Tweet
EX-PRESIDENT ROBERT KOCHARYAN'S OFFICE RESPONDS TO ENERGY MINISTER'S INTERVIEW
16:00 ~U 17.01.14
Armenian ex-president Robert Kocharyan's office has responded to
Armenian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan's
interview about the ArmRusgasprom deal the Property for Debt agreement.
The office's statement reads in particular:
The idea of settling the debt by transferring property was suggested
by the Armenian and Russian presidents. The relevant negotiations were
conducted within the Armenian-Russian intergovernmental commission
co-chaired by Serzh Sargsyan and Ilya Klebanov. All the agreements
were reached within the commission, with relevant protocols drawn up.
As Minister of Energy, Armen Movsisyan was a key participant in
the process with respect to energy assets. The final results were
submitted to the Armenian and Russian presidents for approval.
"Robert Kocharyan still believes that was a mutually advantageous
agreement and that the intergovernmental commission had worked well.
Judging by his interview, Mr Movsisyan reviewed the work and his
personal contribution to the agreement. That is what concerns the
2002 agreement," says the statement.
Minister Movsisyan seems to have mixed the details of the 2002 and 2006
agreements. The main point of the latter was Gazprom's involvement
in the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline construction project and completion
of the 5th power unit of the Hrazdan HPP. The unfinished 5th power
unit was estimated at $250 million. The construction was under way
in 1995-1996 on an EBRD credit and was suspended, with a total of
$60 million spent. Gazprom agreed to that estimate to enable the
Armenian side to subsidize the gas prices. With hardly any expenses,
Armenia got a modern power unit and Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, as
well as funds for subsidizing the gas prices, without a burden on
the budget or exclusive rights for any side.
Robert Kocharyan's office also addresses statements by Vice-Chairman
of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, (RPA), Minister of Education
and Science Armen Ashotyan.
"Paying tribute to a statesman is not visiting his or her tomb, but
respecting his or her political heritage. The core of the debate
is some officials' attempts to reappraise the former authorities'
economic policy to justify present-day problems. The years 2001-2007
are mainly in question.
"Robert Kocharyan could have remained silent pleading the government's
constitutional responsibility for the economy. But he defended the
achievements not for himself, but for the team that worked hard
to achieve the goals. The team included the premier, ministries,
municipalities of Yerevan and other cities, tens of thousands
of builders that built up the country. And the fruits - highways,
bridges, tunnels, museums and theaters - are now enjoyed by everyone,
including our forgetful officials. Unfortunately, we have to defend
the achievements from young RPA members, who launched their career
under and due to [late Armenian premier] Andranik Margaryan."
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/01/17/Robert-qocharyan-response/
From: Baghdasarian
16:00 ~U 17.01.14
Armenian ex-president Robert Kocharyan's office has responded to
Armenian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan's
interview about the ArmRusgasprom deal the Property for Debt agreement.
The office's statement reads in particular:
The idea of settling the debt by transferring property was suggested
by the Armenian and Russian presidents. The relevant negotiations were
conducted within the Armenian-Russian intergovernmental commission
co-chaired by Serzh Sargsyan and Ilya Klebanov. All the agreements
were reached within the commission, with relevant protocols drawn up.
As Minister of Energy, Armen Movsisyan was a key participant in
the process with respect to energy assets. The final results were
submitted to the Armenian and Russian presidents for approval.
"Robert Kocharyan still believes that was a mutually advantageous
agreement and that the intergovernmental commission had worked well.
Judging by his interview, Mr Movsisyan reviewed the work and his
personal contribution to the agreement. That is what concerns the
2002 agreement," says the statement.
Minister Movsisyan seems to have mixed the details of the 2002 and 2006
agreements. The main point of the latter was Gazprom's involvement
in the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline construction project and completion
of the 5th power unit of the Hrazdan HPP. The unfinished 5th power
unit was estimated at $250 million. The construction was under way
in 1995-1996 on an EBRD credit and was suspended, with a total of
$60 million spent. Gazprom agreed to that estimate to enable the
Armenian side to subsidize the gas prices. With hardly any expenses,
Armenia got a modern power unit and Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, as
well as funds for subsidizing the gas prices, without a burden on
the budget or exclusive rights for any side.
Robert Kocharyan's office also addresses statements by Vice-Chairman
of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, (RPA), Minister of Education
and Science Armen Ashotyan.
"Paying tribute to a statesman is not visiting his or her tomb, but
respecting his or her political heritage. The core of the debate
is some officials' attempts to reappraise the former authorities'
economic policy to justify present-day problems. The years 2001-2007
are mainly in question.
"Robert Kocharyan could have remained silent pleading the government's
constitutional responsibility for the economy. But he defended the
achievements not for himself, but for the team that worked hard
to achieve the goals. The team included the premier, ministries,
municipalities of Yerevan and other cities, tens of thousands
of builders that built up the country. And the fruits - highways,
bridges, tunnels, museums and theaters - are now enjoyed by everyone,
including our forgetful officials. Unfortunately, we have to defend
the achievements from young RPA members, who launched their career
under and due to [late Armenian premier] Andranik Margaryan."
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/01/17/Robert-qocharyan-response/
From: Baghdasarian