PanArmenian News Network
July 30 3005
KOCHARIAN: PATRONAGE AND CLAN SYSTEM OUR MAJOR RIVALS
30.07.2005 03:23
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Robert Kocharian held a working
meeting with State Tax Service (STS) senior staff July 29. He said he
was satisfied with the tax proceeds into the state budget within the
former half-year of 2005 making 24%. The President on the whole
appreciated the STS work. He noted that the economic growth rate in
Armenia made 10% within the initial six months. As compared with the
tax proceeds growth of 24%, a difference of 14% is seen, he
mentioned, adding this means the mentioned sum was withdrawn from the
shadow economy. At that in Kocharian’s words, the researches held by
the Control Chamber of the President have shown the potential is much
higher. In the Armenian President’s words, transport and mine
researches have shown that the shadow economy is very large.
Kocharian noted 40% growth in construction, while tax proceeds do not
exceed 12-13%. He also stated there is no sector in the Armenian
economy today that does not have a shadow part. `Here I see a field,
where patronage and clan system are our main rivals,’ the President
said. It should be reminded that according to the data provided by
the Ministry of Finance of Armenia, state budget revenue made some
160.3 billion drams in former half-year of 2005. Tax proceeds account
for most of the state budget income within January-July 2005, i.e.
82.7%. Within the period of report the tax proceeds filled up the
state budget of Armenia with 132.6 billion drams, thus implementing
the half-year program 101.7%, reported IA Regnum.