WE MUST BE SELF-SUFFICIENT
KarabakhOpen
17-12-2007 10:38:10
The first reading of the budget bill will be on December 19. Judging
by the positive evaluations by the leaders of factions, the bill will
be adopted.
The leader of the Democratic faction Vahram Atanesyan says conceptually
the budget of 2008 does not differ from the previous budgets.
"Apparently because the transition period is not over yet, although
it should be noted that it is lasting too long. There is a benchmark
of self-sufficiency which we must attain, and it should be reflected
in the budget first of all," Vahram Atanesyan said.
"On the whole, the budget allows enlarging social activities. The
members of the faction think it is the starting point of the social
policy.
Although we think social aid should be entitled. Next year the
cost of living should underlie the social policy," the member of
parliament added.
"I understand that the government did not have enough time to work
out the new concept of the economic policy. We offer the government
to propose programs on the budget priorities," said the leader of
the Democratic faction.
"Our political independence should be enforced through economic
self-sufficiency. Unfortunately, we did not find a solution to this
in the budget 2008. However, the bill involves a number of components
which could become basis for self-sufficiency. We need to learn to plan
not only expenditure but also income, otherwise we will constantly
have to rely on the interstate loan, remittances and donations by
our compatriots," Vahram Atanesyan said.
The estimated budget receipts in 2008 are up by 35 percent from 2007
and total 49 billion drams. Own income is estimated at 19.8 billion
drams. The government expects an interstate loan of 26.7 billion
drams from Armenia.