ARMEN MARTIROSIAN: IT IS TIME FOR ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT TO CONDUCT PROGRESSIVE TAXATION POLICY

Noyan Tapan

Feb 5, 2009

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia has no economic development
programs aimed at overcoming the consequences of the global economic
crisis, the deputy chairman of the Board of "Heritage" party Movses
Aristakesian expressed an opinion at the February 5 press conference.

In his words, one development program is formation of the national
industry and making it domectic demand and export- oriented. Whereas,
the share of indirect taxes continues to remain large (about 60%)
in the tax revenues of the state budget. "Indirect taxes are paid by
consumers. In fact, the budget is ensured at the expense of consumers
rather than production," he noted.

M. Aristakesian announced that today some problems arose in terms
of ensuring budgetary revenues. There have already been cases when
pensions as well as salaries of employees of the educational sector
were not paid in time.

In the opinion of the head of the parliamentary "Heritage" faction
Armen Martirosian, as a result of a decline in remittances sent
to Armenia from abroad – due to the economic crisis, there will be
problems related to budgetary revenues and expenditures. He said that
the current problems can be solved by obtaining financial resources
within the country – instead of increasing Armenia’s foreign debt. In
his words, no economic entities or sectors receving superprofits must
exist in Armenia.

According to him, it is time for the government to conduct a
progressive taxation policy, and this policy should be conducted with
respect to real estate as well. "Our experts are already developing
a bill on progressive taxation," A. Martirosian said and called on
the government to develop an alternative bill.

A. Martirosian said that one of the ways to increase budgetary revenues
is to make the shadow sector and big tax payers pay the full amount
of taxes.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress