Thursday, 23 January 2014
National Defense In Public Spotlight
A Cabinet sitting was held today, chaired by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.
Opening the meeting, the Prime Minister gave the floor to Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan. The latter reported that after the failed attempt of sabotage act committed by the special units of the enemy on the night of 19 to 20 January, there is some tension on the Azeri side. Meanwhile, our people should not have any safety concerns, since our soldiers are on the watch as always.
Reminding that the Government has been providing financial assistance to vulnerable households for gas, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said this policy will be continued, and 1 cubic meter of gas will still cost 100 drams for such families. A decision to that effect is due within a week.
The Government approved a timetable for implementation of the program of activities (road map) to accede to the Customs Union and Common Economic Space of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation, through which public agencies will have a clear view of their participation in the activities and the timing provisions to implement them in accordance with the established procedure.
The Government agreed to the proposal for signing an agreement between the Government of Armenia and the United Nations on emergency import, export and transit of relief supplies and humanitarian assistance.
On the basis of reciprocity, the Government decided to exempt Japanese citizens with diplomatic passports from the requirement to obtain Republic of Armenia entry visas.
The meeting decided to extend until July, 2014 the temporary import customs regime for goods and equipment imported and not re-exported by Golden Field LLC. Note that the company has been manufacturing high pressure motorcar gas cylinders since 2007. The company employs some 150 people, with around 70 percent of the output exported abroad. Golden Field LLC has signed three major export contracts enabling them to export the entire volume of cylinders.
With another decision, the Executive granted a temporary import customs regime extension till September 2015 to VKS Armenia LLC, which is providing clothing services to a number of foreign organizations and, to this end, has set up production units in Yerevan, Vanadzor and Amasia. All the needed machinery and equipment is imported from abroad.
In conclusion, the Government decided to reorganize the Yerevan State University of Architecture and Engineering into National Fund of Architecture and Engineering. The newly established Fund will be in a better position to improve the quality of education through flexible and efficient use of property, closer cooperation with foreign investors and thereby increase its fiscal contributions.
The meeting discussed some forty items altogether.
