The Armenian Parliament held a heated debate on the initiative to set up an ad hoc gas committee proposed by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D).

Artyusha Shahbazyan, ARF-D faction Secretary, expressed his discontent with the absence of government officials and most of the MPs. He interpreted it as a malicious intent. Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan tried to calm Shahbazyan down. He explained that government officials were not invited to the sitting so that the MPs might feel free. "We have a democratic parliament," Abrahamyan said.

The ARF-D member Artsvik Minasyan said that the faction does not understand the reasons for the ruling majority`s resistance to the ARF-D`s initiative. He asked why the gas price set in line with the USD exchange rate was not reduced after the USD showed depreciation.

The ARF-D member Nairi Nranyan said that numerous questions remain unanswered. One of the is: why does Armenia sell gas to the population at U.S. $360 per 1,000 cubic meters while it purchases it from Russia at U.S. $180? "If the ruling majority has nothing to conceal, why do they resist the idea of setting up a gas committee?" Nranyan asked.

In giving the floor to the ARF-D Executive Council member Armen Rustamyan, Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan said that latter "thinks about the people even on his birthday anniversary." However, Rustamyan was not flattered at all. He started that the high gas prices prevent the Armenian population from purchasing gas. "Moreover, gas supply is a monopoly in Armenia. Is it legal? No. If it is a monopoly, the
Government can make it accept the highest price limit. Why do not they do so?" Rustamyan asked.

In response, Vardan Aivazyan, Chairman of the Economic Committee, proposed holding parliamentary hearings.

Armenian News-NEWS.am reminds readers that, in summing up the latest Armenian-Russian presidential meeting in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Feb. 25, RA Presidential Spokesman Armen Arustamyan said the gas price for Armenian consumers will not be raised this year. Moreover, it will be reduced for socially vulnerable sections of population.