DUSHANBE , April 27, Asia-Plus - Tajik Anti-Monopoly Committee considers a draft resolution of the Government of Tajikistan on the establishment of the Unified Communications Center and Information Resource Unit to be in contrary to the country’s legislation, Amonullo Ashurov, Deputy Director of Tajik Anti-Monopoly Committee, announced at a briefing in Dushanbe on April 26.    

According to him, the Communications Minister Said Zuvaydov has imposed the Unified Communications Center and Information Resource Unit on other cellular operators.  

“Only the Communications Ministry is interested in the establishment of this agency and adoption of the resolution will break a balance of interests of communication service providers,” stressed  Ashurov, “Besides, it may destabilize the market and lead to unjustified monopolization of the communication sector and increase in service prices.” 

According to him, it is supposed to establish Unified Communications Center and Information Resource Unit at the Open Joint-Stock Company (OJSC) “Tajik Telecom”, the state-owned national telecommunications operator.

“It is contrary to the RT Law ”On Competition and Restriction of Monopolistic Activity on the Trade Markets” because the OJSC “Tajik Telecom” is an economic entity,” the antimonopoly commission official said.   

Mr. Ashurov also noted that the country’s government had set up a commission for considering the Unified Communications Center and Information Resource Unit project.  The commissions consists of representatives from the ministries of communications, state revenues and tax collections, finance, and security, as well as security council’s secretariat, president’s office, antimonopoly agency and Internet service providers. Matlubkhon Davlatov, State Adviser to the President for Economic Matters, has already been informed on the results of work carried by the commission so far, according to Ashurov.  

Ashurov added that the commission considered that it was no necessity in further preparation and consideration of the project.  “All members of the commission, except the communications minister, have voted against the establishment of the Unified Communications Center and Information Resource Unit,” he stressed.