YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. During the November 7 joint sitting of the RA National Assembly Standing Committee of Foreign Relations and the RA NA Standing Committee of Finance, Credit, Budgetary and Economic Issues, the RA Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy Pavel Safarian presented the issue of financing the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs and payments for membership in international organizations, NT was informed from the RA National Assembly PR Department. Speaking about measures to ensure the activities of the RA MFA, P. Safarian said that in 2007 5.61 bln drams will be allocated to it, which is by 4.9% more than in 2006. 754 mln drams (about 2 mln USD) will be allocated for expenditures on maintenance of the MFA staff, which exceeds by 7.7% the allocations of 2006. According to the deputy minister, expenditures on maintenance of the Armenian embassies and representative offices have been increased to 4.3 bln drams, exceeding by 4.8% this year's index. The Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said that the allocations for the RA MFA are sufficient to conduct an efficient foreign policy. According to him, the Armenian trade representative offices were opened in Brussels, Geneva and Moscow and it is envisaged to open a trade office in Washington soon. Besides, this year Armenia purchased two new buildings for its embassies. It was noted that in five years all 40 representative points of Armenia will have their own administrative buildings. V. Oskanian also spoke about the work of consulates, noting that in the first nine months of 2006, the consulate payments were made by 138%, amounting to 1.86 bln drams.

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