Responding to critics that the government’s 2019 program, approved today by the National Assembly, is short of targetable goals, Babken Tunyan (Chairman of the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs), said that the government has set a goal of 5% minimum GDP growth and that exports must comprise 43-45% of GDP.

Tunyan said a 5% increase in GDP would cut the poverty rate by 1.5%.

Tunyan said that those criticizing the government’s economic agenda should come back in five years and then evaluate what has been accomplished.

Countering those who charge the government with avoiding future accountability for its economic policy shortfalls by failing to include target goals, Tunyan, a member of the My Step parliamentary faction, said: “That accountability is first of all for the people, the majority of whom haven’t read the government’s program nor will they read it. Neither will they take a look at the economic indicators. These people are waiting for their lives to improve. If it does, they will elect the same team. If not, they won’t. If we believe that free and fair elections will take place in Armenia, the issue of accountability is closed.”