Armenia did not consult with international donors on nationalization of ENA- Pashinyan
YEREVAN, July 16. /ARKA/. No consultations were held with international donor organizations such as IMF and World Bank as part of the process announced by the government to nationalize the national power distribution company Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA), Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told a press conference today in response to a question from Novosti Armenia news agency.
The facility is owned by a Russia-based billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, arrested for 2 months for public calls to seize power.
"Frankly speaking, we did not consult with the organizations you mentioned. But we are presenting our positions frankly, openly, transparently, and comprehensively in the appropriate formats and forms to our international partners and those who are interested in this," Pashinyan said.
Pashinyan did not respond. when asked whether the nationalization of ENA would affect Armenia's investment climate.
The Armenian parliament, controlled by Pashinyan's Civil Contract party, passed a set of amendments earlier to allow the nationalization of the facility.
The owner of ENA, Tashir Group President Samvel Karapetyan, was arrested in Armenia on June 19 on charges of publicly calling for the seizure of power. That happened after Karapetyan, following a meeting with the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church Garegin II, stated that he had always been on the side of the Armenian Church and the Armenian people, and if politicians did not succeed, then “we are ready to participate in all this in our own way.”
Karapetyan's remarks came amid a bitter stand-off between the top clergy and Pashinyan's administration.
Later, Nikol Pashinyan announced a plan to nationalize ENA, stating that the process would be carried out in accordance with Armenian legislation.
The Electric Networks of Armenia is part of the Tashir Group of Companies. It operates medium and low voltage distribution networks in Armenia, serving about 1 million subscribers.
Tashir group says it has invested, since 2016, about $680 million in the modernization of the networks alone, with another $150-200 million invested in the creation of new capacities. -0-
