GOVERNMENT HOLDS ITS SESSION IN GYUMRI
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ARMENPRESS
June 12, 2008

The government of Armenia held today its session in Gyumri, Armenia’s
second largest city and the capital of northwestern province of Shirak.

It was the first government session held outside the capital
city Yerevan. The agenda comprised over thirty issues relating
to the regional health development concept for 2008-2012,
a government-supported program for creation of a techno-park, a
project for establishing free trade zone in Shirak and others.

The session discussed also the plan of actions dedicated to marking
the 20-th anniversary of the destructive 1988 earthquake that razed
this region to ground.

Opening the session Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian said from now on a
government session will be held in a province once a quarter. He said
Shirak was chosen to be the first venue because of its many pressing
problems. He said solutions to many would be found during the session.

He said number one problem in the province is creation of new
jobs. According to him, every second family in the region has a member
working outside Armenia. He said if the employment problem is solved
that would improve the region’s psychological-moral climate.

Health Minister Harutyun Kushkian downplayed fears that merger of
several health clinics and hospitals in the province, as spelled out
by 2008-2012 plan of actions, would bring about staff cuts. He said
contrary to it the measure will create new jobs.

Another problem of the city is its homeless families who have been
living since the earthquake in temporary houses. The government
will continue to fund a special house purchase program along with
construction of new apartments.

In respect to agriculture the government wants to give a boost to
cultivation of sugar-beet which will reduce unemployment and create
new jobs as a new sugar plant is being built in the region.

During the session government members discussed also a wide range
of other issues approving a set of issues for improvement of the
city’s streets, construction of a new stadium, reconstruction of the
provincial library, regional museum and others.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress