This week's top news in the Armenian media is plans to develop the country's economy, which were outlined by Karen Karapetyan in an interview with Bloomberg. Media also monitors personnel changes in the government.
Karapetyan shared his plans to resuscitate the economy
Armenia’s prime minister Karen Karapetyan told Bloomberg in an interview about his plans to develop the economy, fight corruption and ensure competition in the country. “We’re proposing the most rapid change that’s possible, including measures to combat corruption by streamlining bureaucracy and a government fund to support enterprise," the head of the Armenian government said, stressing that businesses shouldn’t be obstructed’ by corrupt officials seeking payments for administrative decisions or by dominant rivals using political ties to restrict competition. "We won’t allow dominant players to use administrative support that isn’t available to others’ to suppress competition. No one is immune and no one is privileged,’’ Karapetyan said. Speaking about the current state of the economy, Karapetyan noted that Armenia’s foreign debt is $5.8 billion with GDP at $10 billion, while growth of 3.2 percent in 2017 won’t be enough to raise living standards significantly. “We have external debt growing faster than the GDP growth and growing faster than revenues,’’ the prime minister said, adding that changes in the leadership of the customs service and in the tax code are improving transparency. Karapetyan said he’ll also form an advisory group including foreign specialists to “brainstorm how we can develop the country’’ for the long term, including with tax changes and support for businesses in areas such as health care, education and agriculture.
The Armenian PN noted that nobody knows what would have happened if Armenia hadn’t joined the EEU and “the negative impact could have been much greater,’’ while membership doesn’t stop Armenia developing EU trade.
Karapetyan also said that Armenia is seeking to bolster trade with Iran and he’s ordered plans developed by December 25 to implement a free economic zone near Armenia’s southern border to boost ties in areas including agriculture and food production.
"We are seeking to develop clear long-term plans over the next six months so that from 2018 we’ll have sustainable year-on-year growth,’’ Karapetyan concluded.
How to "shake" the Armenian economy?
According to data published by the National Statistical Service of Armenia, in January-October 2016, the lowest rate of economic activity was recorded in the country over the past 7 years - 0.4%, the Zhoghovurd newspaper writes. "In particular, the unprecedented decline was recorded in the volume of gross agricultural output - 7.3%. It should be noted that these figures reflect the activities of not only Hovik Abrahamyan's government, but also of the current prime minister Karen Karapetyan," the newspaper writes. At the same time, the newspaper notes that during the meeting of the Armenian government, the Prime Minister urged the chairman of the State Commission for Protection of Economic Competition, Artak Shaboyan, to test the market of essential commodities, about which the country's population is complaining.
Armenia's Cabinet will face new turmoil
Today's new government is also not final, Karen Karapetyan will change it again in six months, by getting rid of the old staff, including Edward Nalbandian, Artem Asatryan, Hranush Hakobyan, the Hraparak newspaper writes. "Personnel changes have been planned since February of this year. Armen Gevorgyan was to become Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Vache Gabrielyan - the head of the Control Chamber, the head of the Control Chamber Ishkhan Zakaryan - Armenia's Ambassador to Qatar. However, Vache Gabrielyan was against his transition to the Control Chamber. Arpine Hovhannisyan will also say goodbye to a ministerial post to become a deputy with the hope of being the chair of the Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs, and David Harutyunyan's hopes are about the office of vice-speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia," the newspaper writes.
Defense Ministry is conducting personnel cleansing
Adviser to the Armenian Minister of Defense, David Djamalyan, dismissed, the Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper writes. "Answering our question about the reasons for his dismissal, Djamalyan said that it was his personal decision, which he does not want to comment. According to our sources, personnel changes in the Defense Ministry will continue. Yesterday, Gevorg Altunian [the former head of the information department of the public television of Armenia] was appointed the new head of the Defense Ministry's press service, and Vardan Avetisyan, who led the Information and Public Relations Department of the Defense Ministry before him, became an adviser to the minister," the newspaper notes.
The new head of the Health Ministry disposes of professionals
There is a "personnel purge" in the Ministry of Health, the Chorrord Ishkhanutyun newspaper writes. "The Deputy Health Minister Vahan Poghosyan, who was considered one of the professionals in this field, was dismissed from his post, according to his own statement. It is difficult to say why Levon Altunian wants to rid it of such professionals as Vahan Poghosyan, but the reality is that the newly appointed minister is filling the health ministry by staff from CJSC 'Ingo Armenia'," the newspaper writes.
Public Television of Armenia bid farewell to the famous host
There was total confusion on the Public Television of Armenia these days, the Zhoghovurd newspaper writes. "Personnel changes followed the appointment of a new head of the Directorate of Information and analytical programs. Yesterday it was announced that the host of the 'First Information' program, Nver Mnatsakanyan, left the main channel of the country. According to our sources, the news anchor Zaruhi Rshtuni will leave the Public Television after Nver Mnatsakanyan," Zhoghovurd notes.
Pashinyan decided to take on the officials
The Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper: "Yesterday, the Armenian MP Nikol Pashinyan introduced a new bill. The MP proposes to create a temporary parliamentary commission to study the sources for property acquisition by senior officials. Pashinyan wrote on his Facebook page: "What was stolen from Armenia must be returned," the newspaper cited him as saying.
