WHY TO SET HOPES ON RUSSIA WHICH IS IN A SAD STATE TOO
NANO ARGHUTYAN

LRAGIR.AM
18:27:26 – 29/04/2009

The Armenian and Turkish relations and the Dashnaktsutyun leaving
the coalition took all the attention of the active sphere of the
public. Important processes, which were in the centre of everyone’s
attention, only several weeks ago, are now deprived of attention. It
concerns the upcoming Yerevan Mayor election and the financial
economic crisis.

As to the elections, the "lack" of attention is of use because
it helps to avoid additional excitement, moreover, the electoral
campaign starts on May 2. But, everything is much more difficult with
the crisis. Such information, which could cause an information boom
at some time, now is paid zero attention. In particular, on these
days, while summing up the economic results of the first quarter,
the government cast doubts on the implementation of the social
duties set by the budget. The government stated that they will do
everything possible to fulfill those duties. Though, until today
the government has always stated with confidence that the salaries,
pensions and grants will be paid regardless every circumstances. This
entire proves that by this summer, more, by this autumn the economic
state of the country may strictly worsen and a lot of people may be
deprived of the only source of means for living -salaries and pensions.

During the first quarter of the 2009, the GDP in Armenia decreased
by 6, 1 percent. The industrial production decreased by 9, 1 percent,
in addition the industrial production is almost the third of the GDP.

The government tries to hold out. It was able to last for several
months thanks to the loans from the International Monetary Fund and the
World Bank. The government became happy learning that the IMF doubles
the financial assistance for the poorest income countries. But the
happiness was short: the IMF had to announce that this decision was
meant not for Armenia.

Now the only hope is Russia. The loan of half a billion of
dollars promised in response to the agreement on forming the CSTO
quick response forces is not provided, and it is not worthwhile
hoping. Russia’s state is sad too.

During the first quarter the decline of the Russian GDP is 9, 5
percent. The industrial investments lowered by 18 percent. Calculations
state that now more than 7 million of people are looking for a job
in Russia.

Such a state in Russia does not make happy anyone in Armenia. But,
the logic question anyway occurs: why to set economic hopes on a side
which is in a sad state too. Why to put under its control more and
more objects. For example, after Serge Sargsyan’s visit to Moscow on
April 22, the Russian mining company got the rights to study uranic
mines on the Armenian territory. It is also spoken that Russian
companies will be involved in the construction of the new Armenian
nuclear power plant.

At the same time, the Armenian government does not pay attention on
the measures Russia itself takes up. The Moscow Mayor Vladimir Lujkov
thinks that the small and midsize businesses should be deprived of
governmental control.

The Armenian government, on the contrary, keeps taking strict steps
concerning the small and midsize businesses, forcing them to use the
control cash registers. Regardless the Prime Minister’s statements
that the major business will be taken into the tax field this year,
the public did not witness such a case.

The Armenian government may be only winning time, but for what? Maybe
it would be more honest to present the real situation, to revise the
budget and tell people what to expect.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress