“WE LOST THE CHANCE”
Support A1+!Armenia lost the chance to avoid the pressure of Russia. “I think we must speak to Russia in their own language. When Russia said gas will cost 110 USD, Armenia was to say that they will take a loan from Iran for the fifth block of the heat generating plant and enlarge the diameter of the gas pipeline; now do what you want. That is to say, we could use the opportunity and avoid the pressure,” said Vazgen Manoukyan, head of the National Democratic Union in the “Mirror” club today.
He expressed doubt that the Armenians have their finger in the raise of the costs. “I don’t want to go deep into the matter. The reason of my supposition is the fact that the agreements about the stability of the gas price are usually signed for 25 years, but the agreement with Armenia was signed for three years.” Vazgen Sargsyan said he is sure that the gas tariffs will be raised during these years.
Head of the Armenian Christian-Democratic Party Khosrov Haroutyunyan who was the other guest of the “Mirror” club is not concerned about the sale of the fifth block of the heat generating plant. Instead he is concerned by the gas pipeline Iran-Armenia as it is clear that since 2001 Russia has changed its policy and uses the energy issues as weapon. According to him, it is not important who produces the energy but rather who supplies the raw material. Khosrov Haroutyunyan thinks that Armenia must construct a second nuclear power station and «preferably not with Russia fuel».
As for the gas pipeline Iran-Armenia, according to him, Armenia must not allow the participation of a third party in the project. Khosrov Haroutyunyan thinks that the deal must be discussed in the Parliament and rejected by the Parliamentarians. He also blamed the deputies for not adopting a law prohibiting the sale of state property to a foreign state in order to prevent suchlike deals.
«There is no Parliament. What is the Parliament? Nothing but a toy in the hands of Robert Kocharyan», Vazgen Manoukyan said adding that even if Khosrov Haroutyunyan were in the Parliament he would not be able to do anything.
