“Zhamanak” says that the planned sale of the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) company to another foreign investor is not only keeping “important political and economic questions” unanswered but also raising many new ones. The paper is deeply suspicious about a Cyprus-registered company which is set to buy the ENA from Russia’s Inter RAO group. It fears that due to this “lack of transparency” the ENA will continue to be mismanaged under the new owner.
“Haykakan Zhamanak” is even more critical of the “dirty and murky deal.” “It is probably clear to everyone that this is a classical adventurist scheme,” claims the paper. It says the Cyprus-registered firm, Liarmond Holdings, does not really care about the ENA despite its reported desire to buy the Armenian power distribution network. It recalls in this regard that the ENA was already sold in 2002 to another offshore company by the Armenian government without an international tender. “Ever since then no credible Western company guided by modern business rules has even looked at the ENA,” it says.
“Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” blasts opposition parties that have agreed to meet with President Serzh Sarkisian and discuss his constitutional reform. The paper says that they have finally discredited themselves in the eyes of Armenians opposed to the government. It says that Sarkisian has demonstrated which opposition parties are influenced and steered by him and which ones are not. “At the same time, we can now see which political forces have expectations from Serzh Sarkisian and which ones pin no hopes on him anymore,” adds the paper.
Artak Davtian, a parliament deputy from the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK), tells “Hayots Ashkhar” that forces opposed to the constitutional reform lack popular support and a credible agenda. He also claims that the constitutional changes sought by the Sarkisian administration would give the Armenian opposition more levers to hold the government in check.
(Tigran Avetisian)