“What does the 8 billion US dollars investment in the energy system of Armenia mean? It either means buying all existing infrastructures and forming a new energy system on its basis, or the RA government’s obligation to eliminate monopolies created by laws and international treaties in the field of natural gas and electricity distribution. This, in its turn, means that if the Armenian authorities are to meet this proposal and adopt the US precondition for creating equal, competitive conditions, it is not ruled out that soon we will have the second gas distribution and power distribution system with the latest technology and full freedom of source”, said the head of the Centre for European Studies, Arthur Ghazinyan, commenting on the US Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills’ announcement about the prospect of 8 billion dollars investment in Armenia’s energy sector.
Then he clarified, “In other words, Armenian citizens will have the opportunity to choose from which company to buy electricity or gas, which, in my deepest conviction, is one of the cornerstones of the market economy, and should be available in any competitive economy. Armenia will become the energy leader in the region with $ 8 billion investment by US private energy companies exceeding the already exhausting oil and problematic gas reserves of Azerbaijan. This circumstance transfers the problem from mere economic to security sector where Armenia is completely dependent on Russia. In fact, we can say that the US has offered to buy back the sold sovereignty and to make Armenia a modern state”.
Emma GABRIELYAN
