One of those issues is Armenia’s energetic security, in particular the sale of the 5th energy block of the Hrazdan electricity station to Russia in order to decrease the gas price. The authorities considered the transaction as the sale of the century, while the opposition considers it betrayal, selling the remainder of the state’s property just to keep power. In light of this, a debate took place yesterday at the “Hayeli” club with former Prime Ministers of Armenia-head of the National Democratic Union (NDU) Vazgen Manukyan and leader of the Armenian Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) Khosrov Harutyunyan.
“The USSR used to have strategic ties with African and Asian countries. What was the point of those relations? Since the power belonged not to the people, but rather it had been taken by force, thus the USSR was keeping strategic ties neither with the people nor the country, but the authorities,” said NDU head Vazgen Manukyan and added that Armenian-Russian strategic ties are at that same level today.
“Russia’s economic ties with Armenia are growing at a constant rate. In about 2 years, in 2008, Russia may turn the gas price to 250 dollars if it doesn’t see who it wants to see as president of Armenia, but if Russia’s candidate comes to power, then the gas price will go down. Of course, Russia is not that naïve to do that, but will create a similar situation and set a trap for Armenian authorities to control the country,” says the head of NDU as he goes on with his predictions. Based on that, Manukyan is not surprised to see Minister of Defense Serge Sargsyan so happy about the transaction.
“I am not the least surprised that Serge Sargsyan is content. He has said himself that he has something to do with every good thing that happens in the country. But I must say that whatever’s good for Serge Sargsyan, is bad for Armenia,” said V. Manukyan. Manukyan believes that Armenia’s energetic resources must be diversified in order to decrease the role that Russia plays in Armenian economy and politics. In general, V. Manukyan thinks that Armenia lost its chance to free itself from Russia’ influence.
“Armenia has to come to terms with Russia. I believe that when Russia fixed the gas price at 110 dollars, Armenia should have enlarged the gas pipeline diameter and take the loan for the Iranian energy block. Well, now go and suffer the consequences. I mean, Armenia should have taken advantage of the right moment to get out of Russia’s control,” said the first prime minister of Armenia Vazgen Manukyan.
According to the other prime minister of Armenia, Khosrov Harutyunyan, Russia has changed its political strategies starting from 2001.
“Russian politicians believe that there are no longer any military-political strategies. Russia is simply overwhelmed with its success in providing power-generators and is protecting its interests by using them in the regions where it needs to have an influence,” says Mr. Harutyunyan. According to him, now Russia is using its gas to not only have a political influence on Armenia and the other Southern Caucasus countries, but also the whole world. Mr. Harutyunyan believes that Russia’s politics doesn’t have any outlooks and will go against the country. Of course, Armenia can’t do anything to predict or change Russian politics, but according to Khosrov Harutyunyan, Armenia could have taken the advantage and made Russia understand that the politics it leads doesn’t correspond to the strategic alliance pact the country signed with Armenia back in 1996. He proposes raising the issue to Russia in order to review some of the clauses stated in the pact, for example, deadlines and conditions for keeping military bases in the country.
“I think that the executive branch of government is solving this issue on its own. The National Assembly can play an even major role for the strategic importance and be a back up for the executive branch. But as of today, the National Assembly is doing nothing, it’s more of an observer,” says Mr. Harutyunyan.
He also says that the 5th energy block of the Hrazdan electricity station just can’t be sold to a foreign country, whether it is Russia, Iran or some other country.
“As for the 40 kilometer section of the gas pipeline, Armenia has to find some financial resources to construct it, to make it ours. We just can’t give that section away to another country,” says Kh. Harutyunyan.
What can the National Assembly do when the 5th energy block of the Hrazdan electricity station is not included in the list of privatizations confirmed by the NA? According to Harutyunyan, the NA may pass laws according to which it will be prohibited to sell energetic resources to foreign countries and/or organizations.
“What National Assembly? The National Assembly has turned into a plaything for Robert Kocharyan. If they start raising those issues, the opposition will simply make some big speeches and that will be the end of it. Nothing will change,” said Vazgen Manukyan in response to this. Although, in the end, he was forced to admit the fact that this was not only the authorities’ fault, but also because the “opposition is weak”.
During the debate yesterday, both Vazgen Manukyan and Khosrov Harutyunyan predicted that Russia would raise the gas prices even higher, making it reach 300 dollars.
“Armenia should have kept the negotiations ongoing in order to come to terms. Let’s fix the gas price even at 150 dollars, just as long as it stays that way for the next 10-15 years. This is more essential than leading negotiations every three years,” says Khosrov Harutyunyan. Vazgen Manukyan, on the other hand, has some doubts concerning signing a short-term contract. “I’m suspecting Armenian authorities of playing games with Russia in fixing the gas price, but I don’t want to predict anything.”