Thursday, 2 February 2012
Serious Political Decisions Adopted
A Cabinet sitting was held today, chaired by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.
Before proceeding to the agenda, the head of government highlighted some issues which were described as of serious political relevance.
Guided by the fundamental principle of human capital development, understanding that well-being is provided through high-standard education and professional qualification, the government approved a program of assessment of servicemen’s educational needs in army units and implementation of educational programs and approved the sample questionnaire and results forms.
Embracing a new social policy line implying transition from relief efforts to implementation of educational, healthcare, housing and other programs, as well as provision of welfare packages to beneficiary groups, the government approved an educational need assessment, support and monitoring program for children aged 16-18 from duly registered vulnerable households.
The program seeks to raise the living standards of eligible families through enhanced access to vocational education, increased social opportunities for their children and so on.
The government decided to allocate AMD 163mn to the Ministry of Agriculture in the first quarter of 2012 for the loading and transportation of nitrogenous fertilizers to be provided to land users at a reasonable price.
The next decision bore on the procurement of diesel fuel under a State support program for domestic land users for which the Ministry of Agriculture will be allocated AMD 1,327,914bn in the first quarter of 2012.
The meeting decided to extend up till February 20, 2015 the deadline set for VAT settlements by Hanna-Trans Ltd for over AMD 300mn worth of goods imported in the period from February 20 to March 31, 2012 under the ongoing investment program
The company plans to organize the transportation of coal from Maghavuz region of Nagorno-Karabakh to Vardenis railway junction for further delivery to Yerevan TPP by Hanna-Group. The coal so transported shall be used as a water-carbonic fuel for electricity purposes.
To attract foreign direct investments with a view to boosting the exports of advanced technologies conducive to new jobs and sustainable economic development, the government decided to set up a free economic zone on the site of RAO Mars CJSC and Development Institute CJSC.
With a focus on electronics, precision engineering, pharmaceuticals and biotechnologies, information technology, alternative energy, industrial design and telecommunications sectors, this Sitronics-Armenia CJSC-hosted first Armenian free economic zone will be effective for a term of 10 years.
The meeting went on to endorse the Come Back Home – 2012 program with an action plan expected to bring to Armenia some 800 teenagers from the Diaspora during the year.
In conclusion, the meeting backed a draft presidential decree on establishment of Armenia’s consulate general in Odessa (Ukraine).
There are some 400 thousand Armenians currently living in Ukraine, with about 150-180 thousand people domiciled the country’s south-eastern regions, including Odessa and the Crimea.
The founding of the general consulate in Odessa will help improve the quality of services provided to Armenians from Ukraine’s distant south-eastern regions, Crimea and Moldova.
The meeting agenda comprised some 50 items altogether.
