Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was presented with the activity report 2023 of Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan's office.

Tigran Khachatryan first reported on the activities of the sessions of ministerial committee and interdepartmental groups in the reporting year, within the framework of which coordination of processes involving interdepartmental cooperation and operative intervention, coordination of individual investment programs was carried out.

The Deputy Prime Minister also presented the activities of the working group for the management of the humanitarian crisis of 2023 aimed at providing humanitarian support to the people of Nagorno Karabakh and the organizational work of the Humanitarian Center for primary response. In particular, round-the-clock support points for registration and accommodation of forcibly displaced people from Nagorno-Karabakh were implemented in Kornidzor, Goris and Vayk, creation of territorial humanitarian centers in regional centers and enlarged communities, interdepartmental coordination of works for development and implementation of social support programs. Works aimed at the provision of stable living conditions have been carried out, i.e. primary social support measures, housing support, access to health, education and social protection mechanisms, employment provision, housing security, employment opportunities within the framework of the housing program in preferred settlements. It was reported that according to the data of April 2024, 16 thousand 300 people forcibly displaced people from Nagorno-Karabakh started working in the Republic of Armenia, and 1065 people operate as private entrepreneur, or are registered as a founder/participant of a company.

In the framework of international cooperation, under the leadership of the Deputy Prime Minister and with the support of the UNHCR office, a platform for coordinating refugee issues was formed with the participation of development and humanitarian partner structures.

Then Tigran Khachatryan presented the works carried out in 2023 related to the construction of 300 schools. Presenting the current indicators, it was reported that as of May 31, 2024, 8 schools were put into operation, bringing the total number to 28, construction works are underway in 43 schools, 24 of which are planned to be put into operation by the end of 2024. In December 2023, 83 new tenders were announced, contracts were signed with 23 organizations, and after procedural changes, another 50 new tenders were announced. Contract were signed for 43 tenders, for the remaining 7 tenders, the applications are in the stage of submission. In 2024, 21 more new tenders are planned to be announced. In general, construction works of 165 schools and educational complexes have been completed or are in various stages of implementation.

In connection with the project for the construction of 500 kindergartens, it was reported that in general, construction works of 430 kindergartens and preschools are in various stages of implementation.

Reference was made to the construction of the North-South highway and the Vedi Reservoir. It was noted that the construction works of the Agarak-Kajaran section have started, and the construction of the reservoir is in the final stage. The water storage process has already started.

Speaking about the Agarak-Kajaran road section project, Nikol Pashinyan noted that during his visit to Syunik, he got to know the project in more detail and added: "Only that part is a huge project itself and we have to be careful there. Of course, it is an international tender, the impression from the construction company was good because it has experience in implementing such projects. It is indeed a very big strategic project. I hope that we will be able to implement it within the stipulated time," said the Prime Minister.

Nikol Pashinyan made another observation related to his visit to Syunik, reminding that intensive road construction works have been carried out there since 2021. The Prime Minister noted that thanks to the constructed road network, it was possible to discuss the possibility of making at least some parts of the North-South a toll road.

Regarding the subsidy programs, the Deputy Prime Minister presented that 273 applications were approved during the reporting period, the total cost of the programs is 92.7 billion AMD, the co-financing of the state budget is 49.4 billion AMD.

Prime Minister Pashinyan emphasized that political priorities should be adjusted when implementing subsidy programs. As an example, the Prime Minister emphasized the problem raised during his visit to Syunik region, particularly related to irrigation water. “What are we recording there? Although I guess we knew, but it's being recorded sooner and faster on the ground. Huge areas of land where crops of the high price segment could be cultivated, wheat is sown. Pomegranates, figs, kiwis, crops of great commercial interest can be grown there, but it is simply not possible due to the lack of irrigation water," said the Prime Minister, emphasizing the need to take consistent steps to solve water problems, including through subsidy programs. In this regard, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of paying more attention to political priorities. "Therefore, we may have to change our concept and ideology of the subsidy program, adapt the subsidy system to our policies," said Nikol Pashinyan.

Details were presented to the Prime Minister regarding the development of the business environment, urban development investment programs, the formation of an interdepartmental working group for the purpose of mapping and addressing existing problems in the water sector, and the management of sanctions risks.

Reference was made to the construction programs of Old Yerevan and the 33rd district and the existing problems, in relation to which the Prime Minister gave appropriate instructions.

Reference was also made to the works carried out in the direction of road safety. It was reported that the modernization of the traffic accident data recording system was implemented, the draft "National Road Safety Strategy of Armenia" and its action plan were developed, the possibility of introducing a mandatory educational program on road safety in public educational institutions, the possibility of using the International Road Assessment Program (iRAP) for ranking roads according to their level of safety were included in the agenda.

Prime Minister Pashinyan noted that road safety issues should be fully inventoried and appropriate solutions should be offered. In particular, the Prime Minister emphasized the problems related to road signs, adding that according to the analyzes carried out, the system of cameras installed on the roads does not provide full safety, and many countries of the world have switched to the system of measuring speed over space. "But now we think it might be worth measuring the distance from point A to point B and so on. I see another problem, I have also talked about it, there is such an abundance of road signs in some areas that it obviously confuses the driver," said Nikol Pashinyan.