TIGRAN SARGSIAN, "THE NEW GOVERNMENT HAS COME TO MAKE DRASTIC CHANGES"

ARMENPRESS
May 16, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 16, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Tigran Sargsian
received today the delegation headed by the U.S. coordinator of
European and Eurasian assistance Tom Adams.

Governmental press service told Armenpress that during the meeting the
prime minister said that Armenia underscores the further development of
relations with USA and particularly the activity of the U.S.-Armenian
inter-governmental task group dealing with the economic issues,
which he said, is ensuring progress for Armenia.

Tigran Sargsian thanked the U.S. government for the large volume of
assistance provided to Armenia since its independence and added that
in a number of spheres the results are obvious.

"At the same time we fully realize that there are spheres where the
reforms are not notable and U.S. assistance will greatly promote to
overcome the issues in those spheres as well," the prime minister said.

Congratulating Tigran Sargsian on being appointed in the office of
the prime minister, Tom Adams said that he is very glad as he had an
opportunity to cooperate with him when he was the chairman of the
Armenia’s Central Bank. T. Adams expressed assurance that Tigran
Sargsian will succeed in his new position.

During the meeting the prime minister also presented Armenia’s
macroeconomic situation, as well as the pace of reforms in tax and
customs systems.

Considering it one of the main issues of the newly formed government,
Sargsian said that the achieved results will directly promote the
solution of social and economic issues of the country.

He said that soon program of events and aims of the reforms in tax
and customs spheres will be published through which the public will
be able to control the steps of the government.

Among the prior issues he also noted the creation of favorable
conditions for the development of small and medium sized business,
effective fight against corruption. He said that the government is
cooperating with the international establishments in that direction.

Tom Adams noted that during the recent times the positive changes
are quite notable in the improving tax administration and pointed
out that there are still some issues connected with the development
of democracy, rule of law, promotion of business. He promised that
U.S. administration will continue cooperating with the Armenian
government in the mentioned spheres for making the country attractive
for foreign investments.

"People are tired of words and promises. We need to work and have
announced that the new Armenian government has come to make drastic
changes," Tigran Sargsian said.