November 27, a joint meeting of the Artsakh Republic National Assembly Standing Committees on Foreign Relations and Finance and Economic Governance, chaired by the committee chairpersons Arzik Mkhitaryan and Ruslan Israelyan.

Issues related to foreign relations, tourism and information spheres, as envisaged in the draft law "On the 2018 State Budget of the Republic of Artsakh" were discussed.

Deputy Minister of Finance Norayr Avanesyan took part in the meeting.

Introducing the 2018 budget envisaged for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Minister Masis Mailyan noted that it will make 786 million 590 thousand AMD. According to the minister, the growth is conditioned by the fluctuations in the amount of money allocated to the foreign representations of the Artsakh Republic.

 The MPs have received explanations from Masis Mayilyan concerning the activities in the foreign economic sphere, the establishment of relations with the international organizations and prospects for cooperation.

According to Minister of Culture, Youth and Tourism Sergey Shahverdyan, tourism expenses will amount to 25 million drams in 2018..

Sergey Shahverdyan also answered the MPs' questions concerning attempts to advertise Artsakh in the media sphere of Armenia and some provisions envisaged in the draft budget.

Chairman of the Public Television and Radio Company Norek Gasparyan, presenting the expenses of the council in 2018, noted that it will make 387 million 344 thousand drams. According to the chairman of the board, the company has already acquired new equipment, thanks to which the quality of the video will improve.

Norek Gasparyan touched upon the increase in the airtime, simultaneous broadcasting of the news on the website and the parliamentarians’ questions on rating programs.

According to the editor of "Azat Artsakh" newspaper Leonid Martirosyan, the maintenance costs of the newspaper will be 93 million 929 thousand drams in the coming year.

The editor clarified the questions of the parliamentarians on the newspaper subscription.

Budget committee discussions will continue on November 28 at the joint sitting of the NA Standing Committees on Science, Education, Culture, Youth and Sports and Budget, Financial and Economic Management.