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On May 11 the NA Standing Committee on Territorial Management and Local Self-Government convened a visiting meeting in Teghut community of Tavush marz.

The Committee Chairman Stepan Margaryan, the Deputy Chairman Araik Hovhannisyan, Committee members Arayik Aghababyan and Mnatsakan Mnatsakanyan met with the heads of the communities, the aldermen and the residents of Tavush Marz and discussed issues concerning the process of the expansion of communities in the Palace of Culture of Teghut community.

The Committee Chairman has informed that the goal of the visit is to know the opinion of the residents, as well as the heads of the communities on the expansion of the communities designed by the government. Stepan Margaryan has stated that the government has chosen and started to implement cluster pilot programme at Syunik, Lori and Tavush marzes. It is designed to unite seven communities in Tavush marz, and Dilijan will be its centre. On May 17 local referenda will be held in the marzes in connection with this.

The heads of the communities and residents had different opinions on the process of the expansion. They have expressed concern that by the expansion of the communities the jobs will be cut, most of the communities will be deprived of their properties, subsidies and, in general, there are no concrete programmes which will improve the residents’ level of life. The Committee Chairman has stressed that every community will continue to own its possession, but it is still in the phase of debate how to fulfill it.

In response to the residents’ interpellations, the Committee Deputy Chairman Araik Hovhannisyan has stated that their concerns are groundless, as one community will be formed, and the involved communities in the aldermen will have its representative.

The Mayor of Dilijan Armen Santrosyan has expressed confidence that the uniting communities will especially win from the expansion of communities, as there are a series of programmes of development.

The Head of Haghartsin community Sargis Poghosyan opined that the process of the expansion of communities started a little early.

Besides the issues concerning the expansion of communities, the residents of the marz also addressed numerous questions to the deputies, which related to the problem of the water, sewerage pipes, unemployment, the possible rise of the electric power tariffs, and other problems in Teghut community.

Summing up the meeting, the Committee Chairman Stepan Margaryan expressed readiness to hold debates if necessary.