ROBERT KOCHARIAN: YEREVAN EVENTS HAD AN IMPACT BUT THIS IMPACT IS NOT IRREVERSIBLE

Noyan Tapan
March 20, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia’s economic growth made over 10%
by the results of the first two months of 2008 but the March 1 events
will probably have an impact on the economic growth indices of the
coming months, the Armenian president Robert Kocharian said at the
March 20 press conference. "I have no doubts that there has been an
impact but I do not think that this impact will be irreversible," he
remarked. According to him, people need to be sure that there is and
will be stability in the country, that the economic policy will not
undergo sharp changes and and the rules of the game in the economic
field will be stable, which is the best guarantee of the investment
policy and investment attractiveness.

Armenian president reminded that after the act of terrorism committed
on October 27, 1999, Armenia finished the first six months with a
zero economic growth, however, thanks to the solutions found by means
of some definite decisions, the economic growth made over 6% by the
results of the second half of that year. "I am convinced that if there
are no new provocations and if the state takes consistent steps, the
impact of this factor will be continuing for 1-2 months, after which
we will make up for the losses and finish the year with quite serious
indices. If we succeed, then our pensioners can anticipate a greater
growth of pensions and our social programs will be implemented. The
procrastination in this situation would directly hit every citizen,
especially those from the vulnerable groups. The sooner everything
settles down, the more all our citizens will benefit," R. Kocharian
said.