GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR AND ARTSAKH FREEDOM WAR DISABLED VETERANS DEMAND RESPORATION OF THEIR PRIVILEGES

Noyan Tapan
Apr 27 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The disabled veterans of the Great
Patriotic war and the Artsakh freedom war, and the family members of
those killed in military operations during these wars refuse their
current monthly monetary aid of 6 thousand drams (about 13 dollars)
and demand restoration of their privileges. Hovhannes Rushanian,
disabled veteran of the Great Patriotic war, former employee of the
Ministry of Interior Affairs, and Albert Manukian, disabled veteran
of the Artsakh war, stated this during the April 26 press conference
at the Hayeli Club. In the words of A. Munukian, by abolishing
the privileges, the Armenian government and the National Assembly
violated the rights of the servicemen and their families, which
are stipulated by an interstate agreement. He noted that under the
agreement on the mutual recognition of the privileges and guarantees
of the participants and disabled veterans of the Great Patriotic war,
participants in military operations in the territory of other states,
and the family members of those killed in action, which was signed
in Minsk in 1992, the disabled veterans of war are entitled to a 50%
discount in utility payments. He said that he filed an application
regarding this issue to the RA Presidential Staff, which readdressed
his application to the government that in its turn sent it to the
Ministry of Social Security, from which there came a response that
it is not within the ministry’ competence to restore or establish
any privileges. A. Manukian stated that he intends to apply to
the Armenian President again. He noted that the matter concerns
1,060 disabled veterans and 2,700 family members of those killed in
action. In his opinion, restoring the privileges of 3,700 persons
would not significantly affect the country’s state budget.