ArmInfo. The government of Armenia will now engage in the qualification of charitable programs. Amendments to the law "On Charity" were made at an extraordinary meeting of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia on June 21 in the second and final reading.
According to the First Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia Artur Hovhannisyan, before the adoption of the submitted document, the Commission for the Coordination of Charitable Programs was involved in determining the charity. But this structure, stressed the deputy minister, can not be considered a state body. Now this right will be granted to the government, which will be established by the body, which is called upon to deal with issues related to charity. Thus, the government will undertake the definition of the concept of charity in order to minimize the possibility of obtaining benefits, including rewards, incentives and tax benefits, by individual structures and individuals. "If an organization engaged in charity does not want to use the benefits provided for charitable activities, then no one can hinder it," the deputy minister underscored, adding at the same time that the document presented does not reduce or widen the circle of beneficiaries.
"The principles, concepts of charity remain the same, the law does not limit the implementation of charity. The law says: dear patron, if you, while doing charity, are hoping for something else - get the title from the president of Armenia, the tax privilege - the state will support you, turn to us, and we'll see whether this program is charitable or not, "Artur Hovhannisyan said.
