GALUST SAHAKYAN IS READY TO EXCHANGE HIS HOUSE
/galust-sahakyan
07:39 pm | February 22, 2010
Politics
The Armenian National Assembly today adopted the government’s tax
package which suggests introducing new taxes in the country.
"The new taxes will not cover the vulnerable stratum of society,"
Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) Galust Sahakyan
told A1+.
During the previous four-day NA sitting he blamed his colleagues
for unawareness.
"As unawareness hovers throughout the parliament we did not neglect
Heritage or ARF-Dashnaktsutyun and removed six taxes leaving only two.
But the taxes are obligatory otherwise we shall lose the institute
of self-government bodies," said Mr. Sahakyan.
"It is upon the community administration to decide whether to levy
the tax or not. The taxes will be levied as soon as a law is passed
on them.
The new taxes will mainly cover farmers having more than five hectare
lands. There are people who have a land of hundred hectares but they
do not cultivate it as they have some other business. Only 35-40
percent of the country’s land is cultivated today. As soon as the
new taxes are introduced they will have to pay for the extra soil
or sell it. In this way we shall boost the business of real estate
market. The hotel tax will not cover vulnerable people either as no
peasant, worker or teacher has a hotel in Armenia."
A1+ wondered if the new taxes cover great businesses why the
Republican, Prosperous Armenia and Orinats Yerkir parties, the
so-called Armenian business elite, voted for the law while the
opposition which is thought to support the interests of ordinary
people voted against the package.
"I advise you visiting the homes of opposition MPs," said Galust
Sahaknyan and added: "I am ready to exchange my house with that of
any oppositionist."