Armenian health ministry speaks against abolition of martial law

YEREVAN, November 26. /ARKA/. Speaking to parliament today, Armenia's Deputy Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan spoke against the abolition of the martial law, declared after Azerbaijan attacked Nagorno-Karabakh on September 27, saying under martial law the humanitarian cargoes arriving in the country are exempted from customs duties and other taxes.

"Over the last 2 months, Armenia has had the opportunity to provide high level  medical assistance and other material support to the wounded military personnel and civilians, also thanks to donations and support of the Diaspora and citizens of Armenia," Avanesyan said.

She said that the martial law made it possible to exempt this entire process of support from customs duties and other taxes, to distribute the assistance among the beneficiaries as quickly as possible. According to Avanesyan, this work in this extent can be carried out  only under the martial law.

She said  the Ministry of Health is discussing  a package of legislative changes, designed to  ensure the normal process of all work related to humanitarian supplies, medical assistance and services to the military and civilian population. 

She added that the package provides for an opportunity to get out of martial law. Also, according to her, the government is discussing the revision of the scope of restrictions on the rights and freedoms of citizens under martial law.

The deputy minister said that it is necessary to enforce legislative changes so that in the absence of martial law and emergency situation, the government is able to  apply certain procedures, in particular, related to customs and tax payments.

"We are already making appropriate changes to ensure the proper receipt and distribution of subsequent humanitarian supplies. We hope that assistance will continue, and in the coming months we can receive new humanitarian supplies," she said.

Avanesyan stressed that the ministry understands that the country is in the post-war reality, the humanitarian situation is tense, and this implies the need for new legal regulations.

"We are working now to submit the package of proposed changes to the government as soon as possible, " she said. -0-