IT IS NOT EXCLUDED THAT ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT WILL INCREASE PENSIONS IN SECOND HALF OF 2001

23.11.2000, MEDIAMAX, YEREVAN. “I thank the National Assembly of Armenia for passing the bill submitted by the government on allocation of 8 bln 250 mln drams from sources gained from privatization for covering debts for salaries, allowances and pensions”, the Armenian Economy and Finance Minister Vardan Khachatrian said in his interview to Mediamax.
According to Khachatrian this year the state received 50-51 bln drams less of budget funds because of political and some other reasons. In this regard the Finance Minister stressed that huge debts on allowances, pensions and salaries are accumulated and that 32 bln drams of budget revenues are expected to be directed for covering these debts. “However, these sums were not enough, therefore, the government has made a decision on using sums received from privatization,” the Minister informed. He assured that these sources will be returned to the privatization fund until April 1, 2001.
The Minister stressed that according to the prognoses of the government the problems with repayment of pensions will be solved in May of 2001 “and after that we can think over the possible increase of pensions,” the Minister added. –0–