The newly formed government held the first Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan, government’s press office reported.
Opening the meeting, the Prime Minister addressed the audience, “The government is fully formed, for which I congratulate all of us. We are working on the new government program, which is to be submitted to the National Assembly within twenty days. The program must be as realistic as much as possible, and the proposed changes should not be an end in itself. I am aware of the outcome of the ongoing discussions, which are regularly reported back by Mr. Gevorgyan. I believe that the new program will be truly realistic and each government member shall be responsible for its implementation. Our ways will be separated with any such member of government who may fail to fulfill the program, no matter how long we have worked together.”
Then the Cabinet proceeded to the agenda. Based on Article 70 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, the Government proposed to the National Assembly to hold an extraordinary session this May 12 at 12:00 pm in order to discuss some three dozen issues. Under the first agenda item, the meeting will continue to discuss the bill on amendments to the funded pension law.
The Government approved the 2014 estimate for extra-budgetary spending under the financial support program developed in accordance with the subcontracts signed between Armenia’s State Migration Service and the Armenia Office of UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
Over 41 million drams will be transferred to that account to cover remuneration costs, reconstruction of buildings and premises, professional services, etc. The legal act is expected to improve the welfare status of asylum seekers and refugees in our country. The meeting approved the proposal to sign a cooperation agreement in the field of navigation and geo-location of CIS-member States’ armed forces. The Government-approved five bills were harmonized with the relevant legislation of the Customs Union.
The following draft laws were next approved at the meeting: “On Phytosanitary,” “On Veterinary Medicine,” “On Food Safety,” “Animal Food,” and “On State Food Safety Control.” The draft laws will be submitted to the National Assembly in the manner established by law.
The cabinet passed a decision on funding the preparation and implementation costs of June 8, 2014 local elections for 56 community heads and aldermen council members. The meeting decided to grant a deferment on mandatory military service until the 2015 summer draft to laureate of international competitions, cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan.
Kovalenko Shahgaldyan was relieved of the office of Kotayk Marz Governor in accordance with his resignation request. With the next decisions passed at the meeting, the Executive appointed Aram Haroutunyan to be Kotayk Marz Governor and Rubik Abrahamyan to serve as Ararat Marz Governor.
Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan congratulated the newly appointed governors and wished them fruitful work
