Thursday, June 22 2017 13:44

ArmInfo. The Armenian parliament adopted a program of the new government for 2017-22 with 64 votes in favor and 31 against.

Faction of the Republican Party and the ARF "Dashnaktsutyun", against the "Tsarukyan" and "Yelk" blocs voted for the document. At the end of the voting, NA Speaker Ara Babloyan said that an extraordinary session of the parliament will be held on July 6, during which the government's budget implementation report 2016 year.

To note, RPA factions and Dashnaktsutyun in their speeches called the government's program realistic, optimistic and pragmatic, while members of the opposition factions criticized it.  In his closing speech, Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan stressed in particular that the new government has worked long and hard on the program, it is quite effective and realistic and the government believes in its feasibility. He also noted that when developing the program the government cooperated not only with local but also international experts, and according to the head of the government, the document turned out to be very realistic.

Karapetyan also praised his team, calling it a team of honest and conscientious professionals ready to work selflessly in the name of Armenia. He also assured that the government's program is based on real mechanisms and guarantees that will ensure its implementation.

To note, the document also provides for a reduction in the unemployment rate by 12 percentage points with a parallel increase in employment and wages, with an increase in the nominal minimum wage by 25%. As a result of planned events for 2017-2022 aimed at developing tourism in the country, the Armenian government also intends to increase the number of tourists visiting the republic to 3 million a year. The purpose of the Armenian government is to ensure an annual increase in gross output in the agricultural sector by at least 5%.