81 replies to this topic

[MosJan]

V. Soghomonyan: Armenia Will Have to Reconsider Some Priorities in Energy Field
24.01.2006 23:33 GMT+04:00 Print version Send to mail
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “The Armenian and Russian Presidents did not agree on the price for gas. The final agreement will to all appearances be reached in mid February,” RA President’s Spokesman Victor Soghomonyan stated at a press conference in Yerevan today. He reminded that during the meeting Robert Kocharian and Vladimir Putin voiced satisfaction with the current stage of the Armenian-Russia relations and expressed hope that they will be preserved this year. The parties also referred to the problem of Russian gas imported to Armenia. V. Soghomonyan refuted the hearsay that the Armenian party proposed Russia 45% stake in the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline. When commenting on the opinion that Armenia’s attitude towards Russia changed in view of the rise in prices for gas V. Soghomonyan noted that the situation with the Russian gas certainly arouses regret. “Of course, the Armenian party would like to settle the issue in a simpler way taking into account the strategic partnership between Armenia and Russia,” he noted. “At the same time our relationships are viewed as strategic and do not restrict to the cooperation in the energy field it’s worthy speaking of reconsideration of the priorities,” he added.

In his words, “as for the energy field, here something should be reconsidered.” However the strategic partnership with Russia is multisided and is rated as efficient, thus it’s not the reason to reconsider the whole scope of relations with Russia. “We are concerned over the public opinion not in favor of Russia,” he noted. He also noted that anti-Russian statements that can be heard on the Armenian television recently have nothing in common with the Armenian state policy.

To remind, Kommersant daily reported that Moscow has given an ultimatum for its strategic ally: either gas price will be raised to $110 or Armenia will hand to Gazprom its gas infrastructure and then enjoy cheap gas for one more year. Robert Kocharian accepted the ultimatum and is willing to transfer a 45% stake in the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline under construction to Russia.
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[Sasun]

Yerevan Signals Frustration With Russian Stance On Gas Price

www.armenialiberty.org
By Karine Kalantarian

Official Yerevan left on Tuesday the clearest indication yet that it is dismayed at Russia’s apparent reluctance to reconsider its decision to double the price of Russian natural gas for Armenia.

President Robert Kocharian appears to have failed to clinch more favorable terms for his country during his latest meeting with his Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on Sunday. The talks followed weeks of unprecedented verbal attacks on Moscow launched by Armenia’s government-controlled TV stations and newspapers.

Kocharian’s spokesman, Victor Soghomonian, said the Armenian leadership is “worried” that the gas price hike and the resulting media criticism are fuelling anti-Russian sentiment in Armenia. But he indicated that it will not try to counter the ongoing shift in Armenian public opinion that has traditionally been friendly towards Russia.

“It is the Russian side that has to think about doing something about that,” Soghomonian told reporters.

The presidential press secretary further declared that some aspects of Russian-Armenian cooperation on energy “need to be reconsidered” in the light of the recent developments. He would not say whether that means Kocharian wants to weaken the strong Russian presence in the Armenian energy sector.

Also indicating his frustration with the Russian position was influential Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian, who has been closely involved in Yerevan’s economic dealings with Moscow. “This issue is not purely economic,” Sarkisian said in a newspaper interview published on Tuesday. “Apart from economics, there is also the issue of trust here.”

“The existing situation has agitated the public and raised many questions,” Sarkisian told the Russian-language “Golos Armenii” newspaper. “But I think that answers to those questions will be given soon,” he added ambiguously.

Soghomonian repeated his earlier statement that the two governments hope to cut a mutually acceptable deal by the middle of next month. And he again denied a Russian newspaper report that Kocharian offered Putin not raise the gas price in return for a 45 percent stake in a gas pipeline from Iran currently under construction.

Russia’s state-controlled Gazprom giant has confirmed reports that Armenia will not be charged more for the gas if it agrees to give the Russians control over a major thermal power plant and the right to use Iranian gas. The idea has been rejected by Prime Minister Andranik Markarian.

[Sasun]

Armenia Braces For Gas Rationing As Pipeline Repairs Drag On

www.armenialiberty.org
By Nane Atshemian

Armenia braced itself for a potentially serious energy crisis on Tuesday amid reports that repair work on the main Russian pipeline providing it and neighboring Georgia with natural gas will take longer than was expected.

