Your trusted source

The budgetary allocations to the Armenian National Assembly (NA) have increased by half a billion AMD under the draft state budget of Armenia for 2018, NA Chef of Staff, Ara Saghatelyan announced on Wednesday, commenting on ‘Yelk’ opposition faction MP Edmon Marukyan’s remarks.

At today’s parliamentary debates on the draft State Budget for 2018, Mr. Marukyan stated the state budget must make it clear that Armenia has switched to the parliamentary system of governance, claiming the parliament’s powers have not expanded.

Presenting the 2018 draft budget, Ara Saghatelyan detailed that the NA budget features four programs totaling to 4 billion 585 million 513 thousand AMD. The first program refers to the maintenance of its staff and lawmakers, which will receive 4 billion 376 million 100 thousand AMD budgetary allocation. The second program is Armenia's accession to international organizations, with 164 million 901 thousand AMD to be allocated to it. 1 million 211 thousand AMD will be allocated to train the public workers of the NA staff, with 43 million AMD to be further provided for developing the capacities of the parliament’s staff.

The official reminded that the budgetary allocations to the four programs is 233 million drams more than the sum allocated under the 2017 State Budget.

He also added a total of 97 million will be allocated to restore nearly one thousand square meters area of the parliament as part of the maintenance of the NA staff and MPs program, against the 12 million provided in the past year.

“The new role of the National Assembly brings forward new realities, with increased sums envisaged to promote parliamentary diplomacy, to increase Armenia’s accession to international organizations, as well as to cover expenses for representations,” Mr. Saghatelyan detailed.

He noted 650 million will be allocated for foreign business trips under the 2018 State Budget against past year’s 350 million AMD.

“The 2018 draft state budget cuts down the salary fund. It is based on the reductionof the number of parliamentarians and the staff members,” he detailed.

He highlighted the staff capacity development program aimed at improving the technical conditions.

Touching upon the upcoming activities, the chief of staff said parliamentary diplomacy will be activated, the activities of friendship groups will turn to a new level, material and technical conditions of the activities of MPs' staff will be significantly improved and upgraded. He also added an up-to-date information environment will be formed in line with the parliament’s new role with installation of modern technologies, information and analytical components will be developed, the introduction of electronic systems will be completed, etc.