Thursday, 19 March 2015
Community association to be decided in local referendums
A Cabinet sitting was held today, chaired by Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan. About 3.5 years ago, the Armenian Government approved the concept of community consolidation and formation of inter-communal associations, launching thereby the administrative-territorial reform in Armenia, in particular, to the process of enlargement of communities. It was deemed appropriate to implement a few pilot programs of community consolidation, after conducting local referendums in those communities.
In 2015 3 pilot programs will be implemented: in community groups Tumanyan in Lori Marz, Shinuhayr in Syunik Marz, and Dilijan in Tavush Marz where in line with a government decree, local referendums will be held to determine whether the residents would agree to a merger with the neighboring communities, having the aforementioned the settlements as centers.
Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan noted that this is the first stage of the enlargement of communities. There is no discontent or disagreement whatsoever about the consolidation of the three groups of communities. The reform is to be continued.
The Government amended a number of its decisions, the purpose of which is to monitor compliance with the sanitary regulations and standards of food safety through a single authorized agency, namely the State Food of Security Service of the Ministry of Agriculture of Armenia. It is expected that the regulation will help eliminate irregularities in this sphere and ensure effective application of the laws designed to prevent them.
Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan reminded the recent case of mass poisoning in a kindergarten of Yeghvard and considered it important to tighten the regulation of food products. The Premier assured that he will personally see to it that the decision is clearly implemented.
The Government approved a program of measures to improve the business environment in the year 2015. It will lead to simplified administrative procedures required to start and develop a business, the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises, the rapid promotion of foreign trade, the balance of tax and customs policy, etc. Currently Armenia is the 45th among 189 countries according to the “From Effectiveness to Results” rating report.
The Government amended one of its previous decisions, under which those 33 citizens born in Western Armenia and other parts of the Ottoman Empire by the year 1915 (inclusive) and survived the Armenian Genocide will be getting cash assistance at the a rate of 100 thousand drams instead of 25 thousand.
The Government passed a decision to set up a children and youth sports school of boxing in Vanadzor, which will contribute to the development of the sport, training sessions for the national teams of Armenia, leisure and recreation for children.
