Thursday, 6 December 2012
Social Sector Corruption Risks To Be Minimized
A Cabinet sitting was held today, chaired by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.
Opening the sitting, the Prime Minister advised that Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Karine Ghazinyan had died in Los Angeles. The meeting held a minute of silence in her memory.
Based on the Constitution, the Government suggested that the National Assembly should convene an extraordinary session on December 17, 2012 at 12:00 local time to discuss about two dozen issues of primary importance.
The government passed four decisions to minimize corruption risks in the health-welfare sector in particular. The amendment allows for greater control over the decisions made by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs Medical and Social Agency, and regional bodies of the structural units of work specified in the criteria used in the assessment and definition of disability standards. This will make it possible to avoid subjective approaches, achieve greater transparency in work, which in turn will help significantly reduce the risks of corruption.
According to Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, the issue has been much talked of in public. Studies had evidenced the pervasive nature of corruption risks. The head of government asked the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs to substantiate the efficiency of the aforementioned measures. The Minister assured that the results are encouraging. “By adopting this decision, we have streamlined the legal field to make a big step forward on our way to curbing subjective approaches, Artem Asatryan pointed out. At the same time, we suggest taking the post of committee chairmen from civil service so that we could address the problem of staff wages. I think we will have thereby solved all the problems available in this area.” Answering the Premier’s question, the Minister advised that six committee heads had been dismissed so far and several medical experts relieved according to their application.
The Executive authorized Golden Grape Armas Ltd to import additional goods under the temporary import customs regime to ensure a smooth pace of the government-approved investment program. The company has invested 15 million euro in Aragatsotn region setting up 160 hectares of vineyards, 40 hectares of fruit orchards and a wine and brandy factory. The company has 200 employees
The Cabinet decided to establish a fund for Armenian studies, approved its charter and appointed an acting chief executive director. The fund is supposed to solve important problems, boost the research process and coordinate the activities of study centers abroad. The government allocated 50 million drams to support the fund’s activities in the coming year.
The meeting agenda comprised over 40 items altogether.
