Government gives equal rights to cigarette importers, local manufacturers May 5, 2011 - 10:19 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian government has approved a bill on legislative changes to be introduced in the laws on domestic market protection, licensing and state duty. As Economy Minister Tigran Davtyan said, the bill gives equal rights to cigarette importers and local manufacturers. In October 2010, the Armenian parliament passed amendments to the law on excise tax. The amendments envisage a stage-by-stage equalization of rates for both local producers and importers till 2014. The World Trade Organization (WTO) rules prohibit any fiscal or regulatory preferences for domestic products. Excise rates should be equal for local and imported cigarettes. A similar requirement on equal tax rates for imported and locally produced products is contained in the Free Trade Agreements (FTA) signed by Armenia with 13 countries, including Russia and Ukraine. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Erdogan wants “realistic road map” for relations with Armenia Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for a “new realistic road map” for relations with Armenia. Armenia-Azerbaijan: Experts launch work on determining coordinates Expert groups from the countries started the process of determining the coordinates based on geodetic measurements. Yerevan says did not expect CSTO in peacekeeping role Pashinyan has declared that the CSTO would be expected to come to the Armenia-Azerbaijan border as an ally of Armenia Henrikh Mkhitaryan wins Serie A title with Inter Inter Milan midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan admits that the team have long been imagining clinching Serie A against AC Milan. |