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OUR "HERBS" IN KARABAKH
Naira Hayrumyan
Lragir.am News
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/country23201.html
15:50:00 - 02/09/2011
We will do everything to not only strengthen peace and security in
Artsakh but also to ensure its social-economic development, stated
Serzh Sargsyan, congratulating the Armenian nation of the 20th
anniversary of NKR's independence.
The fact that no change regarding the settlement of the NKR issue
is expected in the nearest future is stated not only by political
scientists but also politicians. This means that the politicians will
leave Karabakh in peace for some time. On the other hand, diplomatic
passivity implies an intensification of work in other areas. It could
be a public campaign of Artsakh in the global information space but
without transformations in the republic the campaign would be dull
and may even produce the opposite effect.
The social-economic development of Artsakh is becoming a priority of
the Armenian diplomacy. Now, the form and content of the economy are
opposite: externally, Stepanakert is quite a successful and pretty
city with a lot of new buildings, a landscaped center, and some good
hotels. But it is enough to have a look at the Karabakh economy, and
it becomes clear that too little is done to ensure self-sufficiency.
Most funding is directed at supporting the exaggerated government
and salaries of military officers. Consumption in Karabakh is mainly
ensured through state and military salaries. Business and farming
have a much smaller share.
In Karabakh there are "major" business owners but most of them earn
and spend the money outside Artsakh.
The small proportion of medium-sized businesses is explained by the
fact that the country is unrecognized and the market is small. But
these arguments come to naught whenever you see that even traditional
herbs, cheese and dairy products are imported to Artsakh. There is a
large market for these products, and recognition is not necessary for
it, and it is easy to figure out why people do not want to manufacture
products that are demanded.
The point is the state policy which does not encourage the development
of business but encourages import, which is monopolized.
An economy which is declared liberal is, actually, completely
controlled by the government. There is no planning that was
characteristic of the Soviet state economy. Apparently, decisions
are not made openly, by the market and the state, but privately,
in offices, to avoid public scrutiny. And there is no control, the
Parliament is an appendage of the government, there is no independent
press, therefore first we learn that Karabakh will grow corn, and
then switch to bio fuels, then water pipes are laid out which fail
the first try-out. No one is upset, everyone claps their hands.
Let alone the territories which we used to call liberated. Alex
Kananyan, a resident of Karvachar, says no house has been built in
these territories since 2007. A few days ago, a new school building
was dedicated there. But no houses are built.
If Serzh Sargsyan's words about economic development are based on
a political decision, then two major reforms should be carried out
in Artsakh: to create a tax free zone for freedom of doing business
and to register the liberated territories at the state cadastre. If
Serzh Sargsyan meant this, Karabakh people will only be happy.
Naira Hayrumyan
Lragir.am News
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/country23201.html
15:50:00 - 02/09/2011
We will do everything to not only strengthen peace and security in
Artsakh but also to ensure its social-economic development, stated
Serzh Sargsyan, congratulating the Armenian nation of the 20th
anniversary of NKR's independence.
The fact that no change regarding the settlement of the NKR issue
is expected in the nearest future is stated not only by political
scientists but also politicians. This means that the politicians will
leave Karabakh in peace for some time. On the other hand, diplomatic
passivity implies an intensification of work in other areas. It could
be a public campaign of Artsakh in the global information space but
without transformations in the republic the campaign would be dull
and may even produce the opposite effect.
The social-economic development of Artsakh is becoming a priority of
the Armenian diplomacy. Now, the form and content of the economy are
opposite: externally, Stepanakert is quite a successful and pretty
city with a lot of new buildings, a landscaped center, and some good
hotels. But it is enough to have a look at the Karabakh economy, and
it becomes clear that too little is done to ensure self-sufficiency.
Most funding is directed at supporting the exaggerated government
and salaries of military officers. Consumption in Karabakh is mainly
ensured through state and military salaries. Business and farming
have a much smaller share.
In Karabakh there are "major" business owners but most of them earn
and spend the money outside Artsakh.
The small proportion of medium-sized businesses is explained by the
fact that the country is unrecognized and the market is small. But
these arguments come to naught whenever you see that even traditional
herbs, cheese and dairy products are imported to Artsakh. There is a
large market for these products, and recognition is not necessary for
it, and it is easy to figure out why people do not want to manufacture
products that are demanded.
The point is the state policy which does not encourage the development
of business but encourages import, which is monopolized.
An economy which is declared liberal is, actually, completely
controlled by the government. There is no planning that was
characteristic of the Soviet state economy. Apparently, decisions
are not made openly, by the market and the state, but privately,
in offices, to avoid public scrutiny. And there is no control, the
Parliament is an appendage of the government, there is no independent
press, therefore first we learn that Karabakh will grow corn, and
then switch to bio fuels, then water pipes are laid out which fail
the first try-out. No one is upset, everyone claps their hands.
Let alone the territories which we used to call liberated. Alex
Kananyan, a resident of Karvachar, says no house has been built in
these territories since 2007. A few days ago, a new school building
was dedicated there. But no houses are built.
If Serzh Sargsyan's words about economic development are based on
a political decision, then two major reforms should be carried out
in Artsakh: to create a tax free zone for freedom of doing business
and to register the liberated territories at the state cadastre. If
Serzh Sargsyan meant this, Karabakh people will only be happy.