We Must Definitely Transition to a Slaughterhouse System, Says Pashinyan

During a question-and-answer session in the National Assembly today, Gevorg Papoyan, a member of the 'My Step' faction, addressed Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan with a question about slaughterhouses. Papoyan emphasized the importance of informing the public on certain issues, for instance, that after the establishment of slaughterhouses, meat from dead animals will not enter the markets of Armenia, horse meat will not be sold as beef, and that meat derived from slaughtering in unhygienic, epidemic-prone areas will not be consumed by our children and society.

In response to the question, Nikol Pashinyan stated, 'Should we transition to a slaughterhouse system? Yes, and unequivocally yes! This is a matter of the country’s standards and rating. Do our dearly beloved compatriots who raise their voices about the current situation have justified arguments? Yes, and among the most important is that, unfortunately, at this moment we do not have a sufficient density and number of slaughterhouses. Why don’t we have them? Because we have continually postponed this decision. The people who intend to invest have faced this delay twice in the last year and a half. A person puts in money, asking whether he can build, only to find out that the government is going to cancel this arrangement. On the other hand, we have a situation where some beloved compatriots have made investments in this area and are facing certain problems. '

Pashinyan indicated that the government is ready to take steps. He announced that he has given an instruction today for the government to review those subsidized loans and leasing programs by February 6, in order to create favorable conditions for the construction of slaughterhouses and the provision of necessary equipment, including transportation. According to the Prime Minister, the government will form a preferred map of slaughterhouses in collaboration with regional administrations and the food safety inspection, and projects that address the issues of distribution and accessibility will receive funding.

'If it is acceptable for our beloved compatriots that we work together until July 1 and carry this process through to the end, with the condition that after July 2 we will not revisit this topic under any circumstances, we are ready to listen to other proposals until February 6, make decisions, open financing by March 1, and allow time until July 1 for investments to be made. However, after July 2, we will not return to this topic for any reason, because Armenia must be guided by the highest modern standards. We cannot simply say, let’s live in the mud because it’s convenient or we are used to living there,' he remarked.

The Prime Minister also addressed the import of meat from Artsakh, stating that Artsakh must also transition to this system for Armenia to accept imported meat.