2010 DRAFT STATE BUDGET OF ARMENIA ENVISAGES FINANCING OF 125.4 MILLION DRAMS FOR RA OMBUDSMAN STAFF
Noyan Tapan
Nov 5, 2009
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The 2010 draft state budget
of Armenia envisages financing of 125.4 million drams for the RA
Ombudsman Staff – as compared to 136.1 million drams in 2009. 70% of
the indicated sum will go to the wage fund. The RA Ombudsman Office
has 47 employees with the average monthly salary of 119 thousand drams.
Speaking about the financing problems in 2010, RA Ombudsman Armen
Harutyunian said at the November 5 joint sitting of the National
Assembly Standing Committees that more reduction in financing had
been planned previously. However, taking into account the importance
of domestic business trips under conditions of the absence of regional
offices, the government complied with their request and mostly reduced
expenses on foreign business trips (by about 4 million drams).
According to A. Harutyunian, the envisaged financing will be enough
to visit all the marzes (provinces) at least once a year.
He said that in 2010, they will not be able to realize the program of
founding at least 3 regional offices – in Gyumri, Vanadzor, and Goris.
In the opinion of A. Harutyunian, the 2010 budget of the RA Ombudsman
Office will allow performing the main functions. He expressed a hope
that next year they will again manage to get material assistance
from international donors, although the latter do not usually provide
considerable grants to state bodies.
The draft state budget was calculated based on the settlement exchange
rate of 376 drams per dollar.