Category: 2019

The 114 hotline service serving citizens’ alarms in the field of social protection, with its 8-person staff, remained suspended. 2018 at the end of the year, the contract for the provision of services signed with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs ended, and the new one has not yet been signed. 168.am writes about this.

The staff handling the calls of at least 15,000 beneficiaries per month continues to serve in inertia without payment, and in the hope that the newly appointed Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Zara Batoyan, will not allow this small structure to be abolished. They have not had a meeting with the newly appointed minister yet, they are sure that he is aware of the situation and will find a solid solution.

The only news circulating at the moment is that this structure may also be targeted by the government’s “optimization” program.

The salary and maintenance fund of about 24 million per year may be considered redundant for the Government, and the logic of providing telephone service to social target groups is also considered redundant.

Nevertheless, there are sad moods in the hotline service, they say that the ministry is not able and does not have enough resources to serve the citizens’ alarms. A milder scenario is not excluded here: in the context of structural changes, the service with a smaller team will be transferred under the ministry.

By the way, this service works 24 hours a day, the citizens receive the answer to the calls recorded after 18:00 the next day through a call back.

It should be noted that the same fate threatens the “Nork” social services technology and awareness center with its 100 employees.

“Nork” Social Services Technology and Awareness Center Foundation also continues to service the information systems of the social sector, about 6,500 pieces of computer equipment and the server complex, citing the state importance of the function.

Discussions in the government regarding “Nork”, in particular, have been ongoing since last October, and perhaps no approach is visible that would be preferable for all interested parties.

Edmon Marukyan, the chairman of “Lusavore Armenia” party, claims that the RA government was formed in violation of the Constitution. In this regard, he issued a statement.

“In general, the formation of the government, unlike other bodies of the RA executive power, is distinguished by its unique order of formation. The start of the formation of the government begins after the appointment of the prime minister, and then continues with the appointment of ministers.

I think that there has been a violation of the procedure for forming the government, that is, Article 150 of the RA Constitution. That article defines a clear procedure for the formation of the government, according to which, after his appointment, the Prime Minister proposes to the President of the Republic the candidates for Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers within 5 days. Naturally, here we are talking about the presentation of candidates to be appointed to the positions of members of the government in accordance with the law on the structure and operation of the current government.

The RA Prime Minister did not present all ministerial candidates, and the RA President appointed only those who were presented by the Prime Minister.

According to Article 2 of the Law on the Structure and Activities of the Government, the Government consists of the Prime Minister, the First Deputy Prime Minister, two Deputy Prime Ministers and ministers.

The structure of the government includes the following ministries:

1) Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs
2) the Ministry of Health,
3) Ministry of Justice,
4) the Ministry of Emergency Situations,
5) the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
6) the Ministry of Environmental Protection
7) Ministry of Agriculture,
8) Ministry of Energy Infrastructure and Natural Resources,
9) Ministry of Education and Science,
10) the Ministry of Culture,
11) Ministry of Defense,
12) Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs,
13) Ministry of Diaspora
14) the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Development,
15) Ministry of Economic Development and Investments,
16) the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technologies,
17) Ministry of Finance.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of RA presented the candidacy of 2 Deputy Prime Ministers and 12 Ministers. In other words, the nomination of five ministers was not submitted, leaving the existing ministries without ministers. However, those ministries and ministerial positions are defined by the above-mentioned law, which is an active law and there is no other law that would define otherwise. At the moment, there is not even any legislative change initiative regarding the structure and activity of the Government. 
It can only be assumed that the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia was misled by his advisers on legal issues, due to which he was guided by Article 3, Part 9 of the Law of the Republic of Armenia “On the Structure and Activities of the Government”, which defines the guarantee that should ensure the normal functioning of the government.

According to the quoted provision of the above article, the government is considered constituted if at least 2/3 of the members of the government have been appointed. This provision regulates a completely different relationship, it has nothing to do with the constitutional obligation to present the composition of the Government to the President of the Republic of Armenia. It exclusively refers to the cases when the President of the Republic of Armenia appealed to the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia on the issue of contesting the ministerial candidates proposed by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia. And the Constitutional Court did not see a problem with at least 2/3 of the candidates. And the other candidates were considered incompatible for those positions, or their candidacy is still under discussion.

This provision is exclusively a provision establishing a guarantee, the meaning of which is to ensure the normal operation of the government in order to avoid a constitutional crisis, and not to grant the RA Prime Minister the right to present fewer ministerial candidates from the government within a five-day period.

Based on the above, it should be stated that the RA Prime Minister did not fulfill the direct obligation imposed on him by the RA Constitution, due to which the requirement of Article 150 of the RA Constitution was violated. 

I urge the Prime Minister to first get rid of those advisers who interpreted the solution of the problem in such a way. As well as to immediately submit to the National Assembly a draft law on the structure and operation of the Government, which will present the structure of the new government, will not leave ministries without ministers in the air and will include the NSS, the police and the SRC in its structure,” said Marukyan’s statement.

