Sunday, 31 December 2006
RA Prime Minister A. Margaryan's Greetings Message on the Occasion of the New Year and Christmas
Dear Compatriots in Homeland, Diaspora, Artsakh and Javakhk,
Please accept my congratulations and best wishes for a Happy New Year and a Merry Christmas. Soon the clock will strike the last few seconds of the passing year and the start of the new one. Let it be a year of success and new achievements. Of course, independence is the biggest acquisition for all of us, the 15th anniversary of which we celebrated this year. I am confident that during future such celebrations we will be able to speak of ever greater achievements the foundations of which are being formed and consolidated today. The economic year was endowed with positive indicators. The Government succeeded in meeting fully and in due time, all the commitments assumed under the State budget law, with at least 13% growth recorded by the close of this fiscal year.
Social expenditures have gone up in parallel to State budget's growing capacity, and the year 2006 made no exception to the rule. A considerable increase in budget allocations to the wage, pension, benefit funds and to the spheres of education and health care is envisaged for 2007, and this process will be continued in the years ahead. Of course, there are still many problems and unsettled issues, among which the question of equal distribution of the GDP with the view of lessening the gap between extreme poverty and prosperity, the depth and consistency in the fight against corruption, the winding up of the pace of reform processes in a number of key areas with enhanced efficiency in the implementation thereof. Similarly important is that political life has been free from any shakings this year. Parliamentary elections are ahead of us and I am hopeful that all the participants - public authorities, political forces, civil society - will do everything to hold them up to the mark.
It is a common rule to see the New Year in the narrow circle of close relatives and friends by taking a share in the joy of the holiday and exchanging best wishes with festive spirits. I join these festive wishes and, first of all, wish you peace for which our people has paid a very high price, as well as solidarity in the defiance of all internal and external challenges, robust health, infinite love and warmth in your homes coupled with a firm belief in the future of our State.
A Happy New Year and a Merry Christmas!
