AMD 2 million 26 thousand collected from lawmakers and the NA staff
The RA NA support fund to the wounded servicemen and the families of the fallen servicemen today has hold its first working meeting at the NA. During the meeting zinvor.org website was introduced. Arsen Babayan, Director of the Fund, Head of the NA Department of Public Relations and Media, noted that as of now AMD 2 million 26 thousand has been collected from the lawmakers and the NA staff. It is only the salary of October, though, immediately after April War the lawmakers expressed readiness to transfer 1% of their salaries, but because of organizational issues, the voluntary deductions have been implemented since October. According to the words of Arsen Babayan, 477 people have made transfers to the fund- lawmakers and the NA staff, “The smallest transfer, 1% of the salary, made up 160 drams, which was transferred by the cameraman of our department Kalashyan Hrayr. The largest transfer was made by the NA Deputy Speaker Hermine Naghdalyan, AMD 466 000, which is not a deduction, but the whole salary. Most of the lawmakers donated 10% of their salaries.” There were lawmakers, who didn’t make transfers, for example, ‘Heritage’ lawmaker Tevan Poghosyan, who is also member of the Council of the fund. “I am sure that it is a technical matter, as the lawmaker wasn’t aware that he must have written an application for the transfer. That’s why I am sure he will transfer not only 1%, but next month he will transfer also the previous one.” Arsen Babayan called on the attendees to learn about the transfer of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) faction member Gagik Tsarukyan, who has the most absences, from the fund’s website. Mr Babayan reported that there will be publications in the fund’s website on support to the servicemen and their families, “We will have meetings with every family.” In reply to our question, why only now the fund decided to hold its first working sitting, and whether it was conditioned by the question of the BHK faction Head Naira Zohrabyan at the NA, Arsen Babayan noted that this fund was fully formed in September, and the day of the sitting was set long ago. He also noted that the BHK has made a decision not to take part in the fund’s activities. The Armenian National Congress (HAK) takes part in the fund’s work, though, refused to have a representative in the council of the fund. The Rule of Law (OEK) faction decided to carry out activities to support the servicemen not within the frames of the fund, but with their own efforts. Arsen Babayan, by the way, has no fear that after the adoption of “1000 drams” bill the activities of the fund will stop. The MoD press secretary Artsrun Hovhannisyan is also involved in the council of the fund. He also noted that very often the support by the MoD is used inefficiently by the families of the servicemen, “We will examine everybody’s needs and will implement targeted allocations- opportunities for work, living conditions, education etc.” Mr Hovhannisyan also highlighted that today there are many funds supporting the servicemen, more than 10, “There are funds, which even don’t ask us for data, as they have their base.” He also touched upon the general tension on the border, noting that it is high, but before the military trainings by Azerbaijan the tension was lower, “Last night was relatively calm, but shots have increased. As for the military trainings of Azerbaijan, we should note that those trainings are held along the whole border of the country.”
