YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. At the November 27 special session, the RA National Assembly passed the draft law on the 2009 state budget with 81 votes in favor, 5 against and 2 abstentions. The members of the only opposition faction - "Heritage" voted against, because, as NT correspondent was informed by the faction head Armen Martirosian, they do not accept the methodology of the budget. The revenues of the 2009 state budget of Armenia amount to 905.4 bln drams, expenditures - 945.4 bln drams, and the deficit makes 40 bln drams. The settlement index of the average exchange rate of Armenian dram/US dollar makes 303.69, of Armenian dram/euro - 389.83. The 2009 revenues grew by 131.5 bln drams as compared with the index of revenues approved by the 2008 state budget, the expenditures grew by 123.4 bln drams, while the deficit declined by 36 bln drams. In 2009, nominal GDP is forecast to make 4,169.3 bln drams or 13.651 bln USD, real growth of GDP - 9.2%, GDP deflator - 4%, inflation - 4 +/- 1.5%. The state budgetary revenues will make up 21.7% of GDP, tax revenues and duties - 17.4%, expenditures - 22.7%, deficit - 1%. It is envisaged financing the deficit at the expense of the net revenues of domestic sources.

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