Armenian premier upbeat on country’s economic growth
Golos Armenii
14 Dec 04
Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan has said that in 2005 the
country will reach the economic level at which Armenia was in 1989. In
his interview with Golos Armenii newspaper, the prime minister noted
that international financial institutions treat Armenia as a country
with a developing economy. However, this creates certain difficulties
in getting credits on light conditions and the country will not be
able to give up credits in the next few years, he said. Andranik
Markaryan added that he will take an active part in the next
presidential, parliamentary and local government elections. He also
denied that the dispatch of an Armenian military contingent to Iran
poses a threat to the country’s security. The following is an excerpt
from Marina Lazarian report by Armenian newspaper Golos Armenii on 14
December headlined “They treat us as a country where the economy is
developing” and subheaded “says the Armenian prime minister and leader
of the Republican Party of Armenia, Andranik Markaryan”. Subheadings
as published:
Interview with the Armenian prime minister and leader of the
Republican Party of Armenia, Andranik Markaryan.
Certain people used the difficult situation
[Correspondent] Given the latest events, doesn’t the government think
it expedient to intervene in the currency policy of the Central Bank?
The population is suffering from the fall in the exchange rate of the
dollar and the explanations of the Central Bank do not convince people
any more.
[Markaryan] First, the rate of the dram for the dollar is stabilizing
in our country.
[Passage omitted: about processes in the world economy]
[Correspondent] Doesn’t the tendency of economic growth to stabilize
prompt the need and a possibility to refuse credits of the World Bank
and the IMF? Isn’t it time to stop living in debt?
[Markaryan] The aforesaid institutions monitor every year whether we
fulfil our obligations and meet certain criteria. On the basis of the
results of the monitoring, foreign investors decide whether it is
expedient to invest in our economy. Cooperation with our country is
based on the degree of IMF and World Bank assessments. Even Russia,
with its great natural reserves, stakes on credits. As for us, Armenia
is among the countries that are not given credits on light conditions,
we get only commercial credits. On the one hand, it is good as we are
treated as a country whose economy is developing. On the other hand,
it creates difficulties in getting credits on light conditions. We
will not be able to give up credits in the next few years.
In 2005 we will reach the level of Soviet Armenia of 1989
[Correspondent] There are reports which suggest that if the Armenian
economy cannot take an economic leap at the moment, in 2020 it will
find itself at the level of the Lithuanian economy in 2003. In other
words, can our country take a big leap, just the same way as they did
it in Holland or Singapore?
[Markaryan] We are developing leap by leap, and it is of no benefit to
us to have an 11, 12 or 13-per-cent growth in GDP every year. The
moment will come when we shall aspire to an 8-per-cent growth. We
still have resources (credits, incomes) and if they are used
correctly, we can go ahead, but tomorrow when the economy reaches a
certain level, a 12 or 13-per-cent growth will not be quite
normal. Developed European countries have a 3 or 4-per-cent growth
annually. In 2005, we shall reach the economic level of Soviet Armenia
of 1989. This is not bad. There are few countries among the
post-Soviet states that can boast the pace we predict for the next two
or three years.
[Passage omitted: Other details; A factory in Zangezur will start
operating soon]
There is a risk, but if we want to play by the generally accepted
rules… [ellipsis as given]
[Correspondent] What is the position of the Republican Party of
Armenia [RPA] on the issue of sending an Armenian military contingent
to Iraq? Will this mission not turn into a threat to our country?
[Markaryan] We think that we should interfere in the business of
superpowers as less as possible. But since we are a state and have
certain obligations, and what’s more, the point is about fighting
international terrorism and our state has always declared that it
supports this fight, the position of the state should not boil down
only to statements, it also suggests specific actions, i.e. we intend
to send only 50 doctors, drivers and sappers to Iraq. As for the
threat, there is always a threat. If you mean the interests of Iraq’s
Armenian community that might become a target for terrorists if an
Armenian military contingent goes to Iraq, that could have happened
when our country supported the American action in Iraq. Before this
support was declared and before we intended to send a contingent to
Iraq, Armenians also died in Iraq, Armenian houses and churches were
blown up. There is a risk, but if we want to play by the generally
accepted rules, we should take the risk. One should not forget that
the countries which have sent troops to Iraq, such as Poland, Spain
and others, and which are thinking of pulling them out now, had
fundamentally different tasks in Iraq. Their contingents took part in
the hostilities and suffered great casualties, which is why public
opinion in those countries is appropriate. In our country, this
problem has no such harsh nature.
[Passage omitted: Political parties are not that strong to affect the
economy]
The RPA will actively participate in the elections
[Correspondent] Are you going to run in the presidential elections?
And what will the RPA’s mission be in those elections?
[Markaryan] The RPA will take an active part in the local government,
parliamentary, as well as in the presidential elections. Certainly,
the level of participation in the presidential elections will depend
on the results gained by the party in the parliamentary
elections. Even if the RPA does not nominate its candidate, it will
nevertheless take an active part in the presidential elections, and
who is elected president will greatly depend on that.
[Passage omitted: Other details]
Personnel changes may always happen
[Correspondent] They are talking a lot about the personnel changes in
the government. How well-founded is this talk especially against the
background of ministers’ reports?
[Markaryan] Personnel changes may always happen, but I would not link
them to ministers’ reports. There is no programme on personnel changes
yet, but it may occur at any moment in connection with individuals
ministers. In this case, party affiliation plays no role. The recent
media rumours that I am allegedly firing my advisers under pressure
are not true. In this connection, I would like to recall that the
institute of the prime minister’s advisers does not depend on the
coalition, president or parliament. The prime minister chooses his
advisers independently. I have nine advisers, eight of them are
working and one of them, Vladimir Movsisyan, has changed his job. As
for the remaining advisers, they are all still working, but something
might change in January.