Meet HIVE, the Armenian LinkedIn with a Powerful Twist

“Armenia’s Law on Compulsory Accumulative Pension System: an Anti-Constitutional Proposal” –

On Sunday, March 16, 2014, Torontonians had the opportunity to have a direct conversation with a member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Artsvik Minasyan.

Organized by the A.R.F. Armenia – Diaspora Committee, and entitled “Armenia’s Law on Compulsory Accumulative Pension System: an Anti-Constitutional Proposal”, the event took place at the Armenian Community Center in Toronto. Attendees were interested in learning about the socio-economic problems affecting the people of Armenia and efforts undertaken by civic movements and political parties aimed at addressing the most pressing of these issues.

Opening remarks were made by Miss. Anoush Frankian, M.C. of the event, who welcomed the attendees and invited Mr. Matios Derderian, member of the Armenia – Diaspora Committee, to deliver the Committee’s message.

Mr. Derderian noted that more than 20 years since the independence of the Republic of Armenia, its citizens still experience major socio-economic and political problems. Mr. Derderian presented the Committee’s mandate of connecting the Diaspora with the homeland by raising awareness of critical issues facing the people of Armenia and indicated that the event marked the start of a series of activities planned by the Committee to this end.

Next, Miss Anoush Frankian introduced Mr. Minasyan, a member of the A.R.F. faction of the National Assembly of Armenia, and invited him to address the audience.

Speaking through a Skype video connection, Mr. Minasyan discussed the various aspects of Armenia’s Law on Compulsory Accumulative Pension System and the anti-constitutional elements of the proposed regulation. He noted that in its current form, the law will heavily impact on the finances of Armenia’s fledgling middle class and that it will not benefit the country’s economy. Mr. Minasyan then commented on the actions of the civil moment “DEM EM” that opposes the proposed regulation, and discussed the joint initiatives undertaken by the opposition political parties represented in Armenia’s National Assembly in asking Armenia’s Constitutional Court to declare the proposed law as anti-constitutional.

The speech was followed by a Q&A session, during which Mr. Minasyan provided comprehensive answers to questions covering the topic at hand. In his final remarks, the speaker stressed the importance for the Diaspora to join their compatriots in the homeland in their struggle to build a strong and prosperous Armenia.