The Republic of Armenia Ministry of Territorial Administration’s new website (www.mta.gov.am) was presented on May 18.

First Deputy Minister of the Territorial Administration Vache Terteryan underlined how the new website ensures public access to information about the Ministry and regional administrations, including information on community budgets. The website features a new design and a larger amount of publically accessible information.

USAID Armenia Acting Director John Seong noted in his remarks that the website signifies a step forward in the Ministry’s e-governance practices and public outreach that meets local and international Freedom of Information standards. President of the Freedom of Information Center of Armenia (FOICA) non-governmental organization Shushan Doydoyan highlighted that the website provides information that is both of public interest and meets the requirements of mandatory publication per Armenia’s Freedom of Information law. The website highlights freedom of information legislation and allows citizens to track the process of their freedom of information requests online.

The RA Ministry of Territorial Administration’s new website also enables citizens to get a preliminary look at the information portals of the ten regional administrations (marzpetarans), which are currently under development and will be completed around September 2011.

The website of the RA Ministry of Territorial Administration was developed under FOICA’s “Access to Information for Community Involvement” project, funded by USAID Armenia.