From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Fri May 09 2003 - 09:02:50 EDT
Armenia still among poorest countries in CIS, ex-finance minister
Text of report by Armenian news agency Arminfo
8 May: Armenia is still one of the poorest countries of the CIS
[Commonwealth of Independent States], the ex-minister of finance, Eduard
Sandoyan, has said.
He said that an analysis of the country's economic growth over the past
nine years shows that it has not been dynamic. He said that due to the
lack of systemic social reforms many spheres have not evolved, including
health care, judicial and other sectors.
Stating that major strides had been made in establishing new institutes
and carrying out reforms, Sandoyan noted that it was necessary to alter
economic policy, because all the problems stem from poverty.
"Reforms will not succeed if we remain a poor country. Armenia has got
to become richer and the economy has to work. Otherwise, it's no use
talking about law and order," the former minister concluded.
Source: Arminfo, Yerevan, in Russian 1330 gmt 8 May 03
BBC Mon TCU 080503 cal/eb
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