“168 Hours” daily wrote about the possibility of Russia forgiving Armenia’s debt.
Russia has signed a decree according to which it forgives half-billion debt of Kirgizstan. Armenia owes the same amount of credit debt to Russia. Will Russia ever water this debt? Several economists commented on this issue.
Free expert Hayk Balayan doesn’t believe in such prospective. “Russia’s actions are of political character. I don’t see anything that we can give Russia and which doesn’t threaten our sovereignty. The only thing is EurAsEc which will bring problems with Georgia and Iran. Russia may give aid in the face of credit through political concessions, as Armenia is unable to pay such debt.”- commented H. Balayan.
In difference with Balayan, ANC member economist Vahagn Khachatrayn doesn’t exclude debt-forgiveness. “Russia may forgive our debt on political grounds. Russia previously offered to provide gas to Moldova in case when it is directed towards Eurasian Union, not EU. The same was about Kirgizstan, but now Russia tries to attract it, not forgetting that Kirgizstan is one of the poorest states of USSR. The question is, what expectations has Russia from Armenia?”- said Vahagn Khachatryan.