The ArmRosGazprom (ARG) national gas operator warned that it will have to cut supplies to business customers if it becomes clear that the pipeline, wrecked by two explosions in southern Russia on Sunday, will not be restored by Friday.

“They say that the pipeline repair will be complete on January 27,” ARG spokeswoman Shushan Sardarian told RFE/RL. “If they finish the job on time, we will not resort to any [supply] limitations. We will do that only if things drag on.”

Russia’s Gazprom monopoly, which owns 45 percent of ARG, initially pledged to complete repairs on the damaged section of the pipeline early this week. However, they were reportedly suspended on Tuesday, ostensibly due to a cold weather and a leak of gas condensate.

"An explosion may occur if welding is conducted now. For this reason all workers repairing the pipeline have been taken to safety," Vladimir Ivanov, an official from Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry, was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying. “Gas condensate is still leaking.”

The head of a Russian company repairing the damage from the blasts in the Caucasus republic of North Ossetia told Interfax that these problems “will delay the repairs by 100 hours or maybe more.”

According to Sardarian, if this information is officially confirmed by the Russian side ARG will likely cut supplies to vehicle filling stations and industrial enterprises “starting from tomorrow.” She said there are no plans yet to introduce gas rationing for individual consumers. “We are doing everything to ensure that the population remains unaffected by this problem,” she said.

ARG has tapped its emergency reserves to keep up supplies to some 400,000 households and thermal power plants that generate than one third of Armenia’s electricity. Its main underground storage facility north of Yerevan contained 80 million cubic meters of gas when the Russian pipeline was knocked out in the early hours of Sunday. Officials would not says just when the country will run out of its reserves if Russian supplies are not restored soon.

The Russian-Armenian joint venture has already reduced supplies to the Hrazdan power plant that exports its electricity surplus to Georgia. Those exports were halted immediately after the Russian blasts. The gas operator has also urged Armenians to use gas for heating their homes more sparingly. But ARG has so far reported only a slight decrease in gas consumption.

This has apparently to do with a continuing cold snap that hit Armenia last week. Its has been aggravated by unusually heavy snowfalls that have going on since Friday.

The situation was even more difficult in Georgia where authorities restricted gas and power supplies to the population. It improved considerably on Monday as gas began flowing into Georgia via an alternative pipeline passing through Azerbaijan.

Georgian leaders alleges that the supply cutoff was a deliberate act of sabotage by Russia aimed at punishing Tbilisi for its pro-Western policies. Russia has vehemently denied the charges. The Armenian government, which maintains closer ties with Moscow, has so far been silent on the issue.

Meanwhile, it emerged that the U.S. government intervened to help prevent an energy crisis in the two South Caucasus states. "We did talk to the parties that were involved in the issue over the weekend," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told
reporters in Washington on Monday, adding there were "a lot of phone calls."

The AFP news agency quoted him as saying the American officials involved included Dan Fried, assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, his deputy Matthew Bryza, and U.S. diplomats in Georgia. "Regardless right now what the cause of the explosions were, what is important is that Georgia and Armenia's neighbors came together to come to their neighbors' aid in a time of crisis," McCormack said. "And we played a role in that, proudly so."

[MosJan]

RA MFA Refuted Statements on Supply of Azeri Gas to Armenia
24.01.2006 23:43 GMT+04:00 Print version Send to mail
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Officials of the U.S. Department of State have already inquired the Armenian Foreign Ministry about the situation in the republic in view of the gas pipeline explosion, RA MFA Spokesman Hamlet Gasparian said when commenting on the statement by State Department spokesman Sean McCormack. “Armenia does not receive gas from anywhere and does not receive assistance either from Azerbaijan or Turkey. Unlike Georgia, Armenia is not being supplied with gas since the pipeline has not been repaired yet. That is why the export of Armenian electrical energy to Georgia was suspended,” Mr. Gasparian noted.

