Yerevan expects Moscow to make investments in enterprises transferred to the Russian side in exchange for debts, said Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan while addressing the country's parliament on April 10.
This statement came in response to a question from the deputy of the ruling faction "Civic Contract" Sergey Bagratyan regarding the possibility of Armenia reclaiming strategic assets, including the Razdan Thermal Power Plant and the Mars Plant, transferred to Russia in 2002 to settle a debt of $93 million.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the main goal is not to reclaim these assets but to attract investments for their development.
Pashinyan also noted that the potential of these enterprises has not yet been fully realized and called for cooperation with Russian partners to effectively utilize these assets for economic purposes.
He clarified that this issue had been discussed with Russian colleagues, including the leadership of Russia, and emphasized the need to use these enterprises to promote economic development.
Pashinyan recalled that Russian President Vladimir Putin first visited Armenia on an official visit in September 2001. The main purpose of the visit was to develop trade and economic relations between the two countries.
"It was during this visit that Vladimir Putin and Armenian President Robert Kocharyan discussed the issue of repaying Armenia's $114 million debt to Russia. In particular, in exchange for the debt, Russia was offered a number of Armenian enterprises, and a year later, Armenia transferred to Russia the Razdan Thermal Power Plant, the Mars Plant, and 3 scientific institutions," Pashinyan reminded.
