Ðì SA Workshop on National Capacity Building for Statistics Sustainable Development Plans for reviewing the National Statistical Legislation in accordance with the General Law on Official Statistics Stephan Mnatsakanyan President of National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia 4-6 October, 2017, Tbilisi, Georgia

Introduction Ðì SA Production of high-quality official statistics is the key to decision-making on the basis of factual data and requires a strong legal mandate for a statistical system with the appropriate institutional frameworks. In the context of the mission of official statistics, for the management of statistical offices, it is very important to determine the appropriate structure and organizational principles of the statistical system.  

Current status Law on State Statistics, 2000. Ðì SA Law on State Statistics, 2000. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia (NSSRA) is a body that performs functions aimed at public interest, which in its activities is independent of state government bodies and local self-government bodies of the Republic of Armenia. The President of NSSRA is appointed by the President of the country for a period of 6 years.

Государственный Совет по СтатистикеState Council for Statistics Ðì SA The State Council on Statistics is the supreme governing body of NSSRA. The President of NSSRA is the Chairperson of the Council. The Council consists of 7 members (including the Chairperson), who are appointed for a term of 6 years by the President of the country.

Problems Ðì SA The current law, basically, regulates the activities of the NSSRA. State statistics are produced only by NSSRA. Statistics, produced by other government bodies, is called administrative statistics. Definitions of the National Statistical System and other producers do not exist. Definitions of the principles of official statistics do not exist. The three-year program of statistical work is approved by the Parliament, which is a political body and tries to consider the program as a political document. In this organizational model of the NSSRA, the State Council on Statistics is the Council of Producers, and the Scientific and Methodological Council is the Council of Users. There is no clear position.

Advancement of the draft law Ðì SA The draft of the new law on official statistics was developed on the basis of the Model Law, which takes into account all problems and challenges. The project describes all the relations of the entire National Statistical System.

Definitions of the bill Ðì SA Definition of official statistics: "Official statistics are developed, produced and distributed by bodies authorized by law in accordance with the requirements of the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics of the United Nations and expressed in numerical form for the presentation of significant and commensurable phenomena of public life, which representatively describes the economic, demographic, social and environmental phenomena of the Republic of Armenia" . Statistics reflected in statistical programs are considered official. Regulations apply to all data administered by producers of official statistics. The definitions of the National Statistical System and all its participants, as well as the basic concepts, are given. It is determined that relations with official statistics are regulated by the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics of the United Nations and the Code of Norms of European Statistics, which are mandatory for all producers of official statistics.

Management System Ðì SA The description of the organization of the National Statistical System includes the definition of the mandate of NSSRA as the coordinating body of the National Statistical System and the mandate of the State Council on Statistics as the highest governing body of the National Statistical System authorized to adopt secondary legislation in official statistics. The State Council on Statistics is authorized to approve five-year and annual statistical programs and reports on their implementation. The State Council on Statistics is also authorized to involve other producers of official statistics in statistical programs. It is assumed that the President of NSSRA will have two vice-presidents, and the State Council on Statistics has the authority to appoint vice-presidents from the members of the Council.

Continuation Ðì SA It is assumed that the President of the NSSRA and the members of the State Council on Statistics will be appointed by the Government Decision (according to the constitutional amendments introduced in 2015) for a period of 6 years based on professional competencies. Their professional independence is proclaimed and guaranteed.

Council of Users Ðì SA The Council of users of statistical information is authorized to submit proposals on statistical programs, a written opinion on reports on the implementation of statistical programs, organize discussions and provide recommendations. The President of NSSRA is officially a member of the Council of Users. Members of the Council of users, with the exception of the President of the NSSRA, are appointed and dismissed by the Prime Minister. The Chairperson of the Council of users is not a representative of the government bodies. Other consultative bodies, envisaged by the draft law, are formed by the President of NASSA on the proposal of the heads of departments to provide recommendations on strategies and methodologies for separate sectors of official statistics.

Innovations Ðì SA The chapter on data collection includes attitudes to the census, and it is envisaged to repeal the laws on the population census and agricultural census, which will be regulated by a single law. The chapter on quality assurance of official statistics contains articles on quality obligations and quality assessment.

Challenges Ðì SA Amendments to the Constitution, adopted on December 6, 2015, according to which the parliamentary system of government will operate from May 2018. Other producers must adapt to the new statistical system. Adequacy of labor, financial and technical resources for the implementation of statistical programs.

Conclusion Ðì SA The current system provides the NSSRA with a solid legal basis for professional independence and the ability to act in accordance with a science-based methodology and appropriate statistical procedures that ensure the impartiality, objectivity and confidentiality of statistical information. The current Law mainly regulates the activities of NSO (НСО), while the Model Law covers a wider range of regulation, i.e. the entire statistical system of the country, including the activities of other producers. The Model Law is an example of a legal framework for supporting countries in the development of national laws, taking into account their historical and cultural traditions, the legislative environment and the specifics of the country's governance system.

Thank you National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia Republic of Armenia, Yerevan, 0010,   Republic avenue, 3 Government House Phone number: : (37410) 524 213 Fax: (37410) 521 921 E-mail: info@armstat.am Internet: http://www.armstat.am; www.armstat.info; www.armdevinfo.am, www.armstatbank.am