PIPELINE BUILT FOR ENERGY SECURITY THREATENS OUR SECURITY
Hakob Badalyan
Lragir.am
25 April 06
All that seemed incredible now seems imminent. The Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline, the section of the pipeline running across Armenia, can be
considered Russia’s. One could have even bet that it would happen,
after the defense minister had stated that interesting developments
connected with the gas pipeline would be coming up.
However, we did not manage to bet. Next, the foreign minister confirmed
not only the curiosity but also the content of these developments,
at least in part (although we are not likely to suggest that the
foreign minister aspires to be the next president of Armenia).
The foreign minister says Russian-Armenian negotiations for the money
for the pipeline are going on. Vardan Oskanyan announced that the
construction of the pipeline is not over yet to give it to Russia,
and presently the question of money for the construction is under
consideration. It is a great achievement, in fact. We would not have
given anything to Russians in return for nothing. We say if you want
the pipeline, first give money to build it. However, let us not hurry
to admire how the Armenians get the money from the Russians. First,
we should wonder where the money disappeared that Iran had given
to Armenia to build the pipeline. Iran loans the construction
of the 40-km section of the Iranian pipeline running from Meghri
to Kadjaran. Maybe the second section of the pipeline running in
Armenia, the Kadjaran-Ararat section is concerned. When still in
office, the head of the RA President Administration, the co-chair
of the Iran-Armenian Intergovernmental Commission Artashes Tumanyan
visited Iran several months ago. The Iranian mass media informed that
Iran had offered to fund the construction of the second section of
the pipeline, i.e. the Kadjaran-Ararat section. Returning to Yerevan,
Artashes Tumanyan said there was such an arrangement. He even confirmed
that the offer referred to the second section of the pipeline, running
in Armenia and not the construction of another pipeline. Everyone
knows what happened to Artashes Tumanyan later.
However, it still needs to be found out what happened to the agreement
that had been reached. Was it just a personal one? It referred to
state property, however, although there is nothing surprising when
personal arrangements are made on this property. If we want, we will
arrange with Iran, if we want with Russia. Presently it is not clear
whether Tumanyan was dismissed because of the arrangements that he
had reached. It is not essential though. The fact is that Russia is
negotiating with Armenia, and everyone knows the usual outcome of
such negotiations. Consequently, it must be known to Iran as well. It
is interesting how Iran will respond to the transfer of the pipeline
to Russians, for several months ago the foreign ministers of Armenia
and Iran announced in Yerevan that the assent of Iran and Armenia is
required for the engagement of a third country in the Iran-Armenia
gas pipeline project. In other words, Armenia’s assent is not enough
to settle the problem. Does it mean that Iran approves the engagement
of Russia? The price of this approval might be transit of the Iranian
gas. It is hardly possible, however, because Europe might not approve
it. The Europeans are interested in the Iranian gas without Russia
for the simple reason that it is important as an alternative to Russia.
Iran may have changed its mind to fund the second section of the
pipeline after the Armenia had rejected the Iranian proposal regarding
the fifth generating unit of the Thermal Power Plant of Hrazdan. The
deposal of Artashes Tumanyan would hardly have forced Iran to give
up. However, this is also probably. After all, not only interests
determine people but also people determine interests.
Hence, the unfinished pipeline, which has been said to guarantee the
energy security of Armenia, is already starting to threaten this type
of security of our country if it is built to be given to another
country. Moreover, it is even more distressing that the Armenian
society is looking for external and not internal means of keeping the
pipeline: Iran will not agree, or America will disagree. And if they
agreed? Would everything be fine? Or maybe “extenuating circumstances”
occur, which is the only aspect of knowledge of law of our society,
that is excellently used for the past 15 years.
Instead of seeking for a punishment an excuse is sought for.