A Cabinet meeting was held today, chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Before discussing the agenda issues, the Prime Minister made the following statement: “I hope you are in a good mood today and satisfied with the fact that the National Assembly has given the government a vote of confidence. Yesterday, the Government Program was approved by the National Assembly and, as agreed, now we have to adopt a program of activities that stem from the Program. Let us agree that each ministry has to submit an action plan within a week’s time, and we will try to approve them at the next Cabinet meeting in order to proceed to their implementation.”

Then Prime Minister Pashinyan asked Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Artur Grigoryan about the outcome of the discussion on the reduction of the electricity tariffs. Arthur Grigoryan advised that the possibility of revising the tariff had been discussed with all interested ministries and agencies. Reducing tariffs nationwide is fraught with specific risks, but it seems to be possible to lower the cost of energy by 10 drams for 110-120 thousand vulnerable households.

The Government proposed to the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia to convene an extraordinary sitting on June 19, 2018, at 11:00. The agenda and the sequence of discussion were presented during the Cabinet meeting.

Based on the law “On organization and activities of the Government of the Republic of Armenia” of March 23, 2018, the Executive approved the procedure of the RA Government, which defines the procedures for exercising government functions and powers.

The legislative requirement for legal entities to have and use a corporate seal was behind Armenia’s low performance under the Company Registration index of the “Doing Business – 2018” report. The Cabinet approved a set of draft amendments to the laws concerned.

The Government next approved the amendments to the laws “On the status of military service and servicemen,” “On citizens not complying with their liability to compulsory military service in breach of the established order” and “On alternative service.” The meeting agreed to donate to Kotayk & Gegharkunik KCKK LLC the plot of land adjacent to the Yerevan-Sevan highway in the southern district of Hrazdan community of Kotayk Marz. The EBRD-supported project shall provide 11 million euros (5.5 million euros under a grant facility) to build a regional landfill in line with EU standards that will serve 12 urban communities in two Marzes.