Pashinyan’s government closes down Center for Strategic Initiatives
14.09.2018,
17:20
The Armenian government of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan decided today to close down the Center for Strategic Initiatives, created by his predecessor Karen Karapetyan.
YEREVAN, September 14. /ARKA/. The Armenian government of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan decided today to close down the Center for Strategic Initiatives, created by his predecessor Karen Karapetyan. The Center was financially supported by a Russia-based ethnic Armenian businessman Ruben Vardanyan.
The government decided also to release 33.29 million drams ($68,600) to finance the liquidation procedures, pay salaries to employees of the Center, including for the early termination of their contracts.
During a meeting with Russia-based Armenian businessmen in Moscow on September 8 Pashinyan, who, as prime minister is chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Center, said that it implemented no project in Armenia.
In response, Ruben Vardanyan said that he and his friends invested more than $600 million in Armenia over the past 18 years. He stressed that the new government in Yerevan should maintain dialogue with business people and that both sides should try to hear each other.
"You have the right to do everything when it comes to government organizations, but the Center was create din partnership with the private sector, and you notifies us about its closure without even asking our opinion, which is not very respectful," Vardanyan said.
According to the Executive Director of the Center for Strategic Initiatives Alexander Khachaturyan, it began operating from January 12, 2017 and developed 26 projects, which were being implemented in parallel with its strengthening. Khachaturyan stressed that they were strategic projects with longer-term perspective.
According to him, the Center worked on reforming tax and customs administrations, and assisted the Ministry of Education and Science with the development of the "State Program for the Development of Education of the Republic of Armenia until 2030".
The Center for Strategic Initiatives jointly with the EU carried out also the Young Experts Scheme (YES Armenia) program, which involved more than 20 young specialists from Armenia and its Diaspora. It also attracted 500,000 euros.
Khachaturyan noted also that the Center spent almost no state money, except for salaries. He said he refused to use the state financed car, while the rent fee for the Center was paid by private funds. As for the salaries of employees, most of them received them from grants. -0-
The government decided also to release 33.29 million drams ($68,600) to finance the liquidation procedures, pay salaries to employees of the Center, including for the early termination of their contracts.
During a meeting with Russia-based Armenian businessmen in Moscow on September 8 Pashinyan, who, as prime minister is chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Center, said that it implemented no project in Armenia.
In response, Ruben Vardanyan said that he and his friends invested more than $600 million in Armenia over the past 18 years. He stressed that the new government in Yerevan should maintain dialogue with business people and that both sides should try to hear each other.
"You have the right to do everything when it comes to government organizations, but the Center was create din partnership with the private sector, and you notifies us about its closure without even asking our opinion, which is not very respectful," Vardanyan said.
According to the Executive Director of the Center for Strategic Initiatives Alexander Khachaturyan, it began operating from January 12, 2017 and developed 26 projects, which were being implemented in parallel with its strengthening. Khachaturyan stressed that they were strategic projects with longer-term perspective.
According to him, the Center worked on reforming tax and customs administrations, and assisted the Ministry of Education and Science with the development of the "State Program for the Development of Education of the Republic of Armenia until 2030".
The Center for Strategic Initiatives jointly with the EU carried out also the Young Experts Scheme (YES Armenia) program, which involved more than 20 young specialists from Armenia and its Diaspora. It also attracted 500,000 euros.
Khachaturyan noted also that the Center spent almost no state money, except for salaries. He said he refused to use the state financed car, while the rent fee for the Center was paid by private funds. As for the salaries of employees, most of them received them from grants. -0-