KARABAKH CONSUMERS ARE LESS PROTECTED

KarabakhOpen
01-11-2007 13:36:04

The prices of consumer goods continue to soar. Experts say the price
of flour will continue to grow until the next harvest.

In Armenia different explanations of the cause of the soaring prices
were given. Some people believe that it relates to the pre-election
period, others even say the Armenian businessmen are going to come
down with money for the election, therefore they have raised the
prices of their products.

The leader of the Democratic faction Vahram Atanesyan thinks it is
difficult to tell the growth of prices in Armenia is directly related
to the pre-election period. "We had better discuss how the soaring
prices affect the Karabakh society. As you know, the Commission for
the Protection of Economic Cooperation of Armenia has recently made
a decision on checking, sanctions, and so on. Consumers in Karabakh
are less protected than in Armenia. Our government also held a
consultation but it did not have a tangible effect, and the price of
bread continues to rise," Vahram Atanesyan says. He mentioned with
regret that the corresponding agencies of NKR have fewer levers
of influence on pricing, at least due to the lack of customs and
dependence on import from Armenia.

"I think the government and the other branches of power should think
about protection of the people of Karabakh. As to the statements that
the businessmen are raising money for the election, I don’t think
it is serious to give an evaluation from Stepanakert. Our problem
is the protection of the rights of our consumers in such extreme
situations. In Karabakh the income per capita is twice as low as
in Armenia. Besides, in Armenia criticism has definite targets, the
suppliers of oil and other products are known, while in our country
there is no control because each supplier sets the price they want,"
he added.

The member of parliament is hopeful that the Public Services Regulatory
Commission of Karabakh which has been set up recently will at least
hold a monitoring. The National Statistics Service will carry out a
comparative analysis of income and prices.