During the Government-National Assembly Q&A in November when answering the question of an independent MP Victor Dallakyan about the Earthquake Zone (making changes in the law on Earthquake Zone activities adopted in 2000 and creation of a special committee, which would supervise the activities and funds aimed at the Zone), the Prime Minister of RA Serzh Sargsyan said that he is against creating such committees and returning to the activities, which had been conducted since 1989. “I’d more advocate for conducting inspections in the period of the past 3-4 years. But returning to what has been done since 1989 would mean work done in vain.”
However, prior to Sargsyan’s verbal answer RA Minister of Urban Development Vardan Vardanyan had already responded to the recommendations of Dallakyan in a written form. He mentioned that it is necessary to hold discussions about the dates noted by Dallakyan and as of the committee he had mentioned that it is the exclusive authority of the NA to form one. Let’s remember that on October 11, 2000 the NA adopted a law on the Reconstruction of the Earthquake Zone, in accordance to which broad-scale recovery activities were supposed to be held in the Zone. According to one of the provisions of this complex law the government was obliged to resolve the apartment issue of the Zone by 2003. This means that by 2003 no family would be without a house. This is how Dallakyan explains the point of his question, “The point is that according to the law this issue should have been solved 4 years ago but we still do. And I find this approach impermissible. 19 years have passed since the disaster but certain families still don’t have houses.” The Minister of Urban Development has responded in a written form, by which as of March 1, 2007 the apartment issues of 6190 families are not resolved yet. And 4000 out of them live in Gyumri. The letter also reads, “As of the families, who are homeless not because of the disaster the number of people in both Gyumri and Vanadzor is 1220.” Thus, it turns out that 7410 families don’t have apartments in the Earthquake Zone. According to preliminary calculations 30.000 people are homeless. In my opinion the resolution of this issue and providing families with apartments in up to the dignity of our country. It turns out that the current government has violated the complex program, which reads that by 2003 no such problem should exist. “Based on the current circumstances I have made 2 legislative recommendations and in July of 2007 recommended the NA to amend the law on the Earthquake Zone Recovery.” According to this bill Dallakyan offers to make two changes in the law – solve the apartment issues of the ones, who have lost their homes due to the earthquake by 2010 and the ones, who are homeless not due to the earthquake by 2011. “If it wasn’t done by 2007 at least it can be done within 3-4 years. I am ready to discuss with them the dates,” says Dallakyan. He also added, “I was the one, who had offered this law in 2000 and will be consistent in solving this. I have a moral obligation because I am the author of the law and being an MP elected from Vanadzor I will have to resolve those issues.” As of the second legislative initiative of Dallakyan, formation of a temporary committee, the minister answered that the formation fully depends on the National Assembly, however the government will mediate the process of formation. The Prime Minister also said the same with slight difference by mentioning that it is senseless to examine the inflow of monetary funds since 1989. It would be more reasonable to examine the activities conducted in the period of 2003-2007. Therefore, this committee may conduct serious functions and provide reporting. In fact, they are not against these recommendations. To the question, “do you believe that by 2010 there will be no homeless family?” Dallakyan said, “I believe in this law and if the NA adopts it I will ensure that it is endorsed. The previous one was fulfilled partly but the optimism is connected with the fact that the Prime Minister also announced that at present there are 6000 homeless families. This statement was followed by concrete steps. We gathered, made suggestions and recommendations. Now it’s time to be consistent to those. All the limits of prolongation are over.” Let’s mention that he means the long-term activities planned for the 20th memorial day of the earthquake, which is going to be monitored and organized by the temporary state committee, to which Dallakyan has already submitted 60 recommendations. Also, Dallakyan didn’t agree with the assumption that on the eve of elections such statements may be considered as acts of populism and also an indirect form of electoral bribery. “I didn’t accidentally mention that I am a co-author of this law. We have been consistent in resolving the issues of the Earthquake Zone. I have always raised these questions. This time it overlapped with the period of presidential elections. For me no matter it is a pre-election and post election period. 20 years have passed since the earthquake and the 20th memorial day will become a serious stimulus for the final resolution of the Zone. For me provision of apartments to 30.000 people is more important than the political context, which are excluded in my activity.”