Thursday, 9 June 2016
Government shall offset damage caused by strong winds, hailstorm in Armavir Marz and address other key problems
A regular Cabinet meeting was held today, chaired by Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan.
The Government decided to allocate a total of AMD 51million to Armavir Marz administration in order to offset the damage caused by the strong wind and hailstorm of May 23 and address other key problems facing the province.
Note that during Prime Minister Hovik Abraahamyan’s latest working visit to Armavir Marz, the Premier was briefed on the consequences of the devastating strong wind and hailstorm of May 23 that hit Argina, Tandzut, Arevik ,Yeghegnut and Artashar communities.
12 anti-hail stations are needed to combat devastating hailstorms in this region. Part of the amounts allocated will be used to refurbish the roofing of school buildings in Parakar and Doghs communities, as well as to get a cost estimate for the reconstruction of Tandzut community kindergarten. According to Minister of Territorial Administration and Development David Lokyan, the reconstruction will be completed next year through budget funds. The Minister advised that as instructed by the Prime Minister, another such project will be implemented in the neighboring village, supported by the Regional Development Fund.
As the Minister said, it will help provide pre-school education for about 185 children. Money will be earmarked for the purchase of a МТЗ-82 tractor for Artashes community, which is short of modern agricultural machinery.
The other problem is related to the former administrative building of Armavir Cannery (rebuilt into residential premises). 36 families currently residing there have not so far been able to apply for State registration of their ownership rights as they are in dire straits and cannot settle the fees required for State registration and notarization of relevant contracts. Given the fact that the local government does not have adequate funds to complete the process, money will be allocated for this purpose.
As directed by the Prime Minister, the Government Staff is planning to reduce the number of service vehicles, which are to be sold out. Accordingly, no spare parts and other accessories will be procured for those vehicles to be alienated.
In view of the above, the meeting decided to hand over 15 units of vehicles and 3 devices to the Department of State Property Management to dispose of in the future. The procurement tenders announced for the purchase of spare parts and other materials for such vehicles will be declared invalid.
To comply with the Prime Minister’s directive, the meeting next decided to hand over to the State Property Management Department for subsequent alienation of 26 vehicles currently attached to the Ministry of Healthcare. Another decision to that effect was passed regarding 24 vehicles currently run by the Staff of the National Assembly. The Premier gave the ministers and heads of government agencies 10 working days to complete the process of vehicle cutbacks.
The Cabinet next decided to hand over to the Ministry of Healthcare 4 vehicles currently run by the Traumatology and Orthopedics Scientific Center, the Drug and Medical Technology Expertise Center after Academician Emil Gabrielyan, the National Narcological Center and the National Center for Control and Prevention of Diseases.
At the same time, a car attached to the Health Project Implementation Unit will be called off to the benefit of the staff of the Ministry of Healthcare.
In this connection, the Prime Minister noted that this is one of many cases when SNCO-operated vehicles were used by ministries and government agencies, and such cases must be ruled out in future.
The meeting approved the list of standards development services and the nomenclature of standardization program-related activities for 2016.
The main objective is to set up am international foundation for the development of scientific and technological innovation base for industry sectors in line with international and European standards, and ensure compliance with the technical regulations of the Eurasian Economic Union. The program will provide realistic conditions of economic integration with the global market. It will help create favorable conditions for increased quality and competitiveness in the economy, as well as ensure strict compliance with the technical regulations applicable in the Eurasian Economic Union through closer cooperation with international and regional standardization authorities.
In order to support economic entities and stimulate economic activity, the Government amended the decision of July 30, 2015, proposing to extend the deadline for prohibition of checks until December 31, 2016. At the same time, the State Food Safety Service by the Ministry of Agriculture was allowed to conduct annual inspections with high-risk entities in the following areas: food court, meat products, dairy products, creamy pastry products, non-animal origin foods, as well as culinary and fish products.
The following agreements were approved at today’s meeting: loan agreement on the Local Economy and Infrastructure Development Project as signed between the Republic of Armenia and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development on February 23, 2016, loan agreement on the Solid Waste Management Program in Kotayk and Gegharkunik Marzes of Armenia as signed between the Republic of Armenia and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on April 5, 2016 and amendment No. 3 to the financial agreement referred to as Border Checkpoints and Infrastructure (modernization of Bagratashen, Bavra and Gogavan border checkpoints) as signed between the Republic of Armenia and the European Investment Bank on April 15, 2016.
In conclusion, the Government filed an official request for the National Assembly Speaker to convene an extraordinary National Assembly sitting on June 13, 2016 at 12:00 local time.
