ARMENIA IS IN NEED OF RADICAL REFORMS, HRANT BAGRATIAN SAYS
Noyan Tapan
Jan 18, 2010
YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The economic decline has not
receded in Armenia because no positive steps have been taken in this
direction. Former Prime Minister of Armenia Hrant Bagratian made this
statement at the January 18 meeting with reporters, adding that the
country is in need of radical reforms.
"For example, it is necessary to introduce progressive income tax,
which was not done. Besides, there should be no private lotteries
because incomes from a lottery are risk-free incomes, and the ministry
of finance should take this activity in its hand. Or, why provide
assistance to developers? The country is in crisis because of them,"
the former prime minister said, noting that in the past ten years only
elite buildings have been constructed in Yerevan, which are not sold
now and will not be sold in the next five years. "There is no point
in wasting money on construction of 20 thousand luxurious apartments
in Yerevan," the economist underlined.
In the words of H. Bagratian, Armenia needs serious "political and
economic medical aid". "In other words, it is necessary to prevent
the country’s economic potential from concentrating in the hands
of several people, the president should not be allowed to become a
billionaire, and the church should not be allowed to do business," H.
Bagratian stated. According to him, the Armenian National Congress
has potential to change this situation.
He said that if the situation continues, the crisis will gradually
deepen in Armenia. In his words, 7% economic growth was recorded
in Armenia in 1994, whereas the 15% decline in 2009 is currently
considered a gratifying fact.