Armenia to put up Special Mountain Rescue Service for privatization

YEREVAN, January 20. /ARKA/. Armenia's National Assembly has passed today in the second and final reading a set of amendments to the privatization program for 2017-2020.

The head of the State Property Management Committee Narek Babayan said one of the changes calls for including the Special Mountain Rescue Service CJSC, an affiliation of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, in the list of companies subject to privatization.

The Special Mountain Rescue Service is engaged in the prevention of accidents during underground work, as well as in technical work in an environment hazardous to breathing, in checking gas cylinders and others.

“Despite the fact that the company works with profit, the Ministry of Emergency Situations decided to put it up for privatization and attract additional investments,” Babayan said.

The proposal was opposed by MP Arkady Khachatryan from the opposition Bright Armenia party who argued that this company is considered a paramilitary unit that oversees important areas.

“The decision would be understandable if there were other similar companies. What are the guarantees that after privatization the company would not change its activity type and free competition would be created in this area?” Khachatryan said. -0-