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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
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