The Freedom of Information Center had applied to the President’s Chief of Staff, the National Assembly and all ministries, trying to find out how much money was spent on entertainment during official meetings. As a result, it came out that our country spent more than 232 million drams of government money on formal receptions last year. For example, the President’s Staff spent 33.5 million drams, and the budget provided for 226 million drams. The Ministry of Justice spent 1 050 000 drams on the entertainment during the minister’s formal meetings, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources spent 231 000 drams, the Ministry of Education and Science spent 925 000 drams and the Ministry of Diaspora spent 315 700 drams. www.aravot.am asked economist Zoya Tadevosyan, a member of the Armenian National Congress (ANC), whether it was appropriate for the Republic of Armenia, given the limited budget, to spend so much money on formal receptions. Ms. Tadevosyan replied: “How can it be considered appropriate in a country, where the poverty rate is 35 percent, according to official data, and is actually 60 percent. It is proposed to increase the minimum wage twice, but they refer to the limited budget. Whereas expenditures are made not only with regard to what you said, but also with regard to many other points, which was raised in the parliament by the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP). They are fiddling, while Rome burns, as the saying goes. Everything is done for the government’s interest, for the benefit of people who have decided to live in luxury at the expense of the poor, needy people. This is, to put it mildly, cynicism.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
