YEREVAN, JANUARY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia has overcome the first - financial stage of the global economic crisis, the chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Financial, Credit and Budget Issues Gagik Minasian said at the January 29 press conference, adding that it will allow to overcome the second - economic stage. In the opinion of economist Tatul Manaserian, the crisis has not bypassed Armenia as it is not an isolated country. He said that although an anticrisis program has been developed, it is necessary to examine in detail the situation in the financial and currency markets. In his words, today the Armenian dram has appreciated more than it could have been, which in its turn may have a negative impact on the country's economy. The economist expressed an opinion that Armenia may benefit from the financial crisis. "Armenia may purchase new technologies and equipment at low prices from other countries and thus raise the competitiveness of some branches of ecomomy," he noted, adding that it will allow Armenia to be ready for the next stage expected after the crisis. By expert calculations of G. Minasian, the financial-economic crisis will continue for another six months, after which the economy will start recovering slowly. T. Manaserian said that the Armenian economy does not have a definite structure so it will not be so easy to overcome the crisis and Armenia faces challenges of some dangerous trends.

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