YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, NOYAN TAPAN. A discussion on the subject Assistance to Tolerance was held on October 7 in Yerevan within the framework of UNDP's program Protection, Promotion of Human Rights and Education. Yekaterina Geniyeva and Svetlana Sulova, experts of Moscow Tolerance Institute, presented Russia's and Europe's experience during the discussion. According to RA Ombudsman Armen Haroutiunian, protection of human rights is first of all culture of interrelations and only then a legislation. Besides, in his words, the legislation can be very good, but laws can function too badly as it is in Armenia. The reason of it, according to A. Haroutiunian, is that the culture of mutual understanding has not been formed in Armenia. "Our society needs tolerance. The problem is not that we do not have an atmosphere of tolerance, but we do not realize its importance for country's development," he said. Program Coordinator Marina Malkhasian said that a Tolerance Network has been created within the framework of this program implemented since 2007. Nearly 35 NGOs are involved in the network. According to her, at present some organizations with UNDP's financing implement programs aimed at tolerance promotion in country's regions. Besides, it is envisaged to create a Tolerance Center attached to the Ombudsman's Office.

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