Prime Minister Andranik Margarian charged the Ministry of Transport and Communication to prohibit introduction of the payment by minute for city telephone calls. In the words of the Minister of Transport and Communication Andranik Manukian, in case "ArmenTel" Company insists on applying the payment by minute beginning with September 1, the Government "will take strict measures". Manukian expressed hope the management of the company would sit down to the bargaining table and would agree to the compromises suggested by the Government.