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**Hovik** · 07-28-2005, 05:22 AM

Turkey, your xxxxy blackmailing attitude is beginning to CO$T you!

**Hovik** · 07-30-2005, 04:51 AM

525-th Newspaper: Export Of Iranian Gas Via Armenia - Step Against
Ankara And Baku

PanArmenian News Network
July 29 2005

525-TH NEWSPAPER: EXPORT OF IRANIAN GAS VIA ARMENIA - STEP AGAINST
ANKARA AND BAKU

29.07.2005 03:23

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The memorandum on cooperation signed the other day
between Iran and Ukraine triggered unequal reaction. Officials in
Turkey and Armenia claimed the document on the construction on a gas
pipeline from Iran to Ukraine bears not economic but political
character, 525-th newspaper reports. The memorandum provides for the
formation of joint commission for investigating financial and other
issues referring to the construction. The Turkish and Armenian
parties showed particular interest in the route. It was supposed that
specialists from Iran, Ukraine, Georgian and Russian specialists will
serve on the joint commission. However Armenia also received
invitation to joint the commission. This fact proves that the gas
pipeline is likely to lie through Armenia. To note, both Tehran and
Kyiv considered the route to be most convenient. At the same time
they did not rule out construction via the Turkish territory. However
presently the possibility is questioned, since the invitation was
sent to Armenia but not to Turkey. Moreover, members of the Iranian
Energy Ministry stated that any accusations advanced by Turkey are
groundless, since the latter has not showed proper `transparency' and
purposed mostly political aims. That is why Iran decided to export
gas via Armenia-Georgia-Ukraine-Eastern Europe route. Turkish press
rates the decision as political noting that the export of Iranian gas
through Armenia is a step targeted against Turkey and Azerbaijan.
While Turkey keeps imposing blockade on Armenia and urges Armenia to
abandon claims for Karabakh Iran is strengthening relations with
Armenia. This is caused by some conflict of interest of Iran on one
hand and Turkey and Azerbaijan on the other hand. Thus, the building
of the gas pipeline via Armenia can be viewed as support to this
country and equaling of economic and power balance in the region and
is a counter-response to the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. In the
opinion of experts, this step by Iran can spoil its relations with
Turkey and Azerbaijan, the newspaper writes.

**Hovik** · 10-12-2005, 03:52 PM

U.S. energy establishment expresses interest in Iran-Armenia pipeline

YEREVAN, October 12 (RIA Novosti, Gamlet Matevosyan) - U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman said Wednesday that the United States would be interested in contributing to the Iran-Armenia natural gas pipeline project.

Bodman met with his counterpart Armen Movsisyan in Armenia's capital to discuss the pipelnine, as well as to consider the possibility of holding a U.S.-Armenian energy forum for private companies and financial institutions in order to boost Armenia's energy sector, the Armenian Foreign Ministry reported.

Movsisyan said Armenia's only nuclear power plant could be shut down only if there were other energy-generating facilities available to replace it. He said Armenia expected the U.S. to help it in ensuring the plant's safety and developing alternative energy sources.

**Hovik** · 10-24-2005, 11:37 AM

Iran-Armenia ties promote stability in Caucasus

Iran-Armenia ties promote stability in Caucasus

Monday, October 24, 2005 - �2005 IranMania.com

LONDON, October 24 (IranMania) - Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Alireza Haqiqian told the students news agency ISNA that Iran?Armenia relations in the political, economic, cultural, and national spheres are at a satisfactory level and the expansion of these relations would help the two countries promote stability and peace in the Caucasus region.

?The satisfying bilateral ties are the result of the efforts of both countries? high-ranking officials and also due to the historical and cultural affinities of the Iranian and Armenian nations,? he noted.

Haqiqian stated that the Armenian media heavily covered the election of Mahmud Ahmadinejad as Iran?s president last spring due to the public?s interest.

In addition, many high-ranking Armenian officials congratulated Ahmadinejad on his victory and said the election showed that there is democracy in Iran, he said.

