NKR PRESIDENT MEETS REPRESENTATIVES OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT BODIES
armradio.am
11.11.2008 17:17
On 11 November at the Officer’s Palace of NKR capital Stepanakert top
leadership of the Republic met heads of the NKR local self-government
bodies.
During the meeting, featuring representatives of legislative,
executive and judicial branches, President of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic Bako Sahakyan delivered a comprehensive speech.
"Dear participants, The main goal of this meeting is to find ways
to make the work of local self-government bodied more effective
and optimal.
An established system of local self-government is a strong factor
in the process of solving problems related to social, economic and
political developments, formation of civic society and strengthening
the foundations of democratic governance.
There are sufficient conditions to have such a system in our
republic. The main precondition is the institute of democratic
elections, where a substantial progress has been registered. Elections
to local self-government bodies that have been held in Artsakh since
1998 in compliance with international standards are the best evidence
of that.
It can be also stated that we have a full-fledged legislative basis
and an accumulated working experience. At the same time we must
say that the system of local authorities still has not reached the
desired level.
Above all things, in our state system the local self-government
bodies are one of the weakest chains. This is especially evident
in administrative sphere. The interconnections between local,
regional and central bodies are not sufficient. The same is true in
the inter-regional level. In many cases heads of communities are not
aware about situation in structures they govern. Some of them do not
have information even about the volumes of goods produced in the
corresponding villages. There are substantial differences between
figures submitted by them to local branches of the NKR National
Statistical Service and the real ones. Quite often this discrepancy
reaches fifty percent. Serious drawbacks have been registered in proper
conduction of communal books, which are the basis of housekeeping,
population size and other key indicators. We have this situation even
in settlements where population size does not exceed several dozens
of people. Quite few people realize that community with all its
components is the initial chain on which the entire economy is based.
There is no need in extra efforts to find a solution to these problems.
There should be just responsibility and self- discipline, which are
themselves statutory requirements.
An effectively functioning system of local self-government could
be achieved through a sufficient economic potential. For this very
reason I consider the work of community leaders directed at local
budget performance to be of great importance. Within this context
the heads of the regions are also to play an important role.
I must say that the execution of local budget in terms of revenues is
a serious problem for almost every rural community. The rights to real
estate of community members and other natural persons who use land on
a lease basis have not been registered in territorial branches of the
NKR State Committee of the Real Estate Cadastre. As a result they do
not have certificates and thereby violate dispositions of the NKR Law
on State Registration of Property Rights. The results are ungrounded
and unrealistic community budgets, particularly in respect of revenues.
This is an obstacle to fully-fledged realization of mandatory and
voluntary responsibilities preserved for them by law.
In 2007 at the exception of Askeran, Shahoumyan and Shoushi regions
all other others did not secure the performance of the budget in
terms of their own revenues. This is in a situation when all the
regions have received subsidies in full volumes.
The same situation we have in the current year. In three quarters
of this year no region, at the exception of Shoushi and Shahoumyan
regions, secured its own revenues. Overall, within the above
mentioned period budget performance in terms of own revenues made up
84,2 percent. Such is the picture in more than 70 percent of rural
communities of the Askeran region, in almost all communities of the
Hadrout and Martouni regions, in 20 out of 44 communities in the
Martakert region.
In this regard, I want to emphasize the issues of timely and full-scale
collection of local taxes, which must be in the spotlight of both
the regional administrations and local self-government bodies.
No proper attitude is shown towards preservation and usage of communal
property. In many cases fixed assets owned by communities are not
displayed in balance sheets.
I would like to draw your attention on another negative phenomenon too.
Sometimes individuals who deserve to occupy high post in neither
from professional nor moral points of view are elected heads of local
self-government bodies. The situation becomes more complicated because
this divides communities, creates unhealthy atmosphere, and endangers
successful fulfillment of strategically important state projects,
which is inadmissible.
A complex of measures should be carried out to fix the existing
situation.
In the first place it is necessary establish close links between
local, regional and central government bodies, which will afford
to solve problems the population faces in an effective way. The
upper units of management thereby can be fully aware of the issues
existing in the lower ones and take proper steps to respond to them
timely and adequately. Within this context it would be expedient to
carry out regular monitoring and observations in communities and
regions providing necessary6 assistance. The fundamentals of this
process lie in both the information provided by the communities and
a comprehensive analysis of the situation carried out by appropriate
structures and specialists.
It is very important for the lower units of management take initiative.
Passive stance is inadmissible. I consider the working style of
transferring responsibility to other units of management especially the
higher ones intolerable too. In connection with this it is necessary
make tradition forums of local self government bodies at a regional or
state level with participation of the country’s top leadership. The
forums will discuss the results of the implemented work, the current
situation, existing problems and subsequent activities. It will be a
good impetus to sum up the implemented work, to clarify shortcomings
and eliminate them in an operative way.
95 percent of the republic’s communities are agricultural ones.
Agriculture has been one of the leading branches of our economy. This
sphere accounts for a substantial share of the NKR’s GDP. The
strategic importance of agriculture lies both in food security and
defense capacity of the country.
In 2007 the sphere’s GDP reached 23.8 billion drams, which is in
comparable prices 8.8 percent more than in 2006.
In the current year positive results of state policies directed
at the development of the sphere are evident in the dynamics of
quantitative and qualitative indices. In the three quarters of the
current year gross GDP of the agricultural sphere constituted 23.6
billion drams securing thereby 39,6 percent real growth in comparison
with the same period of 2007. The level of crop yield of cereals in
comparison with the previous year has increased twofold. However,
despite all of this the sphere’s share in the country’s GDP cannot
be considered satisfactory.
