Yerkir Weekly
July 8, 2005
Between June 21 and 28, 2005, you had an opportunity to address your
questions on the Yerkir’s website to AGHVAN VARDANIAN, Minister of
Labor and Social Affairs.
Below are the answers to your questions. See the full version of the
interview in Armenian.
Thank you for your active participation: Spartak Seyranian,
editor-in-chief of “Yerkir” Weekly.
Vatche – What has your ministry done to train and develop Armenia’s
labor in order to upgrade their skills and make them more marketable,
thus attracting foreign companies and investments?
Aghvan Vardanian – Armenia’s Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs
carries out training and development of labor force through an agency
called Employment Service of the Republic of Armenia under the Law on
Population’s Employment. The ministry works out annual employment
programs and implements them. The project of training the unemployed
and the impaired persons according to the demands of the labor market
is a key component of this program. In 2003-2004, the Employment
Service has carried out the training of about 900 unemployed persons
and 87 impaired individuals in a number of specialties. Among them:
stitching; diamond-making; rug-making; sales; plastering, as well as
specialties requiring computer skills. Training was also carried out
in the field of civil service. Studies indicate that 80 percent of the
persons who have completed these trainings have found jobs within
months. Additionally, the agency conducts training courses jointly
with international organizations. In 2003 and 2004 alone, 1,158
employment-seeking individuals were trained in various
fields. Besides, trainings for 10,100 people were conducted under the
Food for Training project of the UN’s World Food Program. Under the
same project, 1,500 job seekers were trained in four regions of the
country in 2005.
Ruben I. – What is the current number of unemployed people in Armenia?
Compared to the past years, is the situation getting better, worse, or
stagnating? Is immigration out of the country still a very serious
matter? is there any emigration into Armenia? and what is the ratio
b/w those who leave and those who arrive. I have heard that people and
diasporans who open businesses in Armenia are hustled and threatened
to pay a percentage of their profit to thugs, is this true?
Aghvan Vardanian – As per June 1, 2005, the number of unemployed
registered with the local employment centers is 98,605. Compared with
the beginning of the year, this number has declined by 1,017, and
compared with the same period of the past year by 17,353 or 15%. To
ease the tension in the labor market, a project called Benefits for
Labor has been implemented for 11,819 individuals. In 2005, this
project has been renamed “Paid Voluntary Work. The situation is
improving, tough slowly. As for the emigration and immigration rates,
you can get answers from the Department of Refugees and Migration.
Vatche – Mr. Vardanian, has your ministry come up with a plan to open
“Labor Training and Development Centers” throughout Armenia, specially
in the regions in which new skills and computer skills are learned,
making the labor force of Armenia more attractable to foreign
investment?
Aghvan Vardanian – In cooperation with international organizations,
during the next three years, we are planning to establish a Center for
Youth Orientation in Yerevan and a Rehabilitation Center for Impaired
Persons in Gyumri. This is a very exiting project for us, since in the
case of the former, young people would have an opportunity to get
training in the professions that have demand in the labor market and
make the right choice, and in the latter case, impaired people would
be able to find jobs after their skills are enhanced and they could
integrate in the society more easily.
Vatche – What specific anti-corruption programs are there in your
ministry?
Aghvan Vardanian – In order to prevent corruption and fight against
it, the ministry is implementing the following projects: to include
public in the system of distribution of social aids, Social Support
Councils have been established in local centers of social
services. The councils comprised representatives of up to 5
non-governmental organizations operating in that district. Those
representatives have equal voting powers in making decisions to grant
one-time aid to needy families. In Yerevan and marzes (regions),
representatives of up to 3 non-governmental organizations are included
in the 12 commissions, having equal votes in monitoring the
implementation of projects under paid voluntary jobs. The monitoring
and oversight department of the ministry as well as the
newly-established State Labor Inspectorate conducts check-ups and
informs the public of the findings via media. To avoid
misunderstanding, legislation is reviewed and clarified.
Rafael Oganesyan – Mr. Vardanian, The National Geographic Article in
March of 2004 about Armenia had estimated the unemployment rate at
20%. The CBA (Central Bank of Armenia) has for the past year labeled
the rate at around 9%. What is the current unemployment rate in
Armenia?
Aghvan Vardanian – As per June 1, 2005, the number of the unemployed
who have registered with the Employment Service stands at 8.5%, a 1.1%
decline compared with the same period of the past year.
Rafael Oganesyan – Mr. Vardanian, Does Armenia have a minimum wage
law? If not? Does the current Administration plan on passing one?
Aghvan Vardanian – Dear Mr. Oganesyan, the minimum wage is regulated
by the Law on Minimum Monthly Wage, adopted on December 17,
2003. Accordingly, the minimum wage is defined to be 13,000 drams.
Rafael Oganesyan – Mr Vardanian, What is your administration doing to
reduce the homeless population of Armenia? What can be done to
increase the salary of retired elderly in Armenia who currently
receive about $7 a month?
Aghvan Vardanian – Because the issue is important, the ministry has
submitted to the government the project on establishing temporary
shelters to the homeless. It envisages that 30 homeless people can
have temporary shelters for 1-2 months where they would receive food,
clothes, medical aid, pshychological and legal consulting. The
governemtn has approved of the project and it has been included in its
midterm program of 2006. I have answered the questions regarding
pensions for the retired but would like to reiterate that everything
is done to raise the pensions continuously.
