They will become a good indicator to identify progress in Armenia,” said the ambassador. At the same time, he stressed the importance of not so much EU economic as political assistance to Armenia.
Minister Nalbandyan stressed that as part of the Eastern Partnership program European structures provide technical and financial assistance to reforms in Armenia. He welcomed the principle put forward by Europe, which is “more support in exchange of more reforms”.
Nalbandyan pointed out that the text of the EU-Armenia Association Agreement is now being developed and a free trade agreement will become an important part of it. The issue of simplifying the visa regime is also under discussion.
In this regard, German Ambassador to Armenia Hans-Jochen Schmidt emphasised the importance of opening the Armenian-Turkish border as a stimulus for trade development in the context of free trade. He said that economic integration will lead to new developments that should not be shunned.
Mrs. Antonella Valmorbida stressed that the role of NGOs in EaP, is an important tool for EU rapprochement policies in the region and for the national policies in terms of democratisation and development. “ We have to work – she said – on composition and strength of civil society in EaP Countries, format and means of cooperation (networks, geographic and thematic approach) and room and methods from the European Union side”.

Reacting to the economic and governance crisis that is sweeping Europe with negative effects, due to the narrowing of public spending, directly for the citizens, who are losing the necessary social services that local and regional authorities are struggling to provide.
It’s a task that hosts, everywhere in Europe and in the neighbourhood, civil society and local authorities, such as companies and business associations.
On these issues, the project INTACT, “International Network of Towns – Active citizenship and Town Twinning”, promoted by ALDA and funded by the European Commission, has organised his final policy making meeting, that will take place in Venice (16 and 17 November, Russot Hotel, San Giuliano) bringing together international experts, local officials and civil society associations from seven countries.

Download the conference agenda here
The problem is global and the solutions must be found from the territory, gradually involving the local, national and finally the European institutions.
The harmonious development of the Community as a whole and the strengthening of economic, social and territorial cohesion imply, therefore, the strengthening of transnational territorial cooperation.
The exchange of experiences and good practices and the raising awareness of all stakeholders are targets of several EC programs, primarily the “Europe for Citizens”.
As a part of this programme, the INTACT project, lasting two years, has seen the organisation of numerous events and activities in many European countries, as international workshops, local activities, a Summer School on the themes of active citizenship, local economic initiatives and international relations between local authorities.
These activities have strengthened the link between the twenty partners of the project (NGOs and local authorities) from seven countries, particularly involved in the theme of citizen participation, promotion of European values and integration process.
The Venice event is organised in collaboration with the Council of Europe and the main economic actors of the Veneto Region, Eurosportello Unioncamere, CIA, the Italian Confederation of Farmers, CAN, National Confederation of Crafts, Legacoop, the Association of Cooperatives.
During the meeting, the traditional concept of town twinning will be analysed and compared with the new concept of City Diplomacy and the practices of private sector involvement in international relations between local authorities. Workshops will explore these issues, giving to the participants the opportunity to join the discussion.
Representatives of the Education Agency of European Commission, Local Authorities engaged on citizens’ diplomacy and Working Group on Twinning of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions will attend the meeting in Venice, as well as representatives of Italian Regions, Provinces and Municipalities.
The conference will be opened by Andrea Ferrazzi, Municipality of Venice, Department of Education Councillor, Antonella Valmorbida, Director of ALDA, and Anna Cozzoli EACEA (European Commission).
ALDA is a European network that gathers local authorities and civil society organisations engaged in the development of local democracy and citizen participation.

ALDA has organised as partner leader of the project STAND.UP, an International Conference on “Mobility and volunteering in town twinning – Exchange of methodologies between Local Authorities and Civil Society” which will take place in Venice on 15 and 16 November (Russott Hotel – Via Orlanda 4 – San Giuliano).
The event aims to promote the concept of mobility and volunteering, strengthening the involvement of civil society organisations, within the framework of European twinning, in order to create a greater cooperation between Local Authorities and Civil Society Organizations.
For more information, download the program.

