Bagrat Asatryan: Armenian authorities will feign nice GDP growth at yearendAugust 23, 2010 - 14:02 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - At yearend, Armenian authorities will feign nice GDP growth, former president of Central Bank of Armenia Bagrat Asatryan stated, commenting on dwindling GDP rate (4% growth). “Armenian government’s anticrisis program proved to be nothing but words, with economy staying as unhealthy as it were,” CBA ex-President said, forecasting poverty level increase because of high inflation rate (7,4% in January-July 2010). Asatryan reported over 20% increase in flour price during the first week in August, with only 10% growth observed in world market. “A small country like Armenia should have grain stocks prepared to avoid dramatic influence of world price growth on local market,” he noted, adding that grain harvest for the years 2008 to 2010 grossed 415, 375 and 290 thousand tons respectively. Armenian parliamentarian, Republican Party member Vardan Ayvazyan, however, objected to the above statement, noting that crisis consequences would have been more serious, were it not for government-implemented program. As he pointed out, the government is unable to forecast all natural disasters, laying in years’ stock of grain. “Armenia has sufficient strategic reserves of grain,” he concluded. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Russia clarifying reports on Baku’s alleged arms supply to Ukraine Russia says is carefully working to verify reports about alleged arms supplies from Azerbaijan to Ukraine Russia warns Armenia against “falling into West’s trap” Zakharova maintained, however, that anything that will benefit the people of Armenia can only be welcomed. CSTO: Armenia has not participated in secretariat’s work recently Recently Armenia has not participated in the work of the secretariat of the CSTO, Imangali Tasmagambetov said. Meeting with U.S., EU not against third parties, says Armenia The meeting scheduled for April 5 is dedicated to strengthening of the Armenia-EU-US cooperation, Yerevan added. |