Armenian Parliament Approves Bill to Privatize National Postal Operator

The Armenian National Assembly approved on Friday, June 19, a bill submitted by the RA government on privatizing “Haypost,” national postal operator of Armenia. In a voting held earlier today, 61 lawmakers voted in favor of the privatization, while 22 voted against, and 16 abstained.

Out of the six parliamentary factions, “Heritage,” “Rule of Law,” “Armenian National Congress,” and “Armenian Revolutionary Federation” voted against the bill, while “Prosperous Armenia” abstained, and ruling “Republican Party of Armenia” voted in favor. 

Before voting had started, Zaruhi Postanjyan, head of opposition Heritage faction, urged the MPs to vote against the bill alienating "Haypost." The new owner, according to the lawmaker, might consequently refuse to present activity reports to the National Assembly. As an example, she mentioned “Electric Networks of Armenia” national electric utility company (owned by Russian Inter RAO UES).

“Rule of Law” faction member Hovhannes Margaryan, in turn, stated that “privatization of companies of strategic importance is inadmissible.”

Gagik Jhangiryan, member of “Armenian National Congress,” added that in addition to being strategically dangerous, the privatization of "Haypost" would lead to increase in postal rates.

Note, in 2006 “Haypost” was handed over to the management of “Haypost Trust Management,” owned by Argentinean-Armenian businessman Eduardo Eurnekian. In 2012, the latter and the Armenian government signed a new agreement by which the parties extended the expiry date of the management agreement to December 1, 2016. “Haypost” is envisaged to be privatized by Eurnekian's company.