YEREVAN TO DEAL WITH ASHKHABAT WITHOUT RUSSIANS

PanARMENIAN.Net - In the oil-gas sphere the forms of cooperation between Turkmenistan and Armenia are not traditional. The thing is that Yerevan buys Turkmenian gas not from Turkmenistan, but from Russia. Russian "Gasprom" pays Ashkhabad 44 dollars for each cubic meter of gas. Armenia receives that gas for 56 dollars, covering all the transportation costs. Meanwhile, Yerevan used to buy gas directly from Ashkhabad and paid to Russia for transit, which was more favorable. This scheme is being practiced by Ukraine. They buy gas at the Turkmenian-Uzbek border. However, "Gasprom" prefers to deal with Armenian without third parties.

Up to now, Yerevan has not opposed to that way of doing business. The capacity of gas we need is not so impressive to be of interest for Turkmenian exporters. In this respect Turkmenistan is much more interested in the partnership with "Gasprom". The principle of wholesale allows Russians to count on lower tariffs. But even in spite of the huge capacities of the gas purchased by "Gasprom", Ashkhabad intends to raise the tariffs for Russians too. This will certainly impact Armenian consumers. Turkmenbashi is going to bring the price of gas supplied to Russia to 55-58 dollars. Iran, however, buys the same gas for 42 dollars. The Turkmenian price policy, which looks strange at first sight, confirms that Ahskhabad makes distinctions according to economic and political interests. Doesn't it mean that it would be reasonable to agree with Turkmenbashi directly, without Russia? Maybe this is what Robert Kocharyan intends to do by addressing a letter to Turkmenbashi. It should be mentioned that in this case Moscow is not against direct contacts with Yerevan and Ashkhabad in the issue concerning tariffs. Besides, Armenian government has authorized "ArmRosGasprom" company to carry on negotiations with the Turkmenian party. It is worth mentioning that 55 percents of "ArmRosGasprom" share belong to Russian corporations. And besides, "Gasprom" in any case would take care that Armenians could not deal with Turkmenians without their participation.

So, what can we offer Turkmenistan in return for the maximally favorable regime? Unlike Iran, we have nothing to offer. Previously, we attracted them with the low prices for Armenian products that were bartered for gas. Turkmenistan really received Armenian cognac, cigarettes and jewelry at reasonable prices. But now, it is hard to attract them with that. Thanks to the old formula we can only hope for some discounts. Besides, we have significant debts to Turkmenistan and they remind us about those debts more and more often. Thus, it is quite obvious that in this situation the only thing that can attract Saparmurat Niyazov is the partnership with Armenia to resist outer isolation of Turkmenistan. As it is known, the ruling regime in Turkmenistan is far from being absolutely democratic. So, Turkmenbashi needs allies that could support him to defend his rights in international organizations without a backward glance to the West. This is all that Turkmenbashi may want from Kocharyan. The reputation of defender of authoritarian regime will not do credit to Armenia which strives towards democracy. But great powers apply double standards in their policy so often that little countries can fully afford that.