WITH OUR ECONOMY WE CANNOT WIN THE WAR

Lragir
Dec 21 2007
Armenia

The the economy, the structure of the economy in Armenia based on
monopoly and protectionism does not undergo fundamental changes,
Armenia cannot be competitive in any way, including in the military
aspect.

"In the next war we are going to be in a worse state, less ready, and
less independent. The economic independence of Armenia then will be
weaker than at the beginning of the 90s. In the next war we will have
a smaller chance, if it starts," stated Hrant Bagratyan on December
21 at the Hayeli Club.

What is Hrant Bagratyan’s vision of reorganization and legalization
of the economy based on illegal relations to avoid a transformational
shock? In answer to this question Hrant Bagratyan says the problem
is complicated but there are ways of solution, especially that most
businessmen, oligarchs who are now criticized are in reality good
businessmen. Hrant Bagratyan says he is against the calls for a
revolutionary solution. "True and false are always concrete. We
must observe each case separately to find out whether the given
oligarch is to blame for the privatization of the given entity. We
have considerable work to do. I am for privatization but even in
this case I would not rule out denouncing some two or three deals as
machinations," Hrant Bagratyan says.