ArmInfo.It was investors who offered the government to accept shares of companies as a gift, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said on February 7 at government hour in parliament, commenting on the transfer of shares in a number of companies.
In particular, opposition MP Tadevos Avetisyan inquired about the reason for the "generosity" of the owners of a number of companies, who over the past 2-3 years have transferred shares in companies to Armenia. In particular, the government became the owner of 21.875% of the shares or 1/5 share in the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine, and approved the decision to donate 12.5% of the shares of Lydian Armenia, which operates the Amulsar mine. Recently, the new owner of MTS Armenia, the Cypriot Fedilco Group Limited, announced its intention to transfer 20% of the operator's shares to Armenia free of charge. "What is the real motive for such generous gifts received as a result of secret agreements, what obligations did the state undertake as a result of these transactions, which is unknown to the public, and is this not an entry into the share of business, through the use of tax terror, in exchange for concession and no punishment for unpaid taxes or other obligations?" asked the parliamentarian.
"There was a time when state property was transferred free of charge, now it's the other way around. And it is not transmitted everywhere, but in cases where there is a problem with historical legitimacy at the heart of these projects. Don't you remember how and by whom the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine was privatized?" the Prime Minister said in response.
As the prime minister pointed out, the authorities are faced with a dilemma regarding Amulsar.
Referring to talk about the government's share, the Prime Minister replied that no one was deprived of their property. "The new owner came, and, understanding the deep problems associated with legitimacy, stated that he did not want to share the burden of the stories of these companies to the detriment of his business reputation, did not want to be the heir to a bad history, and so that everyone could see that he was not taking away from the country, but brings it into the country because it is necessary for his business reputation. What is dubious here? What secret obligation? The RA government does not have any secret agreements or obligations in any area that are not known to the people of RA," Pashinyan said.
At the same time, according to the head of the Armenian Cabinet, these actions in no way damage the country's reputation or its investment environment. "If the investment atmosphere in the country was bad, would they invest here at all, and then give away part of their shares?" he noted.
