PRESIDENT KOCHARYAN CONTENT WITH BUDGET EXECUTION IN THE FIRST QUARTER

ArmRadio.am
23.04.2007 16:20

The results of the first three months of budget execution and the further
deeds were discussed during President Robert Kocharyan’s working consultations,
featuring RA Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance and Economy, Heads of
National Statistical and State Tax Sevices and the State Custom Committee,
other officials.

Robert Kocharyan said the first quarter showed that the economic growth is
higher than it was envisaged by the budget. In the President’s words, it is a
positive trend that has been sustained for seven years.

"This year is a pre-elective one, and I see double positive trend here. The
business and economy experience no troubles connected with the pre-electoral
process and are confident that our policy of business development will remain
unchanged. Today we must be able to take correct decisions and set correct
tasks before the tax and custom services," Robert Kocharyan mentioned.

The president said he is satisfied with the work carried out during the
first three months.

Presenting the results of the first quarter, the Minister of Finance and
Economy Vardan Khachatryan noted that 1 % economic growth has been registered
instead of the 9% envisaged by the budget, which has caused the necessity to
reconsider the future deeds and programs.

Robert Kocharyan said there are still serious reserves, and we should work
in this direction. Emphasizing the struggle against shadow economy as the
primary task of the tax and custom services, the President noted it can be
effective only in case it is done in a fair way and applies to everyone.

Concluding the meeting, the President said he anticipates consistent work on
the part of tax and custom services and emphasized that their activity will
remain in the focus of his attention.