ACCORDING TO ANDRANIK TEVANIAN, THERE ARE NO NECESSARY BASES FOR DIALOG BETWEEN AUTHORITIES AND OPPOSITION
Noyan Tapan
April 23, 2008
YEREVAN, APRIL 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The current internal political and
economic situation in Armenia is close to a crisis one, political
scientist and economist Andranik Tevanian said at the April 23 press
conference.
According to him, a dialog between the authorities and the opposition
is impossible because of the absence of any bases for it. In his
opinion, in order to ease the internal political tension, it is
necessary to decentralize power, make radical reforms and create an
open economic and political system.
As for the opposition, according to A. Tevanian, it should move its
struggle to the field of local government elections. In connection
with election of Yerevan mayor, the political scientist attached
special importance to elections of the council of aldermen, saying
it would be incorrent of the opposition not to take an active part in
these elections. Especially given the fact that the local government
bodies have been turned into an institution of election rigging in
the country.
A. Tevanian said that property right is not protected yet in Armenia,
and the absence of legitimacy of property leads to illegitimacy of
power. As a result, every election, especially a presidential one,
creates a crisis situation in the country.
In his words, having intergrown with the authorities, big business
occupies a dominating position and either forces out or suppresses
small and medium business. He said that it is no accident that the
first step taken by the newly elected authorities was making amendments
to the law on simplified tax, which was a step against small and
medium business. He predicted that later when the authorities see that
"money is not collected by means of tax terror", they will have to
take some steps in the sphere of big business too.
A. Tevanian expressed an opinion that it is impossible to develop
economy by solving fiscal prolems only. In order to reduce the shadow
economy, amendments to tax and customs legislation should be made,
in particular, it is necessary to introduce progressive taxation when
big business pays proportionally more than medium business which in
its turn pays more taxes than small business.