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IN OPINION OF TIGRAN JRBASHIAN, EUROINTEGRATION IS INSTRUMENT OF
IMPROVING ECONOMY
YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The European integration should be not a
end in itself for Armenia but an instrument of making efficient
economic reforms, the Armenian director of the Armenian-European Policy
and Legal Advice Centre Tigran Jrbashian expressed an opinion at the
May 5 press conference. In his words, Eurointegration is a driving
force which will allow to implement second-generation institutional
reforms in the country, that is, to form a government system able to
conduct an efficient policy in the future.
He said that a growth in European investments will be a result of
efficient reforms. According to him, in 2007 European investments in
Armenia grew by 18%, Russian investments - by 50.4% (the total amount
of investments made about 845 mln USD). Among European countries which
made considerable investments were Germany (55.3 mln USD), France (18.8
mln USD), Cyprus (16.5 mln USD) and the UK (13.5 mln USD).
Pointing out that the program of the new government is aimed at reform
making, T. Jrbashian expressed a hope that this time the envisaged
ideas will be put into practice instead of remaining on paper. At the
same time he expressed an opinion that the reforms included in the
program are belated because 2-3 years ago these reforms could have been
implemented in much more favorable conditions, whereas today, according
to him, the state has to tighten customs and tax administration on the
one hand, while on the other hand, it tries to reduce the social risks
caused by external and domestic factors. T. Jrbashian said Armenia is
facing serious challenges due to the global economic crisis and the
internal political tension. In addition, the World Trade Organization
demands that value added tax (VAT) be used in agriculture from 2009. In
the opinion of T. Jrbashian, the upcoming 12 months will be a
responsible period for the government, and the Armenian society should
conceive the difficulties to be encountered by our country.
IMPROVING ECONOMY
YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The European integration should be not a
end in itself for Armenia but an instrument of making efficient
economic reforms, the Armenian director of the Armenian-European Policy
and Legal Advice Centre Tigran Jrbashian expressed an opinion at the
May 5 press conference. In his words, Eurointegration is a driving
force which will allow to implement second-generation institutional
reforms in the country, that is, to form a government system able to
conduct an efficient policy in the future.
He said that a growth in European investments will be a result of
efficient reforms. According to him, in 2007 European investments in
Armenia grew by 18%, Russian investments - by 50.4% (the total amount
of investments made about 845 mln USD). Among European countries which
made considerable investments were Germany (55.3 mln USD), France (18.8
mln USD), Cyprus (16.5 mln USD) and the UK (13.5 mln USD).
Pointing out that the program of the new government is aimed at reform
making, T. Jrbashian expressed a hope that this time the envisaged
ideas will be put into practice instead of remaining on paper. At the
same time he expressed an opinion that the reforms included in the
program are belated because 2-3 years ago these reforms could have been
implemented in much more favorable conditions, whereas today, according
to him, the state has to tighten customs and tax administration on the
one hand, while on the other hand, it tries to reduce the social risks
caused by external and domestic factors. T. Jrbashian said Armenia is
facing serious challenges due to the global economic crisis and the
internal political tension. In addition, the World Trade Organization
demands that value added tax (VAT) be used in agriculture from 2009. In
the opinion of T. Jrbashian, the upcoming 12 months will be a
responsible period for the government, and the Armenian society should
conceive the difficulties to be encountered by our country.