?Fortunately, we have been implementing joint economic activities, especially major energy projects, like the ones setting up two lines for transferring electricity and establishing a wind power plant in Armenia,? he noted.

The Iranian ambassador went on to say that the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline is being constructed by Iranian companies and the project is scheduled to be completed by 2007.

In conclusion, Haqiqian said that six Iranians charged with drug offenses are currently incarcerated in Armenian prisons, and the Iranian Embassy is pursuing the legal and judicial issues of their cases.

**Hovik** · 11-30-2005, 05:50 PM

Russian Gas Dispute Puts European Supply At Risk

RUSSIAN GAS DISPUTE PUTS EUROPEAN SUPPLY AT RISK
By Julian Evans in Moscow and Roger Boyes in Berlin

The Times
November 30, 2005

VITAL gas supplies to Western Europe are under threat because of an
acrimonious dispute between Russia and Ukraine over that country's
recent embrace of the European Union and Nato.

The row is focusing attention on the West's growing dependence on
Russian gas, and raising fears that the Kremlin has started to use its
status as a leading energy producer as an instrument of foreign policy.

Russia wants to triple the price of the gas it sells to Ukraine,
starting from January 1, in part because the country has shifted its
allegiance to the West.

Ukraine is resisting. If the two fail to resolve their dispute in the
next month, Ukraine could halt the flow of Russian gas to Western
Europe, nearly 80 per cent of which goes through a pipeline that
crosses the country. Both nations openly acknowledge the threat to
Western Europe's supplies.

A spokesman for Naftogaz Ukraine, the state energy company, said that
Russia would have to carry the blame for any delay in gas supplies
to Western Europe.

Sergei Kuprianov, a director at Gazprom, the main Russian gas producer,
countered: "Ukraine is blackmailing us by using the issue of European
gas supplies . . . The security of these European supplies is a matter
of the highest importance for us, and should not be used for haggling."

A break in gas supplies from Russia could have a devastating effect
on Western Europe.

Russia, which is the world's largest natural gas producer, supplies
roughly a quarter of the EU's gas. It is the sole gas supplier to
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia. It also supplies about 80
per cent of the gas to Hungary and Poland and more than 70 per cent to
the Czech Republic. That gives Moscow considerable muscle in countries
that once belonged to its sphere of influence.

But Russia has also been making increasing inroads into traditional
Western markets: about 40 per cent of German gas and 25 per cent of
French gas comes from the Siberian gasfields.

Britain is less dependent than most EU states, but is nonetheless
due to double its purchases of Russian gas from five billion cubic
metres next year to ten billion in 2010. The dispute between Ukraine
and Russia erupted this month when the Kremlin announced that Russia
would no longer sell gas to former satellite states such as Ukraine,
Georgia and Moldova at subsidised rates.

It has traditionally used subsidised fuel exports as a means of
keeping those states within its sphere of influence. However, the
Orange Revolution in Ukraine, which pushed it closer towards the EU
and Nato, prompted a rethink in the offices of Gazprom.

Russian relations with Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova have worsened
in the past two years as they have moved towards the EU and Nato,
and called for the withdrawal of Russian military forces.

"The era of Russia subsidising its neighbours has gone on too long,"
Mr Kuprianov said. "These countries' economies are now strong enough to
pay normal market prices. Why should we subsidise them, whether they
want to join Nato or not?" Gas prices for the more Russia-friendly
Belarus and Armenia were under discussion, he said.

Ukraine faces the steepest price increase, of 300 per cent. But both
Moldova and Georgia will have to pay at least double the present rates
for their Russian gas imports. This will particularly hurt Moldova,
which is one of the poorest countries in Europe.

The governments of these countries are convinced that the price rise is
an act of revenge. President Voronin of Moldova said: "We are ready to
live in the cold, to freeze without Russian gas, but we won't give in."

