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On June 19, the RA NA Standing Committee on Territorial Administration and Local Self-Government visited the city of Gyumri and debated the package of the draft laws on Amendments to the RA law on Administrative-Territorial Division of the Republic of Armenia and on Amendment to the RA law on Local Self-Government.

The RA NA deputies, the RA Minister of Territorial Administration and Development Davit Lokyan, the Heads of Marzes, the representatives of the RA Ministry of Territorial Administration and Development, the Heads of the communities, the members of the Elders, and the experts of the RA NA Standing Committee on Territorial Administration and Local Self-Government took part in the working discussion.

The Chairman of the RA NA Standing Committee on Territorial Administration and Local Self-Government Stepan Margaryan has informed that the Government continues the community enlargement programme and presented the next package of draft laws for the debate in parliament.

The Committee Chairman underlined the necessity of the community enlargement, highlighting the holding of joint debates over the programme.

The RA Minister of Territorial Administration and Development Davit Lokyan assured that the structural change of the communities will not result in the artificial enlargement of the communities: it will lay the basis for the implementation of serious investment programmes in the communities and their further development.

Afterwards the RA First Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Development Vache Terteryan introduced in detail the programme.

The Deputy Chairman of the Community Araik Hovhannisyan also emphasized the debate on the community enlargement programme.

The representatives of the communities through questions, speeches presented their views on the community enlargement programme. Despite some concerns, they positively assessed the initiative of the government directed to the development of the communities.

The Head of Urtsadzor Community of Ararat Marz Rafik Andreasyan noted that the community enlargement process should be started earlier.

The Head of Koti Community of Tavush Marz Felix Melikyan is also not against the community enlargement, but, according to him, there are some concerns among the population.

Besides the issues regarding the community enlargement, the residents of the marz addressed other numerous questions to the deputies.

Summing up the working discussion, the Committee Chairman Stepan Margaryan expressed readiness to continue the debates.