Araik – what is the current popularity of the ARF party within
Armenia? During the soviet days there was a lot of misinformation fed
to the public, has the current generation come out of this
“brainwashed” state? How many members does the party have within
Armenia, and does this number include party sympathizers and youth
groups, or just politicians? When will you be visiting the USA again?
I attended your meeting a few years back, look forward to it
again. Thank you!
Aghvan Vardanian – On the whole, in the countries with
well-established democracies, a party’s rating is judged by the
outcome of elections. In case of Armenia, the situation is somewhat
different. I think the ARF’s rating stands among the first 3 parties
in Armenia presently. Indeed, the misinformation about the ARF in the
Soviet times has done a lot of harm. In the newly-independent Armenia
too, the anti-ARF propaganda is no less. Simply the propagators and
the ways have changed. So as was the case before, now too, the ARF
needs to be presented without crooked mirrors. The Armenia
organization of the ARF presently comprises 7,000 members; this number
does not include sympathizers and youth organizations. As for a visit
to the US, I have to confess that due to my position I have problems
with time, but I am ready to visit the US whenever possible and meet
with the Armenian community.
Vigen Sarkissyan – Why is the Karabakh wing of Dashnaksutyun being a
poor sport and poor looser? They lost the election fair and square,
unlike the actual rigging that Dasnaks were involved in Armenia’s 2003
elections of catastrophic degrees. Is your party so power-hungry that
it puts political party interests ahead of Armenia’s interests? And
every now and then your party is threatening to join the
opposition. It will not be accepted as an opposition, it is
responsible for the fraud elections of 2003 in Armenia in the first
place. How many faces does dashnaksutyun have? Your party has lost its
face and name long ago. Nationalists? the leadership of dashnaks are
anything but nationalists. LEAVE ARMENIA!
Aghvan Vardanian – Without sharing your views I have to say that in
both Armenia and Artsakh, the ARF has always supported free and fairs
elections, and has always condemned election fraud. In retaliation to
your assessments of the Dashnaktsutiun and calls to leave Armenia, I
should say that unfortunately you are in a big delusion.
Mike – I am Syrian Armenian ,I want live in Armenia but I want a job
how can help me or how can I find a good job ,I know English, Arabic,
little Russian … thank you …
Aghvan Vardanian – Dear Mike, please give us more details on your work
experience. We would try to assist you as much as we can to find a job
in Armenia. We would be glad to see you in Armenia.
Vahik – Hello. I am aware that the policy of official Yerevan is that
it wants relations with turkey without any preconditions. Is
dashnaksutyun opposed to any relations with Turkey until the Armenian
Genocide is recognized? Would the majority of economists agree that
Armenia is better off with a closed border, or visa versa? Thanks for
your response.
Aghvan Vardanian – I would like to remind you that the Armenia-Turkey
border has been closed since 1993 when Turkey decided to shut it to
pressure Armenia. Today, it is Turkey and not Armenia that puts
forward preconditions, which, naturally, cannot be accepted by
Armenia. The ARF too is not against the opening of the borders but
the party believes there are issues to be settled before the border
could be opened; we should be ready to endure possible threats and
meanwhile be ready to gain benefits. As regards the economic
consequences of the opening of the border, there are no sure opinions
on this. As far as I know, there are no comprehensive studies on this
issue. Of course, there are some studies but they deal with only
particular aspects of the possible effect.
Sargis -What specific steps are being taken currently to reduce the
unemployment rate in Armenia?
Aghvan Vardanian – Law on Employment and Social Protection of
Unemployed has been submitted to the National Assembly. One of the
principles of the law is the full employment of the population. The
law envisages that active projects aimed at training of the unemployed
and unskilled persons be carried out, as well as rendering financial
aid to the unemployed and impaired persons so as they can engage in
entrepreneurship.
Gurgen Sedrakian – Dear Mr. Vardanyan, my question is regarding the
separation and division of the Armenian churches. Since Armenia has
been independent for the past 14 years or so from the soviet
influence, there is no longer the need for the Cilician church. After
all, there is only 1 Armenian people, why should we have 2
catholicoses? Are there any steps being taken to end the Church split,
and if so, what’s taking so long? Thank you
Aghvan Vardanian – Historically, the structures within the Armenian
Church had been formed much earlier; it was not the result of the cold
war that followed the WWII. Simply, the relations between the Holy See
of Echmiadzin and the Cilicia Cahtolicosate which had been operating
since 1446 became strained in 1950’s. Since 1990’s, however, the
confrontation between the two Armenian Churches has alleviated. I
believe that the split could be brought to end only in the context of
the general reformation of the Armenian church and this would take
time.
Armen – what can you comment on the recent statement from Azeri
president that they are “now the strongest army in the Caucasus”. Does
this reflect reality? Have they surpassed in superiority to the
Armenian army or are they just barking like the dogs they are? In any
manner, according to the news they plan on increasing their defense
budget to 300 million, which is a considerable sum. This cannot but
cause concern. What can you comment on the situation? Thank you!
Aghvan Vardanian – Such statements Azeri high-ranking officials make
from time to time are nothing new. If the Azeris really believed in
their army’s fighting ability, they would not limit themselves to
“threatening” calls. However, the fact that Azerbaijan increases its
defense budget from year to year and is trying to strengthen its armed
forces should not be ignored. In this respect, we are taking adequate
measures; thereby I see no immediate threat, at least for the nearest
future.
See the full version of the interview in Armenian.