The NA deputies of My Step Faction Nikolay Baghdasaryan, Viktor Yengibaryan, Sergey Movsisyan, Narek Ghahramanyan, Hayk Tsirunyan, Hovik Aghazaryan, Gevorg Papoyan, Tsovinar Vardanyan, Hayk Gevorgyan, Hayk Sargsyan, Hripsime Grigoryan, Sergey Atomyan, Lilit Stepanyan and Hovhannes Hovhannisyan authored legislative amendments directed to the development of the communities, the increase of the deputies’ responsibility and the change of the authorities of the communities and regional administrations. On April 21-22, during the visits to Gyumri and Vanadzor, the MPs Nikolay Baghdasaryan, Viktor Yengibaryan and Sergey Movsisyan presented these reforms. They met with the representatives of the communities of Shirak and Lori Marz.

Viktor Yengibaryan has noted that the aim of debating the draft laws with the heads of the communities is to listen to the viewpoints and proposals of the latter, based on which the initiatives will be reformed during the first to the second reading. “In the last years, we have come to the conclusion that the development of the state should stem from the development of the communities, the vivid proof of which is the efficient implementation of the subvention programmes.”

“The initiatives are aimed at alleviating concerns of the communities. However, may be, there are problems in the bills related to the communities which we, the deputies, do not see,” addressing the heads of the communities, Nikolay Baghdasaryan said. He has stated that there should not be privileged persons in Armenia, at which the initiatives are aimed.

Highlighting such debates, Sergey Movsisyan, as a member of the NA Standing Committee on Territorial Administration, Local Self-Government, Agriculture and Environment, also has noted that the role of the communities and its heads is important for the development of the statehood. “Although we write the laws, your role in enforcing them is big,” the MP underlined.

The deputies informed those present about amending the laws, got acquainted with the situation in the communities and answered many questions raised by them.

The heads of the communities welcomed the amendments and spoke about the problems referring not only to the draft laws, but also the existing problems in their communities in general. They were particularly interested in changing their authorities. It has been mentioned that the communities do not have master plans, due to which the subventions given to the communities were decreased. There was a proposal to change the purpose of the land and property. It has been noted that there are communities which have small plots of land and they have to apply to the Government for changing the purpose of those ones.

During the meetings, the necessity of implementing investment programmes in the communities has been highlighted which will contribute to the community development.

The MPs have assured that as a result of such debates, we will have such laws which will be profitable for the community, the resident and the state.