The demand for gasoline in Armenia is approximately 250 thousand tons. What percentage of it is the 1,200 tons of Azerbaijani gasoline imported to Armenia at the end of last year? Can this have any impact on the Armenian market? Talks that the price of gasoline in Armenia has fallen thanks to this are absurd and nonsense, Armenia’s second president, Robert Kocharyan, told a press conference Thursday.

“The price of gasoline [in Armenia] has fallen because oil exports by Saudi Arabia, Brazil, the US, and Canada have recently increased in the international oil market. This has led to a decrease in oil prices, which in turn has led to a decrease in [prices of] oil products,” Robert Kocharyan added, and stated that the price of gasoline in Armenia has decreased due to the influence of other factors.

He noted that there is only one oil refining plant in Azerbaijan, and it barely meets Azerbaijan’s own demands.

“Last year, Azerbaijan imported 120 thousand tons of premium gasoline from Russia. It is even a big question: is the gasoline that came to Armenia Azerbaijani or Russian? It is fairy tales that cheap Azerbaijani gasoline will come [to Armenia]... Azerbaijan does not have that amount of gasoline,” added Armenia’s second president.

To the question as to how he assesses the trade that is starting between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Kocharyan responded. “That is good. But who is doing a greater favor to whom? The buyer or the seller? The money generated in Armenia is going to Azerbaijan. To be honest, I don't understand presenting this as a ‘great favor.’ I've been president [of Armenia] for ten years, and we've never had a problem with fuel imports [during those years]. By the way, fuel was being imported to Armenia from Bulgaria; Russian oil was going to Bulgaria, being refined, and coming to Armenia. There was no need for the Azerbaijani railway at all. If it gives us new opportunities, that's fine. But think about where your country's money goes and what it funds."

When asked if his political force comes to power in Armenia, will the latter’s import of gasoline from Azerbaijan continue, Robert Kocharyan replied: “The [Armenian] authorities, at least during my rule, have never imported gasoline, diesel fuel; it was the private sector that imported [it]. If it turns out that it is cheaper to bring [it] from Azerbaijan, there is a need think [about it]. If the peace treaty is signed [between Armenia and Azerbaijan], everything will be fine, they will bring [it to Armenia]. I have great doubts that this will be the case. But let me repeat: Azerbaijan does not have that amount of fuel. If Russian gasoline is imported into Azerbaijan, then into Armenia, and the minister goes to the border, welcome [it] with posters, sing songs. I have called it ‘propaganda fuel.’ It is a shame. What do you think our people are? Do they think that no one will come in, will not study the numbers, will not analyze [them]?”

And regarding PM Nikol Pashinyan’s statement that the energy systems of Armenia and Azerbaijan will be connected to each other, Armenia’s second president noted: "We have a surplus of electricity generating capacities in Armenia. Azerbaijan also has a surplus. It wouldn't be bad if they joined. But it's a fairy tale that we will sell electricity to them, or they will sell us. We have no need for that electricity. We have a significant surplus of electricity production. Azerbaijan also has a surplus, of course, not on the same scale as us, but it does have one."