Tweet
GAS SCANDAL: IRAN CALLS ARMENIA TO CHANGE POLICY
The gas story must be clarified and separated from economy and
politics. Apparently, Iran is acting in this direction, trying to
introduce new facts on the amount and prices of Iranian gas supplied
to Armenia.
It will inevitably force Armenia or Russia to publish the amounts
which are now considered to be a commercial secret, namely the price
of Russian gas provided toArmenia, the price ARG pays for Iranian
gas on the Armenian border and much more.
Judging by the released information the Iranian and Russian gas
are not expensive at the border. The price increases inside Armenia
where the gas distribution network is owned by ARG. The pricing of
this company is a commercial secret. No one knows why the company's
markup is so high, how much it is and where profits go.
Now Gazprom is trying to take the 20% at ARG belonging to the
government of Armenia. Apparently, Iran is angry for this so it
openly states that Yerevan is not fulfilling commitments set in
interstate agreement.
In Armenia they affirm that we are buying less gas from Iran because
there is no power transmission line able to ensure the necessary
amount of electricity to be supplied to Iran in exchange of the gas.
Yesterday, the parliament approved tax and customs allowances for
the layout of the high voltage power transmission line. Apparently,
this is done to convey to Iran Armenia's willingness to increase
import of gas from Iran.
In fact, Iran is trying to change the policy. It calls Armenia to
refuse at least part of Gazprom services and buy cheap gas from Iran.
By the way, today the British court decided to lift sanctions against
Iranian Mellat Bank. Sanctions against Iran will soften, and Iran is
taking this advantage to call Armenia to fulfill its commitments made
back in 2004.
Buying more gas from Iran, Armenia will diversify not only its energy
but also politics. For this reaosn Armenia should not give its 20%
of ARG to Russia but nationalize distribution networks.
This will be a scandal, Russia may inform about another large supply
of weapon to Azerbaijan but giving away the right to manage the Iranian
gas to Russia may cause a scandal in the Iran-Armenia relations.
Iran's president is no longer Ahmadinejad who was a friend of
Kocharyan. Now Iran has another president, and he may wonder how
things with Armenia are. Tomorrow, there may be news on how ARG
uses the Iranian gas or how Armenian officials warm water in their
swimming pools free of charge, what the IMF representative to Armenia
Tolosa said.
Armenia, of course, can stand aside and watch Iran dealing with Gazprom
but in the current situation Armenia will hardly get away with it.
Naira Hayrumyan 17:22 20/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/30237
The gas story must be clarified and separated from economy and
politics. Apparently, Iran is acting in this direction, trying to
introduce new facts on the amount and prices of Iranian gas supplied
to Armenia.
It will inevitably force Armenia or Russia to publish the amounts
which are now considered to be a commercial secret, namely the price
of Russian gas provided toArmenia, the price ARG pays for Iranian
gas on the Armenian border and much more.
Judging by the released information the Iranian and Russian gas
are not expensive at the border. The price increases inside Armenia
where the gas distribution network is owned by ARG. The pricing of
this company is a commercial secret. No one knows why the company's
markup is so high, how much it is and where profits go.
Now Gazprom is trying to take the 20% at ARG belonging to the
government of Armenia. Apparently, Iran is angry for this so it
openly states that Yerevan is not fulfilling commitments set in
interstate agreement.
In Armenia they affirm that we are buying less gas from Iran because
there is no power transmission line able to ensure the necessary
amount of electricity to be supplied to Iran in exchange of the gas.
Yesterday, the parliament approved tax and customs allowances for
the layout of the high voltage power transmission line. Apparently,
this is done to convey to Iran Armenia's willingness to increase
import of gas from Iran.
In fact, Iran is trying to change the policy. It calls Armenia to
refuse at least part of Gazprom services and buy cheap gas from Iran.
By the way, today the British court decided to lift sanctions against
Iranian Mellat Bank. Sanctions against Iran will soften, and Iran is
taking this advantage to call Armenia to fulfill its commitments made
back in 2004.
Buying more gas from Iran, Armenia will diversify not only its energy
but also politics. For this reaosn Armenia should not give its 20%
of ARG to Russia but nationalize distribution networks.
This will be a scandal, Russia may inform about another large supply
of weapon to Azerbaijan but giving away the right to manage the Iranian
gas to Russia may cause a scandal in the Iran-Armenia relations.
Iran's president is no longer Ahmadinejad who was a friend of
Kocharyan. Now Iran has another president, and he may wonder how
things with Armenia are. Tomorrow, there may be news on how ARG
uses the Iranian gas or how Armenian officials warm water in their
swimming pools free of charge, what the IMF representative to Armenia
Tolosa said.
Armenia, of course, can stand aside and watch Iran dealing with Gazprom
but in the current situation Armenia will hardly get away with it.
Naira Hayrumyan 17:22 20/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/30237