THIS SUMMER HIGH-RANKING ARMENIAN OFFICIALS MUST REST IN ARMENIA BY TAKING PART OF THEIR VACATIONS

Noyan Tapan
June 18, 2009

YEREVAN, JUNE 18, NOYAN TAPAN. This summer will be a period of hard
work for the Armenian government members so the ministers, deputy
ministers and heads of departments will not be able to rest for a
month. Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan announced this at the June 18
sitting of the government, adding that in case of taking a vacation,
an official will have to spend it in Armenia.

"I am surprised that all of you have submitted applications for a
vacation in the same month. As if nothing extraordinary has happened,
we have overcome the financial and economic crisis, and the government
is not expected to do hard work. Such an approach is unacceptable. Even
if a high-ranking official gets a vacation, it will be a short one
in Armenia," T. Sargsyan said, noting that Armenia’s economic indices
were not good this year, and the year 2009, especially its first nine
months will be the hardest for the economy.

In his words, the fall in economic indices appears to be notable
against the background of high economic indices in recent years,
but one should not be guided by the explanation that a problem of
technical recession exists.

According to T. Sargsian, Armenia’s economic indices continue to
decline under the impact of the crisis, but some positive trends
are expected in late 2009. "If we work well this summer, we will see
positive results at the end of 2009. I request you to consider the
summer season as a period of intensive work. The government has no
right to look forward to a holiday season, no, it is going to be a
period of strenuous work," the prime minister underlined.