The conference is part of the activities of the project “STAND.UP: Strengthening Twinning and Networking for Development Agreements. United in Partnership” funded by the European Programme “Europe for Citizens”, implemented by ALDA in partnership with 17 international partners.
STAND.UP aims to promote citizen participation and interaction with local and European institutions, through debates on important issues in the field of town twinning.
During the conference in Venice, after the intervention of senior officials of local and European authorities, will be shared examples of good practices on mobility and volunteering by representatives of European and international associations. Participants will be divided into three working groups to discuss these issues.
The Conference will take place November 15 from 9:30 to 18:00 and 16 from 9:30 to 12:30 at the Hotel Russott.
Participation is free of charge, and It is planned for both days, the opportunity to take part in the lunch served, with a contribution of 15 euros for lunch.

To register please complete the form in all its parts and send it to Cinzia Spinazzè:
cinzia.spinazze@aldaintranet.org, by 11 November.
For more information contact via email: cinzia.spinazze@aldaintranet.org or sara.bincoletto@aldaintranet.org, or call +39 0444 540146.

Local Democracy Agency Sisak is celebrating 15 years of its successful work on promoting human rights, development of local democracy and human rights.
For the occasion, was published a brochure in which it’s possible to find accomplishments over these years but plans for the future as well.
Foreword is written by President of Congress of local and regional authorities of Council of Europe, Mr. Keith Whitmore. Words about the LDA are written by Councillor in Italian Veneto Region, Mr. Diego Bottacin, our old associate and friend; Mayor of Municipality of Sisak, Mr. Dinko Pintarić and Director of Association of Local Democracy Agencies, Mrs. Antonella Valmorbida.
The Congress financed publishing of the publication.

Download the brochure

The City of Sisak was awarded with the “12 star label” for its efforts in ELDW, the European local democracy week, by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.
Mrs. Barbara Toce, member of the Congress and Vice Mayor of Pedaso (I), and Maria Baroni, ELDW Projet Manager, handed to the mayor of Sisak, Dinko Pintaric, the ELDW shirt to symbolise the award of the prize.
The delivery took place in the framework of the ceremony for the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the LDA Sisak, held on November 4 in the Croatian city.
“I am proud of this recognition that, despite being a small step for European democracy, is a great step for our beautiful city”. Stated Dinko Pintaric, Mayor of Sisak.
In the picture (from the left) Mrs. Kristina Ferenac, LDA Sisak, Mrs. Barbara Toce, Congress, Mr. Dinko Pintaric, Mayor of Sisak, Mrs. Maria Baroni, ELDW Manager, Mrs. Paula Rauzan , President LDA Sisak.

“The reforms that the Croatian government will finalise in the next twenty months to prepare the country to the European appointment in July 2013 should be shared with civil society, and European institutions will continue to monitor the situation, which is essential for the completion of the process act”.
The warning came without metaphor from Ambassador Paul Vandoren, Head of EU Delegation in Zagreb, during the ceremony organised to celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of the establishment, in Sisak, of the Local Democracy Agency.
Ambassador Vandoren has praised the work done by the ADL during these difficult years and noted the level of cooperation with the municipal administration, which has led to significant results, including the award of “12 star label” given by Congress of Local and regional Authorities of the Council of Europe to the city of Sisak for his commitment to the growth of local democracy.
“But the dialogue that exists today, especially at local level – stressed the Head of EU delegation in Croatia – should evolve in a partnership, a prerequisite for social cohesion and sharing of responsibility. We know that the Croatian government adopted new laws and amended its constitution to not miss the opportunity of entry into the European Community, but often the civil society is not consulted, and the Croatian the governors must remedy in the coming months”.
It is not entirely a surprise, this position. It is known that for its entry in 2013, Zagreb will be subject to close supervision because he has to finish the reforms demanded by Europe.
There is no doubt that the future accession of Croatia opens a new chapter for the countries of Western Balkans with a European vocation, and that despite some “Euro skepticism” or “Euro realism” as some call it, there is a high expectation in the completion of this process, especially among the population.
The progress made by Croatia is evident. Sisak, the tenth city in Croatia with more than 55 000 inhabitants, capital of the Sisak Moslavina County, which borders with Bosnia and Herzegovina, is an example of the progress reached in recent years and its image is very different from the one of fifteen years ago when it was established the ADL.
The ruin of the conflict, particularly intense towards the borders with Slavonia, where the Serbian troops created the Republic of Krajina, and Bosnia, are a distant memory and the process of pacification and democratisation has reached optimum levels.
“I am proud of the success of this ADL – stressed during the ceremony the Mayor of Sisak Dinko Pintaric – and recognition of the 12 stars label to our city, despite being a small step for European democracy, is a great step for our beautiful Sisak”.
At the official ceremony held on November 4, organised by the ADL, in cooperation with ALDA, the Association of Local Democracy Agencies, the Congress and the City, also attended Barbara Toce, member of the Congress and Deputy Mayor of Pedaso (I), the Ambassador of Belgium to Croatia, Nancy Adeline Marie Rossignol, the Ambassador of Norway to Croatia, Henrik Ofstad, Per Vinther, President of ALDA and Antonella Valmorbida, Director of ALDA, as well as Diego Bottacin, Councilor of the Veneto Region, for many years Mayor of Mogliano Veneto, at the time city lead partners of the LDA.
“During these fifteen years the LDA of Sisak has developed more than one hundred projects, promoting values of tolerance, human rights, multiculturalism, cooperation, active citizenship and combating discrimination, involving directly more than fifteen thousand people and establishing itself as one of the key actors of the civil society in the democratic development of the city and the Sisak Moslavina County” said Paula Rauzan President of the LDA.
The conference was also an occasion for thinking about the future of the three LDA now active in Croatia (apart from Sisak, Osijek and Verteneglio-Brtonigla).
“With the accession of Croatia to Europe in 2013 – said Antonella Valmorbida, Director of ALDA – the LDA of this country will no longer exist as they are now structured, and will assume a new role. The experience will certainly be available for further growth of local democracy and European values. “
The reflection on their future has been launched and there is time to define together with all their partners form and content of the activity that they will develop once materialised the entry into the EU.
In addition to the international conference, Sisak was selected by ALDA to host the Annual LDAs Delegates meeting and the Annual Meeting of the Lead Partners Representatives of the LDAs (3 – 5 November).

Mrs. Barbara Toce speech

The celebration for the 15th anniversary of the LDA of Sisak (HR) coincides, for a not accidental case, with the eve of Croatian access in the big European family, and the awarding of the “12 stars label” to the Municipality for its efforts in ELDW, the European local democracy week, by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.
The official celebration will take place the 4th of November, with an international conference on “The Road of Croatia towards the EU: the role of Croatian Local Democracy Agencies (LDAs)”, organised in the framework of the ELDW, ) by the LDA of Sisak, in cooperation with ALDA, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the CoE and the the Municipality of Sisak (9.00-13.30 City Hall Sisak).
The Conference will be attended by many national and international experts and representatives of European and national institutions as well. Among them Ms Barbara Toce, Member of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and Vice Mayor of Pedaso (Italy), Ambassador Henrik Ofstad, Royal Norwegian Embassy in Zagreb, Ambassador Paul Vandoren, Head of the EU Delegation to Croatia, Mr. Dinko Pintarić, Mayor of Sisak, Mr Per Vinther, President of ALDA.
In these 15 years, starting from the ruins of the conflict, the LDA has been a promoter of many initiatives whose aim was primarily to promote the participation of citizens and their associations and to strengthen the democratic debate with local authorities.
These are the values which Croatia has signed up to get access to the European community and some credit goes also to the work done by the ADL of Sisak.
During last 15 years LDA Sisak has implemented more than 100 projects that have directly involved over 15.000 people. Established in 1996 as a pilot project of Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Council of Europe and since 2006 working as a domestic organisation, Local Democracy Agency Sisak enforced itself as one of the key actors in civil society development in Sisak and Sisačko-Moslavačka County. From its very beginnings LDA Sisak is implementing projects aiming to protect human rights and democratic society development, promotes values of tolerance and non-discrimination, multiculturalism, cooperation, partnership and active citizenship.
In addition to the international conference, Sisak was selected by ALDA to host the Annual LDAs Delegates meeting and the Annual Meeting of the Lead Partners Representatives of the LDAs (3 – 5 November).
The Association of LDAs is confident that the regular meetings and discussions among the Delegates and the Lead Partners of the LDAs could contribute to the development of all the network of the Agencies, in particular with regards the concept of partnership in the framework of the multilateral decentralised cooperation and the area of intervention and interest of each LDA.

The visit in Ijevan (Armenia) of two executives of the Municipality of Thiene (Italy) launched yesterday (27th of October) a twinning project between the two cities, in cooperation with ALDA.
Sara Bertoldo and Marta Tognon was received by the Mayor of Ijevan, Varoujan Nersisyan (in the picture) and meet the executives and others officials of the Armenian municipality.
The meeting focused mainly on the experiences and practices of the two local authorities on local taxes, urban development , education and waste management.
The analysis of these issues was deep and raised a great success. The management of a city, in fact, in different contexts, shows the same problems at all latitudes. Often there are different responses that people receive.
The importance of this project is in its opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences to improve services to citizens and make them active in decision making
The project is co-financed by the Veneto Region under the “Direct Initiative 2011 – Decentralised cooperation for development” for the promotion of human rights, culture of peace, development cooperation and solidarity.
The project will develop over a year and includes study visits and training courses in the two cities.
The last action of the project will be a study visit in Thiene of a delegation of representatives of the Armenian community (next March), during which will be illustrated the practical activities and initiatives of the Italian town, such as the Urban Center, a reality that could also be replicated in the Armenian city. The visit aims to create a network between authorities and civil society organisations, which will be the basis for a durable cooperation.

The new Local Democracy Agency Armenia was opened on 28th of October in Gyumri. It is the second LDA in the South Caucasus area and the thirteenth LDA opened by the Association of Local Democracy Agencies (ALDA) with the support of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.
With the signature of the memorandum of understanding by the partners of the LDA, officially is started the work of this important tool for the local democracy and citizen participation.
The Armenian local authorities and the civil society have very high expectations on the contribution of the ADL to the growth of local democracy in Armenia.
It has been demonstrated by the participation at the opening ceremony of a large number of citizens but also of representatives of the Armenian Government and local authorities.
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, represented by Vice-President Fabio Pellegrini, strongly believes in the possibility to further the process of democratisation in this country that is part of the Council.
Attended to the opening ceremony, with the Mayor of Gyumri, Mr. Vardan Ghukasyan, the, First deputy minister of the RA ministry of Territorial Administration, Mr. Vache Terteryan, the President of the Union of Communities of Armenia, Mr. Emin Yeritsyan, the Vice-President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Mr. Fabio Pellegrini.
Mr. Per Vinther, President of ALDA, AND Antonella Valmorbida, Director of ALDA, attended too to the ceremony.
Mrs. Véronique Moreira, Vice-president of Region Rhone-Alpes responsible for development cooperation stressed the full involvement of the France Region, that will be partner leader of the LDA, by a video contribution.
After the opening ceremony took place a conference on Cooperation between local authorities and civil society and European cooperation in Armenia, with the participation of Mrs. Armine Tukhikyan, Urban Foundation For Sustainable development (Armenia), Mrs. Raffaella Viviani, Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, Italy, Mr. Levon Barseghyan, President of the Journalists’ Club Asparez, Mrs. Antonella Valmorbida, Director of ALDA and Mr. Ioseb Khakhaleishvili, Delegate and Executive Director LDA Georgia.
Partners of LDA Armenia are the Rhône-Alpes Region (France), the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region (Italy), the International Committee For The Development of Peoples CISP (Italy), the Union of Communities of Armenia, the Urban Foundation for Sustainable Development (Armenia), the Journalists’ Club Asparez (Armenia), and the Armenian Municipalities of Gyumri, the host city, and Ijevan.
The Councillor for International Relations of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, Elio De Anna, stressed in a message that “The accession of the FVG Region in the LDA Armenia is in line with the strategic choices of international policy set by President Renzo Tondo, that see in the Caucasian territory an area of economic and social interest for the region. The action of the FVG, as a partner of the LDA Armenian, shall be aimed at achieving the objectives of respect for democratic values in line with what is established by the European Community. “

Mr. Fabio Pellegrini speech on the new ADL Armenia
Mr. Fabio pellegrini speech on the South Caucasus