NKR: New Stage Of Economic Strategy

NEW STAGE OF ECONOMIC STRATEGY

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department
March 24, 2009

At the NKR Government Session

Today, the regular session of the NKR Government chaired by the Prime
Minister Ara Haroutyunyan has taken place.

First the Executive recognized the NKR Government decree 242 dated
2003 securing the enforcement of the NKR law on "Gamblings and
Gambling Houses" to be repealed and assigned the competence of the
state governing body authorized by the Executive to the Ministry of
Finance. A new order of licensing the activity of organization of
gamblings and gambling houses in the NKR was affirmed.

The Finance, Agriculture and Urban Planning Ministries’ and the
Capital Construction Department’s accounts on the activities of 2008
were considered at the session.

According to the presentation of the NKR Vice-Premier, Minister of
Finance S.Tevosyan, in 2008, the financial and economic policy in the
NKR was mainly directed to securing macro-economic stability, promoting
the economic growth, and in the second half of the year, to confronting
the worldwide expanding financial and economic crisis. Last year the
growth of state incomes on part of taxation as well as other incomes
was continued. In the accounting year the state budget incomes amounted
AMD 19807.3 mln exceeding the corresponding index of 2007 by 31.5
percent. The tax incomes and state duties amounted AM D 12884 mln,
which, compared with the index of the previous year, has increased
by 24.3 percent. The state budget expenses of 2008 formed AMD 49723.8
mln instead of the anticipated AMD 52517.6 mln.

Summarizing the results of the Finance Ministry’s positive activity of
2008, Prime Minister A. Haroutyunyan attached importance to the problem
of preparation and qualification of auditors among the tasks of the
current year and ordered the Ministry to carry out some additional
work in this direction engaging the accountants of the private sector
in the courses as well.

The Minister of Agriculture, A.Tsatryan, particularly noted in
his account that works aimed at improving the land cultivation and
raising the crop yield of agricultural plants were carried out in
plant-growing sphere.

A plan of arrangements for the cultivation of autumn sowing plants,
pea and melilot, where, according to zones, the methods and time
limits of all the technological processes to be done are available,
was developed and rendered to the communities of the Republic.

Works carried out in other branches of agriculture as well,
perspectives of agriculture development in different subregions of
the Republic were touched upon in the account.

In his summarizing estimation Prime Minister A.Haroutyunyan noted
that the present level of agriculture in the NKR is still far
from being a satisfactory one, however the development rates ar e
encouraging. Â"Several years more are necessary for our agriculture
to rise to a desired levelÂ",- the Head of the Government stated. He
charged the Ministry of Agriculture with a task of carrying out an
active explanatory work among the rural population, in order that
they get aware of the state programmes implemented in the agricultural
sphere.

It became clear from the accounts that in 2008 a considerable
progress was recorded in the spheres of urban planning and capital
construction. The progress is mainly noticeable in the new way
organization and quality of urban planning and construction works. In
2008, capital construction at cost of AMD 9406,974 mln was implemented
in the NKR which considerably exceeds that of the previous year. Large
sums were especially allotted to the construction of houses and roads
and to gasification.

At the session, the Executive affirmed the three-year strategy of the
NKR Ministry of Economic Development. It is aimed at creating a stable
developing economy so that to secure favourable conditions for getting
engaged in entreperneurship as well as comprehensive protection of
both entreperneurs’ and consumers’ rights and interests, and a high
level of each citizen’s life conditions.

A number of decrees concerning the problems of aviation in the NKR
were adopted by the Government. They will be regulated by the Ministry
of Economic Development with the right of a Government authorized body.

The regulations of co-stationing of civil and army-cooperation
aircrafts, organization of the NKR airspace, meteorological security
of the civil aviation and other ones, submitted to the discussion of
the Government, were approved.

By another regulation, the minimal requirements of construction and
commission of automoblie gas-filling compressor stations were affirmed.

By the presentation of the Minister of Economic Development,
B. Babayan, two decrees on privatization of state and community
property were adopted by the Executive. The storehouse of
Â"ArtsakhenergoÂ" CSJO with a total surface of 488 square meters,
estimated at a cost of AMD 8183,5 thousand as well as the area
necessary for its service, which occupies 4855,0 square meters and is
estimated at a cadastre value of AMD 2051,238 thousand, is alienated
to theÂ" TechnoserviceÂ" LLC in form of a direct sale, according
to its application, the storehouse will serve as an office for the
organization of the activity of transport means’ technical examination.

By another decree the kindergarten in Azatamartikneri Street in
Martakert is alienated to a renter, the NKR representation of Armenian
Evangelical Association of America, through direct and gratuitous
rendering for using it like a kindergarten.

The Executive has introduced changes and additions into the Government
Decree 254 including, in particular, tangible and fictitious assets for
putting on in the list of expenditures documents approving arrangement
of deals realized during acquisition of services (works), stating
separate points of the decree by new editing.

At the session, a number of decrees concerning the educational sphere
of the Republic were adopted. Lists of specialties and quotas allotted
to Artsakh in the RA State higher educational institutions in 2009-2010
academic year were affirmed. In the mentioned academic year 1478 places
for students’ internal and by correspondence studies were foreseen
in the NKR State higher institutions. 73 school leavers from Artsakh
will have an opportunity to study in state higher institutions of
Armenia. In 2009 33 places at state order and 37 chargeable places
were allotted for postgraduate study in 29 specialties.

At the session rates of official salaries for employees of the NKR
diplomatic services in foreign countries and sizes of monthly other
expenses’ compensation connected with their existence were affirmed
by the Executive.

The order of safe vehicular traffic and the list of escort transport
means of special-purpose was also affirmed.

A number of decrees on changing land categories were adopted by
the Executive. Some changes were made in temporary schemes of lands
belonging to the village communities of Aygestan, Ivanyan, Berkadzor
(Askeran region), Taghavard in Martouni region, Aygehovit (Kashatagh
region).20Separate ground areas were transferred to construction
category.

At the session the Government has approved the results of annual
Yeghishe prize awarding for 2008 and allotted financial means. Awards
were presented to Edward Atanesyan in the sphere of literature (for
the book "On that Side of the Truth"), Hrant Mnatsakanyan in the
sphere of arts for his ("Victory", Holiday in Artsakh", "Triumphal
Entry") sculptures; in the sphere of cinematography and telefilms –
to Vahram Balayan ("Through the Pages of History"), in the sphere of
humanities to Karine Alaverdyan (for her book "Masters of our Scene").

By the decree of the Government, henceforth November 26 will be
celebrated as the Day of Office of Public Prosecutor.

At the session changes of editorial character were introduced to
separate formerly adopted decrees of the Executive.

* * * After the Government session, the Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunyan
had conducted a conference with heads of republican regional
administrations with the Ministry of Agriculture Armo Tsatryan’s
participation. Information about current spring field works was heard
to. According to the data of the Minister of Agriculture in comparison
with 2008, by now twice as much spring sowing was carried out.

At the conference an anxiety was expressed in concern with sown areas
of some regions being infected with pests. The Prime Minister Ara
Haroutyunyan strictly ins tructed the heads of regional administrations
to take all appropriate measures in time in order to prevent sown
areas from pests and to provide rich harvest.