Thursday, 12 May 2011
Border-crossing procedures to be simplified
A cabinet sitting was held today under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.
Before proceeding to the agenda, the Prime Minister dwelt on Republic of Armenia Control Chamber’s findings and issued a series of assignments to that effect.
Backing the 2011 census program, the Government proposed the State Statistics Board to draft a census questionnaire within a month’s time. The National Statistics Service was earmarked AMD 100mn in preparation for the census due on October 12-21, 2011. The census will help collect data on Armenia’s social and demographic situation, the population’s geographical distribution, employment (economic activity), educational background and housing conditions.
The Government prescribed a State border crossing regime including the rules for implementing cross-border motor, air and other communications, the border checkpoints, the demarcation posts’ description and installation modes, the State borderline maintenance rules, as well as a procedure to follow in letting in and out passengers, means of conveyance, animals, freight and other items across the State border.
The Prime Minister suggested adopting a protocol decision: “Citizens keep sending complaints and grievances stating that especially after the passage of the law on mandatory insurance, they spend too much time at the border getting through the prescribed formalities. We asked the Central Bank to take up the matter and suggest a solution. Following a consultation held with the CBA, the insurance companies said to be prepared to provide services on the spot. In view of the above, we should commission the 3 marz governors concerned, as well as the Ministry of Territorial Administration and the State Revenue Committee by the Government to earmark the needed sites as shortly as possible cooperating with the Central Bank and insurance companies.”
The Government amended a previous decree to simplify the land category changing procedure for landed entities. In this connection, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan reiterated the need for providing citizens with high-quality services and called on public officials to take the trouble working day and night on the problem as they are supposed to facilitate the task of our citizens.
The Executive next endorsed the bill on repatriation which stipulates the key principles, as well as the rules and regulations of repatriation-related State policy.
The meeting approved a number of other draft laws which will be submitted to the National Assembly in the manner established by law.
In conclusion, the Government accepted the proposal on signing a free trade zone treaty with the CIS States. The arrangement seeks to ease the traffic of goods and passengers across the CIS borders.
The next cabinet sitting will be held on Friday, May 20, at 11:00 local time.
