YEREVAN. – At Thursday’s Cabinet session, the Government of Armenia approved the package of bills on making amendments to the law on the structure and activities of the government and on making amendments and additions to several related laws.

Justice Minister Artak Zeynalyan presented the matter, and he noted that the objective of this package is to have a more efficient government structure in terms of functionality.

According to the draft, the Government of Armenia shall comprise the prime minister, two deputy prime ministers, and ministers.

Also, there shall be twelve ministries instead of the current seventeen ones. Accordingly, the Ministries of Culture, Sport and Youth Affairs are planned to be joined to the Ministry of Education and Science, and the latter shall be renamed Ministry of Education, Science and Culture; the Ministry of Agriculture will be joined to the Ministry of Economic Development and Investments, and the latter will be renamed Ministry of Economy; the Ministry of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources will be joined to the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Development, and the latter will be renamed Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures; the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies will be renamed Ministry of High Technology Industry; and the Ministry of Diaspora will be joined to the Prime Minister’s Staff where an institute of Chief Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs is planned to be established in lieu of this ministry.

In addition, the said package of bills proposes to abolish the institute of First Deputy Prime Minister.

Zeynalyan noted that the jobs cuts to be made as a result of reorganization of the ministries primarily will apply to political and discretionary positions.

“A reduction in quantity is not envisioned,” he added. “And the ministries—with all their positions—are moved to the staff of the newly formed ministry.”