GAS PRICE INCREASE TO CAUSE DRAM OFFER SLUMP AT FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKET

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
08.02.2010 16:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian MP, ARF Dashnaktsutyun parliamentary group
member Artsvik Minasyan urged citizens of Armenia to be more active in
defending their rights, promising social democratic parties’ support.

"Popular initiatives, backed up by political forces, can turn into
a major motive power," he emphasized.

"While discussing state budget for 2010, Dashnaktsutyun offered to
raise pensions, allowances and salaries in case of inflation, although
the government insists there is no immediate threat of inflation.

Nonetheless, oncoming gas price increase will definitely lead to new
inflation-caused pressure," Minasyan noted. "This, in turn, will spur
dram offer slump at foreign exchange market, subsequently impacting
product turnover in Armenia."

ArmRosGazprom CJSC addressed PSRC with a request to review current
tariff for consumers utilizing up to 10 000 cubic meters of gas, as
well as operator tariffs for supply, distribution and transportation
of natural gas.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun is an Armenian
political party founded in Tiflis (Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia)
in 1890 by Christapor Mikaelian, Stepan Zorian, and Simon Zavarian
The ARF has the largest number of members from the political parties
present in the Armenian Diaspora, having established affiliates in
more than 200 countries.

The ARF Dashnaktsutyun led the effort toward the establishment of
the first Armenian Republic in 1918 and was the party in power for
the duration of its existence. Following the Sovietization of Armenia
in 1920, the ARF Dashnaktsutyun was banned by the Communists and its
leadership exiled.

In the Diaspora, the ARF Dashnaktsutyun fought Soviet rule over
Armenia and championed the cause of Armenian rights and independence;
it played a leading role in organizing a social and cultural framework
aimed at preserving the Armenian identity.

The ARF Dashnaktsutyun officially re-emerged in Armenia during the
dissolution of the USSR, in 1990.

On December 28, 1994, the activities of the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun were
"temporarily suspended" by the Armenian authorities. In view of
the political nature of the anti-ARF interdictions by the Armenian
authorities, the ARF continued to operate in Armenia. On February 9,
1998, less than a week after the resignation of the then president
Ter-Petrossian, the Justice Ministry lifted the ban on the ARF
Dashnaktsutyun.