To remind, earlier Sean McCormack said U.S. officials have intervened to help sort out the latest European natural gas crisis that erupted after Russian supplies to Georgia were cut by pipeline explosions. “We did talk to the parties that were involved in the issue over the weekend. Presently natural gas flows into Georgia and Armenia via an alternative pipeline passing through neighboring Azerbaijan. Independently of the cause of the blasts it is important that Armenia and Georgia’s neighbors joined effort and rendered assistance in the crisis. The U.S. intervened to help sort out the crisis and we are proud of it”, he said.
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[hytga]

sometimes the level of ignorance of western civilization is just amazing

[MosJan]

lets see haw it will end

looks like no one is loosing a chance to showww off or bite each other

like US telling azeris to gave gas to Armenia and gorgia who's gas ?? Russian gas ?? or azeri gas ?? if it's azeri gas then look no mor you have your suspect - in early 90's that same gas line was blown up many times , it left ARmenia in dark. whats keeping azeris to do the same now ?? if it's azeri gas then good chance to mek an extra $$$$$$$$$

Russia blaming on the terrorists


georgians blaming it on Russians

[MosJan]

ARMENIA BRACES FOR GAS RATIONING AS PIPELINE REPAIRS DRAG ON

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article's photo
Armenia braced itself for a potentially serious energy crisis on Tuesday amid reports that repair work on the main Russian pipeline providing it and neighboring Georgia with natural gas will take longer than was expected. The ArmRosGazprom (ARG) national gas operator warned that it will have to cut supplies to business customers if it becomes clear that the pipeline, wrecked by two explosions in southern Russia on Sunday, will not be restored by Friday. “They say that the pipeline repair will be complete on January 27,” ARG spokeswoman Shushan Sardarian told RFE/RL. “If they finish the job on time, we will not resort to any [supply] limitations. We will do that only if things drag on.” Russia’s Gazprom monopoly, which owns 45 percent of ARG, initially pledged to complete repairs on the damaged section of the pipeline early this week. However, they were reportedly suspended on Tuesday, ostensibly due to a cold weather and a leak of gas condensate. "An explosion may occur if welding is conducted now. For this reason all workers repairing the pipeline have been taken to safety," Vladimir Ivanov, an official from Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry, was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying. “Gas condensate is still leaking.” The head of a Russian company repairing the damage from the blasts in the Caucasus republic of North Ossetia told Interfax that these problems “will delay the repairs by 100 hours or maybe more.” According to Sardarian, if this information is officially confirmed by the Russian side ARG will likely cut supplies to vehicle filling stations and industrial enterprises “starting from tomorrow.” She said there are no plans yet to introduce gas rationing for individual consumers. “We are doing everything to ensure that the population remains unaffected by this problem,” she said. ARG has tapped its emergency reserves to keep up supplies to some 400,000 households and thermal power plants that generate than one third of Armenia’s electricity. Its main underground storage facility north of Yerevan contained 80 million cubic meters of gas when the Russian pipeline was knocked out in the early hours of Sunday. Officials would not says just when the country will run out of its reserves if Russian supplies are not restored soon. The Russian-Armenian joint venture has already reduced supplies to the Hrazdan power plant that exports its electricity surplus to Georgia. Those exports were halted immediately after the Russian blasts. The gas operator has also urged Armenians to use gas for heating their homes more sparingly. But ARG has so far reported only a slight decrease in gas consumption. This has apparently to do with a continuing cold snap that hit Armenia last week. Its has been aggravated by unusually heavy snowfalls that have going on since Friday. The situation was even more difficult in Georgia where authorities restricted gas and power supplies to the population. It improved considerably on Monday as gas began flowing into Georgia via an alternative pipeline passing through Azerbaijan. Georgian leaders alleges that the supply cutoff was a deliberate act of sabotage by Russia aimed at punishing Tbilisi for its pro-Western policies. Russia has vehemently denied the charges. The Armenian government, which maintains closer ties with Moscow, has so far been silent on the issue. Meanwhile, it emerged that the U.S. government intervened to help prevent an energy crisis in the two South Caucasus states. "We did talk to the parties that were involved in the issue over the weekend," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters in Washington on Monday, adding there were "a lot of phone calls." The AFP news agency quoted him as saying the American officials involved included Dan Fried, assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, his deputy Matthew Bryza, and U.S. diplomats in Georgia. "Regardless right now what the cause of the explosions were, what is important is that Georgia and Armenia's neighbors came together to come to their neighbors' aid in a time of crisis," McCormack said. "And we played a role in that, proudly so." (GI-Photolur photo: Workers fix on Monday the Mozdok-Tbilisi pipeline near the village of Nizhni Lars in North Ossetia a day after it was destroyed by two blasts.)
* By Nane Atshemian

[MosJan]

