ARMENIAN PRESIDENT INSTRUCTS TO REVEAL AND PUNISH TAX AND
CUSTOMS EMPLOYEES COMMITTING PROTECTIONISM
13-09-2007 12:00:00 | Armenia | Economy
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues related to the
fight against corruption, improvement of administration, and
reduction of the shadow economy were discussed at the September
12 working consultation conducted by the Armenian president
Robert Kocharian. According to a press release submitted to NT by
the RA president's press service, the prime minister, the heads
of the RA president's staff and control service, the heads of
the tax and customs services, the chief of the RA police, the
deputy director of the National Security Service, and the deputy
prosecutor general participated in the consultation.
The head of the State Tax Service Vahram Barseghian gave a
report at the beginning of the consultation. He presented the
existing problems and the work done since his appointment - over
the past two months. The Armenian president pointed out that the
State Tax Service must display resolution and carry out all
tasks of this year by means of improving administration. He
expressed his concern at unsatisfactory tax administration, the
absence of proper control, the imperfect state of the
legislative field, and the facts of protectionism by officials.
The president underlined the necessity of fulfilling tax
obligations by organizations providing goods and srvices with
state budgetary resources.
Stressing once again that no businessman should have
privileged conditions in Armenia, Robert Kocharian gave
instructions on concrete cases, as well as general instructions
to the law enforcement bodies: to reveal tax and customs
employees committing protectionism and punish them under the
law.
The president said that in order to solve the current
problems, it is necessary to use a complex action plan which
will allow to close all loopholes used by unsrupulous tax payers
and to rapidly achieve notable results in the fight aganst
corruption and shadow economy. He instructed those present to
make proposals on measures of the indicated action plan within
two days and prepare the respective package of legislative
amendments.