Tweet
ARMENIAN ENERGY MINISTER RESPONDS TO SECOND PRESIDENT -TERT.AM
January 15, 2014 | 12:06
YEREVAN. - Energy and Natural Resources Minister of Armenia, Armen
Movsisyan, spoke withTert.am.
Movsisyan commented on the recent interview with secondPresident
Robert Kocharyan, who had spoken about the Russian natural gas being
supplied to Armenia. Below is an excerpt from Movsisyan's interview.
Robert Kocharyan accused the incumbent authorities of concealing the
real price of gas and, as a result, accruing debts. How would you
respond to this accusation?
"We have announced, ever since 2010, that negotiations are underway
with [the Russian energy giant] Gazprom [Company]. The negotiations
lasted for about three years and in the meantime, [and] due to the
difference in prices, around $300 million in debts accrued. But the
Armenian party agreed to the Russian party's proposal to pay about half
of the debt. This deal is in the best interests of our country and it
is developed very well, and it will give life to numerous initiatives.
Robert Kocharyan had reflected on the sale of the [Armenian
government's] 20-percent shares in [the] ArmRusGazprom [Company]. How
would you comment on his view?
"The Armenian government, Gazprom, and [the Russian] Itera [Company]
were the founders of ArmRusGazprom. The total investment [to Armenia]
by Gazprom amounted to around $550 million. Moreover, $250 million were
directed at subsidizing the [price of] gas for Armenia's consumers,
compensating for the difference in the prices on the purchase of
gas at Armenia's border. By 2006, Gazprom had already bought Itera's
shares [in ArmRusGazprom]. Gazprom's representation formed an absolute
majority at the company's board of directors, and such a situation
made it impossible for the Armenian party to have an impact on the
decisions made by Gazprom, and this fits within the framework of the
business logic."
News from Armenia - NEWS.am
January 15, 2014 | 12:06
YEREVAN. - Energy and Natural Resources Minister of Armenia, Armen
Movsisyan, spoke withTert.am.
Movsisyan commented on the recent interview with secondPresident
Robert Kocharyan, who had spoken about the Russian natural gas being
supplied to Armenia. Below is an excerpt from Movsisyan's interview.
Robert Kocharyan accused the incumbent authorities of concealing the
real price of gas and, as a result, accruing debts. How would you
respond to this accusation?
"We have announced, ever since 2010, that negotiations are underway
with [the Russian energy giant] Gazprom [Company]. The negotiations
lasted for about three years and in the meantime, [and] due to the
difference in prices, around $300 million in debts accrued. But the
Armenian party agreed to the Russian party's proposal to pay about half
of the debt. This deal is in the best interests of our country and it
is developed very well, and it will give life to numerous initiatives.
Robert Kocharyan had reflected on the sale of the [Armenian
government's] 20-percent shares in [the] ArmRusGazprom [Company]. How
would you comment on his view?
"The Armenian government, Gazprom, and [the Russian] Itera [Company]
were the founders of ArmRusGazprom. The total investment [to Armenia]
by Gazprom amounted to around $550 million. Moreover, $250 million were
directed at subsidizing the [price of] gas for Armenia's consumers,
compensating for the difference in the prices on the purchase of
gas at Armenia's border. By 2006, Gazprom had already bought Itera's
shares [in ArmRusGazprom]. Gazprom's representation formed an absolute
majority at the company's board of directors, and such a situation
made it impossible for the Armenian party to have an impact on the
decisions made by Gazprom, and this fits within the framework of the
business logic."
News from Armenia - NEWS.am