PM urges mandatory pension system opponents to start dialogMarch 19, 2014 - 17:15 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan urged representatives of I am Against civil movement protesting against the new mandatory cumulative pension system in Armenia to start a dialog, Aysor.am said. In this context, the official welcomed the fact that a civil society is taking shape in Armenia "The civil society dictates its rules and the government is ready to adjust activities in promoting its establishment." "We are ready for a dialog since the ‘all or nothing’ stance is unacceptable to us and the young people representing the civil society," Sargsyan said. The representatives of the civil movement stated they will accept the Prime Minister’s proposal to start a dialog if the word ‘mandatory’ is removed from the draft law. “Welcoming the prime minister’s proposal, we say that our struggle will continue until the compulsory nature of the law is changed,” the statement says. The law that became effective on January 1 obligates all employed citizens under 40 to allocate 5% of their monthly salaries to cumulative accounts, with the government to add another 5%. Armenia’s leading opposition parties challenged the legality of the law at the Constitutional Court. On February 4, Armenian parliament voted down suggestion of a year-long delay for introduction of a mandatory cumulative pension law, with 46 votes in favor and 56 against. he suggestion was initiated by the Prosperous Armenia, Armenian National Congress, Heritage and ARFD parliamentary groups. On January 24, the Constitutional Court suspended the provisions of the law envisaging sanctions for not complying with it at least until March 28 when it is due to proceed with consideration of the matter. Government agencies, however, have continued to force employers to make deductions from the salaries in favor of the funds, which activists and non-government political forces insist is contempt of the Court’s decision. Top stories The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has visited the southern Armenian province of Syunik, the Defense Ministry reported on March 18. Partner news | Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. |