"There Is Much Work to Be Done": Working Consultation Held Under Ruben Vardanyan

On February 13, a working consultation was held under the leadership of Ruben Vardanyan, the State Minister of the Republic of Artsakh, with the participation of heads of state institutions.

According to the statement released by the State Minister's office, presenting the current situation, the State Minister noted that the blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan has been ongoing for more than two months, resulting in severe consequences for both the economy and other sectors of public life.

"Despite the deep-rooted challenges, society responds to them with dignity. We are in continuous contact with various groups of the population; there is truly a significant internal strength in Artsakh that is not visible outside. This internal strength is essential for us to overcome difficulties together. There is much work to be done. The initiatives we have started will continue more actively. I am confident that all the challenges we face are solvable," said the State Minister.

During the consultation, heads of state institutions presented the current situation in their respective fields and discussed various pressing issues. Minister of Social Development and Migration Armen Mangasaryan reported that starting February 21, the list of essential goods provided through vouchers is set to be expanded. Currently, organizational and technical work is being carried out in this direction.

In this context, the State Minister instructed to summarize the situation regarding the implementation of the voucher system within a month to conduct relevant analyses and make adjustments to the process if necessary. Information was also provided on the measures aimed at mitigating the economic and social consequences of the blockade.

It was mentioned that social support programs will soon launch, and concerning the economic support program, the process for accepting applications has already begun. Simultaneously, work is being undertaken to develop measures aimed at alleviating the consequences of the blockade for the next phase.

Preparations for spring agricultural work were also addressed. Minister of Agriculture Hrants Safaryan provided information regarding measures taken to ensure seed and fuel supply.

Additionally, urgent issues related to education, healthcare, infrastructure, and several other sectors were discussed during the consultation.