V. Ayvazyan: Protection of economic competition topical

Protection of economic competition is a topical issue in Armenia, member of parliament, Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Economic Affairs Vardan Ayvazyan told reporters.

The parliamentarian addressed inflation, particularly, price increase for cheese. V. Ayvazyan said parliament proposes legislative changes and government should present concrete proposals over the issue. In his words, Armenia’s State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition does not have sufficient mechanisms to regulate the field.

According to Ayvazyan, if inflation exceeds the level envisaged by the budget, government’s efforts will be reduced to nothing.

“It is one of the most important problems,” Avyazyan said.

In any case, according to the speaker, state social expenditures are stable, they depend on budget revenues.

Ayvazyan said he has not studied the reasons behind price increase for cheese. In his opinion, Prime Minister’s statement on creation of cheese brand is aimed at export stimulation.

In return, Chairman of the Union of Domestic Commodity Producers Vazgen Safaryan said there is a single method used in international practice in case of high inflation.

“When inflation rate rises above 6 percent, population incomes should be indexed.”

He regretted to say that Armenia does not use this method.

“Armenia needs to seriously correct its economic policy,” Safaryan concluded.