Armenian prime minister denounces ‘some benefactors’ attempts to discredit government

YEREVAN, April 3. / ARKA /. Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan lashed out at ‘some benefactors’ denouncing their attempts to discredit the government.

"These benefactors show two-penny assistance to farmers, and spend 200 million on their advertisement. Let them advertise themselves, but why do they discredit the government” Why do they claim the government does not help the farmers?  What a shame!," said the prime minister at a cabinet session today as agriculture minister Sergo Karapetyan  introduced a draft decision on granting low interest loans to farmers.

"We need to be more active in presenting the government’s programs designed to help farmers. Obviously, our assistance is hundred times more than the assistance showed by the so-called philanthropists who think only of their PR campaigns," he added.

According to the draft decision presented by the minister of agriculture, low interest loans with government-subsidized interest rates this year will be available from April 1 to December 31.

According to minister Karapetyan, about 63 thousand farmers got cheap loans totaling 55 billion drams in the last three years. Loans are provided at 14%. From 4 to 6 percent are subsidized by the government. -0-