YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA National Assembly on November 14 continued the discussion of the preliminary version of the 2008 draft state budget. It is envisaged to finish its discussion in November 15. Presenting the main macroeconomic indices and registering a considerable progress as compared with last year, the co-rapporteur Gagik Minasian - chairman of the NA standing committee on financial, credit and budgetary issues, member of the Republican Party of Armenia - assured those present that "in case of several years of such dynamic development, our country's indices will reach European ones". Other speakers also pointed out the notable growth in financing of several sectors, including the chairwoman of the NA standing committee on science, education, culture, youth and sport issues Hranush Hakobian, who, as she put it, has participated in the apporoval of 22 budgets. The chairman of the NA standing committee on social, health care and environmental protection issues, former minister of health Ara Babloyan reminded that 10 years ago the budget of the health care sector was about 30 million dollars, which was less than the budget of an average European hospital. In 2008, it is envisaged to allocate 54.6 billion drams (about 162.7 million USD) for health care, which is more by 24.2% than the 2007 index. To recap, the settlement exchange rate of a dollar is fixed at 336.5 drams in the draft state budget.

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