Gazprom OJSC has received the right for sole gas supplies to Armenia until 2043, opposition MP Alexander Arzumanyan said during the Dec 17 parliamentary hearings.
He said that this provision was stipulated in the Armenian-Russian agreement on the order of natural gas price formation, which was signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to the republic in early December 2013. "You have signed an agreement on capitulation of Armenia, which has no right to buy gas from anyone else within the next 30 years. What if we improve relations with Azerbaijan?" he said.
For his part, Armenian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, said that the long-term agreement is aimed at ensuring steady gas supply. He added that this is not an oppressive contract and Gazprom cannot forbid Armenia to negotiate with other suppliers. "Moreover, in early 2014 Armenia will continue the negotiations with Iran over the gas prices. I have repeatedly discussed the Iranian gas price at the highest level, however, Iran's interregional price is no lower than $400 per 1,000 cu m, whereas from Russia we buy the gas for $189", he said.