Even if the Armenian and Russian Presidents, Serzh Sargsyan and Dmitry Medvedev, have agreed on an unchanged price for Russian gas supplied to Armenia, it is not a long-term decision. Evidence thereof is Gazprom`s statement of March 3, which says that the talks on the gas price for Armenia are going on, Vahan Hovhannisyan, Chairman of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D) parliamentary faction, told a press briefing.

Russia is neither deaf nor blind. It is well aware of what is going on in Armenia. "Russia sells gas to Armenia at U.S. $180 for 1,000 cubic meters, whereas Armenian consumers pay double the price for it," Hovhannisyan said. "Russia can say to us: `I will sell my gas top you for U.S. $200, but you sell it to your own population for U.S. $360`," Hovhanissyan said. He said that Gazprom`s statement is evidence thereof. "Gazprom says the gas price will not be raised for Armenian consumers, but not for Armenia," the MP said. "As soon as Russia raises the gas price, Armenian officials will come and say: `You know, Russia has raised the gas price, and we have to raise it for you`," Hovhannisyan said.

Armenian News-NEWS.am reminds readers that, on the ARF-D`s initiative, the Armenian Parliament is shortly to consider the issue of gas supply.