YEREVAN SIGNALS FRUSTRATION WITH RUSSIAN STANCE ON GAS PRICE

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article's photo
Official Yerevan left on Tuesday the clearest indication yet that it is dismayed at Russia’s apparent reluctance to reconsider its decision to double the price of Russian natural gas for Armenia. President Robert Kocharian appears to have failed to clinch more favorable terms for his country during his latest meeting with his Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on Sunday. The talks followed weeks of unprecedented verbal attacks on Moscow launched by Armenia’s government-controlled TV stations and newspapers. Kocharian’s spokesman, Victor Soghomonian, said the Armenian leadership is “worried” that the gas price hike and the resulting media criticism are fuelling anti-Russian sentiment in Armenia. But he indicated that it will not try to counter the ongoing shift in Armenian public opinion that has traditionally been friendly towards Russia. “It is the Russian side that has to think about doing something about that,” Soghomonian told reporters. The presidential press secretary further declared that some aspects of Russian-Armenian cooperation on energy “need to be reconsidered” in the light of the recent developments. He would not say whether that means Kocharian wants to weaken the strong Russian presence in the Armenian energy sector. Also indicating his frustration with the Russian position was influential Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian, who has been closely involved in Yerevan’s economic dealings with Moscow. “This issue is not purely economic,” Sarkisian said in a newspaper interview published on Tuesday. “Apart from economics, there is also the issue of trust here.” “The existing situation has agitated the public and raised many questions,” Sarkisian told the Russian-language “Golos Armenii” newspaper. “But I think that answers to those questions will be given soon,” he added ambiguously. Soghomonian repeated his earlier statement that the two governments hope to cut a mutually acceptable deal by the middle of next month. And he again denied a Russian newspaper report that Kocharian offered Putin not raise the gas price in return for a 45 percent stake in a gas pipeline from Iran currently under construction. Russia’s state-controlled Gazprom giant has confirmed reports that Armenia will not be charged more for the gas if it agrees to give the Russians control over a major thermal power plant and the right to use Iranian gas. The idea has been rejected by Prime Minister Andranik Markarian. (Photolur photo: Victor Soghomonian.)
* By Karine Kalantarian

[MosJan]

GAS MAIN RESTORED

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According to the information of “ArmRusgazard” the situation concerning the repair works of the gas main in Southern Osset remains the same. As the company’s press secretary Shushan Sardarian says they still do not limit the gas supply at the expense of the gas reserves of the republic.

Yet according to the information of the same source if the gas supply from abroad is not restored until January 25-26 “ArmRusgazard” will have to limit the gas supply. It is worth mentioning that according to the information we possess there is about 80 million cubic meters of gas in Abovian storehouse.

On the other hand as ITAR-TASS informs the restoration works of Mazdock-Tbilisi gas main have been practically finished. They only have to start pushing gas through the pipes.

[MosJan]

Baku Refutes Gas Delivery to Armenia via Azerbaijan
26.01.2006 00:51 GMT+04:00 Print version Send to mail
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The statement of the U.S. State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack on the delivery of gas to Armenia via Azerbaijan is erroneous. January 25 in Baku Azerbaijani FM Elmar Mammadyarov told journalists that U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Rino Harnish noted that Sean McCormack made a slip and said Armenia instead of Georgia. “U.S. officials have intervened to help sort out the latest European natural gas crisis that erupted after Russian supplies to Georgia were cut by pipeline explosions. Presently Georgia receives gas from Azerbaijan and electricity from Turkey. Azeri gas is as well being pumped to Armenia,” U.S. State Department representative said earlier.
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[MosJan]

Gas Blasts in North Ossetia – Terrorist Act
25.01.2006 23:12 GMT+04:00 Print version Send to mail
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Russian Office of Prosecutor General classed the blasts at the gas pipeline in North Ossetia as terrorism. “The criminal case was initiated by the chief department of the Office of Prosecutor General of the South Federal Okrug and is being investigated according to Article 205 of the Russian Criminal Code,” Russian Deputy Prosecutor General Nikolay Shepel stated on Wednesday. He reminded that earlier the North Ossetian Prosecutor’s Office qualified the blasts as “deliberate damage of property” and noted that a criminal case was also initiated over the explosion of the power grid in Karachaevo-Cherkesia that supplied Georgia with electricity. Russian Deputy Prosecutor General dismissed as nonsense the statements by Georgian authority on the possible implication of the Russian special services in the diversion at the gas pipeline blasts in North Ossetia.

