Harutyunyan: Artsakh to collect 30 billion drams in revenue and start construction of new hydropower plant
YEREVAN, August 6. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Arayik Harutyunyan met today in Yerevan to discuss joint programs of both governments.
Pashinyan was quoted by the government press office as saying that after the 44-day war last autumn in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, the joint agenda of the governments has changed significantly as the purely auxiliary projects should be transformed into development ones in order to restore the normal development of Artsakh's economy.
He added that it was very important to find ways to launch banking instruments in Artsakh, which should support economic development and create an investment environment.
Arayik Harutyunyan noted that the assistance provided by Armenia was instrumental in maintaining stable social situation in Artsakh and regardless of the number of displaced persons, there were no acute problems.
"Of course, there are problems with housing, but social payments helped a lot. In terms of social security problems, they were solved due to the targeted policy of the Artsakh government along with implementation of some economic programs. But we must understand that we need more investments, especially in such areas as agriculture, energy, which sustained huge losses during the war,’ he said.
"For a positive demographic picture, in addition to social programs, we will need to implement specific economic programs to create jobs and restore the economy. According to the draft state budget for 2021, we planned to collect 16-17 billion drams, but we will definitely exceed the 30 billion drams mark. The largest taxpayer and the employer in Artsakh, the Blaze Metals copper mine in Kashen is already working at 15-20% of its capacity," Harutyunyan said.
According to him, if the planned energy and water projects are implemented, in March-April next year it will work at 80-90% of its capacity, which will bring additional 20-25 billion drams to the Artsakh budget. He also announced the construction of a 17 megawatt hydroelectric power station in the Charektar-Getavan section.
On September 27, 2020, Azerbaijani armed forces, backed by Turkey and foreign mercenaries and terrorists, attacked Nagorno-Karabakh along the entire front line using rocket and artillery weapons, heavy armored vehicles, military aircraft and prohibited types of weapons such as cluster bombs and phosphorus weapons.
After 44 days of the war, on November 9, the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a statement on the cessation of all hostilities. According to the document, the town of Shushi, the districts of Agdam, Kelbajar and Lachin were handed over to Azerbaijan, with the exception of a 5-kilometer corridor connecting Karabakh with Armenia.
A Russian peacekeeping contingent was deployed along the contact line in Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor. -0.
