PRIME MINISTER WILL ASK PRESIDENT AS SOON AS HE IS BACK
Lragir.am
05 June 06
On June 4 the standing committees of the National Assembly started
discussing the performance of the state budget 2005. The first debate
was attended by Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan. The questions of
the reporters were not only about budget performance.
“Two main posts in the country are occupied by Republicans. What
grounds do you have for such confidence?”
Andranik Margaryan: “We did not avoid responsibility. We have a duty
to fulfill, if we have entered politics and ran for elections with
a clear program, it means we realized the difficulty we would face?”
“Will you spare some office for Sergo Yeritsyan or did you let
him down?”
Andranik Margaryan: “Who said that we let him down? I haven’t promised
him anything.”
“They promised him the post of adviser to president.”
Andranik Margaryan: “Well, if they promised, they will keep their
promise.
The president is not here. I will ask him as soon as he is back.”
“Why do teachers intensively affiliate with your party? Recently it
was reported in the region of Armavir.”
Andranik Margaryan: “They affiliate with not only the Republican
Party. As for the complaints from the region of Armavir, I know. They
are not real.
Nothing extraordinary has happened, there are no such
considerations. The party has always accepted members, and not only
teachers but workers of other spheres. If you remember, last year
the Republican Party announced after its congress that changes will
be made inside the party, we will get rid of opportunists, people,
who exist on lists only. People become enrolled, years pass, but
they do not work actively. Naturally, we do not want to exaggerate
the number of party members. The lists of the members were reviewed,
some members were dismissed, others quit themselves and joined other
parties. This is a natural process for each party. There is no need
to look for sensations.”
“Judging by the tense relations between the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation and the Attorney General, can we say that a new scandal
is coming up inside the government?”
Andranik Margaryan: “No, those were separate cases. We will be trying
to settle everything.”
“What do you think, are there drawbacks in the budget performance?”
Andranik Margaryan: “I am satisfied with the performance of the state
budget in 2005. With regard to some points that the expenditures were
not complete.
But it is not because of setbacks in the programs. Purchases by the
State Agency for Purchases allow cutting the costs. Several programs
were not implemented. These are mainly loan programs, particularly
in the health sector.
These had been transferred to the year 2006.”
“You were satisfied with the work of the former minister of
culture. The minister was replaced, however.”
Andranik Margaryan: “It was the result of political arrangements,
not the work of the minister.”
“Before becoming part of power, the United Labor Party announced
that they were going to be tough with the coalition. Gurgen Arsenyan
accompanied you during your last visit. What was his attitude?”
Andranik Margaryan: “There was no toughness.”
“Do you think it is possible that the government will receive a vote
of no confidence connected with the performance of the budget?”
Andranik Margaryan: “But there must be some reason. Even the political
purposes need to have a ground. A political demand is not determined
by wishes.
One needs to have a ground for success.”
