Tuesday, 10 February 2009
Today the Government finished discussing the 2008 ministry and government agency performance reports. Reports were submitted by finance, foreign affaires and defense ministers. As with the preceding reports, bearing in mind that detailed accounts of completed activities are posted on the websites of respective agencies, the speakers chiefly focused on the problems and shortfalls had in the period under review.
In connection with the report of the Minister of Finance, the Prime Minister highlighted the following priorities: introducing simplified licensing and authorization procedures, ensuring that business running-related commitments are fulfilled in a timely and accurate manner, reducing the number of those documents needed for customs clearance purposes, as well as the need for launching a process of online payments under the new concept of procurements. Tigran Sargsyan indicated that still much has to be done in the reporting and accounting areas, especially as regards the problems available in the public sector which call for prompt action.
As the Minister of Foreign Affaires presented his report, the head of government asked Minister Nalbandyan about the steps taken to ensure that any foreign mission-bound Armenian dignitary is provided with an advance brief concerning the government’s official position on key foreign policy issues in order those public officials with no direct foreign agenda affiliation come in command of the Republic of Armenia’s official viewpoints.
The point is that during various events held abroad, the representatives of foreign governments often take the opportunity for making political statements about the Karabakh conflict or other issues of current interest making it necessary for their Armenian counterparts to oppose them accordingly. Mr. Nalbandyan advised that a corresponding note is already out for approval.
The Minister of Defense presented the activities carried out in the field of national defense and foreign security in the period under review. Then the discussion continued in a private session.
