AZG Armenian Daily #127, 12/07/2005
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HOPE LOOMING AS AUTHORITIES TRY TO SETTLE DISCORDS OF SOCIAL CORDS
Low-key public protests against social security cards yielded no
result, and the overwhelming majority of Armenian citizens conceded to
the new system. Different social groups warn and give alarm over the
dangers social cards hold. Numerous Armenian citizens turn the cards
down and face bitter results. Photojournalists who visited Armenian
Genocide survivors on late April days were stunned to see those people
in their 90s deprived of their pension because of not having social
cards.
Disagreements over social cards were discussed in early July by the
chairman of Christians Against Human Encoding NGO, Khachik
Stambultsian, representative of a citizens’ group and the head of the
Department on National Minority and Religious Issues, Hranush
Kharatian. As a result of these disputes, authorities drafted
amendments to a relevant Armenian law. The mentioned sides came to an
agreement yesterday, according to which the Trade and Social Security
Ministry will make amendments to the law on Personal Data and Law on
Social Security Cards and will change the design of the cards. In
particular, the Ministry should specify what it means under “personal
data”.
The Ministry will bring in a suggestion to the government to change
the appearance of the cards. Passionate followers of religion will be
granted the chance to get special cards with no barcode and Ministry
logo as well as the card will contain “card’s number” inscription.
According to ratification, the social security cards that Armenian
citizens receive will be used only in the social sphere, which does
not exclude that suchlike cards can be applied in other spheres.
This agreement presupposes that Armenians refusing social cards will
get their demands satisfied and will agree to receive new cards. They
will make no further demands once those issues are settled.
By Melania Badalian