Armenian cabinet ministers approve inspection system reformation concept

YEREVAN, September 18. /ARKA/. On Thursday, Armenian cabinet ministers
approved the concept of inspection system reformation.

Economy Minister Nerses Yeritsyan said the discussion over the matter
lasted one year.

He thinks the concept adoption will lay groundwork for reforming
inspection area and securing citizens’ interests.

In his words, inspections prompted public concern recently.

Businessmen say many inspections are groundless and inspectors show no
respect toward the inspected and impose very tough sanctions.

`The concept is intended for solving these problems’, the minister
said.

He said that the concept has been worked out under international
experts’ support.

World experience has been taken into account.

Yeritsyan said that the concept proposes to create a decentralized
system that will include the PM-affiliated council for coordinating
inspection reformation and the technical support board affiliated to
the Economy Ministry.

Yeritsyan said that 20 inspection agencies function in Armenia.

Three of them ` the state inspection agency on protection of market and
consumers’ interests, the state veterinary and epidemic-prevention
inspection and the fire safety inspection ` will be included in the
pilot reformation program.

The minister said that all inspection agencies would join the
reformation process later.

Yeritsyan said that a new inspection system will be established as a
result if the reformation.

Activities of this system will be transparent and no room will be left
for double inspection.

Special attention will be paid to inspectors’ conduct to prevent abuse
of powers.

The minister found it difficult to indicate planned expenses.

Instead, he said that Armenia expects financial support from
international organizations. M.V.-0—