TAXI DRIVERS CONTINUE YEREVAN PROTESTS
By Hovannes Shoghikian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
July 26 2007
Dozens of angry taxi drivers appeared to have clinched concessions
from the government on Thursday after again gathering outside its
headquarters in Yerevan in protest against new licensing rules that
could cost them their jobs.
The rules, which were due to take effect on August 1, would require
taxi companies and independent cab drivers to pay an annual state duty
of 200,000 drams ($590) for each of their cars. More importantly,
they would be banned from using vehicles manufactured more than 10
years ago.
Virtually all of the protesters are self-employed and have older
cars. They were parked in the city’s central Republic Square just
opposite the Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian’s office for the second
consecutive day. Traffic police tried in vain to keep the convoy from
entering the sprawling square on Thursday.
Several organizers of the protest, which coincided with a weekly
session of Sarkisian’s cabinet, were then received by the chief of
the government staff, Manuk Topuzian. They emerged from the building
an hour later, saying that Topuzian assured them that the government
will delay enforcement of the measure.
"We were told that they will postpone it for six months," said one
driver. "But we want it to be postponed for at least one-and-a-half
years."
Armen Martirosian, an opposition parliamentarian who joined the
protesters after attending the government meeting, quoted Sarkisian
as telling ministers that the new licensing rules were not "well
thought-out." "Your struggle has effectively born fruit," Martirosian
told the protesters.
Also protesting outside the government building were several dozen
former employees of the now defunct Armenian Airlines and residents of
another old Yerevan neighborhood slated for demolition. The ex-pilots
have for years been demanding payment of their back wages, while
the residents seek government assurances that they will be properly
compensated for the loss of their homes.