Parliament votes down mandatory cumulative pension law delayDecember 4, 2013 - 18:06 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian parliament voted down suggestion of a year-long delay for introduction of a mandatory cumulative pension law, with 46 votes in favor and 56 against. The suggestion was initiated by the Prosperous Armenia, Armenian National Congress, Heritage and ARFD parliamentary groups. As ARFD faction secretary Aghvan Vardanyan told journalists following the vote, the parliamentary group will appeal against the law in Constitutional Court. Hundreds took to the streets in Yerevan to protest the decision, having marched from the Ombudsman’s office to the governmental building. The office of the human rights defender joined the protesters in their decision to address the Constitutional Court to determine whether the parliament’s decision is in line with the country’s Constitution. New protest actions, including a motor protest and a mass rally were scheduled for December 5. The law, to come into force January 1, envisages for employees under 40 to allocate 5% of their monthly salaries to cumulative accounts with the government to add another 5%. Top stories David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Partner news | Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. |