The RA Armed Forces will be equipped with modern complexes of high-precision long-range missile strikes, artillery strikes and air defense, multi-functional aviation and automated and robotic air and ground systems. All this will increase the distance, accuracy and effectiveness of reconnaissance, maneuvering and fire strike with the necessary depth.

According to the plan submitted to the government, the most important component of security will be the development of the domestic military industry. Also, the focus will remain on the consistent replenishment of the front line with technical means and the increase of the effectiveness and safety of combat duty.

It is noted that measures will be taken to ensure that the armed forces’ management system is highly automated, has sufficient operability, vitality, mobility and technological superiority and saturation to conduct modern military operations, as well as the necessary capabilities for ensuring cyber defense, and is guided by the “Command by Task” management and leadership principle aimed at promoting initiative, quick orientation, decision-making and action.

“Gazprom Armenia” published a corresponding message regarding the gas tariff. Apart from that, no information is available, discussions are ongoing. Vakhtang Mirumyan, Deputy General Director of Gazprom Armenia, announced this at a press conference.

According to him, until the discussions are finished, no information can be given about the tariff changes and the developments resulting from them.

“All issues are being discussed now, they are being conducted in all directions, including investment, capital repair programs, losses, etc. The goal is that it does not harm the company’s operations or lead to undesirable results,” the official said.

Mirumyan also mentioned that two months are planned for the discussions, although he did not rule out that the period could be extended.

To remind, the price of Russian gas on the border of Armenia and Georgia from January 1, 2019 is 165 USD per 1000 cubic meters. Nikol Pashinyan announced that there will be no change in the price of gas imported from Russia for Armenian consumers.

The RA government plans to work actively in the direction of ensuring active and proactive participation of Armenia in the Eurasian Economic Union and the Collective Security Treaty Organization, contributing to increasing the efficiency of these structures. This is stipulated in the program of the RA government.

It is noted that this goal is considered among the main priorities of RA in the direction of developing strategic-alliance relations with the Russian Federation.

“Armenia-Russia relations are based on friendship, equality, willingness to solve issues with joint efforts. The government considers the military cooperation of the Republic of Armenia with the Russian Federation as an important component of the security system of Armenia,” the program says.

In addition, it is noted that RA will actively work towards the consistent development of friendly partnership with the USA. The government aims to deepen cooperation with the United States of America in order to support Armenia’s development and reform agenda and to expand dialogue aimed at regional stability.

The same applies to deepening friendly relations and expanding partnership with the EU, its member states and other European countries.

“The implementation of the Comprehensive and Extended Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is seen as a significant factor contributing to the Government’s reform agenda aimed at the development of Armenia. The government will continue to take steps to ensure the liberalization of EU visas for citizens of the Republic of Armenia,” the document states.

The former Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Artsakh Artur Aghabekyan addressed the question of the future president of Artsakh, stating who he sees in that position.

“Every time I am in the city of Stepanakert, I am constantly asked from the right and the left who will be the next president of Artsakh.

I publicly answer everyone. 2012 being the deputy prime minister of Artsakh and serving as prime minister Araik Harutyunyan knowing his ideas and vision about the future of Artsakh and its development, I believe that the next president of the country should be Arayik Harutyunyan, and now I declare that Arayik Harutyunyan has no alternative.

I will have many opportunities to talk about Araik Harutyunyan’s lack of an alternative in the near future,” he wrote on his Facebook page.

Let’s remind that yesterday the former commander of the Nagorno-Karabakh Armed Forces, hero of Artsakh Samvel Babayanannounced that he intends to participate in the 2020 presidential elections in Artsakh.

Turkish President’s Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin responded to President Emmanuel Macron’s statement regarding the declaration of April 24 as the Armenian Genocide Memorial Day in France.

Kalin described Macron’s claims about the Armenian Genocide as a political lie.

“We strongly condemn Macron’s statement on declaring April 24 as the so-called Armenian Genocide Memorial Day,” Erdogan’s spokesman said. Cullen accused Macron of using historical events as a tool for political purposes.

Former Prime Minister of Artsakh, potential candidate for Artsakh president in 2020 Araik Harutyunyan responded to Samvel Babayan’s statement yesterday, in which the latter not only announced his participation in the presidential elections, but also said that former RA President Serzh Sargsyan negotiated concessions with the Artsakh authorities.

“Samvel Babayan announced yesterday in an interview to Azatutyun radio station that in 2017, the third president of RA, Serzh Sargsyan, negotiated concessions with Artsakh authorities. I would like to inform Mr. Babayan and our public that President Sargsyan has always been open to the negotiation process with Artsakh authorities during his administration, and all issues were discussed in conditions of mutual respect and dialogue.

Next: the mentioned famous meeting or more precisely the meetings did not take place in 2017, but in April and July 2016, where we came to a common declaration, that is, there can be no step back from the current actual status of Artsakh in the negotiation agenda, and the safety of the people of Artsakh must be absolutely guaranteed in the final settlement of the conflict.

