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Annual Report 2001-2002

01 April 2003 09:58

ANNUAL REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES

OF THE ARMENIAN YOUNG LAWYERS ASSOSIATION

FOR

THE FISCAL YEARS 2001 AND 2002

 

Table of Content

  1. Address of the president of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association
  2. General information
  3. The international audit conclusion and financial reports on the financial assets of 2001 and 2002 fiscal years of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association
    • The audit’s report on the special financial reports
    • The balance sheet
    • Cash flow
  4. Annual report on the activities of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association for the fiscal year 2001
    • Implemented activities
    • Statistics of the implemented activities
    • Other implemented activities
  5. Annual report on the activities of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association for fiscal year 2002
    • Implemented activities
    • Statistics of the implemented activities
    • Other implemented activities

 

 

I.                Address of the President of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association

 

Dear readers,

 

We have the pleasure to introduce the Annual report on the activities of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association for fiscal years 2001 and 2002. This is a brief summary of the activities that the Armenian Young Lawyers Association carried out in the course of the past two years. During these years the organization expanded the geographical area of the provided services as well as increased the number of its beneficiaries. These were also the years of the organization’s maturing and institutional development. The Association noticeably consolidated its authority in the society and made a considerable contribution in the development of the civil society in Armenia due to the work carried out in the course of the past two years.

Publication of this report is the first serious attempt of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association to introduce a comprehensive description of the association’s work to the public attention. The step will assist to increase the transparency and accountability of the organization before the public, which is extremely important for the Association. The organization will so forth fallow to this principle.

In conclusion I would like to express my gratitude to the colleagues and the supporters of the organization whose impartial support helped to realize the association’s activities. I am grateful to the representatives of Mass Media for their objective coverage of our activities, which informs the public about our work.  I would also like to thank the staff of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association for their devotion and excellent performance of their official duties. And I am grateful to our beneficiaries for their confidence to the organization and their willingness to use our services.

We assure that the Armenian Young Lawyers Association will do its best to contribute to Armenia’s formation as a legal and democratic state, where the right ant the rule of law dominate, and every ordinary citizen is aware of his rights, where the citizen’s rights are protected, and the legal system, which is based upon the national values and international traditions, which are constituent part of the modern legal culture.

 

Respects,

 

Karen Zadoyan,

 

Lawyer,

President of Armenian Young Lawyers Association

 

  1. General Information

 

A group of the students of the faculty of law from the Yerevan State University founded the NGO “Armenian Young Lawyers Association” in 1995. It was registered at the RA Ministry of Justice on March 14, 1995. The organization was reregistered in May 1997, December 1999 and December 2002.

The main goals and objectives of the organization are to join efforts and potential of the members and supporters of the organization to promote to the strengthening and development of Armenia as a sovereign, legal, democratic and social state. Promote extending legal knowledge among the population, providing legal services to juridical and physical persons and supporting judicial and legal reform in Armenia, promote to the establishment and strengthening of the democratic society based on the prevalence of right as well as to raise the legal consciousness, the level of legal culture among the population by means of advocating law and legal knowledge.

The AYLA joins lawyers, advocates and lawl students. According to the latest data the organization has 150 members and about 100 volunteers.

The organization has 8 offices, which are located in:

  • Yerevan (the Central Office and the Office of Yerevan Province)
  • Vanadzor (AYLA branch office in Lori province)
  • Kapan (AYLA branch office in Syunik province)
  • Gyumri (AYLA branch office in Shirak province)
  • Gavar (AYLA branch office in Gegharkunik province)
  • Ijevan (AYLA branch office in Tavush province)
  • Goris (Goris regional office of AYLA branch office in Syunik province).

AYLA is a member of the European Young Bar Association since 1998.

