Monopoly might be fixed by law - says minister (video)
Minister of Economy Artsvik Minasyan does not rule out that Samvel Alexanyan monopoly over sugar exports might be fixed by law. The minister will no longer fight against monopolies, but he will fight for free competition on equal footing. He is displeased to hear an observation that Serzh Sargsyan sponsors monopolies. “There is an agreement signed between the two political forces (ARF-Dashnaktsutyun and Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) that clearly speaks of an active anti-monopoly policy.” But there are no guarantees that the minister’s antitrust activities will not meet resistance by Baghramyan 26. The minister says he does not represent an investigative body but the regulations of the agency that he heads may allow him in the future to enter into a serious fight. “Do not expect me to assume the functions of a prosecutor… ” The minister says he is not a soothsayer and cannot predict who will suffer from his determination to regulate monopolies. “Everyone who is against free economic competition will feel the pain, including all those who preferred to have incubated companies and this has nothing to do with the names you know,” Mr Minasyan said. “Laws should be changed,” the minister said speaking about the fight against monopolies. After journalists said that it is clear who gains monopolies under the auspices of the authorities, Mr Minasyan said, “If everything was as simple as you said, do you know how many people would get Nobel prizes for the fight against monopolies?” The minister also promised to provide the list of famous monopolists in Armenia within three months.
