Friday, 20 May 2011
Agriculture Gets Further Backing
A cabinet sitting was held today, chaired by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.
The government approved a bill on amendments to the law on value added tax providing a VAT holiday for the sales of agricultural tractors and machinery, as well as spare parts, fertilizers, seeds and pesticides in line with the government’s policy of State assistance to farmers. The bill will be submitted to the National Assembly of Armenia in the manner established by law.
The government backed Armenia’s 2011 gender policy action plan. In this connection, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan reminded that the program had been put up for public discussion to see whether Armenia needed setting a quota for women’s participation in public life and whether the political parties should be urged to increase the number of female members on their electoral lists so that a certain proportion could be observed on party lists, in the National Assembly and in the Government. “Parliamentary hearings will have to be held in the National Assembly if we are to meet this important objective. We seek the backing of civil society and political parties for the given strategy,” the head of government said.
The Executive decided to establish a cap of up to 170 million cubic meters for the use of water from Lake Sevan during the irrigation campaign of 2011 to be channeled through the Sevan-Hrazdan irrigation-power system and the systems of mechanical irrigation.
The meeting approved a program for Armenia’s participation in the June, 28 - July, 3, 2011 international exhibition dedicated to the CIS 20th anniversary to be held at the all-Russian expo center in Moscow.
The Government charged the Minister of Finance to extend a treasury loan of AMD 50,600,000 to Radioisotopes Manufacturing Center CJSC for the purchase of design – cost estimate services as needed for the construction of corporate headquarters and acquisition of expert appraisals.
Under the ongoing program of nuclear medicine, a proton-operated accelerator will be installed at the national research laboratory after A. I. Alikhanyan to start manufacturing isotopes for medical purposes. The new equipment will provide Armenia with a modern methodology of diagnostics and treatment.
The Government next backed a 2011 capacity building program for the above-mentioned laboratory. Under the program, 9 leading experts from said laboratory will be attending this year the scientific tests to be carried out at the European Center of Nuclear Researches.
The Cabinet decided to donate to Gyumri town community the “Hill of Honor” memorial complex, dedicated to those Russian troops killed during the battle waged for the stronghold of Kars.
The government approved a bill on amendments to the law on foreigners envisaging privileged terms for such foreign citizens as will arrive in Armenia without entry visas for a maximum of 180-day-long stay in the country. The amendment provides that the visitors of Armenian origin short of invitation will be granted entry visas at the border checkpoints.
The Government passed a total of fifty decisions at the meeting.
