Thursday, 9 December 2010
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan’s address to cabinet sitting
Dear colleagues,
Before getting down to the agenda, I would like to make a number of statements.
First, it should be noted that our relations with the European Union provide great cooperation potential and a powerful toolkit available from the EU, including technical and financial assistance which is not used effectively. In this connection, I wish to inform you that in the morning of December 11, an extremely important symposium will be held at Congress Hotel, dedicated to EU-Armenia cooperation. In particular, the EU-proposed toolkit will be discussed in detail during the forum
All ministry and agency heads are hereby directed to provide that those deputy ministers and agency heads responsible for European integration attend the symposium. I expect them to submit reports on ministry and agency activities and the tools to be used. Your proposals must be submitted to the Prime Minister the following the symposium.
The second directive concerns the Police. The institute of obligatory insurance, effective from January 1, 2011, implies that those vehicles out of use for a certain period may go uninsured or be insured for the period of use. First of all, I mean the ones available in communities and rural areas which are only used two or three months a year. We should create such favorable conditions for our farmers as would enable them to use the motor transport during said 2-3 months and insure them only for this period. This means that the Police should establish special rules for simplified service, with a corresponding decision to be submitted to the Government within a week’s time specifying the details of the proposed simplified procedure which should envisage low cost of registration.
The third assignment bears on the temporary disability benefits for pregnant women. The Minister has been instructed accordingly, and a cooperation framework is up with the National Assembly standing commission aimed at addressing the multitude of concerns voiced on the matter. A new bill is being drafted which needs to be discussed with all the stakeholders and, if necessary, we will come up with a legislative initiative in an effort to boost birth rate in the Republic of Armenia.
Fourthly, I wish to inform you that for inadequate duty performance, Minister of Justice Gevorg Danielyan has been relieved of office. Compliance with the rules of ethics in all departments should be held in spotlight. The head of judicial acts enforcement service had committed an overt breach of rules of ethics after which the Minister of Justice was told to punish him publicly. Unfortunately, the Minister failed to comply with this order which to my mind is unacceptable. You may agree that the way of handling one’s subordinates is crucial in public service. We must make ever greater demands upon ourselves, if we want the country to proceed along the lines traced in the government programs. We should be exacting with regard to our subordinates, if we are to enjoy public confidence. And we must be consistent in this respect.
