“The decision will be an allied one” – PM Pashinyan on Armenia-Russia talks on price of gas
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has stressed that Armenia and Russia will reach an allied decision in the issue of the price of gas supplied by Russia.
“Normal conversation is taking place around this issue,” PM Nikol Pashinyan told Kommersant newspaper in an interview. “This is a conversation between strategic allies, and it will lead to concrete results. I am sure of this. Now in Armenia we have a very good dynamics in economy. This issue is important for us not only in terms of the gas price, this is also a matter of economic development. I believe that for our strategic ally Russia it is important for the gas price to be such in order not to disrupt Armenia’s economic development dynamics,” Pashinyan said.
Asked what price will not disrupt it, the PM said that a matter of calculations. “We are currently dealing with these calculations. The decision will be an allied one. It can’t be another way, and it shouldn’t,” he said.
Asked when everything can be agreed upon, the Armenian PM stressed that during the past year the domestic price of gas hasn’t changed.
To the observation that the acquisition price grew, the Armenian PM said: “This is another matter. It doesn’t have much significance from the perspective of domestic consumers in Armenia. For us it is important that Gazprom Armenia’s affairs be normal. And this I believe is also an economic matter. We must develop the kind of formulas in order for Gazprom Armenia’s activities to be effective, and the gas price to be effective”.
The PM said it is about the price being beneficial for the Armenian economy, so that it doesn’t disrupt the economic growth and pace of growth.
Asked if the current $165 for 1000 cubic meters is beneficial or not, the PM said: “Let me not speak about concrete figures. What matters is the content not the numbers. I said what the goal in regard to content is. I believe this isn’t only Armenia’s goal, it must be also Russia’s goal because we are talking about the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), we have a common economic territory. When economic problems happen in Russia we become greatly concerned. I believe that our Russian colleagues, the President, the Prime Minister, have the same understanding. We will solve this issue,” PM Pashinyan said.
