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Armenia's ex-premier speaks of price rise, fares, social movement
21:55 - 27.07.13
There is price rise of about AMD 65bn, with only AMD 5 to 6bn being
the share of transport in Armenia, Hrant Bagratyan, an Armenian
National Congress (ANC) group member, told Tert.am.
He is surprised at the fact that the public protested the latest fare
rise alone.
`I feel both glad and sad about the movement. But was a 50-dram fare
rise the problem? Aren't we concerned over a 15% rise in the gas price
or a 27% rise in the electricity price? Why an 18% rise in the gas
price for the population and a 13% rise for large enterprises?'
`I think of why the authorities did not oppose the movement. No one
says `do not raise the gas price'. If society has decided to organize
a movement to resolve the problems, let them do so,' Bagratyan said.
He is sure that such a movement would have very quickly be broken down
if it had been organized by a political force.
Despite the claims that Armenia's civil society is gaining strength
and has gained victory, it has actually suffered defeat.
Asked if Armenia's authorities just allowed the public to win the
victory, Bagratyan said:
`I do not say there must be no price rise. But I do not perceive
slavish thinking. Fares have not been raised for 15 years, and the
self-cost may be high. The problem is for me why there is no
compensation in the form of pensions and allowances.'
According to him, the protests should have been aimed at Armenia's
government rather than at the Yerevan Municipality.
`This is also evidence of silent and fierce struggle within the ruling
circles. The Yerevan Municipality has proved to be a `weak link'.
The premier and the minister of transport are the first to be
accountable rather than the Yerevan Municipality,' he said.
According to Bagraryan, the fare must be set on a competitive basis.
`When we come to power the fare will be lower. We are going to leave
50 to 60 percent of budget funds at the local level, without
transferring them to the Ministry of Finance. It will be the right
solution,' he said.
With respect to fares, Bagratyan said that competition will cause them
to go down. Economic entities must have free access to and egress from
the market.
Armenian News - Tert.am
21:55 - 27.07.13
There is price rise of about AMD 65bn, with only AMD 5 to 6bn being
the share of transport in Armenia, Hrant Bagratyan, an Armenian
National Congress (ANC) group member, told Tert.am.
He is surprised at the fact that the public protested the latest fare
rise alone.
`I feel both glad and sad about the movement. But was a 50-dram fare
rise the problem? Aren't we concerned over a 15% rise in the gas price
or a 27% rise in the electricity price? Why an 18% rise in the gas
price for the population and a 13% rise for large enterprises?'
`I think of why the authorities did not oppose the movement. No one
says `do not raise the gas price'. If society has decided to organize
a movement to resolve the problems, let them do so,' Bagratyan said.
He is sure that such a movement would have very quickly be broken down
if it had been organized by a political force.
Despite the claims that Armenia's civil society is gaining strength
and has gained victory, it has actually suffered defeat.
Asked if Armenia's authorities just allowed the public to win the
victory, Bagratyan said:
`I do not say there must be no price rise. But I do not perceive
slavish thinking. Fares have not been raised for 15 years, and the
self-cost may be high. The problem is for me why there is no
compensation in the form of pensions and allowances.'
According to him, the protests should have been aimed at Armenia's
government rather than at the Yerevan Municipality.
`This is also evidence of silent and fierce struggle within the ruling
circles. The Yerevan Municipality has proved to be a `weak link'.
The premier and the minister of transport are the first to be
accountable rather than the Yerevan Municipality,' he said.
According to Bagraryan, the fare must be set on a competitive basis.
`When we come to power the fare will be lower. We are going to leave
50 to 60 percent of budget funds at the local level, without
transferring them to the Ministry of Finance. It will be the right
solution,' he said.
With respect to fares, Bagratyan said that competition will cause them
to go down. Economic entities must have free access to and egress from
the market.
Armenian News - Tert.am