Thursday, 5 May 2016
Government Holds Regular Meeting
A Cabinet meeting was held today, chaired by Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan.
The Government adopted a decision to improve welfare standards for Great Patriotic War veterans by providing them with sanatoria and health resort facilities, as well as to hold events dedicated to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident 30th anniversary. Resort treatment vouchers will be issued for 50 veterans of Great Patriotic War.
The Government established a procedure to follow in providing assistance to human trafficking victims under the RA Law “On identification of and assistance to persons subjected to human trafficking and exploitation.”
The decision will help prevent incidences of human trafficking and exploitation, strengthen legal, organizational and institutional capacity for countering trafficking and exploitation, streamline the process of orientation, develop and introduce new prevention and compensation mechanisms in line with international standards.
The Cabinet passed a resolution on payment due for alternative military service. According to the reference note, during this year’s winter conscription campaign, 27 conscripts were sent on alternative service by the central call-up commission. Alternative labor servants shall receive a monthly remuneration in the amount of up to AMD 30,000.
On approving CCG Caucasus Communication Group’s investment program on reconstruction of Dvin hotel complex in Yerevan, the Government amended a previously adopted decision to set 2019 as a deadline for the reconstruction of the aforementioned hotel complex. According to the estimate, the total amount of investments will rise to approximately USD 120,595,000. A modern standards-compliant hotel complex will be built, generating some 400 new jobs.
The meeting approved the Government’s finding on a bill submitted by MPs Zaruhi Postanjyan and Hrant Bagratyan as a legislative initiative “On Recognition of the Republic of Artsakh,” which was introduced by RA Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan. The above finding says that “the adoption of the bill stems from the outcome of consultations between Armenia and Artsakh, taking into account the further developments, including the external factors.”
The meeting next endorsed a package of draft laws on amendments to the laws “On Taxes,” “On Customs Regulations” and a number of other laws. The reference note says that the package has been drafted considering the need for harmonization of laws on specific tax and customs relations, including that of criminal and administrative responsibilities, as well as the necessity to amend the relevant legal acts within the framework of Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union.
The Government amended a standing decision to improve the terms and conditions applicable to real estate acquisition transactions by beneficiaries. Under the affordable housing for public servants program, the real estate insurance fee shall henceforth be applied to the full value of the purchased estate. As a result, the beneficiaries will have to settle an insurance price greater than the actual cost of banker’s risk by paying more in monthly installments.
In the event of eventual changes to the insurance contract, the corresponding tariff shall be applied to the balance of the mortgage loan. As a result, the beneficiaries will pay less, considering the declining value of the mortgage loan.
Wrapping up the meeting, Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan stated as follows: “We had made an arrangement with the heads of ministries and government agencies to visit the provinces once a month. Some ministers have already visited the regions; those who have failed to do so due to their hectic schedule – it is my understanding at least - should start visiting the provinces.”
The Prime Minister suggested that during their trips the ministers should call on the families of those soldiers killed in the four-day war in order to learn the existing welfare problems and report them to the government as necessary.
