Foreign Minister Presents What Has Been Handed Over to Another State via 'Property for Debt' Transactions

During a question-and-answer session between the National Assembly and the government, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan responded to QP faction MP Alkhaz Ghazaryan's question regarding 'Trippe', stating: 'One of the former foreign ministers says it is pathetic that 74 percent has been given, and only 26 percent has been retained. Now, that person who said this pathetic situation, in which we have given 74 percent to another, should note that during his tenure as Foreign Minister, we handed over 5 enterprises not 74 percent, but 100 percent to another state through the 'Property for Debt' arrangement.'

The Minister outlined what was handed over to another state through this mechanism during Vardan Oskanian's tenure: 'The last 20 percent of HayRusGasard was given in February 2013—100 percent handed over to another state. We laid a pipeline for gas from Iran, and half of that pipeline was given to that same state for a year; another piece was also given to that state. The fifth block of the Hrazdan Thermal Power Plant was handed over 100 percent, not 74 percent, to another state. The Electric Networks of Armenia were given to Inter RAO—not 74 percent, but 100 percent. So, in this whole story, who are the pathetic ones?' he remarked.

Regarding Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's statement that individuals are being arrested in Armenia due to political views, Mirzoyan said: 'My very dear and respected colleague, Mr. Lavrov, has incorrect information. There is no criminal prosecution for political activities in Armenia on that basis. Even if that were the case, speaking or commenting about it would be a direct intervention in Armenia's internal affairs. Let's allow each person to focus on their own internal matters.'