Ministry of Emergency Situations
of the Republic of Armenia

On January 23, from morning till late at night, RA TAES Minister Armen Yeritsyan visited the border villages of Tavush region. Visiting Aygehovit, Vazashen, Paravakar, Artsvaberd communities the Minister talked with the heads of communities, and in Chinari and Movses also met with residents.

A range of issues were discussed, related to the concerns of the residents, issues dealing with taxes, housing privatization, benefits given to newborns, fire-rescue units, and of course, security issues. Armen Yeritsyan stressed, that the border communities were in the spotlight of the government, and every effort is done for solving their problems.

Note, that:

On December 18, 2014, the RA Government approved a list of 32 border communities eligible for welfare support and a procedure to follow in providing assistance to them. 24 of those communities are in Tavush region: Nerqin Karmiraghbyur, Voskevan, Choratan, Koghb, Vazashen, Berqaber, Chinari, Artsvaberd, nerqin Tsaghkavan, Mosesgegh, Dovegh, Paravaqar, Berdavan, Barekamavan, Koti, Baghanis, Sarigyugh, Aygedzor, Kirants, Aygepar, Sevqar, Aygehovit, Voskepar, Verin Karmiraghbyur. The list of communities receiving support was provided by the Ministry of Defense.

In particular, they are those communities, that over the last five years, were subjected to fire by the Republic of Azerbaijan. The support will be provided in the form of compensation partly for natural gas, electricity, irrigation water, and completely tax refund for land and real estate located in the given community. The residents of border communities will get partial refund from the State budget for natural gas, electricity, irrigation water fees.

According to the decision, the Government of the Republic of Armenia for 2015, plans to provide assistance to the extent of 50% of gas consumed user (up to 30 m³), 50% of electricity consumption (up to 120 kW). It is also planned to provide support to those, who are not subscribers of “Gazprom Armenia” CJSC, but is a subscriber of “Electric Networks of Armenia” CJSC.

For these customers, in the period from January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015, the amount (in the form of electricity) corresponding to the value of natural gas with an increase of 15 m³ to 180 m³ , will be provided to the “Electric Networks of Armenia” CJSC.

It was also decided, that irrigation water fees from those natural and legal persons residing in these communities will be charged at the rate of 50 percent of the specified amount in the period from January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015.

 It was also decided, that the amounts of land and property taxes for such agricultural and residential assets situated in the administrative area of the said communities fired by the enemy will be fully compensated.

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On January 15, at the first session of the RA Government, held in 2015, chaired by Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan, taking into account the Article 1 of the law “On border community tax exemptions”, the RA Government approved the list of those rural communities in border regions with farmland unused due to military operations eligible for tax exemptions. The list included one community in Gegharkunik region, one in Ararat region, 5- in Vayots Dzor and 24- in Tavush regions.

The Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan mentioned, that there have recently been cases of shooting, and a commission was established to estimate the amount of damages, so the government will compensate all the citizens, who had suffered in the result of the shooting.

“We are very attentive and will continue to be attentive to the needs of the population of the border communities”, - noted Hovik Abrahamyan.