YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–Hovik Abrahamian–Minister of Territorial Administration and Coordination of Infrastructure Activities–stated on Monday that the activities carried out by the local government bodies in 2001 were satisfactory. According to him–the activities of his ministry in 2002 must be directed at the honest collection of tax revenues.
The lack of a structured system of tax collections had a strong impact on Armenia’s ability to attract foreign investors and the release of the SAC-4 tranches promised by the World Bank and the IMF.
The minister also said that it is necessary that the federal government establish clear legislation that outlines the duties of the community regional administrators–in order for the regional governmen’s to be more synchronous with the activities of the federal government.
Abrahamian did not comment on the rumors about the expected dismissal of the head of the Armavir and Gegharkunik regional administration. He said only the president or the prime minister can make such a decision based on his report.