The organization held its last conference on December 5, 2002. The conference elected the board of the organization:

 

Name Profession Gender Title
Karen Zadoyan advocate male AYLA President, Chair of AYLA Board
David Abgaryan advocate male AYLA Vice-President, Vice-Chair of AYLA Board
Narineh Karapetyan Director general of AYLA Legal Centers female AYLA Executive Secretary, Executive secretary of AYLA Board
Artsrun Mirzoyan lawyer male AYLA Board member
Garik Hayrapetyan lawyer male AYLA Board member, Chair of AYLA Gegharkunik branch office
Lusineh Abgaryan lawyer female AYLA Board member
Arshavir Khalapyan lawyer male AYLA Board member, Chair of AYLA Syunik branch office
Liana Harutyunyan advocate female AYLA Board member
Artyom Piloyan lawyer male AYLA Board member

 

On December 5, 2002 the AYLA President appointed Artak Saribekyan to the post of the Executive Director of AYLA. Mr. Saribekyan currently manages the AYLA staff, which has 25 members.

 

  • The international audit conclusion and financial reports on the financial assets of 2001 and 2002 fiscal years of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association

 

The audit’s report on the special financial reports

 

 “Armenian Young Lawyers Union” NGO for the fiscal year of December 31, 2001 – December 31, 2002

 

To the Conference and the Board of the “Armenian Young Lawyers Union” NGO:

 

We have carried out the audit of the accounting balance of the “Armenian Young Lawyers Union” NGO (hereinafter – Organization) as of to the state of December 31, 2001 and December 31, 2002, on the sources of funds and their usage in the accounting period, as well as the reports on cash flow (special financial reports) and the notes attached to the special financial reports, which are represented on pages 8 and 21. The management of the Organization is responsible for preparation of the mentioned special financial reports. We bare the responsibility to express the opinion on the special financial reports in the result of the audit carried out.

 

We carried out the audit in compliance with the standards of the International Audit. The standards expect special planning and implementing the audit in order to gain reasonable guarantees, which prove that the special financial reports are free of essential falsifications. The audit work includes investigation of the basis of information and explanations, which are reflected in the special financial reports based on the testing system. The audit work also includes valuation of the principles of business accounting, the substantial estimations of the Organization’s management as well as the manner of introduction of the special financial report that were applied in the course of preparation of the special financial report. We think that the results of the implemented audit activities are good cause to express our opinion.

 

We think that the special financial reports on the financial state of the “Armenian Young Lawyers Association” NGO as of December 31, 2001 and December 31, 2002 as well as the reports on the financial results and cash flow in the reporting periods provide a true and real picture in accordance with RA Accounting Standards.

 

Yerevan, March 29, 2003

 

Grant Tornton Amio

 

Balance Sheet

 

“Armenian Young Lawyers Association” NGO

As of the state of December 31

Thousand drams (AMD)

  Note

 

2002

 

2001
    (Checked) (Checked)
       
ASSETS      
       
Non-Current Assets      
Fixed Assets 3 36,509 11,342
    36,509 11,342
Current Assets      
Prepayment 4 14,205 361
Cash and Cash Equivalents 5 16,286 30,254
    30,491 30,615
       
TOTAL ASSETS   67,000 41,957
       
       
CAPITAL AND LIABILITIES      
       
CAPITAL      
Subsidiary Capital (*) – 12,255
Actual Result of Financing   – –
    – 12,255
LIABILITIES      
Non-current Liabilities      
Grants Referred to the Assets 6 66,960 29,697
    66,960 29,697
Current Liabilities      
Payables 7 40 5
    40 5
       
TOTAL CAPITAL AND LIABILITIES 67,000 41,957

 

(*) See: Financial sources and the report on the use of the financial sources.

 

The special financial reports were prepared and signed by the management of the “Armenian Young Lawyers Association” NGO on March 20, 2003. The comments attached are the component part of this financial report.

 

Karen ZADOYAN                                                                   Alvard HOVHANNISYAN

 

President                                                                                Chief Accountant

 

Report on the Cash Flow

 

“Armenian Young Lawyers Association” NGO

As of the state of December 31 for the fiscal years

Thousand drams (AMD)

  Note

 

2002

 

2001

    (Checked) (Checked)
       
  CASH FLOW RESULTED FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES      
  Grants received 6 102,559 46,791
  Purchase of materials and goods   (5,608) (3,373)
  Payments for services   (7,938) (14,825)
  Prepayments   (42,816) (360)
  Salary payment   (22,341) (21,943)
  Payments to the budget   (5,866) (2,808)
  Social Insurance Fees   (4,366) (4,436)
  Other Operating Expenses   (5) (1,913)
  NET CASH RECIVED FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES   13,619 (2,867)
         
