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“Since 2015, as a result of the amendments to the Law on Administrative-Territorial Division, 5 stages of community unification have been carried out. As a result of it, 908 communities of Armenia were united, becoming 79 enlarged communities. The most extensive process was carried out in 2021, 441 communities were united, creating 36 new administrative-territorial unit,” the Chair of the NA Standing Committee on Territorial Administration, Local Self-Government, Agriculture and Environment Vahe Ghalumyan noted during the parliamentary hearings convened on June 8. The topic of the hearings was the draft law of the Government on Amending the Law on Administrative-Territorial Division of the Republic of Armenia, which referred to the community enlargement.

“The enlargement process plays an important role in the development of the communities,” he said, adding that as a result of the process, numerous hardened problems are solved. “The population of already enlarged communities prioritize the positive results of the process from small local issues over time. Initially, the reduction of the staffs of the village administrations will be supplemented by new positions, which will increase the potential of the communities, which, I am sure, our fellow citizens treat with understanding,” the deputy noted, referring to the small number of negative opinions on the community enlargement process.

According to the RA Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Vache Terteryan, as a result of the adoption of the draft, united communities will be formed, in Aragatsotn marz – Talin community, which will unite in it Talin and Aragatsavan communities, in Gegharkunik marz – Chambarak community, which will include Chambarak and Shoghakat, in Lori marz – Alaverdi community, which will unite Alaverdi, Akhtala and Odzun, in Lori marz – Tashir community, which will include Tashir, Metsavan and Sarchapet, in Syunik marz – Sisian community, which will include Sisian and Gorayk. It was stated that the communities that have already been enlarged once will be enlarged.

As a result of the community unification, Talin community will have 37.600, Chambarak – 15.000, Alaverdi – 42.000, Tashir – 28.000 and Sisian – 31.000 population. According to Vache Terteryan, the purpose of the enlargement process of the communities is to have an effective system of the local self-government bodies, not to save money. The Deputy Minister presented the data confirming that.

The participants of the hearings gave speeches, mainly positively assessing the enlargement of the communities.

According to the Chair of the NA Standing Committee on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs Gevorg Papoyan, the enlargement of the communities gives an opportunity to collect more money, and through their proper distribution, certain work can be done in the settlements of the communities. The deputy underlined that the capital expenditures have increased by 62%.

“Now the Standing Committee on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs work with the Ministry of Finance on our state budget of the next year. Next year, there will also be a record increase in the capital expenditures compared to this year. They will be at least several tens of percent more than this year,” Gevorg Papoyan said.

According to him, it also refers to the increase of subsidy costs. The deputy assured that all the reasonable subsidy expenses presented by the communities and approved by the marz administrations will find their means of financing.

“Next year, our capital expenditures and the amount of money directed to subsidy will be much higher than in 2022,” Gevorg Papoyan said, noting this will enable the communities to significantly increase the programs and expenditures they intend to implement.

The Marz Governor Nazeli Baghdasaryan noted the positive changes in the marz, which are the result of the enlargement of the communities. Now marz consists of Gyumri city and 5 enlarged communities. Before the enlargement, marz consisted of 3 cities and 116 village settlements. The enlargement process of the communities was carried out in the previous year. According to marz governor, as a result of the process, a lot has been changed in Shirak marz, the state funds are equally distributed, control is taken more effectively.

Summarizing the hearings, Vahe Ghalumyan thanked the participants for the productive debate and referred to the voiced proposals.