Yerevan /Mediamax/. Oppositional Armenian National Congress (ANC) made a statement, in which it criticized the state budget for 2009.

Mediamax reports that ANC statement reads that when composing and discussing the state budget, they did not take into account the possible influences and consequences of the global financial-economic crisis on Armenia and “instead of being a basis for economy development, the budget is prescribed purely a treasurer’s function”.

The statement reads that as a result of chances in the tax sphere, the tax burden is mainly put on the small and medium enterprises.

“The real problems are substituted by false ones, by slogans, which are from the first glance attractive, but empty in reality: “Gyumri-technotown”, “Dilijan – financial center”, “Armenia-Iran railroad”, “Oil-processing factory”, etc., to realize which, no means are provided from the state budget, or miserable sums are allocated. Such attitude evidences that the government is misinforming the population”, ANC statement reads.

ANC notes that the expense part of the state budget should have included measures, directed to form a special crisis prevention fund.

“There is no article in the budget, which would provide for expenses to withstand the global financial crisis, mitigate the aggravating social situation and prevent the increase of unemployment”, ANC concludes up.