The situation in the sphere of agriculture continues to remain at
undesired level. A conspicuous evidence of that is the mere fact
that having favorable conditions to develop the agrarian sector,
the republic continues to import more than half of the agricultural
goods it consumes. And this is against the background of having
all the opportunities both to meet domestic demands and export to
world market ecologically clean and competitive products. To change
the situation we must pay primary attention to the issues of modern
farming machines and cadres, as well specialization in the production
of intensive crops. These measures will result in rapid growth of
agricultural production. The role of the ministry of agriculture,
regional administration, and local self-government bodies in
coordinating and supervising these activities is of great importance.
It is necessary mention that taking into account regional peculiarities
of different territories and the existing potential, works have
been carried out to discover more optimal ways of elaborating and
realizing agricultural projects in the republic on a sub-regional
level. While realizing a balanced policy of territorial development,
I consider necessary make a right choice in choosing sub-regional
projects and pay a primary attention to the Kashatagh and Shahoumyan
regions. Completion of the carried out studies and being successive
in realizing socioeconomic development programs in the Kashatagh and
Shahoumyan regions are sine qua non conditions. This process will be
under my direct supervision.
I consider the development of infrastructures in the countryside of
utmost importance. This will promote both bonding the population in
villages and solving some problems of strategic importance our country
faces. In this connection we receive a lot of complaints from people
in the countryside.
Proclaiming agriculture strategically important fields for the
development of our economy, we have face numerous questions and
finding solutions to them is now a primary task for the state. Within
this very context the development of infrastructures, particularly,
reconstruction of the irrigation system, shipment of modern farming
machinery, preparation and training of cadres, reconstruction and
safeguarding uninterruptible functioning of communication facilities
these activities and other such issues are of great importance.
In our republic 18000 hectares of lands are to be irrigated. However,
currently only 5000 hectares are irrigated at present, of which only
2220 hectares are irrigated on the basis of signed contracts. This
means that the process of signing contracts should be further
articulated.
Such a situation in this strategically important system cannot
satisfy us.
Observations have showed that water resources of the NKR enable to
meet fully domestic demands. Today having an irrigation system is
a problem of extraordinary importance. One of my recent visits was
dedicated to studying ways of solving this very problem. Taking into
account results of this research I assign the Cabinet of Ministers
to elaborate appropriate projects, which by 2010 will increase the
area of irrigated lands to 8-10 thousand hectares.
Within the framework of developing agriculture reforms have been
carried out in the sphere of taxation too. If in 2007 the levy for one
hectare of state reserve fund lands composed 12200 drams then since
January 1, 2008 it has been 8000 drams. For further facilitation of
the tax field it is necessary make the levy 6000 drams from January
1, 2009. In this connection I assign the government to introduce
appropriate changes in legal acts currently in force.
Serious preparatory activities have been carried out in the country to
shape processing industry. Our goal is guarantee supply of agricultural
production. The "Artsakh Fruit," in the formation of which the state
has its unique contribution, is an evidence of this.
In securing our further socioeconomic progress the development
of health protection, education and culture spheres has special
importance. The state continues to make reforms in these spheres too.
Necessary activities have been carried out to increase the role
and quality of education as well as for successful implementation
of school building projects. In this sphere the volumes of capital
investments through implementation of state and philanthropic projects
are increasing year after year. Resources allocated to secure normal
conditions of school building and acquire new equipment have increased
too.
To boost development of pre-school educational system it is necessary
re-establish kindergarten and pre-school institutions. A significant
role is given to the establishment of stable vocational school system,
which will also contribute to successful fulfillment of cadre policy.
There are still unsolved problems in comprehensive schools in the
countryside despite works carried out in the past. In the bulk of
schools enrolment of pupils are at quite low level. Some places lack
modern gyms and open sports ground.
Appropriate activities have been carried out in the field of culture
too.
Cultural centers are being recovered in the countryside. This should
contribute to the activation of cultural life. Everything should be
done for the cultural centers to serve their very purpose.
In the sphere of health protection the most important issues
are construction of a new building of the republican hospital and
maternity hospital, renewal and reconstruction of regional hospitals
in Martakert, Martouni and Hadrout, modernize equipment of medical
institutions. Parallel with this I consider necessary provide full
spectrum of first medical aid in the countryside. The solution of
these problems should always be in the spotlight of the ministry of
health protection.
There are quite many problems also in the spheres of communications,
informational technologies and transport. There should be created
such a transport network that will enable to establish automobile
connection between rural settlements and regional centers, between the
countryside and the capital as well as between and rural communities
of different regions.
As to the problem of ensuring information flow to the countryside
then on the territory of the NKR the programs of Artsakh Public TV
are broadcast in full volume to 118 communities, partially to 36
ones. 98 communities are fully deprived of the opportunity to watch
our TV programs. This is one of the major challenges our republic
faces. I assign the government to carry out appropriate measures
to secure broadcasting of Artsakh and Republic of Armenia’s public
channels in the whole territory of the NKR until the end of 2009.
Special attention should be paid to the development of mail service
between communities and regional centers. Subscription to newspapers
and their distribution should also be carefully studied.
I would like to put a special emphasis on the issue of public and
transparent work of the local self-government bodies. A community
leader must be accountable to members of his community, enjoy their
respect and confidence. Community members in their turn should take
an active part in the life of their community.
We will be successive in order to realize all projects aimed at
amelioration of the work of local self government bodies and living
conditions of rural population. At the same the state through
its appropriate structures will strengthen control over effective
utilization of budgetary resources.
Dear participants, effective solutions of these problems will
enable to create fully functioning system of local self-government
system. This can be done only through daily painstaking work, through
utmost responsibility and cordiality, through carrying out duties in
all seriousness and strictness.
Our country, our people and every citizen will gain of this. This is
our goal and we will do everything possible to achieve it."