THANKS TO RUSSIANS ONE DAY ARMENIANS WILL SAY RUSSIA, GO HOME!

Lragir.am
19 June 06

In the June 16 meeting the government of Armenia made a decision on
reorganization of Armenergo, Hrazdan Thermal Power Plant, Sevan-Hrazdan
Cascade, and a merger with Armgasard CJSC. On the same decision, the
privatization package of Armgasard must be ready by September 1, 2007.

"The purpose of this decision of the government is to set up a large
holding, which can bring the Republic of Armenia to its knees,
dictate a harder policy and stipulations," says economist Edward
Aghajanov. Moreover, according to the economist, this merger is
completely out of law in the sense that the Thermal Power Plant of
Hrazdan belongs to the Federal Property Fund of Russia, Sevan-Hrazdan
Cascade belongs to the Russian RAO EES. "I, for instance, cannot
understand the point of a merger between the Armenian Armenergo and
the Russian companies," asks Edward Aghajanov, adding that the legal
basis of the merger is not clear yet, it is not clear what changes
will be made to the standard capital. "The decision smells a rat,"
says the economist.

Aghajanov says it is impossible that this company will be owned by
another country than Russia because "Russia intends to and has already
achieved energy colonization of Armenia," which is not in the interests
of the Russians. Therefore the anti-Russian moods are rapidly growing
in Armenia, and everybody realizes that Russia is not a strategic
partner, these are relations of vassal and senior. This policy will
lead to a point when the Armenians will rise and say, Russia go home,
Yankee welcome, thinks Aghajanov. According to him, there are other
preconditions which have been talked about for a great number of
times. For instance, the Unites States has provided assistance of 1.5
billion dollars but has never pointed to the energy sector and said
give it to me. Unlike Ukraine, which owed 1.4 billion, Moldavia 700
million, Georgia 158 million dollars, we owed only 97 million dollars
to Russia, but it got hold of all the important units of the energy
sector says Aghajanov. Moreover, Georgia’s 158 million-dollar debt
was reconstructed on Georgia’s demand and proposals.

"But Russia is conducting an extremely dangerous policy for its
country. It is, in fact, restoring the former ministry of oil and
gas industry. Gasprom was national, Sibneft was nationalized too,
which will lead to the Venezuelan disease," believes Aghajanov. When
the oil companies of Venezuela were private, the quality of life in
the country was second to the United States. After nationalization
these companies became objects of bureaucracy and corruption, and
now Venezuela is one of the poorest countries in the world.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress