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Standoff: Pension Reform Continues Divisive Even After Court Rules

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  • Standoff: Pension Reform Continues Divisive Even After Court Rules

    STANDOFF: PENSION REFORM CONTINUES DIVISIVE EVEN AFTER COURT RULES

    Pensions | 11.04.14 | 15:49

    GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
    ArmeniaNow reporter

    Cabinet members continue insisting that the mandatory pension fund
    payments have to be made, while Dem.am civil initiative which opposes
    the mandatory component in the pension reform refuse to accept the
    government reasoning and say they will continue their standoff.

    During the Thursday cabinet meeting acting Deputy Justice Minister
    Yeghisheh Kirakosyan stated once again interpreting the decision of
    the Constitutional Court (CC) that the provisions in question are
    constitutional and will be in effect until September 30, meaning that
    the deductions from salaries have to be made.

    "When it comes to understanding and explaining the CC decisions we
    have to be guided by the Law on the Constitutional Court. All of the
    provisions in the pension law are in effect until September 30. As
    for recalculation the demand refers to the deductions made and yet to
    be made by September 30, which has to be done after September 30,"
    said Kirakosyan, adding that he represents the position of all the
    cabinet members.

    Acting deputy Prime Minister Armen Gevorgyan, who conducted the cabinet
    meeting, instructed the cabinet to notify all the state body's on
    the single government position on this issue.

    Labor and Social Affairs Minister Artem Asatryan said a legislative
    package has to be submitted to the parliament within the shortest
    possible term.

    Dem.am member Hayk Avetisyan told ArmeniaNow that the authorities,
    having disregarded the CC decision, are "robbing people in all possible
    ways", hence, he says, there is no way for retreat.

    The initiative is planning another rally during which the CC decision
    would be clarified and their next steps projected. Their most recent
    rally took place on Wednesday in front of the government building,
    when the participants declared a sitting strike and as a result
    blocked Nalbandyan Street for a lengthy period of time.

    The Prosecutor General's office released a statement on Friday saying
    that blocking a street and hindering the traffic flow bear criminal
    and administrative liability and if repeated measures would be taken
    towards the participants and organizers as defined by the law.

    Avetisyan interprets this as the authorities' attempt to divert people
    from the fight, resorting to illegal measures.

    "Blocking a street is a legal method of peaceful protest. Those robbing
    people are the criminals, let them go and detain them, the authorities
    are now taking completely illegal steps against their own people,"
    says Avetisyan.

    http://armenianow.com/society/pensions/53534/pension_reform_in_armenia_armenia_constitutional_c ourt_armenian_government

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