  REVENUE FROM INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES      
  Investment Activities   – 46
  Purchase of Capital Assets 3 (25,717) (8,356)
  Other Investment Activities   (3,052) (1,968)
  NET CASH USED FOR INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES   (28,769) (10,278)
         
  CASH FLOW FROM FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES      
  Cash Inflow from financial activities   665 683
  Cash outflow from financial activities   – (48)
  NET CASH USED FOR FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES   665 (635)
         
  Exchange rate   517 341
         
  Net growth of cash and cash equivalents   (13,968) (12,169)
         
  Balance of the beginning of the period   30,254 42,423
  Balance of the end of the period 5 16,286 30,254
         

The special financial reports were prepared and signed by the management of the “Armenian Young Lawyers Association” NGO on March 20, 2003. The comments attached are the component part of this financial report.

 

Karen ZADOYAN                                                                   Alvard HOVHANNISYAN

 

President                                                                 Chief Accountant

 

  1. Annual report on the activities of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association for fiscal year 2001

 

  1. Implemented activities

In 2001 the Organization continued implementation of a number of projects that had started during the past years.

  1. Regional Informative Legal Advice Centers

The project implementation helped to supply the regional offices of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association with technical and informational means. The Organization worked out and published a handbook to support the organizations providing free legal services as well as to to those that would realize the similar activities. AYLA organized free training courses for the organizations providing free legal services as well. The project was supported by “Chemonics International” Inc. (US).

  1. Citizens Advice Bureaus

The Central Office of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association in Yerevan and the regional branch offices in Vanadzor and Gavar provided free legal advice and information services to the population of Yerevan city as well as to Gegharkunik and Lori regions. The organization prepared and broadcast a series of TV programs on Vanadzor and Gavar Local TV Companies “We and Our Rights” aimed to increase the legal knowledge of the population. The members of the association prepared and published 14 bulletins, which covered different spheres of RA legislation. The bulletins were disseminated among the population of the above-mentioned regions. A sociological survey aimed at revealing the scope of legal needs of the population was carried out on the organization’s order as well. The staff of the project carried out a research of the organizations providing free legal advice services as well as the geography of their services. A book “Free Legal Services in Armenia” was published based on the results of the survey and the research. The organization also realized outreach free legal advice services among the population of Syunik, Shirak, Gegharkunik and Lori provinces as well as among the population of Yerevan Communities. The project was supported by the Great Britain’s Department for International Development (DFID).

  1. “Asylum foundation and strengthening of the National Abilities”

The project aimed at providing free legal services to the refugees and the people-seeking asylum as well as protection of their rights and legal interest in the court. The project was supported by UNHCR.

  1. “Regional Centers for Legal Information and Aid”

The organization provided free legal services to the population of Kapan, Gyumri and Goris. A series of programs “We and Our Rights”, which was aimed to increase the legal awareness of the local population, was broadcast on local TV Companies. The project was supported by “Eurasia Foundation”.

  1. “Philip Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition”

The project aimed at organizing for the second time the national stage of Philip Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition – 2002 in Armenia among the student’s teams of the law schools and the departments of law of other institutes. The winner of the national competition took part in the final international round, which took place in Washington, US in early 2002. The project was supported by Armenian representation of American Bar Association Central and East European Law Initiative (ABA CEELI).

  1. “Legal Training and Information Center”

This is one of AYLA’s main projects, which started in 2000 and was continued in 2001. Seminars and trainings on different spheres of the Armenian legislation as well as on international law were organized for the young lawyers, advocates and students in the framework of this project. They also attended computer courses and the courses of English language. The beneficiaries also gained access to legal resources such as the legal library, RA legislative computer software program as well as to computer, Internet and fax services. The socially vulnerable groups of RA population received free legal services. The project was supported by the Dutch “Cordaid” Charitable Organization and Armenian representation of American Bar Association Central and East European Law Initiative (ABA CEELI).

