YEREVAN. – The bill, which proposes the deduction of 1,000 drams (about US$2) from the monthly salaries of people working in Armenia, is a concept, not a fundraising, ruling Republican Party of Armenia MP Hamlet Harutyunyan said at a press conference on Monday.

He added, however, that there certainly is rationality also in the assertions of those that oppose this initiative.

“What matters to me is the concept; and it cannot be turned into an element of election campaign,” noted Harutyunyan. “I’m sure that this fund will be such that thieves will be unable to steal from it; a public oversight is needed for this. I would suggest that all these thieves be deprived of [their] possessions.”

On November 18, the National Assembly passed—in first reading—the bill on making insurance payments to the disabled soldiers, and families of the fallen military servicemen of Armenia.