Out of political competition

07-05-2008 12:58:10 – KarabakhOpen

On May 6 the government decided to entitle the City Hall of Stepanakert
to the function of granting the right for property for the illegal
constructions on public land in the capital. Hence, now the City Hall
will legalize illegal buildings instead of the State Cadastre Committee.

The issue did not receive any criticism from the ministers. Moreover,
the prime minister instructed the minister of economic development
Benik Babayan to work out another order and entitle the City Hall to
some other functions. According to the prime minister, the City Hall
has no levers of influence on businesses within the municipality.

The issue of division of powers between the local and central
governments has been urgent in Karabakh for many years. Moreover, it
was used for political pressure on opposition heads of communities.
Example is the story of the ex-mayor of Stepanakert Edward Aghabekyan.
He was elected from the opposition party in a democratic election, and
it cost him dear, he simply was not allowed to work. More exactly, the
citizens of Stepanakert suffered where no roof, no building, no street
was repaired for 4 years. In addition, nobody hid that the government
did not subsidize the City Hall `out of political competition’.

Now the mayor is not a `competitor’ any more. Besides, Edward
Aghabekyan participates in the meetings of government as adviser to
prime minister.