WHAT MAY PRIVATIZATION OF LAND BY FOREIGNERS END UP WITH?

Lragir.am
02 June 06

The National Assembly of Karabakh made changes to the land
legislation, enabling foreigners to own the land they formerly could
only rent.

`I think this is a quite positive thing, and hence NKR offered a
serious bid for `peaceful and creative’ work. This is a significant
step and a guideline for a country, which is living under martial
law. Hence, we assert our readiness to meet external challenges and we
have sufficient ground for it. At the same time, it may be
dangerous. On the one hand, it is a necessary and justified step for a
country which has adopted market relations. On the other hand, the
lack of definite and tried mechanisms of self-regulation of the market
may lead to a land market regulated by administrative methods. I am
afraid these changes may lead to the emergence or legalization of
latifundists.

Whereas, the goal should be the development of farms and prosperity of
rural communities. The experience will show one way or another how the
land market will be developing in our country, and hopefully it will
be possible to improve it gradually,’ said Member of Parliament Gegham
Baghdasaryan.

Vahram Atanesyan, Chair of the Committee of External Relations, also
thinks that these changes will not do any harm to the people of
Karabakh. Since the area of land rented by foreigners is not great,
these changes are not dangerous, he said.