The separation of the Finance Ministry and the State Revenue Committee is substantiated by several factors. The government representatives condition this separation by the accession to the EaEU, constitutional amendments, agreement of 2 political forces, RA President’s speech on February 12 and the implementation of the provisions generated thereof, and elaboration of a new economic policy. No matter what substantiation is presented, it is more important for the public and the business environment that these structures (together or separately) do not hinder but promote the equal economic competitiveness, reduction of shadows, elimination of corruption in the economy and economic development.
Yesterday, RA President Serzh Sargsyan introducing the newly appointed Chairman of the RA Government State Revenue Committee Hovhannes Hovsepyan, stated, “Those, who believe that we have reached the point when there is no need for the development, no need for the fight against corruption and protectionism, I would say that these individuals are unable to move the structure forward.” As to what impact the RA President’s statement will have and how the new SRC leader will fight against corruption and protectionism with his staff, time will show.
The periodic changes in the structure of the government, according to economist Mesrop Arakelyan, are not due to the improvement in the government quality or the change in the country’s development model. In an interview with “Aravot”, Arakelyan said that not only the structural changes but also the functions will have no positive impact on the development of economic level, “From this viewpoint, the separation or merging of the Finance Ministry will not have any positive impact. But from the purely economic viewpoint, the availability of separation structures are more appropriate because the tax authorities should only perform the function of tax collection, while the functions of reform and development, including the tax reform, should be implemented by united Ministry of Finance and Economy, which we once had.”
Recall that once, the tax and customs ministries were operating separately, they merged in 2008.
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Nelly BABAYAN,
“Aravot” daily
