GAS AND POWER PLANT

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16:16:29 – 13/10/2009

The Russian daily Komersant writes that Russia intends to reduce the
price for the Russian gas supplied to Armenia from 200 to 180 dollar
instead having the possibility of building a new nuclear power plant
in Armenia. The ArmRusGasArz Company confirmed this information saying
that negotiations are being carried out in this connection with the
Russian side. The press secretary of the ArmRusGasArz Company told
news.am that other questions are discussed on the level of presidents.

Saying other questions means probably what Russia will get in
exchange. Perhaps, the point is really about the construction of a new
nuclear power plant. The construction of a new nuclear power plant in
Armenia has not only economic but also political and even geopolitical
significance because it will be the only nuclear power plant in the
whole South Caucasus. Nuclear power plant is of course not a nuclear
weapon but it is a nuclear technology which is much significant.

In this connection, some competition was felt between the European
Union, U.S. and Russia. If the project "nuclear power plant in
exchange of gas" is fulfilled, Russia comes out to have won the
competition. Interestingly, in exchange of what the EU and the
U.S. gave this prize to Russia if we assume they did. From this point,
it becomes interesting that the statement on the Armenian and Russian
negotiations is released right after the signing of the Armenian and
Turkish protocols after which Serge Sargsyan was immediately invited
to Russia.

Maybe Armenia gives to Russia the possibility of building a new
nuclear power plant instead softening the Russia’s dissatisfaction
with the possible prospect of the warmth of the Armenian and
Turkish relations. Russia is also possible to have agreed not with
Armenia but with the EU or the U.S. in this connection which give
the possibility to build a power plant in Armenia to Russia instead
having the opportunity to lead the Armenian and Turkish process in
their favour. This is of course only a hypothec supposition which
may have nothing in common with the reality. But the fact that the
information on the Armenian and Russian negotiations on a new power
plant and the Armenian and Turkish protocols are not happening almost
together is doubtless.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress