"ANTI-COMPETITIVE AGREEMENTS: MONITORING RULES AND EVALUATION OF AVAILABLE METHODS" PROGRAM TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN ARMENIA SUPPORTED BY OSCE YEREVAN’S OFFICE
Noyan Tapan
Apr 14, 2009
YEREVAN, April 14, Noyan Tapan. With support of the OSCE Yerevan’s
Office the Armenian State Commission on Protection of Economic
Competition will carry out the "Anti-Competitive Agreements: Monitoring
Rules and Evaluation of Available Methods" program. The program
is aimed at improving the Commission’s monitoring and evaluation
mechanisms and increasing the effectiveness of competition law.
The program intends to raise the public awareness of business
community, told the chairman of the Commission on Protection of
Economic Competition, Ashot Shahnazarian during press-conference on
April 9.
Sergey Kapinos, the Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, attaching
importance to the launch of the program, told to journalists, that
the key to the development of economy is in creating equal competition
conditions. "It is impossible to establish democracy without ensuring
fair competition. We actively and efficiently cooperate with Armenian
authorities in this area.
Within that period Commission, certainly observed progress, however
there is much to be done, " told S.Kapinos.
OSCE expert Dr. Ioannis Kokkoris, who Arrived Armenia a week ago,
presented his observations. According to him, Armenian laws resemble
European ones; simply Armenia’s people do not realize the value
of competitive market and do not help their government to improve
economic competition.
According to him, continued monitoring of prices is necessity in
the condition of financial crisis, since this measure will enable to
ensure a stable competitive environment. In Armenia short and long-term
measures should be carried out, which will enable Commission to impose
fines on businesses providing misleading information, said the expert.
The expert also suggests implementing information campaign to promote
the idea of competition. "The pace of economic growth in Armenia
depends on competition conditions," told Ioannis Kokkoris, adding
that he prepares a comprehensive expert assessment to be submitted
to the Commission soon.