Thursday, January 25 2018 16:41

ArmInfo. "The main purpose of the hearings in the Parliament regarding the price increase was to listen to all the parties, get the opinion of the public, get acquainted with the experts' point of view and draw the appropriate conclusions.

" The aim of the hearings is not to immediately change the tax code or clash of the authorities with the opposition", Vice Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Eduard Sharmazanov stated this at a press conference on January 25. The vice-speaker noted that the rise in prices in Armenia is not artificial, and that this process is controlled. As a proof of his words, Sharmazanov stressed the fact that in neighboring Georgia, the rise in prices was 4.7%, in Azerbaijan 7.9%, while in Armenia prices increased by only 2.6%.

"We do not live in isolation from the whole world, and the rise in prices on the international market leads to an increase in prices in Armenia, and now the USSR and the market determine the price." If we artificially restrain price growth, it will lead to even more serious consequences," assured the deputy. According to the vice-speaker, the way out of the situation is not to contain inflation, but to gradually increase pensions and salaries. "Today, we do not have the opportunity to raise wages sharply, but we hope that this year economic growth will be recorded in Armenia, and due to this, we will have an opportunity to raise salaries and pensions in 2019-2020," Sharmazanov said. Speaking about the possibility of revising the new Tax Code, which, in the opinion of the opposition, will lead to a reduction in prices, Sharmazanov said: "No law is a dogma.' The law should serve a person, not a person to law. If there is a need, we will consider the possibility of changing the Tax Of the Code, but it is not necessary at this time, and I should also note that no opposition rally is able to change the situation in the country, because if we do not have money, going out into the street, they will not fall on top of us," said the vice-speaker.