Epress.am News from Armenia
“[Russian President Dmitry] Medvedev revealed that, in fact, [the price of] gas to Armenia is one of the most expensive; suddenly these people [i.e. Yerevan] realize that the strategic partner is not that stupid and knows what he’s doing,” said Armenia’s former prime minister, Armenian National Congress (HAK) member Hrant Bagratyan, speaking to journalists today about the agreement between Medvedev and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan during their meeting on Friday not to raise the price of consumer gas this year.
“When Gazprom asked ArmRusGasProm, brother, we’ve raised the price of gas by 27%, the group of consumers has dropped by 44%, what’s the reason? Suddenly Gazprom discovered that the actual price of gas in Armenia is 400 dollars,” he said.
In Bagratyan’s opinion, Medvedev decided not to raise the price of gas not because he likes Sargsyan, but because he understood that “foolishness has taken place.”
“That is, if the price has increased by 27% and consumption has dropped by 44%, there’s been a loss of 17%. This is called a regular mistake, for which they’re being punished,” he said, adding that ArmRusGasProm directors and the corresponding Gazprom services had to be punished.
Bagratyan once again said that Serzh Sargsyan and the government should resign from gas negotiations. “Gas is a product that is supplied by Gasprom commercial enterprise to ArmRusGasProm commercial enterprise.”
The economist also suggested that city hall buy and supply gas. “I propose, let the Yerevan mayor buy gas with 96 [drams per 1 cubic meter of gas], add his expense of 3,000 drams [the monthly service fee] and give it to us. He’s worked at ArmRusGasProm. Let the mayors of Gyumri, Vanadzor do the same.”
And, said Bagratyan, it has to be said: what business does ArmRusGasProm have of supplying gas? “I’m a city, I buy gas wholesale, I supply it myself, I myself will monitor the pipes situation.”