To remind, explosions at the Mozdok-Tbilisi gas pipeline in North Ossetia occurred on the night of Sunday. Explosive devices detonated on main and reserve branches of the North Caucasus-Transcaucasus pipeline, one in twenty minutes after another. The explosions were equivalent of 700-800 g of TNT. The Russian Prosecution regards it as a diversion. Georgia receives Russian gas through transit via Azerbaijan, where Gazprom increased the amount of gas supplies, and Armenia uses gas from the Abovyan underground gas reservoir
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[MosJan]

SO it is Russian gas - not an azeri gas

some reports are making one think that it's azeri gas and it's made by them and azeris are helping and USA in intervening to help ... bla blaaa blaaaaa
russia is still delivering gas to georgia by using other gas pipeline from azerbujan

[MosJan]

Explosions of pipelines in North Ossetia – a message to Armenia?

Read it in Russian

Explosions on the gas pipelines in North Ossetia, which resulted in cut-off of gas supplies from Russia to Georgia and Armenia, coincided with the visit of Armenian President Robert Kocharyan in Moscow not accidentally, South Caucasus expert Viktor Yakubyan told a REGNUM correspondent. The expert is sure, that the diversions were aimed at “persuading” Armenia once again of unreliability of the Russian gas route.

“On January 22, Armenian President discussed possible mechanisms of settlement of accounts with the Gazprom Company that would be suitable for Armenia. Armenia is the only country in South Caucasus that continues talks with the Russian gas monopolist after it decided to raise gas prices for the countries in the region for $110 for a thousand cubic meters. Evidently, the Russian party is making proposals that adopted by Yerevan can bring about some preferences in the gas issue. However, some forces will profit from persuading Armenia that the Russian gas route is not reliable. It can make Armenia consider the question of laying alternative gas pipelines, which the Iranian route is trying to be. To these forces I ascribe Georgia that tries to diversify its gas supplies system by actively promoting the idea of the Iranian gas transit to Georgia via Armenia. Thus, Armenia is faced with the dilemma, either to agree with Russia, but to be not sure that Georgia will let the Russian gas go through its territory, or to refuse from cooperation with Russia, but pledge to bring the Iranian gas through its territory to Georgia. The first way supposes letting Russian investors participate in the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline construction, which will break Georgia’s aspirations, as well as Ukraine’s and some other East European countries. The second way poses threat to the allied relations with Russia in exchange for the extremely adventurous project of transit of the Iranian gas to Europe via South Caucasus, the Black Sea and Ukraine. In case the project is implemented, it can become a rival to the Blue Stream Project that was launched not long ago. However, the adventurous nature of the project is not it, but in the situation over Iran, its nuclear program, as well as in the fact that Armenia does not have full analysis of the Russian-Iranian relations. Besides, Yerevan cannot hope for the full readiness and interest of Tehran in transit of its resources through territories of countries controlled by the USA, in particular, Georgia (Tehran realizes that this route is imposed mostly by the West). Iran can limit itself to the East market, for access to which it is trying to win from the USA,” noted the expert.
Permanent news address: www.regnum.ru/english/576910.html
12:55 01/23/2006

[Arpa]

This whole debacle brings back scary ghosts from the past [is it Halloween yet? ] , when during the early 90s the following proposal by Paul Goble was seriously advanced with a straight face. Of course, it was dismissed right out of hand. They must have taken us for morons or they themselves are the idiots to think that such comedic scenario would be acceptable..

One of he many sites referring to the melodrama;
Below the relevant excerpt.
http://www.armenianr...01/c-hovann.htm


Nagorno-Karabagh conflict. Although the content of the peace negotiations was supposed to remain secret, the Armenian media had revealed in November 1999 that the United States was pushing forward a peace proposal based on a territorial swap, renewing a plan suggested in the early 1990s by U.S. diplomat Paul Goble. Under this plan, Karabagh and the Lachin corridor would obtain de jure sovereignty or be allowed to unite with Armenia, while Azerbaijan would acquire Armenia's southernmost Meghri district, which separates mainland Azerbaijan from its Nakhichevan exclave. Yet the idea was unpopular among Armenians because it would deprive Armenia of its border with Iran -- the state most closely tied with Armenia and also providing the safest access to world markets, given the Azeri and Turkish blockades and the unreliability of Georgia. Additional opposition to the plan came from Iran and Russia, neither of whom favored Armenia losing its connection to Iran, or a Turkey linked to Azerbaijan by a direct overland route. The plan was favored by Washington and Ankara for exactly those reasons. Russia demonstrated its opposition to the plan by announcing in May the opening of a Russian consulate in Meghri. Both Kocharian and Oskanian admitted that the mediators had indeed

