KOCHARYAN: UNREST IN YEREVAN NOT TO HAVE IRREVERSIBLE IMPACT ON ARMENIA’S ECONOMIC GROWTH
ARKA
March 21, 2008
YEREVAN, March 21. /ARKA/. Unrest in Yerevan is not to have
irreversible impact on economic growth in the country, Armenain
President Robert Kocharyan said on Thursday.
He told journalists that economic growth in Armenia exceeded 10%
in passed two months.
"It is natural that these events will impact economic growth, but
later, in follow-up months, but I don’t think this impact will be
irreversible", he said.
He said public confidence in stability and stable economic environment
are the best guarantees for attracting investments from the outside.
The president reminded journalists that after terrorist action in
Parliament committed on October 27 1999 the economic growth was equal
to zero in the first half of 2000, while at the second half of the year
the authorities managed to raise it 6%. Kocharyan is convinced that
the authorities will back things to normal just in a couple of months.
He said if the unrest stops, pensioners will have their retirement
benefits increased, otherwise the situation will strike hand at them.
Kocharyan also warned that other low-income citizens will be stricken
as well.
National Statistical Service of Armenia says economic growth for
January and February was recorded at 10.1% and GDP totaled AMD 221.4
billion ($719.4 million).
Foreign trade turnover reached AMD 211.4 billion or $687 million in
January and February 2008 after growing 24.1%, compared with the same
months of the previous year.
In January and February 2007, economic growth was recorded at 9.2%.
GDP growth id planned to be 10% in 2008.