SIX TAXES "REMOVED" FROM PACKAGE

22/national-assembly
05:36 pm | February 22, 2010

Politics

The Armenian National Assembly today adopted the tax package with 71
pros, 20 cons and 7 abstentions.

During the previous four-day sitting, the National Assembly adjourned
the voting for 15 days as both opposition and Coalition MPs sounded
against the package.

Taking into consideration deputies’ proposals and observations, the
government removed six taxes from the package leaving only two. In
particular, the executive body suggests introducing hotel tax and
parking tax.

Armen Martirosyan thanked the government in the name of Heritage
faction for the changes and added that the party would abstain from
the vote as they found the package incomplete.

"Let them work for another 15 days in order to introduce a full
package," said freelance MP Samvel Balasanyan.

Republican Vardan Ayvazyan noted that the new taxes would be put into
force after a law is passed on them.

Chairman of the Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs David
harutyunyan reminded NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan that by the NA
time-limit deputies have right to express opinions on the voting
procedure. Anyway, Mr. Abrahamyan interrupted the speeches and put
the issue to the vote.

The package was voted down by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation,
freelance MPs. Heritage abstained from the vote.