SOGHOMONIAN REFUTES REPORT ABOUT ALLEGED COMPENSATION OF INCREASE IN GAS
PRICE BY PROVIDING ARMS AT DISCOUNT
YEREVAN, MARCH 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The Russian newspaper “Kommersant”
reported in the March 24 issue that Russia allegedly agreed to
compensate Armenia for an increase in the gas price by selling arms to
Armenia at a discount. It is envisaged that starting April 1, the
price of the gas that Russia supplies to Armenia will increase from
the current 54 dollars to 110 dollars for 1,000 cubic
meters. According to the newspaper, this year Russia intends to sell
arms to Armenia at much lower prices, in some cases – almost
gratis. By the newspaper’s estimates, it will allow the RA state
budget to save 23-50 mln USD this year, thanks to which the government
will be able to compenaste for the gas price increase. The press
secretary of the Armenian President Victor Soghomonian refuted the
information of “Kommersant”. “I must say that I read today’s
information of the Russian newspaper “Kommersant” with surprise,” Mr.
Soghmonian said to NT correspondent. “I cannot judge why the
information authors made such imaginary statements and then came to
such a far-fetched conclusion. Nevertheless, I consider it necessary
to say that the part of today’s information of “Kommersant” which says
that Armenia will buy ammunition at low prices from Russia as a
compensation for the increase in the Russian gas price has no relation
to reality,” the press secretary of the Armenian President noted.