NEWLY-CREATED NATIONAL ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE TO PAY REGULAR VISITS TO MARZES TO BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH PROBLEMS OF BORDER REGIONS ON SPOT

Noyan Tapan

Nov 5, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 5, NOYAN TAPAN. About 98.4% of funds allocated for
the 2003-2007 measures on implementation of the Complex Program of
Development of the Border Regions in Armenia has been used. A number
of programs have been implemented in house municipal economy, water
industry, agriculture, environmental protection, and transport sector,
the RA deputy minister of finance, chief treasurer Atom Janjughazian
stated at the November 4 hearing "The Implementation of the Complex
Program of Development of the Border Regions in Armenia" held at the
National Assembly.

He said that 142.4 mln drams or 95.2% of the envisaged 149.6 mln
drams (without target credit and grant programs from foreign sources)
was used in 2003, 98.6% of 354.4 mln drams was used in 2004, while
since 2005 the financing from state sources has considerably grown
due to the implementation of large-scale programs in some sectors,
first of all in transport. In particulr, in 2005, 9.858 bln drams was
envisaged; in 2006 – 9.754 bln drams, almost 100% of which was used;
in 2007 – 8.615 bln drams, 98.6% of which was used; in 2008 – 4.8
bln drams was envisaged, with 4.2 bln drams or 88% being used so far.

According to the RA first deputy minister of territorial administration
Vatche Terterian, in 2002 the program was assessed at 7-8 bln
drams. But the further process showed that although this sum had been
invested, the problems were not completely solved. In 2002, the main
problems were related to drinking water supply, school repairs or
construction of new schools, reconstruction or repairs of roads and
communications, whereas later problems of gas supply, power supply,
comunication, health care, urban development and social-cultural
problems were added.

V. Terterian said that about 100 out of 342 programs on drinking
and irrigation water supply to be implemented in border regions
in 2002-2008 have been implemented, another 104 programs have
been implemented to some extent in terms of solving the problem
of irrigation water. 51 programs on school construction, 30 big
programs on road construction, all the 15 programs on power supply
have been implemented. Progress has been made in communication sector,
although quite a lot of village administrations do not have phone
communication yet and some settlements are still deprived of radio
phone communication. V. Terterian informed those present that there has
also been progress in solution of urban development problems related
to restoration of houses damaged as a result of military operations
or natural disasters. It was announced that the government will soon
submit new legislative iniatitives on development of the border zone
to the National Assembly, and develop long-term planning programs
on territorial development of marzes (provinces), giving up small
target programs.

The parliamentary hearing was initiated by the newly-created NA
Standing Committee on Territorial Administration and Local Government
Issues. In the words of the committee’s chairman, member of NA "Orinats
Yerkir" faction Hovhannes Margarian, the purpose of the hearing was
to raise, in cooperation with all the sides interested in solving
the border zone’s problems, including international organizations,
the problems related to regional development and to encourage their
solution. The problem is especially important as 200 settlements in
9 out of Armenia’s 10 marzes are border ones. H. Margarian said that
the parliamentary standing committee intends to pay regular visits
to marzes to become acquainted with their problems on the spot.