OREANDA-NEWS. On August 27, 2008 President Serzh Sargsyan presented Mr. Gagik Khachatrian, the newly appointed Head of the united customs and tax administration – State Revenue Committee – to the leadership of the structure, reported the Official website http://news.president.am.

Speaking about the yesterday’s degree on relieving Mr. Vahram Barseghian, former Head of the State Tax Administration of his duties, the President of Armenia reminded that back on August 1, during the meeting with the leadership of the Tax Administration he had warned that if there were no considerable changes in the work of the Administration the consequences would follow.

According to Serzh Sargsyan, in the past twenty days not only significant changes were not registered but furthermore there was no indication that the leadership of the Administration was willing to make any changes or comprehended the importance of those changes.

“I didn’t observe that the leadership of the structure realizes what structure they work in or for what purpose. I didn’t observe that they come to work to serve the state and business, didn’t observe eagerness to work, or efforts made, or any enthusiasm. Moreover, the work persisted in the same fashion or even worse,” the President of Armenia said and added, “this is the case when surgical procedure is unavoidable.”

Addressing those present, the President of Armenia stressed, “I wouldn’t like some of you to create public opinion that the August 20 degrees were driven by the eagerness to unite tax and customs administrations. It isn’t the case. The Tax Administration performed poorly. It performed poorly on the professional level, human and moral levels, and such a performance was unacceptable regardless of who is in charge.”

Speaking about the newly formed State Revenue Committee, the President of Armenia expressed confidence that the tax and customs structures can function successfully with one leadership, though some changes would be necessary. “I am confident that we will be able to bring activities of this structure in line with today’s economy and with the contemporary requirements,” Serzh Sargsyan underlined.

Once again speaking about the necessity to start working immediately and to rectify the situation in this area, President Sargsyan said, “whoever is not able to fulfill the obligations or meet the requirements, must go.”

The President of Armenia proposed to come together with the new leader and solve the problems facing the structure.