03 March 2009, 20:00
Yerevan: exchange booths stop selling dollars and euros
In the majority of currency exchange booths of the capital of Armenia dollars and euros are bought but not sold. Presently, foreign currencies can be bought in banks only. The main reason is the decision of the Central Bank to restrict its interventions into the currency exchange house and return to the policy of floating exchange rate.
Today, as of 4:30 p.m. local time, the exchange rate in different Yerevan exchange booths was 320, 350 and 380 drams/dollar. The real dollar purchase price was essentially higher, thus, in the "Conversebank" one dollar was bought for 414 drams. Yesterday and today in the morning before 11:00 a.m. the rate averaged at 306 drams/dollar.
Armenian MP (Deputy of the National Assembly) Stepan Safaryan said, in his comments on the situation that introduction of the "floating" rate was reasonable, but the rate jump was too great.
Armen Karapetyan, an employee at one of Yerevan banks, said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that back in mid-December he had data on what would happen in Armenia in early spring.
Meanwhile, lady-pensioner Anait Pogosyan and girls-students Ani and Maria from the remote city of Kapan have stated that they had no idea about today's events. "Quite recently the government assured us that this crisis wouldn't touch Armenia almost at all," the pensioner said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
The Central Bank of Armenia decided, at its sitting on March 3, to restrict its interference in the currency exchange and get back to the policy of "floating" dram exchange rate.
Author: Lylyt Ovanisyan Source: CK correspondent
