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On October 1, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan called a meeting to discuss current issues related to tax and budget policy, further improvement of business environment and process of tax collection, presidential press service reported.

Present at the meeting were RA Prime Minister Tigran Sarkissian, Chairman of the Central Bank Arthur Javadian, Head of Presidential Staff Vigen Sarkissian, Minister of Finance Vache Gabrielian, Minister of Economy Tigran Davtian, Chairman of State Revenue Committee Gagik Khatchaturian, officials from the Presidential staff, Ministry of Finance and State Revenue Committee.

The President of Armenia presented his position regarding the agenda items and gave directions to the responsible officials.

“I want to make two things absolutely clear for all: first, we should be extremely cautious in setting new tariffs, particularly in raising tariffs. Second, we all must understand precisely and clearly – the fiercer becomes the fight of the State Revenue Committee against the “grey economy”, the greater discontent and meddling will become. However that discontent will be manifested by certain individuals, certain legal persons who will certainly exploit the issue and will present it as a business interest, as people’s interest, they may even say that the methods applied by the Committee are more becoming to 1937. With this regard, Mr. Prime Minister, I request that during the Government session two issues are articulated very clearly. First, I will view any mediation as meddling with the work of the tax structures and will punish harshly all responsible officials. This must be absolutely clear for all. And second, responsibility of the officials for the situation in this area must increase. A minister is obligated to fight daily to decrease “grey economy” in the structure led by him or her; a minister must ensure that enterprises of the structure led by him or her become decent, conscientious tax payers. On this issue we really have to introduce a change – the change of attitude. There are instances when some are “shielding” those enterprises and start complaining that if the taxes are paid, debts will be incurred, etc, etc. But if they don’t pay taxes how are we supposed to finance them? And I believe it would be right once in two months or three months or even during the Government sessions to make a concrete Ministry come up with the report on what’s been done on that direction. This is critical for us,” President Serzh Sargsyan told the participants of the meeting.

The President of Armenia also spoke about the importance of enhancing the independence of the RA Ministry of Finance and State Revenue Committee joint commission so that the interests of the tax payers are utterly protected.