Aragil

YEREVAN (Hayastani Hanrapetutyun daily), 01/29/99 — Minister of Post and Telecommunications yesterday spoke on resolution of the Constitutional Court about Article 24 of the Law about Telecommunications.
“There are no winning or loosing parties, since the Court accepted a right decision. The mentioned law is anticonstitutional as much, as the monopoly hinders to free economic competition”, said the Minister. He added that providing exclusive rights to ArmenTel for a certain period has ht goal of achieving a developed economy. ArmenTel’s licensee needs to be polished. Thee Constitutional Court will mention those points in the license, which need to be changed with time. The article 24 of the Law should be rewritten so that it doesn’t contradict to the Constitution, said Vardanian.
“We may apply certain punitive measures, if thee mentioned company deliberately refrains from implementation of its obligations, for example in the issue of investments. Yet, we have no right of lifting its monopoly”, said the Minister. Responding to a statement of journalists, that OTE has not yet canceled the decision about installing per-minute charges, Vardanian said that OTE board will have to discuss this decision, and only then thee local director will have a right for corresponding actions. “Our representative is in Greece and, I believe, the issue will be resolved by next Saturday”.