"In 1998, when we put the stocks for sale I regretted there was no Russian companies among the aspirants," said RA Ex-Prime Minister, rector of the Russia-Armenian (Slavonic) University, professor Armen Darbinian when commenting on the sale of Armenian telecommunications company ArmenTel's 90% stocks to Russian VympelCom. In his words, the process of initial capital accumulation and allocation of Russian actives was not over in Russia at that time. "In 2001 an intense search for extra investment projects was launched first of all among the Russian leading enterprises. Certainly, the price of these actives has changed but today the Russian companies are ready to pay for the possibility of expansion and this gratifies," the RAU rector said. "I welcome this bargain and I am glad that a Russian company has become the owner of the Armenian telecommunication operator. I know VympelCom as a serious company and wish it every success at the Armenian market," he resumed, RAU Spokesman Roman Nadirian told PanARMENIAN.Net.