RA OMBUDSMAN: THE GOVERNMENT MUST NOT BURDEN PEOPLE WITH ITS OWN PROBLEMS

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.02.2010 17:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today, during a news conference, RA Ombudsmen Armen
Harutyunyan touched upon the most urgent issues in today’s society,
specifically noting the increase of gas prices in Armenia. On February
24, RA Ombudsman, accompanied by representatives of NGOs, met with
Chairman of RA Public Services Regulatory Commission Robert Nazaryan
to discuss the increase of gas prices. "Unfortunately, the dialogue
between Nazaryan and NGOs was not successful," said Armen Harutyunyan,
adding that his office does not intend to intervene in that area.

According to him, the experts split into pro and con groups, believing
price increase either justified or not. "Once again we are facing the
monopoly problem. Lack of civilized market relations gives advantages
to the owners of larger business, destroying small and medium ones.

With principles of social justice violated, people stop caring about
calculations, which do nothing but increase the social burden,"
the Armenian Ombudsman added.

Whether the increase of gas prices is justified is of minor importance,
as the population has no opportunity to be involved in proper business
and earn enough money.

Mr. Harutyunyan urged RA government to form a social package for the
population, as even the medium business in Armenia is threatened.

"Until recently, we received no complaints from medium business
representatives. We do now," he stressed.

According to the RA Ombudsman, the government must not burden people
with its own problems; trying instead to ease the burden as much as
it can.