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YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Certain problems emerged with agriculture and tourism in some parts of Armenia after the latest Azerbaijani attack, and the Armenian government is now conducting studies to understand what programs are required to revive the economic life in these areas, Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan told reporters when asked on the economic damages from the recent Azeri aggression.
“If we speak about the general figures, the total trade turnover in September even grew compared to the previous months. The data we have now shows that it is very likely that we will not have economic activity decline in September, it will be somewhere between 19 and 20 percent,” Kerobyan said, adding that concrete data will be published on October 25. But this doesn’t mean that there are no problems, he added.
“Some parts in Gegharkunik, Syunik and Vayots Dzor provinces are near to being paralyzed. I visited both Vardenis, Sotk and Jermuk and other parts to understand what programs we should initiate now to be able to revive the economic life. Studies are underway now. Nevertheless, it is clear that if the Azeri troops don’t pull back to their initial positions the problem will become more difficult,” Kerobyan said.
Speaking on economic damages, he said that although damages aren’t fully calculated yet, he can say that several thousand hectares of land aren’t being cultivated and tourism is suspended in Jermuk.
“But we didn’t lose a single settlement, and we can say that no significant, major business was lost. Even the Sotk mine, which is in that area, is functioning.”