MP: ACTION PROGRAM OF ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT REFLECTS CURRENT REALITIES, FUTURE CHALLENGES
ARKA
Jun 28 2007
YEREVAN, June 28. /ARKA/. The action program of the Armenian Government
for the upcoming five years reflects the current realities and
the challenges that the country faces in the given period of time,
said Gagik Minasian, Chairman of Standing Parliament Committee for
financial-crediting and budget issues of the Armenian Parliament.
The Program is also based on the results of the work done in Armenia
in the previous several years.
"Our state managed to implement economic policy and provide fairly
good results despite the quite unfavorable conditions such as strained
relations with the neighboring countries, limited opportunities of
transit routes and no outlet to the sea," Minasian said. This is
proved by the two-digit economic growth recorded in the country in
the last several years, he added.
"Apart from that, during the implementation of the Poverty Reduction
Strategic Program, Armenia’s achievements were in excess of the
indicators set in the program," Minasian said.
He also attached importance to the achievements in the field of
democracy as social achievements alone will be transient without the
development of democracy.
Commenting on Heritage party’s having voted against the government
program Minasian pointed out that the statements of the party’s
representatives do not reflect the reality, The government program
for 2008-2012 was approved by the country’s parliament on June 26,
with 94 voted for, 7 MPs from Heritage parliament group voted against
and 9 MPs Orinats Erkir opposition party abstained from the voting.
The government program envisages 8-10% annual growth of GDP, which
will allow Armenia moving to the list of the countries with medium
income by the end of 2009. Under the program, the government planned
minimum of 10% increase in annual investment volume, 10% increase in
urban employment and 105,000 new jobs.
The government also intends to provide the investments-GDP ratio
within the range of27-30% and achieve the required volume of capital
investments mainly through private investments. The program provides
for improvement of the country’s taxation system, simplification of
tax legislation, expansion of tax base and even distribution of tax
burden through reduction in "shadow" economy.
Major reduction in poverty is considered one of the main objectives
of the government to be achieved through increase in pensions. The
government is also to increase financing of the social sector,
healthcare and culture, science and education.
Two coalition parties – Republican Party of Armenia and "Prospering
Armenia" voted for the program, together with Armenian Revolutionary
Federation Dashnaktsutiun party that cooperates with coalition.
According to leader of Heritage parliament opposition group Raffi
Hovanissian, the parliament group of Heritage party doubts that the
provisions of the program relate to the current realities.