 

 

  1. Statistics of implemented activities

AYLA offices provided the following services in the scope of work of all projects implemented in 2001:

 

  • Provision of legal resources
  1. Provision of modern legal literature
  2. Provision of legal video production
  3. Provision of computer, fax, e-mail and Internet services
  4. Provision of computer software program of Armenian legislation

 

8523 people made use of the legal resources of AYLA in 2001. 5508 people of this amount or 64.63% used the legal literature, 3015 or 35.37% used the computer software program of Armenian legislation and other services (computer, Internet and fax).

3921 people or 46% of the users are male and 4602 people or 54% are female.

 

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  • Organization of seminars and Trainings
  1. Seminars and trainings on different areas of the Armenian legislation and International Law

AYLA offices organized 30 seminars on different areas of the Armenian legislation and International Law. About 50 lawyers took part in these seminars.

  1. Courses on Human Rights and European Law

AYLA central office organized 6 training courses on Human Rights and European Law. Each training course included a series of 8 seminars. 60 lawyers took part in these courses.

  1. English language courses for lawyers

AYLA central office organized 6 English language courses. Each course consisted of 50 seminars and about 60 lawyers participated in them.

  1. Computer Courses for Lawyers

AYLA central office organized 6 computer courses. Each course consisted of 50 seminars and about 60 lawyers participated in them.

 

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  • Free legal services and advocacy

In 2001 AYLA offices provided free legal services and court representative services to 12995 people. 5868 people or 45.16 percents were males and 7127 or 54.84% were females.

The statistics of the provided services according to the areas of the law is as fallows:

Areas of the free legal services

Number of beneficiaries per area

Percentage of beneficiaries

Pensions

 1254 9.65
Social benefits 1773 13.64
Housing 1031 7.93
Labor 1164 8.96
Family 1189 9.15
Property 861 6.63
Debt-related 539 4.15
Inheritance 1038 7.99
Contract 822 6.33
Criminal law 432 3.32
Conscription 333 2.56
Refugees and asylum seekers 86 0.66
Other legal issues 2473 19.03
TOTAL 12995 100.00

 

 

Statistics according to sex of the beneficiaries:

Sex Number %
total 12995 100
female 7127 54.84
male 5868 45.16

 

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  1. Other implemented activities

During the 2001 AYLA had implemented other activities as well. The most noticeable of which are:

  1. In January 2001 the representatives of the central and regional offices of AYLA visited Poland and Czech Republic on the invitation of Great Britain Department for International Development (DFID) where they could get acquainted with the Polish and Czech experience of providing free legal services and dissemination of information.
  2. In May 2001 AYLA members, on the invitation of the European Young Bar Association participated in the Annual General Meeting of EYBA and the seminar “Commercial Law and European Law”, which took place in Barcelona, Spain.
  3. In September 2001 AYLA members took part in the First Conference of the Eastern European Consultancy Organizations, which took place in Prague. Our delegation attended the conference on the invitation of Great Britain Department for International Development (DFID).
  4. In November 2001 AYLA member visited Moscow on the invitation of UNHCR where he participated in the meeting of the experts of the Institute for the Political Asylum of Eastern Europe and Asia.
  5. In November and December 2001 AYLA organized 2 workshops on the issue of cooperation of the organizations providing free legal advice services and the organizations involved in social sphere as well as to the issue of establishment of umbrella structures. A number of organizations, which were involved in the above mentioned spheres participated in the seminars. In the result of the discussions the parties signed documents for cooperation and defend of common interests. Later based upon the signed documents the parties formed the Coalition of Organizations providing Free Legal Services.

 

 

  1. Annual report on the activities of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association for fiscal year 2002

 

  1. Implemented activities

In 2002 the Organization continued implementation of the projects that had started during the past years as well as started new projects.

 

  1. “Legal Training and Information Center”

One of AYLA’s main projects, which started in 2000 and was continued in 2001. Seminars and trainings on different spheres of the Armenian legislation as well as on international law were organized for the young lawyers, advocates and law students within the framework of this project. Computer courses and the courses of the English language were organized for them as well. They also gained access to legal resources such as the legal library, RA legislative computer software program, as well as to computer, Internet and fax services. The socially vulnerable groups of RA population received free legal services. The project was supported by the Dutch “Cordaid” Charitable Organization and Armenian representation of American Bar Association Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative (ABA CEELI).