P.S. The land-giving authority does not initiate the construction of the Vardenis-Martakert highway, does not implement a repatriation program, does not engage in the policy of proportional territorial development at the expense of investments and state funds, and ultimately does not strengthen the front line and the army.

Therefore, I urge you to refrain from such speculations. Instead, each of us should take concrete steps in the direction of the long-term protection and development of the motherland to the extent of our capabilities,” wrote Harutyunyan.

The government aimed to eliminate extreme poverty by 2023. This is stated in the government program.

The section dedicated to poverty alleviation of the project states: “The policy of the Government to improve the standard of living and the social condition of citizens, to implement social rights fully and effectively, will be based on the principle of equal opportunities and encouraging work. The primary tool for overcoming poverty is work, creating real opportunities for work.

The government aimed to eliminate extreme poverty by 2023, to significantly reduce poverty. Encouraging education and work among the poor, as well as implementing programs that promote business, will be of key importance for the realization of this goal.

The implementation of the integrated social services system will increase the efficiency of the management of the social protection system, as well as the quality of social services, which will be ensured in accordance with the social needs of the family (person), by providing a multi-faceted and complete package of social services and by strengthening the professional abilities of the staff. Encouraging the entry of private organizations in the field of social services, a competitive environment will be created, alternative financing models will be introduced, and the diversity of social services will be promoted.

Measures will be taken to ensure the availability and accessibility of social services by expanding the range of services provided online. The service delivery procedures will be improved, and the range of information (data) automatically obtained and used from other information systems will be expanded.

State pensions will be regularly increased, ensuring progressive growth of the average pension in relation to inflation. The cumulative component will also be reformed, encouraging the investment of cumulative funds in the Republic of Armenia.

The focus of the government’s attention will be the expansion of women’s economic opportunities, as well as the creation of favorable conditions for the realization of equal rights and equal opportunities for women and men.

Increasing the addressability of state employment regulation programs, introducing new programs aimed at increasing the competitiveness of young people, persons with disabilities, and women in the labor market, promoting “education-labour market” interactions, filling vacancies available at employers, and as a result, reducing the unemployment rate.

In order to implement the right to decent work, the mechanisms for regulating labor relations will be continuously simplified, they will comply with the requirements set by international agreements, and also, taking into account the macro-economic indicators of the country, a continuous increase of the minimum monthly salary will be carried out. The government is determined to significantly reduce unemployment by 2023.

In the context of further reforms of the institutional, operational and legal foundations of the inspection system for the protection of workers’ rights, the introduction of a complete and effective state control system over the fulfillment of the requirements of the labor legislation will be ensured, and the role of trade unions will be increased.

Reaffirming consistent efforts to protect the rights of persons with disabilities, the Government will continue to take all necessary measures to exclude discrimination based on disability in all spheres of life.

The government will be consistent in preventing children from entering orphanages, returning them to their families, as well as smoothly organizing the process of organizing the independent life of young people leaving the orphanage.

In order to mitigate the negative trends of the demographic situation recorded in the previous period, new programs for encouraging birth and supporting young families with children will be developed and implemented, within the framework of which, as necessary, existing programs will also be reviewed. Targeted programs will also be developed for repatriated families, giving priority to young families with children.

One of the most important goals of the government’s activity will be to inventory the housing problems of the families living in shacks until now as a result of the catastrophic earthquake of 1988, with the aim of providing apartments to families in need of housing as a result of the earthquake in the shortest possible time.

Armenia’s financial and banking indicators have significantly improved in the evaluations of Armenia’s global competitiveness. The Union of Banks of Armenia prepared a material about this.

We present the material below. “As it is known, the World Economic Forum regularly publishes the global competitiveness report of around 137 countries.

It should be noted that the aforementioned report is based on more than 100 indicators grouped in 12 main directions of the Global Competitiveness Index (GMI), within which a special place is given to the results of the development of the financial market.

The fact that in the global competitiveness index in 2017-2018 Among other areas of public life, Armenia has also improved its position in the “Development of the Financial Market” sector, moving from the 90th position in the previous report to the 78th position.

The improvement of this indicator has been contributed by the positive developments registered in a number of sub-directions, in particular, the position of our country in the “Access to Financial Services” sector has moved from the previous 99th position to the 96th position, in the “Availability of loans with only a business plan and without collateral” criterion, we have improved by 6 scales and instead of the previous 71st position, we have occupied the 65th position.

It is noteworthy that in the presented section, a significant improvement was also recorded in the component of reliability towards the financial and banking system, according to which the position of our country in terms of the reliability of banks has changed from the previous 80th place to the 75th place, and in the field of securities circulation regulations, a transition was made from the 85th position to the 79th position.

Among the improvements in global competitiveness ratings, there is also one significant observation, according to which our country has taken an unprecedentedly favorable position in the index of legislative rights, instead of the previous 68th position, it is now 30th. And the logic of all analyzes suggests that there is interaction in the improvement of the indicators of the legislative field and the financial sector. “Legislative reforms, reduction of court disputes, increase in the efficiency of the legal sector, lead to an obvious increase in the competitiveness rating of the country’s financial and banking system.”