Survey the following map;
http://www.armsite.com/maps/
And observe what the above proposal actually meant. A contiguous Turk land all the way from Istanbul to Baku (and beyond), cutting off Armenia from the only unhampered(so far) access to the word though Iran, completing the noose around Armenia’s neck for a final strangulation., and consequently drive Armenia right into the fangs of “big bear”.
Then again, come to think of it, this whole drama was not really aimed at Armenia. After all, who cares about a piece of rock!!?? It was designed to contain and limit Russia’s access to “warm water” through Iran.

Look at that map again and observe Turkey’s access to Nakhjavan. That “goose beak“, that narrow corridor that cuts right between Armenia and Iran got to go!! BTW, that “goose beak” was obtained from Iran in exchange for a useless piece of land by the Treaty of Lausanne.

[MosJan]

UNLIMITED GAS SUPPLY

*

As we have been informed by “ArmRusgazard” press secretary Shushan Sardarian the gas supply at the expense of the reserves of the republic is not limited. On the other hand the gas main exploded on January 22 (Russian legal bodies treat it as an act of terrorism) has not been repaired so far. And judging by the information of Russian mass media it is hard to say when the repair works will be finished

[MosJan]

This whole debacle brings back scary ghosts from the past [is it Halloween yet? ] , when during the early 90s the following proposal by Paul Goble was seriously advanced with a straight face. Of course, it was dismissed right out of hand. They must have taken us for morons or they themselves are the idiots to think that such comedic scenario would be acceptable..

One of he many sites referring to the melodrama;
Below the relevant excerpt.
http://www.armenianr...01/c-hovann.htm
Nagorno-Karabagh conflict. Although the content of the peace negotiations was supposed to remain secret, the Armenian media had revealed in November 1999 that the United States was pushing forward a peace proposal based on a territorial swap, renewing a plan suggested in the early 1990s by U.S. diplomat Paul Goble. Under this plan, Karabagh and the Lachin corridor would obtain de jure sovereignty or be allowed to unite with Armenia, while Azerbaijan would acquire Armenia's southernmost Meghri district, which separates mainland Azerbaijan from its Nakhichevan exclave. Yet the idea was unpopular among Armenians because it would deprive Armenia of its border with Iran -- the state most closely tied with Armenia and also providing the safest access to world markets, given the Azeri and Turkish blockades and the unreliability of Georgia. Additional opposition to the plan came from Iran and Russia, neither of whom favored Armenia losing its connection to Iran, or a Turkey linked to Azerbaijan by a direct overland route. The plan was favored by Washington and Ankara for exactly those reasons. Russia demonstrated its opposition to the plan by announcing in May the opening of a Russian consulate in Meghri. Both Kocharian and Oskanian admitted that the mediators had indeed

Survey the following map;
http://www.armsite.com/maps/
And observe what the above proposal actually meant. A contiguous Turk land all the way from Istanbul to Baku (and beyond), cutting off Armenia from the only unhampered(so far) access to the word though Iran, completing the noose around Armenia’s neck for a final strangulation., and consequently drive Armenia right into the fangs of “big bear”.
Then again, come to think of it, this whole drama was not really aimed at Armenia. After all, who cares about a piece of rock!!?? It was designed to contain and limit Russia’s access to “warm water” through Iran.

Look at that map again and observe Turkey’s access to Nakhjavan. That “goose beak“, that narrow corridor that cuts right between Armenia and Iran got to go!! BTW, that “goose beak” was obtained from Iran in exchange for a useless piece of land by the Treaty of Lausanne.

