Thursday, 11 September 2014
Government addresses issues raised at community meetings
A Cabinet sitting was held today, chaired by Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan.
The Cabinet passed a number of decisions to tackle the problems raised during the President’s and the Prime Minister’s community meetings. In particular, the meeting stressed the need to build a safety wall in the most perilous sections of Chinar community of Tavush Marz, reinstall school windows, as well as to build a gabion fortification for Ayghedzor community’s irrigation and drinking water-mains.
Among the most urgent issues, the meeting mentioned the need to address the aftermath of the March 30 windstorm in Gegharkunik Marz, including the partial repair of Tsakqar school building, the renovation of the hospital buildings in Sevan town and the refurbishment of Ayrk community’s secondary school roofing.
The meeting passed another decision to streamline the instances of alienation of state administrative agency-attached hostel facilities as residential areas that will enable a speedy solution of the social problems raised by the population. The Executive decided to privatize the premises allocated to four households.
Concerning the matter, the Prime Minister said, “The Government will push ahead with its policy aimed at solving the citizens’ problems, privatizing the state-owned premises occupied by vulnerable families for many years, which is another step toward solving welfare problems in the country.”
The meeting made redistributions in the state budget to allocate funds for the repair of roads damaged by spring floods.
The government approved a set of amendments to the law “On State support for the IT sector” and 3 other laws, which seek to promote human capital investments, further development of the IT sector and provide for Armenia’s competitiveness in the region. The amendments imply a number of tax benefits to those IT companies registered in the manner prescribed by law, including the application of 0% profit tax and 10% income tax, regardless of the monthly taxable income and so on.
Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan suggested reconsidering the deadline set for the application of said privileges on condition of extending them until 2017 in order to specify what the treasury will loose as a result of the amendment. The package of draft laws will be submitted to the National Assembly in the manner established by law.
With a view to implementing the IBRD-supported Reliable Electricity program, the government acknowledged the status of exclusive and prevailing public interest with regard to a number of landed estates belonging to several residents of Syunik Marz communities.
The construction of 220 kV transmission lines from Hrazdan TPP to Shinuhayr is of national importance as it will enhance energy security and reliability in power supply. Compensation for alienated property will be provided using the proceeds of the loan available from the Bank.
The meeting allocated AMD54mn to organize the celebrations of the 23rd anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
The Government accepted the proposal to sign an income and property-related double taxation avoidance and tax evasion prevention instrument between the governments of the Republic of Armenia and the Kingdom of Jordan.
