"Go and starve to death"
The draft law on amendments in the RA law "On Trade and Services" wasn't included in the agenda of the four-day parliamentary session.
The authors of the draft law say it could have had a decisive impact on the fate of street traders who have remained unemployed due to the Yerevan Municipality's decision.
"They are sending the message to those people to go home and starve to death. This is the answer of the ruling majority in parliament and the government to the street traders," head of "Heritage" faction Stepan Safaryan told "A1+".
According to him, his party's draft law was agreed with the street traders. "That issue is solved in many countries, but Armenia has not given citizens any other choice but to starve to death in such a social-economic state."
With its draft law, "Heritage" suggests including average citizens in the list of street traders who appeal to the municipality and register as street traders.
According to the draft law, the district council offers 1-2 square meters, the street traders pay fines, do trade and take responsibility for the sanitary-hygienic situation.
"Street traders are earning a day's living. A large part of the population left in poverty by the Armenian government takes advantage of the street traders. If street trade has an impact on the Armenian government's aesthetic taste, it is obliged to realize that many people survive on street trade in Armenia."
Stepan Safaryan advises the government to provide workers with normal salaries and pensions.
"Heritage" party's draft law had been on the National Assembly's agenda for a couple of months. Independent MP Victor Dallakyan made some amendments in the law a couple of days ago. According to him, street traders should be given the chance to sell fruits and vegetables. The corresponding NA committee suggested that "Heritage" and Victor Dallakyan gather the proposals and then gave a positive conclusion. After all this, the NA was obliged to include the draft law in the agenda of this four-day session.
"By Galust Sahakyan's illegitimate demand and the NA chairman's demand, the common draft law was not put up for a vote and the versions presented by "Heritage" and Victor Dallakyan were denied. We demand respect for the law on NA rules and regulations," said Safaryan.
