YEREVAN, May 2. /Mediamax/. The National Assembly of Armenia passed today in first reading a bill submitted by the government on using the privatization funds for partial offset of interstate debt to Russia.
81 deputies voted for the bill, 1 was against and 8 abstained.
The bill stipulates that US$19,5 million from the overdue debt to Russia will be paid using 20 million from privatization funds, which are on the special account in the Central Bank of Armenia. The total sum of the debt to Russia makes US$114 million.
Deputy Hayk Babukhanian from "Right and Unity" faction proposed to hold a closed session of Parliament in order to discuss the negotiations with the Russian party concerning restructuring of debts of Armenia. According to him, repayment of debts may be postponed through the negotiations.
Voting of the given bill in the second reading will be held today.
Vice Prime Minister of Russia, Minister for Finance Aleksey Kudrin said Tuesday in New York: "The CIS countries apply to us for help. Foe example, Kirghizia, Armenia and other countries have applied to us. And we participate in the restructuring of their debts. We work with them and support them under certain conditions". --0--