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EX-GOVERNOR OF CENTRAL BANK QUESTIONS GOVERNMENT'S PLEDGE TO RESOLVE SOCIAL PROBLEMS
YEREVAN, June 5. /ARKA/. Bagrat Asatrian, an ex-governor of Armenia's
Central Bank, questioned today the government's arguments that the
projected 7 percent economic expansion this year would help it resolve
a string of pressing social problems.
The target was set by president Serzh Sargsyan in a speech at a
Cabinet session earlier this year. The president said he expected
the government to improve its performance and find solutions to a set
of social problems. In 2012 the country's GDP was 7.2%. This year's
projection is 6.2%.
Speaking at a news conference Bagrat Asatiran argued that the projected
GDP growth could be secured only by a hike in the price of natural
Russian gas. He questioned also the government's pledges to stop
out-emigration of labor force, cut unemployment and poverty.
In May ArmRosgazprom, Armenia's Russian-controlled natural gas
operator, asked the regulator to revise upward the current tariff for
Russian natural gas. It wants to raise the price for consumers using
up to 10 thousand cubic meters a month from current 132,000 drams
per one thousand cubic meters (including VAT) to 221,000 drams. Late
last month Armenia's Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC)
said consumers using up to 10,000 cubic meters of natural gas per
month are likely to pay 156 drams, including VAT, for one cubic meter,
up form current 132 drams. Corporate and other enterprise consuming
10,000 and more cubic meters will be paying about $276.98 per one
thousand cubic meters. This decision is supposed to enter into force
from July this year. The PSRC is also expected to set 38 drams per
one KWh electricity consumed in daytime and 28 drams for electricity
consumed at night (including VAT). ($1 - 416.02 drams). -0-
YEREVAN, June 5. /ARKA/. Bagrat Asatrian, an ex-governor of Armenia's
Central Bank, questioned today the government's arguments that the
projected 7 percent economic expansion this year would help it resolve
a string of pressing social problems.
The target was set by president Serzh Sargsyan in a speech at a
Cabinet session earlier this year. The president said he expected
the government to improve its performance and find solutions to a set
of social problems. In 2012 the country's GDP was 7.2%. This year's
projection is 6.2%.
Speaking at a news conference Bagrat Asatiran argued that the projected
GDP growth could be secured only by a hike in the price of natural
Russian gas. He questioned also the government's pledges to stop
out-emigration of labor force, cut unemployment and poverty.
In May ArmRosgazprom, Armenia's Russian-controlled natural gas
operator, asked the regulator to revise upward the current tariff for
Russian natural gas. It wants to raise the price for consumers using
up to 10 thousand cubic meters a month from current 132,000 drams
per one thousand cubic meters (including VAT) to 221,000 drams. Late
last month Armenia's Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC)
said consumers using up to 10,000 cubic meters of natural gas per
month are likely to pay 156 drams, including VAT, for one cubic meter,
up form current 132 drams. Corporate and other enterprise consuming
10,000 and more cubic meters will be paying about $276.98 per one
thousand cubic meters. This decision is supposed to enter into force
from July this year. The PSRC is also expected to set 38 drams per
one KWh electricity consumed in daytime and 28 drams for electricity
consumed at night (including VAT). ($1 - 416.02 drams). -0-