Pashinyan Presents 100 Facts About the New Armenia

Dear journalists,
dear colleagues,
dear compatriots,

Today marks one year since my election as Prime Minister, and I am pleased to have the opportunity to summarize this past year in such a format. At the start of the briefing, I would like to present 100 facts about the New Armenia. Of course, these facts are not exhaustive. We could have published 200 facts or even more, but we also understand the need to limit ourselves somewhat, and I hope I will not overstay your patience. And so.

1. This year's budget revenues will be exceeded not by 40 billion drams, as I had stated, but by 62 billion drams, which is an increase of approximately 129 million dollars. In the first quarter of 2019, government revenues grew by 25 percent or 64.1 billion drams compared to the same period in 2018, primarily due to a reduction in the shadow economy.

2. The government has cleared a 120 billion dram debt of transitional excess payments owed to taxpayers, which amounted to 90 percent of the total excess payment debt. This has been a topic of discussion for many years in the Republic of Armenia concerning the demands made by the State Revenue Committee and tax authorities on businesses for excess payments. As of January 1 of last year, this debt was approximately 130 billion drams. In other words, businesses had paid 130 billion drams more without the obligation to do so. After the change of power, the State Revenue Committee accepted reports from businesses without collecting payments, and instead, a debt of 120 billion drams was erased, meaning that the government has approximately returned 300 million dollars to businesses over this period.

3. Since the revolution, around 15 billion drams more in value-added tax has been returned to businesses compared to the previous same period, indicating that this amount has also been returned to the economy.

4. Following the revolution, 82 million control cash register receipts were printed more than in the previous same period, an increase of about 35-40 percent.

5. New generation cash registers are being provided to small and medium enterprises for 60,000 drams instead of 160,000 drams, also allowing for installment payments. As a result of the liberalization of the cash register import and sales market, the Cash Register Implementation Office will conduct only the free distribution and maintenance of cash registers registered in border rural settlements starting November 1, 2019. Two new companies have entered this market.

6. 51,000 jobs have been brought out of the shadow economy, some of which are presumably newly created jobs.

7. Due to the unprecedented growth in vehicle imports, measures taken now allow vehicles to be cleared at all customs offices operating without interruption. An electronic calculator for personal vehicles imported by individuals has been developed and implemented on the official website of the State Revenue Committee, enabling anyone to pre-check the customs information regarding vehicle values. This means that citizens can input their vehicle information and calculate the customs duties they need to pay.

8. Starting July 1, military salaries will increase, and from September 1, teachers’ salaries will also rise. The salary of contract military personnel will increase by approximately 20 percent, while those serving under special conditions will see an increase of around 30 percent. The amount of monetary satisfaction for conscripts will also be raised.

9. 5.7 billion drams have been allocated from the reserve fund to meet the housing needs of military pensioners, with the state fully meeting its housing obligations for beneficiaries living in provinces. These obligations will also be partially fulfilled for beneficiaries living in Yerevan.

10. The number of conscripts on combat duty has been reduced by around 700, replaced by contract soldiers. The police forces participate in the protection of the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border and maintain their designated security areas.

11. 47 border combat positions are now supplied with industrial electricity, and 73 positions are provided with water supply. Approximately 180 combat positions have been equipped with refrigerators, with an additional 45 positions to be supplied shortly. Around 380 washing machines have been provided to military units. 136 new modern surveillance devices have been installed along the border.

12. Significant changes have been made to the food supply of military units and combat positions based on soldiers' preferences, including lavash, sunflower oil, potatoes, onions, tomato paste, and seasonal distributions of tomatoes and cucumbers. Honey, lard, garlic, black and red pepper, canned potatoes, pasta, and more will also be provided soon.

13. Conscripts are now provided with high-quality uniforms and boots. There will soon be substantial improvements in the quality of clothing and footwear provided to soldiers. Conscripts are now allowed to have mobile phones and keep in permanent contact with their family members.

14. Armenia has begun the purchasing process for multi-role SU-30SM fighter jets. I am making this public as it is already known.

15. The 1,000 dram insurance fund for soldiers has started compensating family members of soldiers who were killed or acquired first or second category disabilities during combat operations from 2008-2016. As a result, another 339 beneficiaries will receive compensation of 100-400 thousand drams monthly.

16. 410 apartments have been distributed to servicemen and the families of fallen soldiers. If a contract soldier is not provided with a service apartment, the compensation for renting other living spaces has increased by an average of 24 percent. 107 soldiers have been provided apartments under gratuitous use in new residential complexes.

17. As a result of changes in the cumulative pension system implemented from July 1, 2018, salaries for 209,000 people have increased, and another 200,000 people will see salary increases from amendments to the Tax Code.

18. The pensions of 85,000 retirees and beneficiaries have been raised above the food poverty line to bring them out of extreme poverty.

19. Contrary to the signed contract, drinking water tariffs have not been increased due to the government's negotiations. Natural gas and electricity tariffs for socially vulnerable groups have decreased by 20 and 10 drams by quota.

20. Starting from July 1, 2018, and then on January 1, 2019, the salaries of over 10,000 primary care health workers have increased by nearly 30 percent.

21. Salaries have been raised for employees at several state universities. The hourly rate for invited lecturers at the Public University of Economics has tripled. Overall, around 2,600 lecturers have seen salary increases.

22. Salaries for approximately 1,650 employees of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant have increased by an average of 16 percent, and in May, the salaries of about 650 employees of Armenia's high-voltage electricity networks will rise by an average of 27 percent.

23. In protected nature areas, salaries for around 530 employees have increased by an average of 40 percent, and in some cases by 100 percent. The weather receiving system has been fully upgraded by the “Zvartnots” aviation meteorological center, and salaries have increased by 30 percent for 39 employees compared to 2017, with profitability growth of 100 percent.

24. A new monthly bonus system has been introduced for the police force, with performance evaluations for employees who excel in uncovering and preventing crimes, allowing them to receive bonuses that can exceed their monthly wages two to three times. In other words, in one month, a person can earn bonuses that triple their salary based on performance. I emphasize this point, as I have promised police officers in Republic Square that their salaries will increase significantly. Salaries in the National Security Service have risen by 30 percent, and there have been increases in payments within state administration bodies through bonuses.

25. The one-time childbirth benefit for the second child has increased threefold from 50,000 to 150,000 drams.

For more details, visit the government website: www.primeminister.am