Tuesday, 24 March 2009
«The credit is available to Armenia without any preconditions»
After a meeting with the representatives of 48 political parties, Iravunq - de facto’s questions are answered by RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
- Mr. Prime Minister, the meeting was not attended by the leader of Prosperous Armenia Party Gagik Tsarukyan. Do you know why and whether there is any political consideration?
- There are no political considerations as we met with Prosperous Armenia in the National Assembly and outlined the logic behind the anti-crisis program and follow-up action, took note of their proposals. Here, it should be noted that we are in close cooperation with Mr. Tsarukyan’s party so there is no point in looking for any underlying “texts” which is anachronism already.
- You mean we can speak of full "mutual understanding" between you?
- That’s it. And, I would like to disappoint you once again by saying that there is a 100% mutual understanding.
- On what questions?
- On anticorruption problems, those chief targets about which either they have voiced concern and fears.
- Mr. Prime Minister, one of these days MP Victor Dallakyan came up with a legislative initiative suggesting to index social charges at least by 20%. To what extent this proposal may suit the "pocket" of the Government? By the way, the MP suggested to do that by dragging large businesses into the tax field.
- We give due consideration to all the proposals made by our MPs. Indeed, Victor Dalakyan’s proposal, too, deserves attention.
- "Understood." Mr. Prime Minister, the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border within the next couple of months is much spoken about even at the level experts?
- It would be unrealistic to speak about border opening within one or two months. Notwithstanding that serious progress has been made in this area, still it seems too early to state when this will happen.
- Another set expert opinions concern the credit which will be given to Armenia on the part of Russia. At what stage we are?
- On March 19, the government of the Russian Federation approved the draft budget of the Russian Federation, including the USD 500 MN-worth credit for Armenia.
- By the way, the very same experts insist that the credit will only be used to support those Armenian-Russian joint ventures operating in our country?
- The credit is given to the Government of Armenia without any preconditions and orientation. It is up to Armenia to decide which way these sums will be spent?
- And in conclusion: what are your expectations from the Yerevan municipal elections?
- Of course, we will follow them up and we believe that these elections will help create an atmosphere of accord and cooperation within the society and everything should be done in order this process proves successful.
- To your mind, was Levon Ter-Petrosyan's nomination unexpected?
- No, it was not unexpected.
- Why?
- It was a logical step on the part of a political figure.
- How do you estimate his chances?
- It is the choice of our people.
- Do you observe fasting rules?
- Of course.
- The Feast Eve - at St Sarkis?
- Certainly. Either you can come around.
- We shall be there.
