YEREVAN. – Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan chaired Saturday’s special session of the Government of Armenia.  

The government approved the draft law On Social Assistance to Border Communities.

This bill regulates the process of providing assistance to Armenia’s 31 border communities that are on the government-approved list.    

In particular, the state budget will partially reimburse the natural gas, electricity, and irrigation water fees as well as the land and the property taxes of the persons living in the border communities.

PM Abrahamyan added that the border community residents who do not use natural gas so as to have alternative heating will receive an equivalent sum. 

This law shall come into force on January 1, 2015, and it shall be in effect until January 1, 2018.

The bill will be debated at the upcoming National Assembly special session.