YEREVAN. – Newly appointed PM Hovik Abrahamnyan’s meeting with Armenia’s five National Assembly (NA) forces, and concerning the mandatory component of the new law on funded pensions, was held against a positive backdrop.   

Opposition ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party NA Faction member Artsvik Minasyan told the aforesaid to reporters after the talk.

“The PM presented his outlook on the mandatory [component], and the political forces presented their positions. The [respective] plan will be [ready within] the next two days. Once it is [ready], we will be able to express a view,” Minasyan said.

In the ARF MP’s words, it is very important that the PM is willing to solve the problems and provide complete answers to the issues that are raised.

“The matter is divided into two phases. The first phase is this short term, so that the public confidence is restored. This means that the political elements shall be subject to changes, so that the people participate in the [funded pension] system at their own volition.  

“The second phase is the development of a new model which assumes involvement by different layers of society. [But] this requires a longer time.

“At this point it is very important that the government is ready to take concrete steps to stop the compulsion of the mandatory component,” Artsvik Minasyan concluded.

Representatives from five of Armenia’s six National Assembly factions (ruling Republican Party, non-pro-government Prosperous Armenia, and opposition Heritage, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, and Orinats Yerkir (Rule of Law)) on Tuesday participated in the meeting—at the Government building—with newly appointed Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan, and with respect to the mandatory component of the new law on funded pensions. Opposition Armenian National Congress Faction, however, did not attend the talk. Acting Labor and Social Affairs Minister Artem Asatryan also participated in the discussion.