ARMENIA’S FINANCE MINISTER ASSURES THAT POVERTY IS NOT 60%

Tert.am
15.11.11

Armenia’s Finance Minister Vache Gabrielyan has dismissed allegations
that poverty reaches 60% in the country.

Speaking at the parliament on Tuesday, Gabrielyan also said that
there can be no stability in the country if the minimum salary is
32,500 drams ($approx 85).

“I assure you that poverty is not 60%. That is imagination,” said
Gabrielyan. “Stability does not mean that we may suddenly turn into
a rich country from a poor one.”

“That is another concept and category,” said Gabrielyan, pointing to
global economic-financial crisis which affects Armenia’s economy too.

“If in a rich country like US poverty may increase by 5-6% due to the
financial-economic crisis, if there is naturally such a development,
it cannot overstep RA [Republic of Armenia],” explained he.

Further, Gabrielyan said that there can be no talk about stability
if the minimum salary is 35,000 (approx. $85).

“How can we speak about stability, when the minimum salary is 32,500
drams, when the librarians receive abound 40,000 drams,” said Vache
Gabrielyan.

From: A. Papazian