ARMENIAN OMBUDSMAN ON STARVATION DIET

news.am
Nov 5 2009
Armenia

Under the 2010 draft budget the RA Ombudsman’s Office is to receive
125m AMD against 135m AMD this year, RA Ombudsman Armen Harutyunyan
stated in Parliament. He reported that liaison and business trip
expenses will mostly be reduced. "We are for reducing expenses on
business trips abroad, as hosts or donors normally sponsor important
meetings. Business trips inside Armenia are more important for us. In
this context we consider our negotiations with the Government a
success," he said.

Harutyunyan pointed out that the office has a 47-member staff, with
only 28 of them being experts. Over the past two years, 50% of the
experts have quitted because of low salaries – the average monthly
salary is 119,000 AMD (about U.S. $300).

Whether the Ombudsman will ask the Government to raise the salaries,
Harutyunyan said: "It should be done when possible. It is unrealistic
to speak of a wage increase amid the budget reduction."

This year office representatives have paid two or three visits to
Armenia’s regions, whereas only one visit to each region will be paid
next year. "All the group members visit the regions, after which task
groups stay there for two days," Harutyunyan said.

As to whether the office will become less efficient, the RA Ombudsman
said: "We will be able to perform our fundamental tasks. It will not
be easy, but the basic expenses have remained unchanged."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress