Visit to Khoy community Khoy

May 06 - May 06

Deputy Head of Khoy Community Varazdat Antonyan received the SALAR International “DeaLog” project team, led by Project Manager Shane Quinn. 

The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Mayor of Lund, Sweden, Mr. Philip Sandberg, who arrived in Armenia to present the successes of Swedish communities in the field of local self-government to Armenian partners.

Varazdat Antonyan, welcoming the guests, noted that the Khoy community attaches importance to cooperation with the SALAR International “DeaLog” project and is ready to deepen the currently established relations.

The latter highly appreciated Sweden's experience in the field of local self-government and emphasized that the Khoy community would be happy to participate in such meetings and discussions, which are useful for the community. At the request of the Swedish side, Varazdat Antonyan presented 3 priority areas that the community is mainly engaged in.

Deputy Mayor of Lund Philip Sandberg expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality and noted that it is important when the community clearly knows how it imagines the future of the community, in this case in the context of decentralisation and that the process must one day begin and in this sense local politicians must assume a major role. Speaking of inter-community associations, the deputy mayor presented the experience of Swedish communities, particularly Lund, and inquired about the goals and desire of the Khoy community to take visible steps.

Philip Sandberg presented the achievements of the city of Lund in various areas of organizing community life to the deputy head of the community and representatives of the local government.

According to Sandberg, the success stories of Lund and Swedish local governments in general are related to the fact that the latter are guided not by a culture of competition, but by a culture of cooperation, which makes it easier to solve community problems.

The parties also discussed issues related to the Union of Communities and expressed hope that in the near future the union will be able to reorganize and actively engage in activities, representing the interests and rights of communities.