YEREVAN. – During the pre-election campaign, we have made a pre-election pledge that the government makeup should be changed, the number of ministries should be reduced; we must go on that “road” without deviations.

The Acting Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, on Thursday stated the aforesaid at the beginning of this year’s first Cabinet session of the government.

He stressed, however, that the meaning and objective of this process is not to save money.

“The objective here is much more important: to increase the effectiveness of public administration bodies,” Pashinyan said. “We are convinced that [we] should move on this ‘road’ for which we have received that mandate from the citizens of the Republic of Armenia.

“[But] during this time, we will certainly listen to all the viewpoints about possible configurations, and we will make a more balanced decision.”