Republican Party of Armenia

 Good afternoon, dear colleagues.

My staff reported today about a problem associated with the citizens' complaints. We seem to be confronted with quite an unpleasant situation, which is caused by mid-level ministry staffs.

Those staging protests in front of the Government House often complain about the way their concerns are addressed by mid-level public officials who refuse to help the citizens stating that it is up to the government to make a decision. This is an unacceptable approach which makes people stage rallies near the Government House.

I wonder whether our mid-level officials are that incompetent, or may be they simply mean to redirect people toward the government instead of giving clarifications on issues of public concern. This is unacceptable, and from now on all complaints will be forwarded to those ministers in charge of the spheres concerned.

Second, at our latest meeting I declared that no criticism should be left unanswered, and that we had to provide comprehensive information to mass media. In particular, there are three issues on the agenda calling for detailed explanations.

The first one has to do with the Millennium Challenge Program, namely that USD14mn has been spent on lectures. While we had provided detailed information to the media, this topic continued to be speculated in different contexts. Once again, we will come up with a full report to denounce the political speculations fostered by some unscrupulous journalists.

Note that the contracts on allocation of funds were signed as early as in 2007, when the agency was not even set up. The tender was launched by the U.S. side: they announced the winners, signed a contract, provided the grant and finally assessed the whole process as highly effective.

I just cannot get the point in the media-circulated criticism. I reassure that complete information will be made available to the media concerning the use of said 14 million dollars.

The next issue relates to Nairit factory. For a while now, media outlets have been spending a lot of resources to developing obscure scenarios in an attempt to associate this story with the Prime Minster’s name. All the projects regarding Nairit were supported by relevant government decisions adopted in 2001 and 2006, when the government signed a contract with Rhinoville Property Limited. Subsequently, I instructed our news service to provide full information to mass media in order to avoid political speculation.

Thirdly, I wish to address the offshore zone-related political speculations. Media outlets keep making up tales in a bid to discredit people. Complete information will be made available to the media. A criminal case has been filed so that the law enforcement agencies come in charge of the problem. I am convinced that all the queries will be answered in a way that if the investigating journalists are fair and unbiased they will be able to distinguish black from white. Here, too, we will have full information provided to the public and mass media.

And lastly, as you may remember, we were talking about the Audit Chamber’s report at last week’s Cabinet sitting. I have commissioned all the government departments to put on record their positions regarding the Chamber’s findings.

I am now directing Chief of Government Staff Vache Gabrielyan to make up a pre-concerted timetable so that all the ministers and the agency heads meet with mass media to answer the questions of interest to society.

This is a mandatory requirement: all those issues stated in the Audit Chamber’s report should get a response. No question will be left unanswered, and this is the only way to move forward.