GOVERNMENT DELAYS AWARDING BEST COMPANIES

ARKA
Dec 24, 2009

YEREVAN, December 24, /ARKA/. Armenian prime minister Tigran Sarkisian
said today the government has delayed choosing the best companies of
the year, which are given annual government awards.

Speaking at a government session he said last year’s choices of best
companies caused a wave of criticism that was aimed mainly against
him. He said there were doubts about this year’s selection of best
companies and that was why he decided to postpone the ceremony.

"I think we need to unveil who are in the selection commission so
that we can assert that they make their selection decisions after
discussions, that they are not subjected to pressure and that their
decisions are consistent with reality,’ he said.

Asked who are in the commission, economy minister Nerses Yeritsyan
said they are over a dozen of deputy ministers and representatives
of several non-governmental organizations, who assess the quality of
goods and services by several criteria.

The minister said two companies’ names were removed from the list of
nominated companies after complains from consumers. The minister said
the nominated companies make volunteer payments for going through
auditing process. Asked by the prime minister that the one who pays
gets the awards, the minister said such a risk does exit, adding that
the commission takes into account the nominated companies tax payment
records as well.

The prime minister instructed minister Yeritsyan to personally
present the results of selection and explain why this or that company
is chosen.