A Cabinet meeting was held today, chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

The Government decided to set up a visa-free regime for citizens of the Republic of Serbia to enter the Republic of Armenia. On October 25, 2019, the Serbian government decided to unilaterally lift the visa requirement for RA citizens holding ordinary passports, which became effective on November 2, 2019. The citizens of the Republic of Armenia may stay in the Republic of Serbia without a visa requirement for a maximum of 90 days within 180 days, and for 180 days within a period of 360 days.

Based on the principle of reciprocity, the Government of Armenia has developed a draft, which provides that Serbian citizens will be able to stay in the territory of the Republic of Armenia without entry visas for a maximum of 180 days within one year in accordance with the RA Law on Foreigners. The visa requirement will be waived within 10 days following the official publication of this decision.

The Head of Government hailed the decision, noting: “I think we have adopted an important decision, and I hope it will promote direct flights from Yerevan to Belgrade or other Serbian cities and from Belgrade to Gyumri, Yerevan and other cities.”

The Executive amended Government Decision 712-N of July 3, 2014, “On amounts and procedures for providing wage supplements in Armed Forces, National Security Service, Police Force, Penitentiary and Rescue Services of the Republic of Armenia.” The amendment seeks to increase the remuneration of penitentiary institutions’ employees.

By another decision, Aram Tananyan was appointed customs attaché at the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in the Russian Federation for a term of 3 years. The Premier emphasized that the customs attaché should be headquartered near the Upper Lars customs checkpoint.

The Government decided to amend the RA Law on Psychiatric Assistance and approved a number of related laws aimed at improving the realization of the rights of persons with mental health problems, and establishing appropriate mechanisms through a variety of different tools.

The meeting passed another decision on the merger of the Environmental Monitoring and Information Center, the Forest Monitoring Center and the Hydrometeorology and Atmospheric Impact Services SNCOs, which will be reorganized into the Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center.