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

The government established conditions for introducing provisional anti-crisis mechanisms in public procurement processes. The proposed regulations provide for the use of intermediate mechanisms in public procurement as part of anti-crisis action. Meant to back local manufacturers through temporary subsidies, the mechanism implies applying the condition to procurement procedures organized by holding a tender, request for quotations or electronic auction at the expense of the allocations provided in the state budget for 2021 for contracts above the threshold of 1 million drams.

The government amended one of its previous decisions in order to revise the procedure for admission to higher educational institutions and streamline this area in accordance with the current situation. The proposed changes provide that the registration of specialization is carried out in two stages. The decision, in particular, establishes that the primary stage of the competition is held with registration for a single specialization (paid and free). Should there be vacancies left after approval of the results of the first stage, the applicants who received positive scores in entrance exams, but failed to pass the competition, will be allowed to attend an extra competition for vacancies from 19 to 26 July, by filling out an online application form.

The government passed another decision with a view to reimbursing tuition fees for one semester for those students who participated in the war unleashed by the Republic of Azerbaijan against the Republic of Artsakh on September 27, 2020, as well as supporting the children and spouses of war participants. Under a relevant government decree, 205 million drams have so far been allocated to 1373 beneficiaries in reimbursement of tuition fees. The decision provides for the provision of additional 590 million drams to 2840 beneficiaries.

The Prime Minister said in this connection: “When we made the decision, we had in mind the first semester of the academic year 2020-2021, but later we amended it so that the tuition could be reimbursed for one semester in general, considering that there are students who still continue their military service. Such students will regain their status of student in the academic year 2021-2022, yet they will remain eligible, which means that the decision is not time-bound.” Prime Minister Pashinyan noted that this decision stems from the roadmap he published on November 18. “We are stepping up the funding in order to continue the program, and it will be implemented for as long as is necessary to fully reimburse the tuition fees for one semester for all 7,000 beneficiaries,” the Premier underscored.

The government approved an action plan to support those employers hiring such former military personnel (or persons equated to them) that have been recognized as disabled for injuries received in action. Employers will be assisted in the amount of income tax paid, calculated on beneficiaries’ wages, as well as, if necessary, by reimbursing the costs of reorganizing labor conditions to meet the needs of disabled employees.

By government’s decision, Hayk Chobanyan was relieved of the office of Tavush Marz Governor. Nikol Pashinyan noted that Hayk Chobanyan will be appointed Minister of High-Tech Industry. “Minister of High-Tech Industry Hakob Arshakyan is leaving his post, and Mr. Chobanyan will substitute him as Minister of High-Tech Industry. I wish to thank Mr. Arshakyan for his work. In fact, a new ministry had been formed from scratch. It was a pretty tricky job, which he did well enough. I would like to wish Mr. Chobanyan every success in the post of Minister of High-Tech Industry,” the Premier said.