ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY: VAHAGN KHACHATRYAN

Tert.am
16:35 ~U 11.03.10

At a press conference today, Vahagn Khachatryan, a representative of
the Armenian National Congress (ANC) committee on economic affairs,
referred to a recent statement by the parliamentary Standing Committee
on Social Affairs chair Hakob Hakobyan that the rise in gas tariff
will not affect the household income of marginalized groups in society.

"He [Hakobyan] must have studied or read new economic theories. This
is proof for me that in terms of economy, the authorities are out of
touch with reality. It became clear for me that the authorities were
not ready for such a reaction otherwise they would have brought more
well-founded reasons why the gas price will increase from April 1,"
explained Khachatryan.

He also mentioned that two days ago he had been to Gyumri and had
noticed that the new gas tariff is set to become a serious problem
for them.

"Together with his team of deputies, Hakob Hakobyan must go, enter
the houses, see and understand what is [in fact] happening there,"
said Khachatryan, saying that Hakobyan could also go to his hometown
of Martuni and see what the situation is like there.

In reference to ANC’s initiative to appeal the ruling by the Public
Services Regulatory Commission of the Republic of Armenia to raise
the gas price, Khachatryan said that citizens are actively joining
in not only in Yerevan, but also in Gymri.