A regular Cabinet meeting was held today, chaired by Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan.
Before proceeding to the agenda, the Premier evoked the question of having IT representatives operational at Armenia’s embassies in 15 countries in tune with the agreement reached with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Prime Minister noted that this platform should be used to allow the IT sector to act on behalf of the State. It will not be an additional expense for the ministry, as the costs will be covered by the IT sector itself.
“I suggest the Minister of Economic Development and Investment and the business community think about creating a platform for them so that commercial representations would not act separately,” Karen Karapetyan said. The Prime Minister next introduced the proposal made by the State Revenue Committee, according to which it is intended to classify taxpayers and introduce the status of law-abiding taxpayer.
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Addressing the Central Bank Chairman, the Premier said. “I am asking you to discuss the question with the heads of commercial banks so that taxpayers might be treated on preferential terms if they have the status or qualification of law-abiding taxpayer.”
Then the Prime Minister issued a number of instructions. The Head of Government instructed the President of the State Committee of Real Estate Cadastre to submit proposals within ten days on the provision of public services-related information through the GIS system and simplified procedure.
The Minister of Economic Development and Investment was tasked, in cooperation with the Public Services Regulatory Commission, to monitor the merger of businesses and public services. A recommendation has to be made within a month’s period about process simplification and elimination of any barriers.
Karen Karapetyan instructed the head of the State Property Management Department by the Government to submit proposals within a two-week period on putting on open public tender the shares of those State-run companies and companies with State participation which are not in the list of privatization, including the stock exchange through public offers.
“I think no comments are needed: we want to enliven the stock exchange, create a platform and revise the level of management in these companies,” Karen Karapetyan said.
The Minister of Justice was given a three-week period to submit a proposal on suspension of the operations of the Ministry-affiliated Legality Supervision Inspectorate and revocation of the Ministry’s inspection functions related to trade unions, religious organizations and political parties, while the remaining oversight functions regarding non-profit organizations will be assigned to the State Revenue Committee.
“Those control functions necessary for proper implementation of Justice Ministry’s internal tasks will be reserved to the reorganized Control Service of the Ministry of Justice Staff,” the Premier said.
Karen Karapetyan instructed the ministers of Economic Development and Investment, Territorial Administration and Development and the Head of State Committee on Urban Development to submit a proposal in collaboration with community heads on the streamlining of the operations of night clubs and similar entertainment facilities located in apartment buildings and their immediate neighborhood, as well as a recommendation on eventual evacuation, if necessary.
“At the same time, these changes should be made in reasonable terms and conditions in order the economic operators might have sufficient time to reorganize their activities. I mean those entertainment facilities like striptease clubs and others, located on the ground floor of apartment buildings, which disturb the local residents. There are many complaints and we have to respond,” the Prime Minister said.
Karen Karapetyan referred to the disastrous state of Mikayel Aramyants home in Akhtala. “A group of prominent intellectuals sent an open letter to me concerning the disastrous state of the Akhtala-located House of Mikayel Aramyants, the prominent benefactor and national figure. The House was included in the list of monuments of history and culture of the new Ministry of Culture in 2013, but appeared to be in poor condition as a result of the owner’s failure to perform its obligations. I hereby assign the State Committee of Real Estate Cadastre to report back all the property attachments within one day. I instruct the Minister-Chief of Government Staff to examine the issue and submit a proposal in cooperation with the ministries concerned,” Karen Karapetyan said, adding that the House may actually be attractive for tourists and should be treated accordingly.
The Government endorsed a set of amendments to the laws “On compensation of the damage caused to servicemen’s life and health during defense operations,” “On the social security of servicemen and members of their families” and “On State pensions.” As a result, the damage caused to the life or health of soldiers shall be compensated through a clear, transparent and effective system. Under the bill, refunds will be available to the families of those soldiers who died or were disabled while performing military duty or carried out specific tasks at the line of contact or participated in military operations.
In case of death of soldiers, the money will be paid compensation for their family members (parent, spouse, child, persons under the care of the soldier). Reimbursement of the amounts of payments and manage the collected funds in order to set up a special structure – the military life or health damage compensation fund, which will unite the state, and funds received from the public, to ensure the life of the means of professional management and expense generated by means of military or compensation for health damage.
Referring to the question raised during the interview in Tigranakert held within the framework of his visit to the NKR about the fact that children from disadvantaged families are mainly stationed at the frontline, the Prime Minister urged the defense minister to pay special attention to issues related to recruitment in order to ensure fair conditions.
The Government endorsed a package of draft laws on amendments to the law On Local Taxes and Fees and related legal acts. The laws are expected to clearly define and distinguish the concepts of local taxes and local fees, reveal the flaws and gaps in the legislation related to local taxes and fees, provide for a uniform approach in establishing rates for local duties and fees.
Highlighting the bill, the Prime Minister said visits and meetings with Marz governors and community leaders were going to be held by this yearend to identify the areas of development programs. “What kind of projects will be implemented? What is the burden they must assume? State budget appropriations will be made depending on how much burden they are willing to assume. Therefore, each community, each regional administration should realize one thing, we will stand by those who first and foremost are prepared to shoulder a burden and come up with initiatives, rather than those constantly demanding and taking no steps. In this regard, we believe that we have a problem to clear up the bases of local taxes, fees, charges, because there is no obvious interest on their part by this time. We definitely have to send them a relevant indication,” the Prime Minister said.
The Government approved the composition and the terms of reference of the joint commission consisting of equal representatives of opposition parties and civil society to organize and monitor live video broadcasts from polling stations, audit the database of identification cards and passports, introduce voter registration electronic devices.
According to the reference note, the procedure was necessitated by the adoption of the RA law “On amendments to the Electoral Code of the Republic of Armenia.”
The meeting made a decision to streamline the quotas of seeds allocated to Marzes depending on the actual requests submitted regional administrations.
Referring to the question, Karen Karapetyan noted that the process of providing seed, fuel, and other subsidies should be revised in principle. “We need to make sure that the costs are being made effectively. I think we have enough work to do here to achieve both efficiency and extra savings,” the Head of Government said.