YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. The community leaders are very important link in the overall structure of the state, Davit Lokyan, Minister of Territorial Administration and Development, said at a general meeting of the Communities Association of Armenia, expressing hope that the community leaders will maintain their importance in future as well, reports “Armenpress”.

“The leaders of Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor will discuss with equal rights their rights and duties together with the leaders of the smallest communities of Armenia. You are equally taking part in one of the most important and democratic processes of the country, the establishment of local self-government bodies. We have significant achievements in the local self-governance, we have established communities where independence is quite huge. The Communities Association of Armenia, with its Council of 100 people has its great role in this. Every day it tries to protect each community, to make the relations with the state constructive and manageable for every community”, the Minister said.

Davit Lokyan said communities are the major drivers for country’s development. If there are no good communities, there will not be a good local self-governance and best services for the people.

“Today, the first official in our country who communicates with the citizen, is the community leader, and they bear the first wave of all issues. Your lack of opportunities and narrow boundaries don’t allow to solve a number of issues faced by the communities”, he said.

“We face one important problem: we show very poor attitude towards ensuring our own incomes. Our communities have resources, and if a community leader wants, he can increase the entry of own incomes”, the Minister said, adding that the Communities Association is the structure which will address these issues soon.

Lokyan recalled that according to the policy adopted by the Government, the community will be provided with state assistance based on what initiative it shows. He said if the community doesn’t have a vision, doesn’t want to provide service to the citizens, the state will not provide finance to it.