Chaired by the Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, the Government held this year’s final session.
The Government approved the concessionaire-drafted Master Plan of Zvartnots airport development project for 2013-2017 in line with the arrangement signed between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and Corporation America S. A. on December 18, 2001.
“The concessionaire is believed to invest USD102mn in the project, which is recognized as the best in the CIS. The investment will on the one hand help enhance the quality of services and, on the other hand, develop tourism. This is a priority for us.”
The Executive approved the “Tourism Support Services 2014” program and its implementation schedule. The program seeks to enhance Armenia’s standing as a tourist-friendly and attractive country through active and effective marketing policies in the international market, diversify tourism products and ensure harmonious regional development.
Answering the Prime Minister’s questions, the speakers noted that tourism has already been promoted with the government’s open skies policies, which led to partly devaluation of the airfare. In this connection, the Prime Minister said that serious changes are expected in 2014, with the appearance of new airlines whose flights may create better conditions for the development of inbound tourism in Armenia.
The Government amended an earlier decree to establish that the basic pension will be AMD 14 thousand, with 700 dram seniority value added for the first 10 years of employment and 450 dram for each following year. Thus, the average pension will be 36 thousand dram in 2014 as compared to about 31 thousand in 2013.
An increase is also due in the disability and perished breadwinner’s retirement pensions paid to rank and file soldiers and their family members (from 16.400 to around 17.500). The scheduled rise in military pensions will be effective from July 1, 2014.
With its next decision, the government set the size of the old-age allowance at AMD14 thousand. Disability benefits will range from 14 thousand (third group) to 19 600 drams (first group). Funeral allowance will be paid to the extent of AMD 200 thousand as of January 1, 2014.
The meeting also amended another decision to lower the threshold set for family allowances. As a result, the scope of beneficiaries will be expanded by some 270 thousand people entitled to free health care.
In conclusion, the Prime Minister extended his New Year’s greetings: “I wish you all every success so that all the projects and goals that you have set before you may come true as they are aimed at improving the socio-economic situation, better our citizens’ life and raise the standard of living in the country.”
A wreck involving two trains, one of which was carrying crude oil, sparked a large fire Monday that sent huge flames and dangerous smoke into the sky, North Dakota authorities said.
