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YERAVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS:
Maintenance of social programs and complete fulfillment of social commitments will be priority for us, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said today at NA in answer to parliamentarian Victor Dallakyan's question on what steps the government has undertaken in the direction of overcoming the possible second stage of the global economic crisis. Tigran Sargsyan added that the social programs will give an opportunity to smoothen the negative impact of the global crisis on our economy.
"That question is in the focus of attention of the government, and we discuss it with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF)," Tigran Sargsyan said, informing that during these days the regional director of the World Bank and the delegation of IMF are in Armenia, and the programs on prevention of new possible wave of crisis are discussed with them.
"Every year when we submit the state budget to the discussion of the National Assembly, it contains a part, which describes the international tendencies, the international situation and the environment, in which RA economy works," the Prime Minister reminded, noting that on the basis of that document lay the official documents, which are provided by the IMF and WB – their forecasts on development of the world economy, including on the environment of developing and developed countries. The years of 2008-2010 have not been an exception as well.
"The concerns voiced today by leading specialists are because the environment is worsening in financial markets and it can have a long-term nature," Tigran Sargsyan said.
The IMF publishes its forecasts once in a quarter, and makes changes in them. "We have noticed that during this year those forecasts are changing with pessimistic tendencies and assessments, though those claims are equivocal in regard that several scenarios of development of global economy are being discussed," the Prime Minister added, stressing that in this case the task of the government is to assess the influence of the worst scenario on RA economy.
The Prime Minister promised that those risk scenarios and corresponding tasks in case of every scenario will be submitted to the National Assembly together with the draft state budget.
The previous crisis hit the Republic of Armenia not by financial, but real segment, particularly, in the sphere of construction. "The primary issue for us is provision of diversification of economy, in order we reach the dependence on one branch to a minimum," the head of the government reaffirmed.
As a means of avoiding a new wave of crisis, the Prime Minister pointed out the direction of accumulation of financial resources, which will enable to implement expenses in case of negative scenarios irrespective of the thing what changes occur in the taxation base of the economy.
Tigran Sargsyan also attached importance to measures of provision of macroeconomic stability, which will allow restraining some risks, too," Tigran Sargsyan noted.