ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT CHAIRMAN NOT AGAINST HANDING FRESH ASSETS TO RUSSIA

Armenpress
Apr 04 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 4, ARMENPRESS: Armenian parliament chairman Arthur
Baghdasarian indicated today he was not against handing over fresh
assets to Russia in return for what he described ‘the best price of
natural gas,” that Russia sells to Armenia.’ Speaking to reporters
he said any option that would not run counter to Armenia’s strategic
interests and its national security could be acceptable. He said
Armenian and Russian authorities should consider all compensation
mechanisms to mitigate the aftereffects of the doubled price
of gas that became $110 per one thousand cubic meters from April
1. Baghdasarian praised a previous Armenian-Russian deal christened
as Assets for Debt by which Armenia handed to Russia five enterprises
in return for its almost $100 million debt, saying the same scheme
could be applied concerning gas.

Baghdasarian said he was unaware if Armenia and Russia were negotiating
selling 45 percent of shares in Iran-Armenia gas pipeline to Moscow or
handing the fifth unit of Hrazdan power plant. He said Armenian and
Russian energy officials continued talks which he said would be over
in a couple of days and only then one can asses what has been achieved.