Hrant Bagratyan: These loans want to say, "Come and eat me" (video)
The National Assembly is discussing today a loan and grant agreement signed in 2014 between the Ministry of Finance and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) under which the EBRD will provide a €3.5 million loan to the Armenian government within the framework of “Solid waste management programme in Kotayk Marz”. Sukias Avetisyan, Vice-Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs, said angrily, “Do not blame our untidiness on this government and this loan agreement. Yes, we are untidy and sloppy. We throw trash onto the street from our cars. Our women take the garbage out of the house and dump it on the street,” he said. Many lawmakers present in the hall expressed their disagreement with Sukias Avetisyan. “Why are you confused? Everyone has the right to express his opinion,” Mr Avetisyan said. Tevan Poghosyan, Secretary of the Heritage Party, corrected Mr Avetisyan, saying it has become a mode of behaviour. NA Speaker Galust Sahakyan called MPs for a logical argument. “Our lawmakers are not fully informed about bills submitted to the National Assembly. None of the lawmakers has ever inquired about them. And now they are trying to get information here, in the National Assembly.” Hrant Bagratyan, a lawmaker of the Armenian National Congress, disapproved of the loan agreement. “These loans seem to have the motto, "Come and eat me!” he said.
