Government of Armenia is taking measures to establish a dialogue with the people protesting against electricity price hikes, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian told a news conference on the heels of the Eastern Partnership Informal Ministerial in Minsk.
Asked whether the protests in the country are an attempt to apply "double standards" toward Armenia and to split the public, the minister said he has no idea what "double standards" are in question.
"The electricity price hike sparked public discontent. The people took the streets. The Government calls on protesters for a dialogue. A range of issues has been adopted therein. The Government decided to subsidize the increased power rate fort the vulnerable families," Nalbandian said. He recalled that the Electric Networks of Armenia will undergo an audit involving international independent experts, representatives of the civil society and protesters who had expressed their distrust in the Company.
"This process will take time. Before the audit results are available, the government will subsidize the increased rate. Actually, the government and the leadership of Armenia are taking relevant measures to establish a dialogue with the protesters and settle the emerging problems. The world community has also called for such measures," the minister said.
In this light, the minister reiterated that Armenia considers the response of its partners to the developments in Yerevan as a display of care for the democratic development of Armenia.