Armenian government should develop long-term program to address
demographic problems: expert
YEREVAN, March 26, /ARKA/. Armenian authorities should develop a
long-term program of actions to address the worsening demographic
situation, Arsen Petrosian, an aide to head of the State Employment
Inspectorate, said today to participants of an international
conference entitled `Socialist Approaches to Armenia’s Challenges:
Global Perspectives, Local Realities,’ organized by the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation.
`The demographic problem is one of the most painful problems faced by
Armenia. The country’s future hinges on its solution. We have
short-term programs, which address immediate problems, but we need
long-term programs for the next 20-30 years,’ he said.
The Armenian government approved in 2009 July the Demographic Strategy
Policy for 2009-2035.
Arsen Petrosian urged the government to take action to prevent the
ongoing out emigration, to stimulate the return of those who left it,
to offer worthy pays to skilled specialists to make them not leave the
country. He also said the government must build social housing and
exempt small businessmen from taxes in small towns and rural
communities.
According to the latest government figures, Armenia’s permanent
population grew last year by 12,500 people to 3, 250,000. In 2009 some
44,466 babies were born, by 8% more than in 2008. The number of
weddings grew to 18, 773 from 18, 465 in 2008 and the number of
granted divorces dropped to 2, 800 from 3,031 in 2008 годÑ?.
The two-day gathering includes both Armenian and non-Armenian
delegates from around the world who have converged in Yerevan to
discuss workable solutions to Armenia’s challenges. Some of the
questions explored by the conference include the modern applications
of socialist ideology and practice. Participants in the conference
include experts and activists from such countries as Russia, the US,
France, Sweden, Greece, Argentina, Chile, Iran. There are also
participants from Armenia and various Diasporan political,
intellectual and public institutions. -0-