RA President: Before the Conclusion of the Audit, the Government will Take up the Entire Burden of the Price Increase

• 06.27.2015, 20:10
•  Armenia

The President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan is deeply convinced that the increase in electricity tariffs in the country is justified and that if this does not happen, the energy system of the country will be under the threat of destruction. The Head of the State said this at a meeting with those responsible for the economic policy of the country, the press service of the RA President informs. 

Serzh Sargsyan also noted that the invalidation of the decision to increase electricity tariffs is extremely dangerous. He reminded of 1988 and the consequences of the suspension of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, of closing "Nairit", stressing that it is possible to bring dozens of similar examples, when the negative consequences of some decisions are felt until today. 

"Therefore, before the conclusion of the audit, the government will take up the entire burden of the price increase," President declared, noting that this will not affect the country's ongoing social programs. According to him, the funds will be allocated from resources allocated for strengthening the security of the country in the future.

"Of course, our security problems are far from a complete solution to put it mildly, but today the current climate of suspicion and mistrust, I also consider a security problem, which must be addressed. If the conclusion confirms the validity of the tariff increase, then from that moment on consumers with no reason to doubt, will begin paying the new price. If the conclusion reveals the tariff increase has no ground, the government will take the appropriate steps to collect back from the distribution networks the overpayment and keeping those, who made omissions, responsible for that," the Head of State said.

He noted that a lot was said about the tariff and three objective reasons for its increase were presented. However, the President stressed that obviously there is a lack of confidence. "I think that doubt and lack of confidence are our first enemy in this regard. Firstly, we have to eliminate exactly this," Serzh Sargsyan said.

"I propose to choose any international consulting company with extensive experience in the field of energy that enjoys strong reputation in the world, if necessary, to involve in the selection process also several active protesters and instruct the company with the involvement of the audit company to answer the following questions:

• to what extent the tariff increase was justified;

• what threats exist for the power system, if the tariff is not increased," Serzh Sargsyan mentioned.

"Under these conditions, the work of the government on the change of ownership of electricity distribution networks that started a few months ago will become certain, not ruling out the possibility of returning it to the state and transferring it to a competitive management " the President added.