Republican Party of Armenia

 The government today held a regular meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.

The government approved two draft amendments to the law “On Service in National Security Agencies” and the law “On Grapes-Based Alcoholic Drinks.”

After discussing a legislative initiative moved by National Assembly members Heghine Bisharyan and Hovhannes Margaryan on refund of Artsakh freedom fighters’ deposits with the Armenia branch office of the former USSR Savings Bank, dated before June 10, 2013, the government found it inexpedient to approve a relevant draft law at this point of time, considering that the issue at hand is being regulated by previously adopted government decrees. Moreover, under the Government Program’s welfare provisions as approved by the National Assembly on May 23, 2013, compensation will be provided to the freedom-fighters by means of ongoing projects.

The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs said that all the targeted social groups, including the freedom fighters, have received refunds under the priorities set in 2006, with some AMD10bn paid out to more than 60 thousand citizens in compensation.

The Prime Minister instructed to finalize the list of target groups for the refund of Savings Bank deposits for the next three years and submit program proposals with a primary focus on Great Patriotic War veterans, the participants of the Artsakh liberation war - freedom fighters, as well as on vulnerable families.

The government revised and reworded paragraph 2 of government decree numbered 372 of April 18, 2013, which refers to the enterprises having submitted inaccurate financial statements or audit findings.

Stressing the need for such enterprises to abide by law and correct the existing shortfalls, Tigran Sargsyan told the Minister of Finance to ensure transparency throughout this process.

“It is time we applied the whole toolkit of sanctions provided by law with respect to such companies. First and foremost, we have to provide publicity so that the public could be aware of any entity’s failure to meet the requirements of the law: society must be assured that we have serious doubts about their financial statements. The State Revenue Committee should blacklist risky companies, and the public should know that major businesses have problems with their financial statements,” the head of government emphasized.

The Government amended the decision passed on December 27, 2012 concerning the order of allocation of welfare packages to enable lump-sum transfer of amounts to such public servants as may wish to benefit from the holiday service.

To facilitate the target group’s rest in Armenia and Artsakh, the Prime Minister ordered to monitor the prices of tour packages so that the tour operators could not breach the standing arrangements.

“If this principle is observed, I am sure that domestic tourism will keep expanding from year to year,” the Prime Minister said.

In conclusion, the meeting appointed Vahe Hakobyan to be Governor of Syunik Marz of Armenia.