On March 27 NA Chairman Artur Baghdasaryan paid a working visit to the Kotayk marz, the fifth working visit to Armenian marzes. During these visits numerous problems are being settled on the scene or the necessary assignments are made. Kotayk governor Koval Shahgeldyan accompanied the delegation during the visit.

The first meeting was convened at the Nor Geghi arts school. Artur Baghdasaryan briefed on the current situation in the country, activities undertaken by the Parliament. The Chairman noted reforms to be carried out in the health care and education systems. Those in attendance brought up once again the issue of compensating the deposits and Artur Baghdasaryan promised that compensations would be paid out starting 2005 in accordance with joint decision of the coalition adopted following comprehensive discussions at Parliament.

Hrazdan thermal power plant (TPP) CJSC was founded in 1966. The capacity of the TPP reaches 1.110mega watt with annual power generation capacity at 5.5-6 bln kilowatt/hour of electric power. The plant was transferred to the Russian Federation in terms of the “Equities-for-Debt” agreement and is being reorganized into a new company. Ensuring production exports is the key issue. To that end negotiations are being conducted with Georgia and Iran. Questions raised by the staff mainly concerned the absence of a law on power saving ratified by all CIS member states, which will enable coping with a large range of issues. The staff also requested the Chairman to grant tax concessions for heating the TPP. NA Chairman promised to discuss the process of restarting equities transferred to Russia within the framework of the “Equities-For-Debt” at the upcoming meeting of the Armenia-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee in Yerevan. Social and legal problems encountered at the Hrazdan TPP, other organizations will be brought to the fore.

A Department Examining Social Issues with a health care division has been created at the Parliament, NA Chairman stated urging people to refer to the newly created department with any legislative issues.

Replying to the suggestion to set up diagnostic center at the out-patients' clinic serving the entire population of the marz, Mr. Baghdasaryan pledged commitment to do his best to assist and pointed out that the issue concerning ambulance vehicles supply was settled during the official visit to France. The Hrazdan hospital will be provided with one of the vehicles.

Matters of political, economic and social concern were brought up during the meeting at the Hrazdan Youth Culture Hall. People were mainly concerned with the issues of job creation, compensation of the deposits, as well as matters related to the land tax.

Addressing the privatization process, NA Chairman pointed out that the health care system privatization has been temporarily suspended, for the privatized buildings were often used in personal purposes. Privatization of schools and other educational institutions has also been suspended.  The system of the privileges is also restored. Addressing the issues of the disappointed depositors Artiur Baghdasaryan stated that a law on protecting bank deposits would be ratified. The law will denote the state as the financial guarantor of repaying deposits in case of bankruptcy of a private bank.

Mr. Baghdasaryan addressed youth issues attaching importance to ensuring youth employment especially in the regions. To that end Youth Centers will be set up to assist in placement-related issues.

Teacher training centers will also be founded. Law suspending preschool institutions privatization will be adopted, which will enable preservation of kindergartens.

Important reforms will involve the urban development sphere as well, mortgage credits will be extended: people without lodgings can receive credits for house-contraction repayable within 30 years.

The NA Chairman promised to promote the implementation of the marz development programmes in legislative way. Conference is envisaged be convened under the auspices of the RA and RF Parliaments in Samara in May.  Governors, marzpets, businessmen will participate in the conference targeting both stepping up economic cooperation and settling agreements and programmes.

Wholesale markets should be created to facilitate realization of agricultural product to help a peasant sell his production in time and for adequate price.

NA Chairman replied to questions and promising to visit the marz often stated that similar meetings provide the veritable key to coping with problems.

Visits to the regions will be continued.