RISE IN GAS PRICES TO BE COMPENSATED FOR IN ARMENIA

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 15, 2006

YEREVAN, March 15. /ARKA/. The rise in the price for Russian gas
supplied to Armenia will be compensated for, Chairman of the National
Civil Council for International Affairs, Director of the Institute of
political Research Sergey Markov told reporters in Moscow. According
to him, compensations will be paid in any cases independently of the
rise in gas prices.

“We have a lost of means of compensation. For example, Armenian
students can receive free educations in Russian higher schools, and
Armenian businessmen will have certain tax privileges in Russia,”
Markov said.

He also reported that in discussing the gas prices the sides should
consider the fact that the rise will tell on all the consumers,
including Russian ones. “The task of raising the gas prices is bringing
gas prices to the international level, and no discrimination should
be seen in this,” Markov said.

>>From April 1, 2006, the Russian “Gasprom” company plans to raise the
price for gas supplied to Armenia up to $110 for 1,000 cubic meters.

The negotiations over the “gas issue” with the participation of
Director General of the Armenian-Russian “ArmRosgasprom” CJSC JV
Karen Karapetyan are still under way in Moscow.