YEREVAN. – At this stage, we consider it more beneficial for our country to be able to provide a budget loan from the other loans we have, or from the funds we have, and to solve the problem we face. Suren Papikyan, Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, on Wednesday stated this in a talk with journalists in the National Assembly, referring to the fact that Armenia has turned down a loan from Russia for the maintenance of its nuclear power plant.

"It has nothing to do with Armenian-Russian relations; our relations are stable, strategic, partnership; at the same time, there is a problem in our country with effective use of loans. We have inherited various loan obligations, the terms of which are either expiring or have expired.

"As for our partners, ROSATOM is the main implementing company, there are contracts with partners, and as a result of providing funding, construction work will continue properly," Papikyan stressed.