VAHAN HOVHANNISIAN: RUSSIA’S STEPS TOWARDS ARMENIA MAKE ANXIOUS EVEN THOSE
WHO ARE FOR FIRM ALLIANCE WITH RUSSIA
YEREVAN, APRIL 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The solutions to energy problems
between Armenia and Russia that have an economic character indeed
are considered as a political compulsion. Vahan Hovhannisian,
RA NA Vice-Speaker, member of the ARF Dashnaktsutiun Bureau,
expressed such an opinion at the April 20 meeting with journalists,
commenting upon the sale of the 5th power unit of Hrazdan Thermal
Power Plant (TPP) to Russia for the purpose of mitigating the tariff
for gas. “Everybody understands that Russia could also propose
other ways out, more beneficial for Armenia but it did not do it,”
he mentioned. According to V.Hovhannisian, in the economic plan the
solution is optimal “as if you have a nothingness having a cost of
several dozens of millions, i.e. a half-built building, and have
neither a possibility to complete nor to run it, it is beneficial
to sell it at the maximum price”. The only problem, according to
the speaker, is the difficulty of looking for an alternative but
it should not be connected only with Russia. Because of Armenia’s
geographic position this alternative is connected with Iran which is
currently in rather a hard position itself. According to the speaker,
we should also think about internal resources, not only in the respect
of development of energy also development of economy in general. “I
think that the main work to be done at present should be aimed at
building the second, more secure, powerful and modern nuclear power
plant,” NA Vice-Speaker mentioned. Answering journalists’ questions,
Vahan Hovhannisian said that “as a result of Russia’s steps towards
Armenia being not well thought-out” really a growth of anti-Russian
moods takes place in the country. “Such steps taken by Russia towards
Armenia really make anxious also those who are for a firm alliance
with Russia,” V.Hovhannisian declared.
According to him, it becomes obvious that economic interests start to
dictate a political direction to the Kremlin. “Therefore, the debt
of 100 mln is not remitted to Armenia and we pay for gas a larger
sum than Turkey,” NA Vice-Speaker emphasized.
