Serge Sargsian asks for certain examples when the Russian party manages to use its economic levers for political purposes.
Serge Sargsian, the RA Defense Minister and the cochairman of Armenian-Russian economic intergovernmental commission in answer to the question that «taking into consideration that the Russian party manages to use its economic levers for political purposes, doesn\’t he have any apprehension that the share of Russian capital is added and important strategic objects become Russian?» said; “I don\’t consider it dangerous. Because I haven\’t seen yet how the Russian party uses its economic levers. Give me an example, when the Russian capital in Armenia has made pressure on us». In answer to S. Sargsian’s this question, it isn\’t difficult to give a lot of examples, such as the fact of rise in gas price. Russia announced about its intention to raise the gas price from $56 to $110 at the beginning of last winter. It isn\’t secret any more that it was the answer to the RA authorities attempt for diversification of risks in power sphere. The point is that the RA government has given its privilege to Iranian «MAR» and «Sanir» companies after long negotiations in two contests of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline construction and project of modernization of the5th Thermal Power Plant in Hrazdan. But suddenly Russian “Gasprom” state company appeared and wanted to participate in the contest with a joint consortium. Russians simply blackmailed the RA authorities, imposing certain conditions. They bought the 5 th Thermal Power Plant by $250 million, at the expense of which the RA authorities will manage to subsidize the expenses of gas users in case of rising in gas price. As a result, the Russians didn\’t only owned the 5th Thermal Power Plant but were subsidized at our expense and strengthened their position in the power market of Armenia. The blackmail wasn\’t obvious, that\’s why the Armenian officials kept silence.
Vahagn Khachatrian, the RA first President\’s advisor in economic issues and NA former deputy gave another example. The latter reminded that the Russian supply of energy for the atomic station was stopped for the accumulated debts. We should remind that the RA authorities had to give the Russians Sevan-Hrazdan cascade. “He knows very well, that economic levers are the best way of political blackmail”, – Mr. Khachatrian said alluding to Serge Sargsian. “That threat will always be a danger for us”, – V. Khachatrian assured.
Economist Eduard Aghajanov gave one more example, reminding “Estate instead of debt” agreement. “Russian entered its strategic partner’s land, our home, and demanded our strategic objects instead of $97 million debt. While Russia ignored other debts to other countries, $40million to Turkey, Syria etc.”, – Aghajanov said.
Stepan Grigorian noticed, “the Russians have taken our objects and neither operate them nor make investments, what means those factories have simply been conserved. It isn\’t important for me the reasons are political or economic. Why should I believe that The Russian will act in the same way in case of selling the Armenian Railways, Armenian-Iranian gas pipeline or «ArmenTel» or they will be operated more effectively? And in general, what a way of answer it is «give examples» when it is spoken about the security of Armenia,”- Mr. Grigorian said.