From April 1, 2010, the gas price has been raised from 96 AMD up to 132 AMD per cubic meter. The ArmRosgazprom Company accounted for the rise by the fact that the Russian side raised the price. In fact, however, the Russian side raised the price from U.S. $154 up to U.S. $180, whereas the Armenian consumers have to pay over U.S. $330 per 1,000 cubic meters.

At his meeting with journalists yesterday, RA Minister of Finance Tigran Davtyan reported that the Government has taken measures to compensate the socially vulnerable sections of Armenia’s population for the price rise. According to him, starting May 1, 2010, the monthly welfare will be raised by AMD 3,500. From November 1 2010, monthly pensions will be raised by AMD 2,650. It should be noted that until this November pensioners will have to live on their current pensions, while they will have to pay for gas at higher rates.

T.P.