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ARMENIA RATIFIES RUSSIAN GAS DEAL DESPITE PROTESTS
Voice of America
Dec 23 2013
The Armenian parliament has ratified a controversial natural gas
agreement with Russia, despite widespread protests by the opposition.
Ruling party lawmakers backed ratification of the deal in a vote Monday
which was boycotted by members of the country's opposition factions.
Hundreds gathered outside parliament in Yerevan to protest the deal.
Under the agreement, the Russian gas export monopoly Gazprom will
gain full control of Armenia's natural gas distribution company
ArmRosgazprom. Gazprom previously owned 80 percent of the company
and now receives the remaining 20 percent of shares.
Gazprom will also control all of Armenia's gas imports until 2043.
Armenia's Energy Minister Armen Movsisian has said previously that
the deal will clear debts Armenia owes to Russia for gas it has
already accumulated.
Critics accuse Russia of increasing pressure on Armenia, Ukraine and
other former Soviet republics to shun trade deals with the European
Union in favor of closer alliances with Moscow.
Protests erupted in Kyiv last month when Ukrainian President
Viktor Yanukovych scuttled a European Union trade deal in favor of
strengthening economic ties - including a gas deal - with Russia.
Russia is Armenia's largest trading partner with bilateral trade
reaching nearly $1.2 billion last year.
http://www.voanews.com/content/armenia-ratifies-russian-gas-deal-despite-protests/1815840.html
From: Baghdasarian
Voice of America
Dec 23 2013
The Armenian parliament has ratified a controversial natural gas
agreement with Russia, despite widespread protests by the opposition.
Ruling party lawmakers backed ratification of the deal in a vote Monday
which was boycotted by members of the country's opposition factions.
Hundreds gathered outside parliament in Yerevan to protest the deal.
Under the agreement, the Russian gas export monopoly Gazprom will
gain full control of Armenia's natural gas distribution company
ArmRosgazprom. Gazprom previously owned 80 percent of the company
and now receives the remaining 20 percent of shares.
Gazprom will also control all of Armenia's gas imports until 2043.
Armenia's Energy Minister Armen Movsisian has said previously that
the deal will clear debts Armenia owes to Russia for gas it has
already accumulated.
Critics accuse Russia of increasing pressure on Armenia, Ukraine and
other former Soviet republics to shun trade deals with the European
Union in favor of closer alliances with Moscow.
Protests erupted in Kyiv last month when Ukrainian President
Viktor Yanukovych scuttled a European Union trade deal in favor of
strengthening economic ties - including a gas deal - with Russia.
Russia is Armenia's largest trading partner with bilateral trade
reaching nearly $1.2 billion last year.
http://www.voanews.com/content/armenia-ratifies-russian-gas-deal-despite-protests/1815840.html
From: Baghdasarian