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The Deputy Chair of the RA Standing Committee on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs Artak Manukyan: The crisis results in the fact that we shall get rid of stereotypes. I hope that the next parliament will be of better quality and fact based and when evaluating the results of 2021we will speak about consolidation and unity. Yes, Armenia has future, but at this moment there are many stoners. We shall be consolidated for future.

The Chair of the NA Standing Committee on Economic Affairs Babken Tunyan: It was noted that the implemented measures during the war and pandemic were not adequate to the volumes of an economic downturn. We should also observe the law on tax holiday in the context of support by which about 60 bln AMD was envisaged for entities. In the same context we should observe the law we passed by which we gave banks an opportunity to restructure people’s loans, repay fines and penalties and for that reason they were free from tax responsibilities. There were direct support measures for entities, too. Is 7,6% economic downturn high or low? Of course, it is very bad that we had such downturn. But we should look at everything in comparison. There are few countries which had no economic downturn. We had high growth in 2019 and in that case a downturn was very probable.

The RA Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan: It is early to make assessments which countries have achieved successes in case of the fight against the pandemic, is there any country that has achieved success and what does it mean to achieve success or be failed? The RA Government, demonstrating a policy of balanced, operative and rapid response, took all necessary measures to prevent the spread of the infection in our country as much as possible. And when the infection, for objective reasons, nevertheless penetrated our country, preventive measures were implemented so that the healthcare system would resist the pandemic. All necessary sanitary-epidemiological rules have been fixed which on the one hand ensure the possibility of economic activity, on the other hand – try to protect the citizens. Today, there are vaccines available in Armenia which play a very important final role in the process of overcoming the disease. We tried from the very beginning to provide the citizens with the complete information on the pandemic. In parallel with the crisis management, all program obligations were carried out. During the last 2-3 years, the RA healthcare budget registered a 30% increase. Large investments were also made aimed at developing the capacities of regional hospitals. I want to underline that for the first time in decades, the state paid attention to the Mental Health Care and reaffirmed the obligation to completely rebuild and equip it with state budget funds. The works will be launched this year. There is a necessity of big amendments, investments and a development in Armenia, including the sphere of health. However, we shall understand what we have received, what steps we have taken and where we go.

The Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Suren Papikyan: I apology that I shall deviate from the topic, but we must call the things by their names. A person who has come and sat in the seat of the number one oppositionist and tries to wear the clothes of the former number one opposition figure Nikol Pashinyan, in which he does not succeed that person says that the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister hardly have come at the last moment. If you have not seen us and you do not want to notice us here, then I shall note that we have always been in our place and have implemented our obligations as a member of the Government. Or you say that you have become a minister - who should have elected you? Well, we were in the same political unit when the process began. Yes, the RA citizen made a revolution, well, we had no connection with it. And how have my colleagues and I become a minister after that, but you have not become? There are reasons and the people know about that.

The Deputy Minister Mher Grigoryan: The recordings and questions which have been raised give an opportunity to make sense of what has been done and reevaluate. Definitely, the report does not reflect upon what has been done. Let us record that we managed to ensure financial stability in the two most difficult situations. I can say for sure that we succeeded in managing the risks – avoiding serious and grave consequences.