YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 17, NOYAN TAPAN. In March 2010, the International Monetary Fund will discuss the provision of 74 million dollar financial assistance t Armenia, Head of the IMF Mission in Armenia Mark Luis announced at the February 17 press conference. According to him, under the stand-by arrangement envisaged for replenishing foreign reserves of Armenia, Armenia shall receive loans of about $800 million, part of which has already been transferred. Armenia will receive the second part of this money from now to June 2011. As for the crisis, IMF experts are confident that its second wave does not threaten the world, particularly Armenia. Mark Luis said that in 2010 Armenia's real GDP growth will make about 2%, while inflation may reach 6%. He explained high inflation recorded in Armenia in recent months mostly by external developments, as well as by the sharp depreciation of Armenian dram in March 2009. According to him, inflation will decline from the second half of 2010. Speaking about the impact of the opening of Armenian-Turkish border, M. Luis noted that first of all it will result in a reduction of transport costs, thanks to which the Armenian population's cost of living will decline. The prices of exported consumer goods will go down, which means a rise in the real standard of living. However, in his words, the Armenian government should be able to deal with the problem of new competitive conditions.

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