YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, NOYAN TAPAN. By the 2009 draft state budget, allocations to the sphere of recreation, culture and religion (without the central staff of state government bodies) will make 18.5 bln drams against 15.4 bln drams in 2008 (20.7% growth). The first deputy minister of finance Pavel Safarian said at the October 28 joint sitting of the National Assembly standing committees that the expenditures on maintenance of the central staff of the sector of culture were programmed by the same principles as in all the other state departments. The absolute growth of programs' financing made 2.2 bln drams as compared with 2008. According to the RA minister of culture Hasmik Poghosian, it is envisaged allocating 9.35 bln drams to the sector of culture, which exceeds the 2008 index by 31.8%. The allocations will be mostly spent on preservation of national heritage, including major repairs and re-equipment of 13 museums, increasing the accessibility of library services, and implementation of family library programs. Allocations for libraries will amount to 1.9 bln drams against 1.5 bln drams in 2008, for museums - 1.9 bln drams against 1.4 bln drams in 2008, and allocations for cultural houses, clubs and centers will make about 1.06 bln drams against 964 mln drams in 2008. Expenditures on sports and recreation are envisaged to make 1.6 bln drams against 1.1 bln drams in 2008. P. Safarian said that these allocations will be mainly used for prizes to winners of republican and international competitions, as well as the implementation of new programs and the organization of the 2009 Pan-Armenian Games.

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