IN OPINION OF VARDAN BOSTANJIAN, 2008 DRAFT STATE BUDGET IS AN "ASSAULT" ONE

Noyan Tapan
Nov 16, 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The 2008 draft state budget of
Armenia is an "assault" one because it essentially differs from the
previous budgets from the viewpoint of its quantity and quality,
member of NA "Prosperous Armenia" faction Vardan Bostanjian expressed
an opinion at the November 16 press conference. According to him, this
is the first budget of the second stage of reforms being implemented
in Armenia. He said that "the budgetary classification has changed
in the draft, based on which the transparency of the document has
increased and the allocations have become more targeted".

In his opinion, one qualitative change in the draft budget is that
allocations for needs of the state machinery have been reduced,
with these sums being directed to solution of development problems.

As for the checkings at the enterprises owned by NA deputy, businessman
Khachatur Sukiasian, V. Bostanjian said that one condition for
development of any country is to promote activities of economic
entities. "As an expert, I cannot imagine how the activities of an
economic entity can be stopped at once," he said, adding that it will
do considerable damage to the country.

At the same time, he expressed an opinion that economic entities should
be conscientious. "If a tax payer is not punctual in fulfilment of his
obligations, some actions may be taken which can be suddenly assessed
as political pressure," the deputy said. In response to the question
about whether there is a political factor in case of K. Sukiasian,
V. Bostanjian avoided giving a definite answer, explaining that he
does not know the details of this case.