A regular Cabinet meeting took place today, chaired by Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan.

The Government approved the package of draft laws of the Republic of Armenia on making amendments to the Law on ‘’Administrative-Territorial Division of the Republic of Armenia" and to the ‘’Law on Local Self-Government". Accordingly, it is planned to implement 37 programs of community enlargement (reorganization). 54 community enlargement programs have been implemented since February 14, 2016, forming 54 communities as a result of the unification of 486 communities.

According to Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan, 441 communities will be united under 37 community clusters. Referring to the draft laws, Nikol Pashinyan emphasized that the package of the legislative initiatives is important not only from administrative-terrototial standpoint, but also from the standpoint of political reforms. ''Elections under proportional system will be held in the enlarged communities, where the election of the Mayor is combined with the elections of the Council of Elders, and the elections will be based on list-system. And this was one of our strongest promises. Of course, the enlargement of the communities has not just started, and we must state that since 2018 we have adopted a very strong direction, placing the subsidy systems within the logic of balanced territorial development''.

Nikol Pashinyan emphasized that there are interests here, and it is clear that there will be attempts to inflame passions. '' I want to urge you not to give in to such sentiments. The political decision has been made, we must go this way. Our experience of recent years shows that, yes, enlarged communities are more productive, they are gaining more capacity, so we have to move forward this way’'. The Prime Minister noted that the issue should be solved exclusively in the domain of the National Assembly-Government. ''In other words, it is in the field of political responsibility of the political majority. The political majority has made the decision and it must be implemented''.

The Cabinet also made a decision to shift the working day of September 20 to September 25.

By the decision of the Government, Karen Sargsyan was appointed Governor of Gegharkunik. Province. Karen Sargsyan previously held the position of Chairman of the Water Committee.