Is RF going to “provide” the security of Armenia as such?
On October 2, at the Parliament, when the government was answering the questions of MPs’, in response to the question of the ANC MP regarding the text of the agreement signed between the Government of Armenia and ” Armrusgasprom”, the Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan presented a surprise noting that Armenia has not signed an agreement on gas price increase with ” Armrusgasprom” company. “Naturally, any agreement that we will sign with partners, will be accessible to you. The agreement is still not signed. We have draft agreements to be signed, when signed, they will be available at the National Assembly as we are going to discuss with you all the provisions in detail,” said the Prime Minister. Meanwhile, the Republican faction leader Galust Sahakyan added to the journalists, “There is no agreement between the Armenia state and the RF. There is an agreement between “Gazprom” and “Armrusgasprom”.” To remind that since July 7, the new higher price of gas entered into force in Armenia, and a big noise and complaints was raised as to why Armenia as Russia’s “strategic ally” should pay a higher rate when “Armrusgasprom” belongs to the Russian side.
In this situation, logical questions arise, what are the grounds of the high gas prices? In other words, Armenia gets a billion cubic meters of gas, but does not have a contract with the Russian side, does it?… The tariff that is paid by the people of Armenia, what are the economic grounds-fundamentals of it?… If there is no legal basis, then a question arises, whose pocket are the fees paid by the residents going to? In other words, are Armenia’s citizens paying based on verbal agreement between “Armrusgasprom” and “Gazprom”?…
This is one side of the problem. However, there is also the other side. On September 3, Serzh Sargsyan stated in Moscow that Armenia has an intention to join the Customs Union. Moreover, the Minister of Energy Armen Movsisyan also said that Russia has agreed to subsidize the price for gas. Now, what does it turn out? Were all of these just words spoken in the air?… The increase in gas prices caused a great public discontent, but now it turns out that there is no documented legal basis. We can only conclude one thing: Russia continues to treat Armenia as it’s remote region. Maybe a middle-level official from Kremlin has called the Prime Minister’s office, and instructed that citizens of the Republic of Armenia must pay at this-or-that rate with an explanation “then we’ll see what we can do”?…
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In these days, inveterate defenders of joining the Customs Union were making “mountains” promises to Armenia for joining the Customs Union… However, the price of gas is the least issue that can be served to the public as evidence as to how Moscow “rewards” the authorities of Armenia by relieving both them and the citizens of Armenia from this heavy burden. Moreover, on October 1, pursuant to the outcomes of the intergovernmental meeting of Armenian-Russian economic cooperation, a long-term program until 2020 was signed between the two countries. Wasn’t it possible to bring the issue of gas price rates to documentation phase? Consequently, another question arises, why isn’t it being done? Why aren’t Armenia’s authorities able to reach an agreement with the Russian side?… And finally, why does the opposition of Armenia representing the Customs Union and Russia as Armenia’s “only salvation” keep silent?… Is this the “age-old friendship” between Armenia and Russia, and the fairy tale about providing Armenia’s “security”?
If the gas price issue is not resolved, it can be assumed how Russia is going to ensure Armenia’s security, if the need for it emerges one day.
Emma GABRIELYAN
