YOUTH UNION OF ORINANTS ERKIR PARTY PROPOSES DEVELOPING STATE STRATEGY
OF YOUTH ASSISTANCE IN HOUSING SECURITY SPHERE
YEREVAN, MARCH 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The Youth Union of the Orinats Erkir
Party (OEP) finds that it has become urgent to develop and implement a
state strategy of youth assistance in the sphere of housing security
with the aim of raising the marriage and birth rate, reducing the
number of divorces and developing the marzes in Armenia, which was
stated at a round table-discussion held on March 23. Samvel Farmanian,
member of the OEP Youth Union, said that according to the CIS
Statistical Committee data, in 2005 the population of Armenia grew by
0.1%, while that of Azerbaijan – by 4.4%. Besides, according to the RA
official statistics, the number of divorces increased by about 25% in
the country in the same year. S. Farmanian pointed out that the
current conditions of mortgage crediting are not conducive to the
solution of the housing problems facing the Armenian youth. In his
words, the state should work out certian mechanisms in order to deal
with these problems. Particularly, it is expedient that the state take
a 200 mln dollar credit from the World Bank for the construction of
settlements and buildings for young people. He noted that some
Diasporan Armenian benefactors are prepared to take part in the
solution of the youth housing problems in case of availability of a
clear and transparently implemented state program. The OEK Youth Union
member Armen Khechikian in his turn explained that only 10-15% of
Armenian young people earn an amount equivalent to 400-700 dollars a
month, which allows to get and repay mortgage loans with a repayment
period of 5-7 years and the lowest annual interest rate of 13% in
order to buy a 12 thousand dollar apartment. In his opinion, the state
may set up a youth mortgage fund to deal with issues related to
payment of loan interests. One of the ways to provide Armenian young
people with apartments is introduction of tax privileges for banks
that give mortgage loans to them. Another way is setting up a
guarantee fund of youth mortgage loans repayment. Other countries’
experience in the sphere of youth housing provision was also discussed
during the event. Particularly, thanks to a fund established in
Ukraine, young people have the opportunity to take mortgage loans at a
5% annual interest rate, whereas in other cases the same rate makes
10.6%. The students of higher educational institutions of Sverdlovsk
region (Russia) were given the opportunity to participate in the
construction of their own apartments, get loans and repay them in 4
years.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
