YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The solemn ceremony dedicated to the 10th anniversary of elections of the local self-government bodies was held on November 10 at the Al.Spendiarian Opera and Ballet National Academic Theater, for the first time in the history of Armenia. RA President Robert Kocharian, Prime Minister Andranik Margarian, Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians, Ministers, other officials were present. As Hovik Abrahamian, the RA Minister of Territorial Administration mentioned in his speech, the system of local self-government bodies having history of 10 years has already formed traditions, legislative field corresponding to the European standards as well as clear direction of development. In his words, it is resulted by the practical participation of state, public structures, international organizations which have had their considerable contribution in the affair of solution of problems of communities during the past years. Presenting the way passed by the local self-government system and prospects of its development, H.Abrahamian emphasized that especially the years of 2000-2002 were an important period of time for the system, when debts of the state budget to community budget gathered during the previous years were payed off and grants being allocated to communities considerably grew. The Minister mentioned that if 7-8 bln drams were allocated from the state budget to communities during the previous years, 14.1 bln drams were given in 2006, and 18 bln drams (about 47 mln U.S. dollars) are envisaged to be allocated in 2007. "Of course, not everything proceeds without faults, but the RA government continues doing its best for our communities become powerful, more viable," H.Abrahamian mentioned. Heads of 15 urban communities of marzes were rewarded with the RA Prime Minister's memorial medals on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the local self-government formation and for the active participation in improvement of those bodies. Heads of 15 rural communities were rewarded with memorial medals of the RA Minister of Territorial Administration. And heads of 12 rural communities were awarded gold memorial medals of the Republican Association of Communities of Armenia.

---