HHK lawmaker voted against loan agreement
The NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations today discussed the loan agreement “Third Public Sector Modernization Project” signed between the Republic of Armenia and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development in November, 2015. It was presented by Deputy Chairman of the SRC Vakhtang Mirumyan, who is representing his old position of Deputy Minister of Finance within the frames of the agreement. According to the agreement, 21 million USD is provided to Armenia with a 25 year period term, 7 million of which will be provided to the establishment of information base, which will give an opportunity to wholly reflect the liabilities and assets of the state. According to Mr Mirumyan, for this purpose 8 million USD will also be provided by RF Ministry of Finance. Tevan Poghosyan, secretary of “Heritage” faction, asked what will happen, if the RF refuses the grant. Vakhtang Mirumyan assured that in any case the project will be implemented, “But it will not refuse. I will not vote for it, but I stress the importance of this project.” Both the lawmakers from the opposition and the authorities were concerned about this loan. Secretary of the Rule of Law (OEK) faction Mher Shahgeldyan asked whether in case of our budget it was necessary to take another loan, whether it will not enlarge our loan liabilities and the public debt, “Our national security is endangered.” Prosperous Armenian Party (BHK) faction secretary Vahe Enfiajyan noted what will be the efficiency of this loan for us and what serious results we will achieve, “And, finally, after 25 years, who will be responsible for this loan, for its efficient use, or is it only solving a current issue? I also want to know what will be the whole sum of percentages in 2045.” The Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) faction lawmaker Samvel Farmanyan noted whether it is necessary to provide 1/6 of the loan or about 100 000 dollars for the consultation expenses and trainings, “I personally worked at the international organizations and I know how those lines are written, but if you only imagine all that on your family budget, you will understand what enormous expense it is. I have heard for the first time that the committee on “Public sector modernization” operates in our country; when did it hold its last sitting? And I also don’t understand what the equality of women and men had to do with this agreement. Mr Mirumyan, be ready that it will be discussed at the plenary sitting of the NA and everybody will vote according to his conscience. I will vote against. It becomes a public debt; we are not a NGO so that it can be grant. I think it must be not a loan, but co-financing.” Vakhtang Mirumyan said that he can’t remember when the committee on “Public Sector Modernization” held a sitting for the last time. He also added that this loan project is necessary, for soon they will pass to budget programming and the operation of the information base is very important. The NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations voted for the loan agreement and it entered into the agenda of the upcoming four-day sitting of the NA. Lawmakers Aleksander Arzumanyan, Tevan Poghosyan, Vahe Enfiajyan and Samvel Farmanyan voted against the loan agreement.
