2024-03-15 14:58:06
According to the budget message of the RA government, the 2023 budgeting policy was implemented with the priorities of the 2021-2026 plan of the RA government.
This is a simple lie and is especially dangerous in the case of Artsakh.
Below I will present some objective facts revealing another lie of the ruling group of the day.
According to the budget address of 2023 and the draft of the RA state budget, the goal of the RA government in the field of foreign policy related to Artsakh is limited to the following: the protection of the sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia, the security of Armenia and Artsakh, the representation of the interests and rights of the Republic of Armenia in international relations.
Not a word about the protection of the sovereignty, interests and rights of Artsakh, including the right to self-determination of the people of Artsakh.
In the pre-election program, this power of evil literally promised the extraordinary elections of the National Assembly of June 2021. “In the coming years, our main task should be ensuring the security of the people of Artsakh and the peaceful and comprehensive settlement of the Karabakh conflict, based on the implementation of the self-determination of the people of Artsakh without restrictions. The people of Artsakh cannot survive under the subordination of Azerbaijan.
The RA government’s 2021-2026 plan, approved by the National Assembly in August 2021, actually stipulates the following: “The RA government sees the final settlement of the Karabakh problem under the co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group, with the clarification of the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh based on known principles and elements, including the right to self-determination. RA will continue to be the guarantor of the security of the people of Artsakh, and the security of Artsakh will continue to be ensured by the Defense Army of Artsakh.”
Apart from these false promises of the ruling group of the day, the unprecedented and significant reduction of the budgetary support provided to the Republic of Artsakh next year is also an unacceptable fact.
The RA Law “On the State Budget of the Republic of Armenia for 2023” provides for the granting of a budget loan to the Republic of Artsakh with a repayment period of 0.01% per year until January 1, 2027.
In particular, in order to support the Republic of Artsakh in 2023, a loan of 144 billion drams will be provided, which is 20 billion drams or 14 percent less than expected this year.
From the point of view of the significant reduction of the support provided to Artsakh, the significant increase of the state expenses planned for 2023 by the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia is characteristic. In particular, 505.8 billion drams are planned, which is an increase of 132 billion drams or 35 percent compared to the revised budget of 2022. Moreover, after the 44-day war, the annual average growth of this index was insignificant.
It is obvious, however, that this increase in state funding for the defense of RA will not actually achieve its goal, considering the shortcomings of this and previous years, the infinite incompetence and populist nature of the government of the day.
By the way, out of the planned 505.8 billion drams, current expenses make up 221 billion drams or 44 percent of the total. The real risks of using the remaining 285 billion drams or 56 percent are very high, let’s say, for example, “we have money, but they don’t sell us weapons” and other well-known ridiculous justifications.
They will reward themselves with the money planned and “saved” for the purpose of defense, and with the expectation of getting super profits, they will give state orders to the businessmen of their narrow circle and “spread” more asphalt.
Հեղինակ՝ Tadevos Avetisyan, deputy of RA NA “Armenia” faction, member of ARF party
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