Prime Minister of Armenia: The new government sees society as a partner

ArmInfo.On September 24,  Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan received today the members  of the Public Council, headed by Council Chairman Vazgen Manukyan.

The press office of the Armenian Government reports that welcoming  the delegation, the Prime Minister said that such meetings are very  important as they provide an opportunity to discuss issues of concern  to the public, the prospects for the country's development,  challenges and possible solutions. Vazgen Manukyan congratulated  Karen Karapetyan on being appointed as Prime Minister and wished him  productive work.

The Prime Minister and the members of the Public Council discussed a  wide range of issues related to the current state of the economy, the  existing problems and the development vectors. In particular, the  meeting addressed the Government's economic policy, management  efficiency, small and medium-size business, education, science,  banking and other spheres. During the debates, the Prime Minister was  presented a number of proposals on the issues raised.

The Head of Government noted that the new government sees society as  a partner in solving problems, and in this regard, the Council may  serve as a bridge between the Government and the public at large.  According to the Premier, the State apparatus is seen as a flexible  team; this is why the Government has initiated structural  transformations. As the Prime Minister noted, the changes do not only  imply renaming, but also a serious content and target functions.

Introducing the rationale behind the proposed changes, Karen  Karapetyan noted that the Ministry of Investment and Entrepreneurship  Support is supposed to help entrepreneurs discuss issues of concern  to them and contribute to the elimination of obstacles in this field.  The Prime Minister stressed the importance of education and science  as a basis for the development of each sector and stressed that the  new government will give a new impetus to the educational reform.

Summing up the discussion, the Premier invited the members of the  Public Council to submit specific proposals and programs.  

Earlier on September 22, Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan  presented the logic of structural changes in the executive power.  Karapetyan said that the reformation of the Ministry of Economy into  a Ministry of Investments and Entrepreneurship Promotion should cause  no concerns. "Real economic analysis is needed to support business  and investments," he said, noting that the lack of the word "economy"  in the name of the ministry does not at all mean that the ministry  will have no "economic" component.  He said that discussions are  being held to include the State Water Committee, which is currently a  part of the Ministry of Agriculture, in the new Ministry of Energy  Infrastructures and Resources, because it is necessary to synchronize  the activities of these fields. The IT sector will be included in the  reformed Ministry of Transport, Communication, IT and Aviation.  Now  that sector is under the jurisdiction of the Economy Ministry, but  the IT sector is close to communication and the new minister is quite  competent in the field, so it will be correct if he manages this  sector, too.  "The aviation sector, which is currently a part of the  Economy Ministry, belongs to the transport field and should be under  the jurisdiction of the Transport Ministry," he said. As regards the  tourism sector, which also belongs to the Economy Ministry, a  Committee will be set up to ensure specific figures in the field of  tourism. He said a Committee of Architecture and Cultural Values will  be created on the basis of the ministry. "The Minister of Culture  thinks that her ministry will best of all ensure the maintenance of  cultural monuments," the Prime Minister said, noting that the sector  will nevertheless be taken out of the Culture Ministry. "We do not  think the changes in the structure of the Government are an aim in  itself," he said, stressing that he is willing to discuss these  issues again if needed in order to choose the most favorable  structure model.