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  • Government plan against poverty

    AsiaNews.it, Italy
    July 2, 2004

    ARMENIA
    Government plan against poverty


    Everan (AsiaNews) - President Robert Kocharian has announced a
    12-year-plan to tackle poverty in his country. The decision arrives
    after the World Bank voiced its decision to loan 210 million euros by
    November 1st, for the construction of schools, roadways and irrigation
    systems in Armenia.

    The World Bank is the greatest creditor of Armenia, a country of 3.2
    million, which is also expecting funds from the US Millennium Challenge
    Account to accomplish similar projects. Kocharian depends on such
    financial assistance for the continuation of his government. Securing
    these funds will allow him to enhance the life of the country's
    residents. More than half of Armenia's citizens live below the poverty
    line; the annual per capita income is just above 500 euros.

    The situation is very serious in suburban regions, but also in Everan,
    where only half the population enjoys running water 24 hours a day,
    and electricity is constantly interrupted.

    The scourge of corruption torments the economy, once one of the most
    flourishing republics of the Soviet Union.

    In this year's international report on political transparency, Armenia
    came in 78th (from 133 countries). The main areas of the economy are
    monopolized by groups connected with the political leadership.
    Protests of the people in last months seem to have done brought about a
    change in the government's tactics.

    Vartan Khachatrian, the Finance and Economy Minister, affirmed that
    structural reforms, necessary to transition to a free market, were
    `almost complete'.

    According to analysts, the hurry of the government to show reforms and
    its fight against poverty is an attempt to cool social tensions.
    (F.C.)
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