Thursday, 25 March 2010
Pensions and benefits raised by the Government
Chaired by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, an out-session of government was held today in Artashat town, the Ararat marz regional center. The session began with marz governor Vardkes Hovakimyan’s report on the social and economic situation of Ararat marz in 2009. He presented the problems encountered in the marz. The Government took notice of the report.
The Cabinet has approved the 2011-2014 program of social and economic development of Ararat marz. Up to 16.6 % of GDP, agriculture makes the basis of local economy. 10 large factories are producing 8 % of industry nationwide.
The program may be viewed as an invitation for international donors, entrepreneurs, interested natural and legal persons to make investments into the economy of Ararat marz. Account taken of today’s economic trends and macroeconomic performance, all public stakeholders and the governor of the marz were told to submit recommendations and proposals concerning the program.
The government heard a report on irrigation problems stating 40% losses in the system of water supply. To reduce said water losses, the Government has restored and upgraded about 60 km of internal network in cooperation with the World Bank. The cost of irrigation is still high due to mechanical irrigation. Considerable amount of energy will be saved up thanks to the Kakhtsrashen gravity canal and the Vedi water reservoir which will replace today’s 14 large pump stations operational in the marz.
The Government approved a list of cultural actions, including improvements to the Artashat cultural center after Charles Aznavour, the house of culture in Vedi, Khosrov Woods national park, Parujr Sevak museum in Zangakatun village, the regional library after Zarubyan and Artashat’s State drama theatre after A. Kharazyan.
The government took notice of the report of the Chief of Government Staff on the results of analysis of applications, complaints and proposals of citizens from Ararat marz to central authorities.
The Government has amended paragraph 2 of government decree No. 707-N of June 13, 2003 ‘On base pension and annual cost of insurance contributions,” substituting 8000 for 10500 in the above-stated paragraph. In accordance with other decisions, the Government made changes to sub-paragraphs 1 and 7 of paragraph 2 of Government decree No. 32 of January 14, 2010 “On welfare benefits in 2010 and amendments to a number of government decisions,” replacing in the above-stated paragraphs 10000 by 12500.” Effective from November 1 and May 1, 2010, decisions were passed on extension of financial assistance to vulnerable groups in connection with the gas tariff increase.
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said that the decision on the given question is adopted by the President of the Republic of Armenia who several months ago in this connection called a meeting. A working group had been established to develop proposals on mitigating the negative impact of the expected rise in the cost of gas “The question is not only in the tariffs, but in inflation which should be checked through the efforts of the Central Bank and other bodies so that we could return to smoother inflation in the years ahead,” the Prime Minister said.
The Government approved the bill “On amendments to the RA law on State budget for 2010,” which intends to indemnify war veterans on the 65th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 for deposits made with the ASSR branch office of the former SU Savings Bank by June 10, 1993. “The issue has been discussed in all detail in the Republican Party: we were unanimous about our moral duty to privilege our veterans of war,” Tigran Sargsyan stated and added that the decision concerns 3900 veterans and in this question the Government expects to have public approval.
The Government has decided to name Arpa-Sevan tunnel after Jacob Zarobyan considering that the tunnel was designed and built in the days of this honored party leader, as well as in connection with Zarobyan’s 100th birth anniversary marked in 2008.
Under another decree, the Government named after late Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan school No. 29 of Yerevan, Tigran Sargsyan reminded that on March 25 - the day of his demise - led by the President of Armenia, the leadership of the country visited the pantheon to pay homage to the renowned statesman.
During the meeting, the Government approved a number of concepts, programs, cost estimates, quotas and draft laws. Over 60 questions have been discussed.
