ARMENIA READY TO CONSIDER PROPOSAL ON TRANSIT GAS PIPE

Lragir.am
26-06-2007 20:38:10

The government of Armenia intends to build a new nuclear plant but there is
no certainly on fundraising, technology, terms, Prime Minister Serge
Sargsyan stated June 26 during the meeting of the National Assembly.

"But Armenia must generate atomic energy, I believe," Serge Sargsyan
said in answer to the question of the head of the Orinats Yerkir faction
Arthur Baghdasaryan on the thoughts of the government and Serge Sargsyan on
the construction of a new nuclear plant.

Besides, Arthur Baghdasaryan wanted to know the stance of the government and
Serge Sargsyan on the construction of the second Iran-Armenia gas pipeline,
which may be a transit pipeline. "As to the second pipeline, it is not
exactly the second pipeline, efforts are made to improve the first pipeline
to transport more gas. In other words, the second pipeline will not be a
wider pipe, an autonomous pipe, a transit pipe. But if there are proposals,
we are ready to discuss the proposals, although I think it involves
different problems, first of all financial problems, investments,
guarantees, etc.," Serge Sargsyan said.

In answer to the question of the leader of the Orinats Yerkir Party faction
on the intention to increase the lump-sum tax, Serge Sargsyan said it will
create problems for owners of small and medium-sized businesses and lead to
inflation, Serge Sargsyan said the lump-sum tax will not be increased.

"We proposed amendments to two laws to the National Assembly, and these
amendments are intended to curtail black economy. To replace the simplified
tax by the lump-sum tax in one case and usual taxes in the other case. I
understand that some businessmen may dislike it. But we will always have to
make steps if we want to reduce black economy, boost the budget, the GDP, we
will take these steps continuously," the prime minister said.

In answer to OYP Member of Parliament Artashes Avoyan’s question on the
return of lost savings which was one of the frequently asked questions in
the pre-election period, Serge Sargsyan said we will continue to return the
savings as much as we can. "If we could, we would return all the 100
percent," the prime minister said.