  1. “Legal Aid to Refugees and Asylum Seekers.”

The organization continued providing free legal services to refugees and asylum seekers, as well as protection of their rights and legal interests in the court. The project was supported by UNHCR.

  1. “Philip Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition”

The project aimed to organize the national stage of Philip Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition – 2003 in Armenia among the students’ teams of the law schools and the departments of law of other institutes for the third time. The winner of the national competition took part in the final international round, which took place in Washington, US in the beginning of 2003. The project was supported by Armenian representation of American Bar Association Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative (ABA CEELI).

  1. d) “Free Legal Advice Services to the Vulnerable Groups of Kapan and Meghri Cities of RA Syunik Province”

The Organization provided free legal advice services to the vulnerable layers of the population of Kapan and Meghri cities of Syunik province of Armenia. The project was supported by the German organization GTZ.

  1. e) “Cooperation”

The project was aimed at strengthening of the Coalition of Organizations providing Free Legal Services. The members of the coalition worked out and adopted “The Regulations of the Coalition”, as well as prepared and launched the Coalition’s website www.legalaid.am

The project was supported by “Chemonics International” Inc. (USAID).

  1. “Capacity Building of RA Tavush and Gegharkunik Provinces”

The project aimed at establishing civil society in Tavush and Gegharkunik provinces of RA. 8 NGOs received sub-grants from AYLA within the framework of the project.  The Association realised the general management of the project as well. AYLA founded its Regional Center for Legal Training, Information and Aid in the city of Ijevan in Tavush province. The project was supported by Great Britain’s Department for International Development (DFID).

 

 

  1. Statistics of implemented activities

 

AYLA offices provided the following services in the scope of work of all projects implemented in 2002:

  • Provision of legal resources
  1. a) Provision of modern legal literature
  2. b) Provision of legal video production
  3. c) Provision of computer, fax, e-mail and Internet services
  4. d) Provision of computer software program of Armenian legislation

 

9315 people made use of the legal resources of AYLA in 2002. 5935 people of this amount or 63.71% used the legal literature, 3380 or 36.29% used the computer software program of Armenian legislation and other services (computer, Internet and fax).

 

4471 people or 48% of the users are male and 4844 people or 52% are female.

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  • Organization of seminars and trainings
  1. a) Seminars and trainings on different areas of the Armenian legislation and International Law

AYLA offices organized 116 seminars on different spheres of the Armenian legislation and International Law. About 200 lawyers took part in these seminars.

  1. b) Courses on Human Rights and European Law

AYLA central office organized 6 training courses on Human Rights and European Law. Each training course included a series of 8 seminars. 60 lawyers took part in these courses.

  1. c) English language courses for lawyers

AYLA central office organized 6 English language courses. Each course consisted of 50 seminars and about 60 lawyers participated in them.

  1. d) Computer Courses for Lawyers

AYLA central office organized 6 computer courses. Each course consisted of 50 seminars and about 60 lawyers participated in them.

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  • Free legal services and advocacy

In 2002 AYLA offices provided free legal services and court representative services to 8460 people. 3561 people or 42.09 percent were male and 4899 or 57.91% were female.

The statistics of the provided services according to the areas of law is as follows:

Areas of the free legal services

Number of beneficiaries per area

Percentage of beneficiaries

Pensions

 609 7.20
Social benefits 680 8.04
Housing 638 7.54
Labor 1110 13.12
Family 818 9.67
Property 682 8.06
Debt-related 336 3.97
Inheritance 680 8.04
Contract 493 5.83
Criminal law 343 4.05
Conscription 326 3.85
Refugees and asylum seekers 148 1.75
Other legal issues 1597 18.88
TOTAL 8460 100

 

 

Statistics according to sex:

Sex Number %
total 8460 100
female 4899 57.91
male 3561 42.09

 

 

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  1. Other Implemented activities

During 2002 AYLA implemented other activities as well. The most noticeable of which are:

  1. The organization purchased an office in Gyumri for AYLA Shirak regional branch with the financial support of British “Essefian” Trust.
  2. In May 2002, AYLA members, on the invitation of the European Young Bar Association participated in the Annual General Meeting of EYBA and the seminar “Quality and rights protection in the EU”, which took place in Bologna, Italy.
  3. In June 2002, the Coordinating Board of the Armenian organizations in Sweden invited AYLA members to participate in the Conference of the Armenian organizations of Europe, which took place in Upsala, Sweden.
  4. On September 12 – 15, 2002 Armenian Young Lawyers Association organized an international weekend and the seminar on “Human Rights and Rule of law issues” in cooperation and with the support of the European Young Bar Association, ABA CEELI, Council of Europe, OSCE Yerevan office and the Constitutional Court of RA. The participants discussed the issues of constitutional and juridical reforms in Armenia, as well as the European Convention on Human Rights, including the rights for fair trial and freedom of expression. They also discussed the problems of human rights protection in the scope of the struggle against terrorism and the issue of legal grounds concerning the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Well-known lawyers and scientists form Armenia, as well as from the Council of Europe, the European Court on Human Rights and London “Metropolitan” University spoke at the seminar. 85 people from Armenia and 5 European countries took part in the seminar.

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  1. On September 17 – 22 AYLA in cooperation with the Yerevan office of the Academy for Educational Development (AED) and Polish-American Advice Agency organized a seminar on “NGO Law”. The Polish experts introduced the NGO Law of Poland. Then, in the results of joint discussions and comparative analyses, the participants determined the spheres and legal acts of the Armenian NGO Law that needed amendments and improvements. A group of 17 members that was compiled after the seminar visited Poland in November, to get acquainted with the work of the Polish NGOs, corresponding state and local governance bodies, as well as with the organizations working with NGOs and the legislation. After the visit the group elaborated an action plan, which determined the spheres of the Armenian NGO Law that needed improvement, as well as the schedule. Representatives of the Armenian legal and bar organizations, the state structures involved in the NGO issues and of the international organizations took part in the seminar and the visit.

 

Geographical location and addresses of AYLA offices in Armenian provinces.

 

(Insert the map of Armenia)

 

AYLA Central Office:

7 Nalbandyan Str. # 2, Yerevan

Phone: (+374 1) 540199

Fax: (+374 1) 540299

E-mail: [email protected]

 

AYLA Yerevan Office

1 Komitas avenue, # 237

Phone: (+374 1) 223786

Fax: (+374 1) 223786

E-mail : [email protected]

 

AYLA Kapan branch office of Syunik province:

1 A. Manukyan Str., #72, Kapan, RA

Phone: (+374 85) 62511

Fax: (+374 85) 62511

E-mail : [email protected]

Arshavir Khalapyan, Chairman and the Head of the branch office.

 

AYLA branch office of Gegharkunik province:

Town Hall building, 4th floor, Gavar, RA

Phone: (+374 64) 25503

Fax: (+374 64) 25503

E-mail : [email protected]

Garik Hayrapetyan, Chairman and the Head of the branch office.

 

AYLA branch office of Shirak province:

1 Lenin Str., # 2, Gyumri, RA

Phone: (+374 41) 38236

Fax: (+374 41) 38236

E-mail: [email protected]

Babken Sahradyan, Chairman of the branch, Ohan Gevorgyan, Head of the branch office.

 

AYLA branch office of Lori province:

Hayk Square, Town Hall building, # 418, Vanadzor, RA

Phone: (+374 51) 22317

Fax: (+374 51) 22317

E-mail: [email protected]

Albert Yeganyan, Chairman of the branch, Aramayis Melkonyan, Head of the branch office.

 

AYLA branch office of Tavush region:

Town Hall Building, Ijevan, RA

Phone: (+374 63) 62499

Fax: (+374 63) 62499

Vahagn Tamrazyan, Chairman and the Head of the branch office.

 

AYLA Goris branch office of Syunik region:

3 Mashtots Str., 2nd floor, Goris, RA

Phone: (+374 84) 25861

Fax: (+374 84) 25861

E-mail : [email protected]

Gegham Ayvazyan, Head of the office.