Yerevan, April 23 /Mediamax/. Armenian President Robert Kocharian held today a working conference following the fulfillment of the budget in the first quarter of 2007, in which the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance and Economy, the Head of the National Statistical Service and the Heads of the Tax and Customs Services of the country took part.

As Mediamax was told in the presidential press service, Robert Kocharian informed that the economic growth in the first quarter made 11%, instead of the 9%, planned by the state budget, and expressed contentment as to the indices and the work, carried out by the fiscal bodies, at that noting that higher speeds of growth of economy give the opportunity to gain more revenues and to pay more attention to the solution of social problems.

The President stated that today the leadership of the country should make correct decisions and set correct tasks for the Tax and Customs Services, noting that there are still serious reserves for their work. Robert Kocharian demanded from the Heads of the Tax and Customs Services daily consecutive work, noting that their activity and the solution of the set tasks will remain in the center of his attention.

Robert Kocharian described as “primary” task of the Armenian authorities the struggle against the shadow economy. In this connection the President noted that the struggle can be productive only if it is just and concerns everyone, securing equal conditions for all the managing subjects.