Thursday, 1 November 2012
Top Leadership Unsatisfied With Anticorruption Action Effectiveness
A Cabinet sitting was held today, chaired by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.
Opening the meeting, the Prime Minister said to have had a conversation with the President of Armenia on how to strengthen the fight against corruption. The President calls for drastic measures in order to achieve tangible results (see separate).
Pursuant to the Prime Minister’s directive, Minister of Education and Science Minister Armen Ashotyan reported back compliance with the tax liabilities and availability of economic growth potential in the sphere under his control.
In this connection, the head of government advised that the matter had been given a close consideration at a ministerial committee meeting, which heard the associated SRC report: “We stated a number of problems. I think it was a very useful exercise for both Mr. Ashotyan and the SRC as it can help us find the right cooperation formula on the way to revealing the potential available in different sectors of economy. We learned a lot of useful things from the discussion,” the Premier pointed out.
The Ministry of Justice was allocated AMD500mn in order to complete by 2013 the construction of the new building intended for 400 inmates of Armavir prison. The facility is supposed to help address the overloading of penal institutions.
In addition, as noted by the Prime Minister, the decision will help avoid unnecessary costs. The U.S. partners have promised to provide follow-up technical assistance with a view to getting the needed equipment. The 400-seat building will be commissioned in the second half of 2013.
The meeting amended a previous decree to ensure that State property alienation auctions might be conducted in electronic form as well, with the starting price to be set at 75% of the appraised value. In this way, auctions will become more transparent and open. Would-be buyers will be provided with better conditions amid lower corruption risks.
A corresponding amount was made available to Historical and Cultural Reserve-Museum and Historic Environment Service SNCO to have a Komitas memorial plaque set up at Humboldt University of Berlin. The government will also provide the preparation and installation costs for a memorial plaque to Republic of Armenia People’s Artist H. Zardaryan.