A European energy crisis could still be averted. Adam Landes, an
energy analyst at Renaissance Capital, said that a deal was still
possible. "The transit role that Ukraine plays is so vital to Europe
that I believe an eleventh-hour compromise will be reached."

Interrupting Russian gas supplies to Ukraine would be almost equally
disastrous for both the Russian and Ukrainian economies. Russia
depends on its substantial hard currency earnings from gas.

The dispute underlines the need for Russia to find alternate routes
for its imports to Western Europe, which are expected to grow by one
third in the next decade. It is about to begin construction of an
1,189km (739 mile) pipeline through the Baltic Sea to Germany.

TURNING UP THE HEAT

In 2003, nearly a quarter of the EU's gas consumption depended on
Russian imports This figure rises to 74 per cent for new member
states and 74 per cent for Ukraine and Belarus Lithuania, Latvia,
Estonia and Slovakia are completely dependent on Russian gas Russia
has the world's largest gas reserves and is the largest producer
and exporter of gas Gazprom is the largest gas producing company in
the world with a share in the world gas production of about 20 per
cent. It controls almost 60 per cent of the Russian gas reserves and
produces about 90 per cent of Russian gas The company is responsible
for 8 per cent of Russia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and supplies
gas to generate about 50 per cent of domestic electricity Source:
Gazprom, Centre for Eastern Studies.

**Hovik** · 11-30-2005, 05:55 PM

Russian Gas Monopoly To Hike Prices For Former Soviet Republics

RUSSIAN GAS MONOPOLY TO HIKE PRICES FOR FORMER SOVIET REPUBLICS
Alex Nicholson

AP Worldstream
Nov 29, 2005

Natural gas monopoly Gazprom announced Tuesday that it would raise the
cost of gas it supplies to former Soviet republics to near-European
prices as of next year, a move some countries have criticized as
politically motivated.

"Of course, when Germany bought gas for US$80 dollars (A68), US$50
dollars (A43) for gas to Ukraine seemed appropriate," deputy Gazprom
board chairman Alexander Ryazanov said in televised comments. "But when
the price rose to US$200 dollars (A171), then of course US$50 dollars
(A43) is a very small price and doesn't correspond to our real costs."

Russia _ whose role as the region's main energy provider gives it
considerable clout _ has hinted it is trying to devise a new model
for dealing with ex-Soviet republics following mass upheavals that
swept new pro-Western leaders into power in some countries.

Last week, Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli lamented Russia's
intention to raise gas prices from their current level of US$60 (A51)
per thousand cubic meters to US$110 (A94). "We understand that it is
a political decision," Nogaideli said.

Speaking at a conference organized by Gazprom, which supplies a
quarter of Europe's gas, Ryazanov said that rates for the Baltic
countries would rise to between US$120-25 (A102-107) per thousand
cubic meters. Georgia and Armenia would pay US$110 (A94) while Moldova
would see prices rise to US$150-160 (A128-137

Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine all have leaders that have worked to
distance their countries from Russia.

"This is not politics, it is economics," Ryazanov was quoted by the
ITAR-Tass agency as saying.

Separately, Ryazanov said that a long-awaited decision on the
consortium of foreign partners for Gazprom's Shtokman liquefied gas
project would be unveiled in March 2006. Located in the Barents sea,
the Shtokman field is thought to hold some 3 trillion cubic meters
of gas.

Valery Yazov, chairman of the lower house of parliament's Energy,
Transport and Communications committee said lawmakers planned to pass
amendments lifting restrictions on the ownership of Gazprom shares
by foreigners in their second and third readings on Dec. 9. Currently
foreigners are only allowed to hold the small amount of Gazprom shares
that trade at a premium on western markets.

"I hope that the new law will be on the president's desk by the end
of the year," Yazov was quoted by the Interfax agency as saying.

