ACCORDING TO NA SPEAKER, IF THERE IS RISE IN PRICE OF SUGAR IN SHOP, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT IMPORTER IS GUILTY

Noyan Tapan
Oct 23, 2007

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 23, NOYAN TAPAN. An approximately 60% rise in the
price of sugar has recently been recorded in Armenia. In difference
to the rise in the prices of grain stuffs, organic and vegetable oil,
no tendency for a rise in the price of sugar has been observed in
the world market.

In response to the question of journalists of what is the attitude of
the Republican Party of Armenia towards this fact of the rise in the
price, taking into consideration the fact that the import monopoly of
sugar belongs to Samvel Alexanian, a member of the above-mentioned
party, Tigran Torosian, the Speaker of the RA National Assembly,
said that one should have facts before accusing somebody. In his
words, if there is a rise in the price of food-stuffs in the shop,
this does not mean that it is the importer, who is guilty.

Tigran Torosian mentioned that the rise in the price, which is a result
of natural processes should be seriously studied and discerned from
those cases, when different people try to make an advantage of the
situation for personal interests. "Those, who choose the second way,
should be punished within the limits of law," he mentioned.

According to the Speaker of the National Assembly, this issue should
be regulated by the State Commission for the Protection of the Economic
Competition in the Republic of Armenia. In response to the question of
a Noyan Tapan correspondent of whether there are no flaws in connection
with the regulation of similar issues, the NA Speaker mentioned that
no faction or MP has come up with the initiative on expanding the
competences of the above-mentioned commission so far. Tigran Torosian
suggested that the question concerning the possible steps taken in
the direction of mitigating the consequences of the rise in the price
for the population should be addressed to the government.