Four non-government parties issue statement
The four non-coalition factions of Armenian parliament – Prosperous Armenia, ARFD, Armenian National Congress, and Heritage factions – issued a statement that contains an assessment of the implementation by the authorities of 12 points that the factions submitted earlier.
Taking into account the obvious deterioration of the socioeconomic situation in Armenia, which was reflected in data of Armenia’s National Statistical Service, as well as in reports and forecasts of IMF, the four political forces in June 2014 submitted demands of 12 points to the authorities. The demands were related to urgent measures to be taken by September 30.
According to the statement, none of the 12 points submitted by the four factions has been carried out. Besides, the four factions express discontent with the Law on Turnover Tax, by which “the authorities endanger continuous operation of small and medium businesses and put some of them on the brink of closure,” as well as with the current credit policy, including in the banking sector.
The statement notes that problems of subsidizing agricultural entities have not been solved either. Besides, electricity tariffs rose by 40% in the past year and the public’s interests were infringed to please Electric Networks of Armenia Company having a monopoly position.
It is also mentioned that the authorities did not respond to the opposition’s demands for reforming the Electoral Code and to the possibility of setting up a customs point on the border of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh in case of Armenia’s entry into the Eurasian Economic Union. “This reaction of the authorities shows that the ruling political force is not prepared to conduct a dialog with society and meet the minimum needs of the people,” the statement says.
The four parties say that the ruling regime has exhausted itself and the public cannot pin their hopes for the country’s development on it.