I have no information about a possible change in the price of gas, but we have said that we have four bordering countries, and if a fifth country makes an offer to transfer gas to us via transit, we will discuss that offer, too. Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia, Alen Simonyan, on Thursday told this to reporters in the government.

When asked whether Armenia could come to a certain agreement with Russia so that the price of Russian natural gas does not increase in Armenia, the head of the Security Council of Armenia said: “That is also a price, it includes a political price, and that political price, I think, is obvious. The prime minister [of Armenia] also said that we are not ready and will no longer be dependent on one pipe, one needle, one whim, and one pressure button. We will carry out this diversification process in all sectors of the economy of the Republic of Armenia.”

And to the question whether Russia can pressure Armenia by using this natural gas issue, Simonyan responded as follows: "We need to look at the trajectory. The Republic of Armenia is an independent country that forms its authorities thanks to the choice of its people, and Armenia does not have a conflict that will be used to generate political processes in the Republic of Armenia, or to take political processes in any direction. The Republic of Armenia will preserve its sovereignty. By the way, Russia's partners also always say when they speak that ‘it is your sovereign right to decide.’ The Republic of Armenia has not and will not compromise its interests, because as I said, it is also a political price, and the Republic of Armenia has its own political path, has its own decision."

"We [i.e. Armenia] will buy [natural] gas from all countries, we will strengthen the nuclear power plant, we will strengthen the solar system, we will trade with all countries, we will [re]open the border with Turkey in the near future, we will establish diplomatic relations with Azerbaijan, we will have final peace, cooperation with the countries of the region in all respects—both economic and political, we will complete the border demarcation and delimitation with Azerbaijan in all possible places. Everything is very good, because the Republic of Armenia is now peaceful and has a democratic government, normal elections," added the secretary of the Security Council of Armenia.