BAKU SUGGESTS COOPERATION TO ANKARA IN Artsax AND ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ISSUES

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Chair of the new Parliament of Azerbaijan Ogtay Asadov will pay his first official visit to Turkey. In an interview with Zaman Turkish newspaper Asadov said he considers visiting Turkey a natural obligation. In his opinion it is necessary to form a «Parliamentary Assembly of Turkish states» as soon as possible. He reminded of Azeri former President Heydar Aliyev's statement that Turks make «one people, two states.» Asadov remarked a similar proposal was made by chair of the Armenian Parliament, who however suggested forming a «Parliamentary Assembly of Caucasian States.» He also stated he cannot cooperate with a country, which «has occupied 20% of Azerbaijan's territories,» within the framework of a project like that. «If that violence is stopped, a project of the kind can be realized,» Asadov remarked. Azeri Speaker touched upon topics of Artsax and the Armenian Genocide. He stated cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey should include two issues: Nagorno Artsax and the Armenian Genocide. «Both countries could not explain their just claims at the international arena. Turks could not deny statements on the Armenian Genocide and we could not explain our just claims in the Artsax issue,» Asadov said. In his opinion, success in those issues will be made without fail only via mutual efforts and cooperation.»

[MosJan]

GAS SUPPLY TO ARMENIA AND GEORGIA CAN BE RESUMED JANUARY 28

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Today Kavkaztransgaz Director General Vasiliy Zinovyev stated that the gas pumping to Armenia and Georgia can be resumed January 28. In his words, the repair works at the gas pipeline that exploded January 22 entered the final stage. “We plan to resume the gas supply on Saturday,” he said, Interfax reported. To remind, explosions at the gas pipeline in North Ossetia occurred on Sunday night. Explosive devices detonated on main and reserve branches of the North Caucasus-Transcaucasus pipeline, one in twenty minutes after another. The explosions were equivalent of 700-800 g of TNT. The Russian Prosecution regards it as a diversion. Georgia receives Russian gas through transit via Azerbaijan, where Gazprom increased the amount of gas supplies, and Armenia uses gas from the Abovyan underground gas reservoir

[MosJan]

NEW GAS WITH OLD PRICE

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“Today gas supply to Georgia has already been restored, perhaps in the evening the gas will reach Armenia,” not long ago informed Shushan Sardarian, the press secretary of “Hayrusgazard”. Of course it is not easy to secure the whole volume at a time, yet as S. Sardarian says the important thing is that the accident has been restored, there are only technical problems which will be solved in a short period.

In fact the gas reservoir in Abovian justified all the expectation of both “Hayrusgazard” and the users. Moreover, there is still gas left in the reservoir. The blue fuel will continue to be reserved there as soon as the pressure of gas supplied to Armenia will be regulated. And there are no talks about the gas tariff yet. Armenia is going to buy gas from Russian Federation with the old price. “It’s early to talk about the prices,” says S. Sardarian.

[MosJan]

“Do not cry your eyes and do not be indignant as Russia is going to supply gas to Armenia for 80-85 USD including the dotations,” today announced the head of Progressive party Tigran Urikhanian.

In reply to the question what are the basis for him to make such an announcement he said that he had a talk with one of the heads of “Gazprom” and the same information will give the company’s press centre.

As the party leader thinks Russia’s attitude towards Armenia cannot be the same as in the agreement with Georgia. The reason is that “Russia is Armenia’s inseparable strategic companion.” According to Urikhanian’s commentaries Russia had to do such an announcement as according to world rules she had to disguise the attitude characteristic of a friendly country. And she is a success. “However, some “giants” of Armenian political mind immediately started to blame the actions of Russian Federation,” the announcement says.

At the last session the head of the party and its members came to a conclusion that in the course of 10 days the tariff 80-85 USD for 1000 cubic meters of gas will be published and it will be valid until 2013-2014. They also assure that the question of Russian military centers in Armenia will no way be discussed in the context of “gas matters”.

T. Urikhanian also touched upon the topic of the next conference which is expected to take place in 20-25 days. At that time the party will announce which parliamentary body and which presidential candidate they are going to support at the elections. /Panorama.am/

[MosJan]

US WELCOMES RESUMPTION OF GAS SUPPLIES TO ARMENIA AND GEORGIA

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The US welcomes the fact of restoration of Mozdok-Tbilisi gas pipeline and resumption of gas supplies to Armenia and Georgia, says a State Department statement. According to it, most of Georgia's population was deprived of gas and electricity resulting from the explosion of the gas pipeline January 22. «US is delighted with Georgian people's stamina during the energy crisis, also taking into account the unusual cold weather both in Georgia and neighboring countries – Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia,» the statement says. The document also stresses the US Government kept in touch with those of the countries touched by the energy problem. The importance of resumption of gas and electricity supplies to Armenia and Georgia was emphasized during dialogue with those governments.