**Hovik** · 12-01-2005, 06:07 AM

Gazprom Embroiled In Price Dispute With Former Soviet States

GAZPROM EMBROILED IN PRICE DISPUTE WITH FORMER SOVIET STATES

Datamonitor NewsWire
November 30, 2005

A diplomatic row is brewing between Russian gas major Gazprom and
authorities in the neighboring former Soviet states that rely on
its gas imports. Ukranian officials are resisting Gazprom's efforts
to impose price increases in a spat that has already led to the
cancellation of a high-level diplomatic meeting between the two
countries.

Gazprom has threatened to raise imported gas prices further still
if Ukraine does not accept its current proposed price of $160 per
1,000 cubic meters, to be implemented from as soon as next year. This
represents almost a three fold increase on the current price.

Gazprom pays Ukraine in kind with a percentage volume of the gas it
ships thought the country en route to western Europe. Gazprom argues
that, as the international gas price has soared, so it is only right
that Ukraine be asked to pay more for its share.

The Russians have warned that, as a consequence of the impasse, export
supplies to western Europe could be disrupted. Gazprom currently
subsidizes supplies to former Soviet states but it is keen to end
this practice.

"Of course, when Germany bought gas for $80, $50 for gas to Ukraine
seemed appropriate," Gazprom's deputy chief executive Alexander
Ryazanov said in televised comments. "But when the price rose to $200,
then of course $50 is a very small price and doesn't correspond to
our real costs."

However some observers have suggested that the dispute - which also
involves a number of other countries including Lithuania, Armenia
and Moldova - is essentially political. Gazprom's actions are seen
by critics as a 'punishment' for the pro-western agendas that many
former Soviet bloc members have adopted over recent years.

Gazprom flatly denies the charge: "This is not politics, Gazprom isn't
under pressure from the government," Mr Ryazanov told reporters. "This
is simple economics."

**Hovik** · 12-01-2005, 06:18 AM

Russian Gas Dispute Puts European Supply At Risk

RUSSIAN GAS DISPUTE PUTS EUROPEAN SUPPLY AT RISK
by Julian Evans in Moscow and Roger Boyes in Berlin

The Times (London)
November 30, 2005, Wednesday

VITAL gas supplies to Western Europe are under threat because of an
acrimonious dispute between Russia and Ukraine over that country's
recent embrace of the European Union and Nato.

The row is focusing attention on the West's growing dependence on
Russian gas, and raising fears that the Kremlin has started to use its
status as a leading energy producer as an instrument of foreign policy.

Russia wants to triple the price of the gas it sells to Ukraine,
starting from January 1, in part because the country has shifted its
allegiance to the West.

Ukraine is resisting. If the two fail to resolve their dispute in the
next month, Ukraine could halt the flow of Russian gas to Western
Europe, nearly 80 per cent of which goes through a pipeline that
crosses the country. Both nations openly acknowledge the threat to
Western Europe's supplies.

A spokesman for Naftogaz Ukraine, the state energy company, said that
Russia would have to carry the blame for any delay in gas supplies
to Western Europe.

Sergei Kuprianov, a director at Gazprom, the main Russian gas producer,
countered: "Ukraine is blackmailing us by using the issue of European
gas supplies...The security of these European supplies is a matter
of the highest importance for us, and should not be used for haggling."

A break in gas supplies from Russia could have a devastating effect
on Western Europe.

Russia, which is the world's largest natural gas producer, supplies
roughly a quarter of the EU's gas. It is the sole gas supplier to
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia. It also supplies about 80
per cent of the gas to Hungary and Poland and more than 70 per cent to
the Czech Republic. That gives Moscow considerable muscle in countries
that once belonged to its sphere of influence.

But Russia has also been making increasing inroads into traditional
Western markets: about 40 per cent of German gas and 25 per cent of
French gas comes from the Siberian gasfields.

Britain is less dependent than most EU states, but is nonetheless
due to double its purchases of Russian gas from five billion cubic
metres next year to ten billion in 2010. The dispute between Ukraine
and Russia erupted this month when the Kremlin announced that Russia
would no longer sell gas to former satellite states such as Ukraine,
Georgia and Moldova at subsidised rates.

