YEREVAN, January 16. /ARKA/. Armenian economist Tatul Manaseryan urged today the authorities to cut the number of ministries to 10, arguing that what is important is their proper consolidation. Earlier, the government suggested that their number be cut from 17 to 12.

Manaseryan told a news conference that as long as the proposed cut is not approved yet of by parliament or even discussed, the government should clarify the appropriateness of the proposed changes. According to him, the proposed changes should be enforced only by taking into account the challenges facing the country.  

He said there are ministries that must be kept intact – such as the ministries of defense, emergency situations, justice, foreign affairs and finance, while the rest can be consolidated.

According to Manaseryan, the proposed merger of the ministries of economy and agriculture does not make much sense, since both sectors are related to the economy and, therefore, the future ministry of economy may include agriculture, industry, information technologies, military-industrial complex, transport and energy.

Manaseryan suggested that special emphasis be placed on the development of the regions, stressing that the capital Yerevan has been super-developed, while what is beyond is still rachitic. According to him, the new ministry of education should be merged with the ministries of culture and Diaspora, since only culture and education really unite Armenia with its Diaspora.  -0-