news.am, Armenia
May 8 2010

War veterans’ problems remain unsolved in Armenia

11:04 / 05/08/2010As of April 1, 2010, 3,640 veterans of the Great
Patriotic War were living in Armenia, Acting Chairman of the RA Union
of Veterans Simon Yesayan informed NEWS.am.

According to him, people that served on the home front were reckoned
as veterans in the Soviet Union, whereas in independent Armenia they
are participants in hostilities, survived the Leningrad blockade and
those born in concentration camps. `We respect those who served on the
home front, but the Republic of Armenia does not view them as war
veterans,’ Yesayan said.

As regards social benefits for war veterans, he pointed out that the
monthly pay is 20,000 AMD (about U.S. $50). `It is not a small amount,
but it depreciated as prices rose. Some problems have been resolved `
veterans do not pay for public transport services ` others remain
unsolved,’ Yesayan said. He reported that about 20 war veterans now
residing in Gyumri and Spitak still have no flats. The Union requested
the Government to provide them with flat as soon as possible.

T.P.