It has traditionally used subsidised fuel exports as a means of
keeping those states within its sphere of influence. However, the
Orange Revolution in Ukraine, which pushed it closer towards the EU
and Nato, prompted a rethink in the offices of Gazprom.

Russian relations with Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova have worsened
in the past two years as they have moved towards the EU and Nato,
and called for the withdrawal of Russian military forces.

"The era of Russia subsidising its neighbours has gone on too long,"
Mr Kuprianov said. "These countries' economies are now strong enough to
pay normal market prices. Why should we subsidise them, whether they
want to join Nato or not?" Gas prices for the more Russia-friendly
Belarus and Armenia were under discussion, he said.

Ukraine faces the steepest price increase, of 300 per cent. But both
Moldova and Georgia will have to pay at least double the present rates
for their Russian gas imports. This will particularly hurt Moldova,
which is one of the poorest countries in Europe.

The governments of these countries are convinced that the price rise is
an act of revenge. President Voronin of Moldova said: "We are ready to
live in the cold, to freeze without Russian gas, but we won't give in."

A European energy crisis could still be averted. Adam Landes, an
energy analyst at Renaissance Capital, said that a deal was still
possible. "The transit role that Ukraine plays is so vital to Europe
that I believe an eleventh-hour compromise will be reached."

Interrupting Russian gas supplies to Ukraine would be almost equally
disastrous for both the Russian and Ukrainian economies. Russia
depends on its substantial hard currency earnings from gas.

The dispute underlines the need for Russia to find alternate routes
for its imports to Western Europe, which are expected to grow by one
third in the next decade. It is about to begin construction of an
1,189km (739 mile) pipeline through the Baltic Sea to Germany.

TURNING UP THE HEAT:

* In 2003 nearly a quarter of the EU's gas consumption depended on
Russian imports

* This figure rises to 74 per cent for new member states and 74 per
cent for Ukraine and Belarus

* Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Slovakia are completely dependent
on Russian gas Russia has the world's largest gas reserves and is
the largest producer and exporter of gas

* Gazprom is the largest gas -producing company in the world with a
share in the world gas production of about 20 per cent. It controls
almost 60 per cent of the Russian gas reserves and produces about 90
per cent of Russian gas

* The company is responsible for 8 per cent of Russia's gross domestic
product (GDP) and supplies gas to generate about 50 per cent of
domestic electricity

* Source: Gazprom, Centre for Eastern Studies

**Hovik** · 12-01-2005, 06:29 AM

No Official Word On Russian Gas Price Hike - Armenian Gas Company

NO OFFICIAL WORD ON RUSSIAN GAS PRICE HIKE - ARMENIAN GAS COMPANY

RIA Novosti, Russia
Dec. 1, 2005

YEREVAN, December 1 (RIA Novosti, Gamlet Matevosyan) - The Armenian
Gas Company (ArmRosGazprom) has not received any official information
on the increase of prices for Russian natural gas supplies to the
republic, the company's press secretary said Thursday.

Shushan Sardaryan spoke in reference to a statement by Gazprom Deputy
Board Chairman Alexander Ryazanov that the Russian gas monopoly would
start supplying natural gas to Armenia from 2006 at a new rate of
$110 per 1,000 cu m. Currently Armenia pays $56 per 1,000 cu m.

Speaking at the Russian Gas 2005 investment forum Tuesday, Ryazanov
said that beginning next year the gas price would be $110 per 1,000
cu m for Armenia and Georgia and the price hike would also extend to
Baltic countries, Moldova and Ukraine.

Gazprom has been selling natural gas to former Soviet republics at
prices below market rates since 1991.

ArmRosGazprom has the monopoly on supplying and distributing natural
gas on the Armenian market. The Armenian Ministry of Energy holds
a 45% stake in the company, Gazprom - 45%, and Russian oil and gas
company Itera - 10%.

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