A session of the Government was convened today in Gavar, the regional center of Gegharkunik marz, presided upon by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.  Gegharkunik regional administrator Nver Poghosyan presented a report on the socio-economic situation in the marz for 2009 and the first half of 2010.  He also presented the priority issues for the marz and answered the questions of government representatives. According to its press service, the government approved the proposals aimed at dealing with cultural issues in the marz.  The government decree pertained only to issues that needed to be solved urgently and a more detailed development plan is expected to follow.  The Prime Minister focused the attention of the government on the results of a survey conducted prior to the meeting, which aimed at understanding the leading problems in the marz based on the perceptions of the local population.  The survey revealed that unemployment is considered to be of the highest priority and is followed by the state of roads and highways, agricultural development and issues around Lake Sevan. Importantly, the vast majority of the population of Gegharkunik - around 80 percent - is positive in its assessment of the steps taken by the government regarding Lake Sevan.  At the same time, around 78 percent of respondents believe that the government should be stricter in its approach to fishing permits. One important feature of this region is that respondents feel that they themselves have a lot to do for their local development.  Around 80 percent of families felt that the Government of Armenia had a large role to play but then put the second layer of responsibility on themselves, while, in other marzes, the local authorities had come second to the federal government in terms of responsibility. The Prime Minister said that healthcare and culture were two areas which he felt were of concern and where action needed to be taken.