Armenian News-NEWS.am took an interview with the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Artyom Asatryan.

The level of poverty in Armenia has decreased but the level of extreme poverty has increased. How can you explain this?

Unlike recorded increasing poverty during the previous two years, in 2011 cessation of poverty growth has been registered. As for the reasons for the growth of extreme poverty, I will say that poverty is a complex multifactorial assessment of influences, so it is impossible to present in brief the impact of each factor.

At the same time I want to highlight the importance of the fact that during the financial crisis not a single social program has been cut, and according to the results of studies of living standards of households, conducted in 2011 by the National Statistical Service, I can say for sure that without state social support (benefits, pensions), the level of poverty, instead of 35% would be equal to 53.2% and extreme poverty would be 22.2% instead of 3.7%.

Do you think that the poor are able to worthily celebrate the New Year?

My perception of “worthily” does not mean a table full of food and drinks. Around a very modest and tasteful holiday table New Year can also be worthily celebrated, highlighting the content of the holiday rather than form and indicative of luxury.

What would you wish to pensioners in 2013?

To all of our pensioners, first of all I wish health, optimism and a little patience. We are doing everything possible to ensure that the system becomes transparent, to reduce corruption risks, to secure gradual increase in pensions, increase the quality and efficiency of services.

Pension reform is imminent. Do you have any doubts related to the successful introduction of the funded system?

I have no doubts at all. In fact, I am sure that our version of a funded system will allow avoiding those problems already faced by many developed countries. I think it is important that today’s youth people take care of their prosperous old age.