IS ARMENIA’S ECONOMY FREE?
Marlena Hovsepyan
"Radiolur"
17.01.2007 16:07
Guests of the Friday Club ex-Prime Minister Khosrov Harutyunyan and
MP, economist Tatul Manasaryan spoke about the annual report worked
out by the Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal. According
to the report, Armenia’s economy is the 32nd freest in the world.
The Heritage Foundation is a respected non-governmental structure,
and many countries build long-term policies based on such
reports. Considering all this, Khosrov Harutyunyan supposes that the
report is not far from reality.
Economist Tatul Manasaryan considers that the data issued by such
organizations are mainly provided by Armenia, and these do not go
far from statistical data of the Soviet Union.
"Isn’t it paradoxical that European states, the US and Japan register
1-4% economic growth, while the number is a double-digit one in
Armenia?" the Deputy asks. He made a rather curious statement. "The
senior leadership of Armenia receives misinformation about real state
of economy. RA President s not informed about the reality.
Khosrov Harutyunyan agrees that our reality is not perfect and
will still keep to be imperfect for a long period of time. However,
according to him, one should not neglect the fact that on behalf of
the Heritage Foundation the international community registers that
Armenia has greatly advanced as it regards institutional reforms,
democratization of public life and provision of guarantees.
"If Bulgaria is 62nd and Romania is 65th, it does not mean that
the living conditions are worse there. The question refers to the
guarantees provided by economic institutions to secure normal public
life and dynamic development," he said.
In Khosrov Harutyunyan’s words, this report should be considered as
a serious assessment and should be taken as a basis for elaboration
of a long-term policy.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
