On July 14, Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan, the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia on a
business visit was in Ararat province. Mr. Gegham Gharibjanian, Chief of the staff of the National Assembly, Mr. Khachik Harutyunyan, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Environment of the National Assembly, MPs, Mr. Samvel Galstyan, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Armenia and official figures accompanied the President of the National Assembly.
The working consultation, held in the provincial hall, aimed to be familiarized with the province’s core issues. Mr. Abrahamyan familiarized himself with the process of harvesting, and the problems of taxation and the crediting of irrigation water, he was interested in the harvesting of grain, grapes and other problems facing rural economies.
Mr. Vardges Hovakimyan, Head of the Province, said that this year, due to the works they have done there was no problem, related to irrigation water. Some problems have arisen in connection with payment, but they were already solved.
Mr. Samvel Galstyan, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Armenia rated the agricultural works, done in the Republic and raised some issues, related to their activity.
The President of the National Assembly promised to talk with the relevant authorities on finding solutions to all
the issues and the standing committee of the National Assembly would organize hearings, related to those issues. After the meeting, the delegation, headed by the President of the National Assembly visited the Artashat cannery, and familiarized themselves with the process of harvesting and conservation.
Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan, President of the National Assembly proposed that the factory in the rural communities, through auction could buy their own land for the villagers to grow unprofitable crops for their own use. Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan proposed that the Head of the Province to discuss the issue with the communities.
The next stop of the parliamentarians was Kaghtsrashen community with its 3300 inhabitants. Kaghtsrashen is a village, developed with horticulture, fruit-growing, vegetable-growing and cattle- breeding. The village has a secondary school, and a branch of the musical school of Mkhchyan village is operating there.
Here also Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan familiarized himself
with the problems of the villagers. There were many problems and they needed urgent solutions.
The delegation, headed by Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan, at the end of the end of the trip visited Vedi-Alko – Wine and Cognac Plant. The members of the group tasted the drinks from the fruits and promised to be in the province more often. During the talks with the journalists, Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan said that the irrigation issue was mainly solved and there was not great dissatisfaction if small problems were not taken into consideration.
Touching upon the concerns of some cultivators about the Government’s delays in allotting credits, Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan said that he would inform the Prime Minister of the problem:
“I will also inform the President of the Republic of Armenia on the issues and on the works done as the agricultural issues were always at the center of his attention. I am confident that through the joint work of the regional bodies we can reduce the number of problems.” The President of the National Assembly noted that they had submitted to him the issue of constructing a 1km and 280m of water line in the province, which would solve the issue of irrigation water for a 100 persons. The reconstruction of the culture house, school and kindergarten of Kaghtsrashen is also an urgent issue. Mr. Abrahamyan said that he would try to include all the expenses of the above-mentioned issues in the state budget’s expenses, and the issues, relating to agriculture and villagers will always remain at the center of the focus of the Parliament’s attention. Mr.
Hovik Abrahamyan also noted that personally he as well as the chairmen and members of the standing committees of the National Assembly would continue their visits to the provinces of the Republic.
The President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia awarded Mr. Samvel Galstyan, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, with the Medal of Honor of the National Assembly “for long lasting, dedicated and patriotic work.”