Giving 20% of the state share of “Armrusgasprom” to “Gazprom”, is the price, which is paid to preserve the power. These are those 5000 drams that were distributed to people allegedly in favor of the 3 elections in Armenia. In the conversation with Aravot.am, such opinion was expressed by ANC member, economist Vahagn Khachatryan commenting on today’s statement of Chairman of Russian “Gazprom” company Alexey Miller, according to which, on December 2, a contract on purchase of 20% of “Armrusgasprom” will be signed, and basically, “Armrusgasprom” will become “Gazprom’s” subsidiary company and its 100 % shareholder. According to Mr. Khachatryan, on the other hand, this 20% is the price difference of the gas sold to us on the Armenian border at an expensive price during 2 years, about which the authorities of Armenia did not want to talk about, they were hiding it, but in fact, the Customs Service had recorded it since November 2011.
“The authorities are simply deceiving, the government representatives, the Minister of Energy are always saying that there is no such thing, we buy for the same price as it is stipulated by the contract, i.e. for $150. Later, and now it turned out that approximately 150 million dollars debt is accumulated during these 2 years due to the difference of these prices. This is also “stated in the financial statement of Armrusgasprom, allegedly it is working with a loss, but “Armrusgasprom could not work with a loss.” Vahagn Khachatryan expressed confidence that the last 2 years elections are funded and sponsored by “Armrusgasprom”. “Still before 2012 parliamentary elections, a noise was raised that the gas price was increased by Russia, later before Presidential elections and Yerevan Mayor elections, similar noise was raised, but if the truth were stated then by the authorities, the authorities would disclose itself that it is unprofessional. However, they have always cheated that there are arrangements with Russia, the gas price will not rise.
All of these was refuted on May 2013, when it was announced that the gas price will increase since April 1, but the government will subsidize. They were speaking so that the Prime Minister did us a favor, a favor can not be done, we should stay away from this kind of favors. As a result of this favor, the marginal price that was to be 270 drams for 1,000 cubic meters, he said it was calculated for 186 dollars that we are paying now. However, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. No one will ever do us a favor, the same Russia and “Armrusgasprom” cast our skin with their prices. The citizens of Armenia paid higher than the average international prices, being the poorest country.” According to Vahagn Khachatryan, consumers, by giving the state share of “Armrusgasprom”, they pay the government’s accumulated debt.
Basically, Mr. Khachatryan as an economist is not against such transactions, but 20 % of the shares is the property of the people, and the government, as described by the economist, should not conclude such a deal secretly and without prior notice to its people, “Generally, I am not against such transactions, but there exist a proper way of doing it; it is agreed, negotiated, maybe it was possible to get much more in return: it could be an investment, but for now, the government gives it for its robbery. “Armrusgasprom” has also taken part in the robbery, and it pursued a political objective: to have the leverage.” To the question of Aravot.am whether it is possible for “Gazprom” to raise the gas price in Armenia whenever it wants, Mr. Khachatryan said that although there is a Public Services Regulatory Commission that should decide on such issues of whether to accept the application on price rise or not, according to ANC member, this and alike structures in Armenia are only making political decisions. Giving 20 % of the state share of Armrusgasprom to Russian “Gazprom”, according to Vahagn Khachatryan, is a bright example of losing the sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia.
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Nelly Babayan
