No Budget Allocated for Planting 10 Million Trees - Mane Tandilyan

During the budget discussion in the National Assembly on November 15, Mane Tandilyan, a member of the 'Enlightened Armenia' faction, raised the question of how revolutionary and realistic the 2020 budget is, noting that many important provisions are not reflected in the proposal.

“You will not find any line related to increasing the share of renewable energy sources there. When we want to use solar and wind energy as a transformation of building and ensuring the energy system, you will not find any line in this direction. The medium-term expenditure program proposes increasing the share of renewable energy to 2.7%, but if no line is allocated in the budget, then what is this if not just a declaration?” Tandilyan stated.

She also expressed that the tourism development programs are not encouraging. The deputies raised a question the previous day regarding how tourism could be developed if there are no corresponding programs. The government program discusses ecotourism, ethnic, extreme, and gastro tourism, but there are no lines regarding them.

“I cannot help but say that the publicly announced desire to plant 10 million trees by October 10, 2020, has simply been aimed at the public to indicate that some funds can be collected from somewhere and make this a reality since there is no line allocated for the implementation of this program in the budget, and by the most modest estimates, this requires an expenditure of 20 billion drams,” Tandilyan emphasized.

Comparing with post-revolutionary neighboring Georgia, Tandilyan also noted that the GDP growth rate, as well as expected investment growth, are insufficient. She pointed out that certain provisions are in violation of the law and suggested sending them back for correction.