Tweet
Ten Years to Armenia
HAKOB BADALYAN
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/comments27786.html
Published: 16:06:11 - 19/10/2012
Two important intergovernmental events followed each other in Armenia
in the form of commission meetings. First, the Armenian-Russian, then
the Armenian-American commission meetings were held in Armenia.
Both were accompanied by interesting developments. The
Armenian-Russian meeting focused on the Compatriots program. The
Armenian side said dissatisfied with it, and the Russian side answered
the reason for emigration from Armenia is not their program but a
domestic issue.
After all, the meeting ended in the signing of a protocol containing
the positions of the sides. The Russians agree and the Armenians
disagree with the continuation of the program. The vice-foreign
minister of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan stated that Armenia must
discontinue the program but no one said when it will stop.
The meeting of the Armenian-American intergovernmental commission
ended in signing of an agreement which may open up significant
prospects for Armenia. In particular, the point is about the
Armenian-American energy cooperation. The sides discussed the U.S.
support to the Nuclear Power Plant of Armenia. But it is still unknown
whether the U.S. will assume any task relating to the construction of
the new nuclear reactor in Armenia.
The American side assumed the responsibility to support the existing
plant and to help maintain it for another 10 years, until Armenia will
build a new one with the same power.
For the construction of the new power plant, Armenia is alleged to
have agreed with Russia. Russia even said ready to allocate 1 billion
for this aim. But the total cost is said to be 5 billion. Several
months ago Russia stated that the control package of the plant should
belong to Armenia. It is not ruled out that it was a message hinting
that Russia rejects the responsibility to build the plant up to the
end. Russia prefers emptying Armenia so it does not need a nuclear
plant here.
The minister of energy of Armenia Armen Movsisyan stated after the
Armenian-American intergovernmental meeting that Armenia will need 10
years to build the new plant, so Yerevan wants to prolong the
operation of the existing plant for ten years, as the European Union
demands.
10 years is a long period for building a power plant. All the more so
if we assume this 10-year period will start in 2016, hence we have 14
years in total. Armenia used to state that it had already launched the
calculation process. It is evident that Armenia is unable to raise
funds.
France has also announced support to Armenia when its ex-president
Nicolas Sarkozy came to Armenia in the autumn of last year. But
Sarkozy left and Holland's position is unknown.
The U.S. is getting involved in the NPP process more actively. Will
the U.S. government care for the billions which Armenia lacks to start
the construction of the new power plant.
The answer to this question is political. After all, 4 billion is not
peanuts. Economic interest or political motivation is required. There
can be no economic interest since the plant will hardly be feasible.
The only hope is politics. The nuclear power plant is a political
factor which will boost the importance of Armenia. The political
weight of Armenia is beneficial only to the United States. Hence, it
is not a surprise that the U.S. is assuming the task of maintaining
the power plant for ten years. This means the U.S. prolongs Armenia's
chance to be an important state for another ten years.
HAKOB BADALYAN
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/comments27786.html
Published: 16:06:11 - 19/10/2012
Two important intergovernmental events followed each other in Armenia
in the form of commission meetings. First, the Armenian-Russian, then
the Armenian-American commission meetings were held in Armenia.
Both were accompanied by interesting developments. The
Armenian-Russian meeting focused on the Compatriots program. The
Armenian side said dissatisfied with it, and the Russian side answered
the reason for emigration from Armenia is not their program but a
domestic issue.
After all, the meeting ended in the signing of a protocol containing
the positions of the sides. The Russians agree and the Armenians
disagree with the continuation of the program. The vice-foreign
minister of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan stated that Armenia must
discontinue the program but no one said when it will stop.
The meeting of the Armenian-American intergovernmental commission
ended in signing of an agreement which may open up significant
prospects for Armenia. In particular, the point is about the
Armenian-American energy cooperation. The sides discussed the U.S.
support to the Nuclear Power Plant of Armenia. But it is still unknown
whether the U.S. will assume any task relating to the construction of
the new nuclear reactor in Armenia.
The American side assumed the responsibility to support the existing
plant and to help maintain it for another 10 years, until Armenia will
build a new one with the same power.
For the construction of the new power plant, Armenia is alleged to
have agreed with Russia. Russia even said ready to allocate 1 billion
for this aim. But the total cost is said to be 5 billion. Several
months ago Russia stated that the control package of the plant should
belong to Armenia. It is not ruled out that it was a message hinting
that Russia rejects the responsibility to build the plant up to the
end. Russia prefers emptying Armenia so it does not need a nuclear
plant here.
The minister of energy of Armenia Armen Movsisyan stated after the
Armenian-American intergovernmental meeting that Armenia will need 10
years to build the new plant, so Yerevan wants to prolong the
operation of the existing plant for ten years, as the European Union
demands.
10 years is a long period for building a power plant. All the more so
if we assume this 10-year period will start in 2016, hence we have 14
years in total. Armenia used to state that it had already launched the
calculation process. It is evident that Armenia is unable to raise
funds.
France has also announced support to Armenia when its ex-president
Nicolas Sarkozy came to Armenia in the autumn of last year. But
Sarkozy left and Holland's position is unknown.
The U.S. is getting involved in the NPP process more actively. Will
the U.S. government care for the billions which Armenia lacks to start
the construction of the new power plant.
The answer to this question is political. After all, 4 billion is not
peanuts. Economic interest or political motivation is required. There
can be no economic interest since the plant will hardly be feasible.
The only hope is politics. The nuclear power plant is a political
factor which will boost the importance of Armenia. The political
weight of Armenia is beneficial only to the United States. Hence, it
is not a surprise that the U.S. is assuming the task of maintaining
the power plant for ten years. This means the U.S. prolongs Armenia's
chance to be an important state for another ten years.