YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The expected growth of prices in Armenia is fraught with an increase of tension which may result in social unrest, independent deputy of the National Assembly Victor Dallakian stated at the February 25 sitting. In his words, the upcoming rise in gas, power and water tariffs will become a heavy burden, especially on the vulnerable section of Armenian population, which in its turn will lead to a growth in prices of living essentials. The same is expected to occur in case of adoption of the government-proposed amendment to customs legislation, by which it is envisaged raising customs payments for imported eggs, meat products, vegetable oil with the aim of encouraging domestic producers. V. Dallakian said that there are 530 thousand pensioners, more than 200 thousand people who receive benefits, about 110 thousand disabled persons in Armenia, that is, over a million people are in vulnerable condition. In response to the deputy's question about what steps the government has taken to avoid social unrest, the minister of labor and social issues Arsen Hambartsumian replied that having forecast a rise in prices, the government envisaged a growth of pensions, benefits and other financial allocations in the 2009 budget. The increased allocations should cover the vulnerable groups' expenses to grow due to the rise in tariffs. In the words of A. Hambartsumian, today there is no cause for serious concern, and the time will show what will happen in the future. Not being satisfied with this answer, V. Dallakian proposed that the government keep the pre-election promises of the authorities and "bring the oligarchs to the taxation field". He warned of the possible consequences, noting that "if the authorities do not solve the problems of the people, then the people solves the problems of the authorities".

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