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YEREVAN LEFT WITH NO CHOICE - RUSSIAN PAPER
TERT.AM
12.07.12
In a recent report commenting on the n the Russian Federation Council
chairperson's visit to Armenia, Nezavisimaya Gazeta has elaborated
on the motives behind the EU decision to suspend financial assistance
to Armenia and the possible developments related to the Russian loan.
"Russian Federation Council Chairperson Valentina Matviyenko departed
yesterday for Yerevan on an official visit. Official reports
suggest that meetings with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and
National Assembly Chairman Hovik Abrahamyan focused on the strategic
partnership with Russia. But an NG [Nezavisimaya Gazeta] source
close to the Armenian Government says Yerevan sought to persuade
Moscow to temporarily suspend the plan on raising the natural gas
price and provide the regular loan," the Russian publication says,
noting that the amount to be allocated to Armenia makes $ 1 million.
The paper says that the reports about the Russian loan emerged
in late May after it became clear that the EU is not planning any
financial assistance for Armenia on account of what is claimed to be a
failure to ensure a proper conduct of the parliamentary polls. It then
quotes a spokesperson for Stefan Fule, Commissioner for Enlargement
and European Neighbourhood Policy, as saying that Armenia's request
would be considered in the light of the 2013 presidential election.
According to the paper, Yerevan hastily turned to Russia's side,
asking for an 1,8 billion loan at the highest interest rate.
Director of the Center for Strategic Analysis Spectrum, Gayane Nvikova,
was reported as saying that Russia is less concerned by the democratic
processes on the post-Soviet territory, with its hard line on Armenia
being more of an economic nature. The expert reportedly promised that
Armenia will receive the expected amount.
She said further that Russia, unlike the EU, is not linking its loan
assistance with the presidential elections.
"Cynics may claim that Armenia is given the Russian loan in order
pay for the Russian natural gas or is being punished for a refusal
to join the Customs Union or the Eurasian Union," says the paper.
But the author of the article notes that loan is not a number one
issue in the Russian-Armenian dialogue, with the negotiations over
the gas tariffs being in progress for several weeks now.
"Yerevan presently pays $180 per 1,000 cubic meters of natural gas.
The tariff hasn't changed over the past three years. A dramatic surge
in the domestic prices will inevitably lead to mounting protests not
only by the opposition, which turns any situation to its advantage,
but also the pensioners and the socially disadvantaged who constitute
the major part of the electorate. Yerevan, in this connection, has to
make haste to persuade Moscow to delay the surge in gas price, as well
as avoid making the records on new prices public," reads the article.
TERT.AM
12.07.12
In a recent report commenting on the n the Russian Federation Council
chairperson's visit to Armenia, Nezavisimaya Gazeta has elaborated
on the motives behind the EU decision to suspend financial assistance
to Armenia and the possible developments related to the Russian loan.
"Russian Federation Council Chairperson Valentina Matviyenko departed
yesterday for Yerevan on an official visit. Official reports
suggest that meetings with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and
National Assembly Chairman Hovik Abrahamyan focused on the strategic
partnership with Russia. But an NG [Nezavisimaya Gazeta] source
close to the Armenian Government says Yerevan sought to persuade
Moscow to temporarily suspend the plan on raising the natural gas
price and provide the regular loan," the Russian publication says,
noting that the amount to be allocated to Armenia makes $ 1 million.
The paper says that the reports about the Russian loan emerged
in late May after it became clear that the EU is not planning any
financial assistance for Armenia on account of what is claimed to be a
failure to ensure a proper conduct of the parliamentary polls. It then
quotes a spokesperson for Stefan Fule, Commissioner for Enlargement
and European Neighbourhood Policy, as saying that Armenia's request
would be considered in the light of the 2013 presidential election.
According to the paper, Yerevan hastily turned to Russia's side,
asking for an 1,8 billion loan at the highest interest rate.
Director of the Center for Strategic Analysis Spectrum, Gayane Nvikova,
was reported as saying that Russia is less concerned by the democratic
processes on the post-Soviet territory, with its hard line on Armenia
being more of an economic nature. The expert reportedly promised that
Armenia will receive the expected amount.
She said further that Russia, unlike the EU, is not linking its loan
assistance with the presidential elections.
"Cynics may claim that Armenia is given the Russian loan in order
pay for the Russian natural gas or is being punished for a refusal
to join the Customs Union or the Eurasian Union," says the paper.
But the author of the article notes that loan is not a number one
issue in the Russian-Armenian dialogue, with the negotiations over
the gas tariffs being in progress for several weeks now.
"Yerevan presently pays $180 per 1,000 cubic meters of natural gas.
The tariff hasn't changed over the past three years. A dramatic surge
in the domestic prices will inevitably lead to mounting protests not
only by the opposition, which turns any situation to its advantage,
but also the pensioners and the socially disadvantaged who constitute
the major part of the electorate. Yerevan, in this connection, has to
make haste to persuade Moscow to delay the surge in gas price, as well
as avoid making the records on new prices public," reads the article.