Former PM: Armenia to end up in catastrophic situation if it refuses Russian gas

Former Armenian Prime Minister Hrant Bagratyan has said Armenia’s refusal of Russian gas will have catastrophic consequences for it.

"We can get a maximum of 1 billion cubic metres through the Iranian gas pipeline. Therefore, the refusal of Russian gas will have catastrophic consequences for Armenia,” he said in an interview with Armenian media, Caliber.Az reports.

"Iranian gas can be an alternative to Russian gas, but only if we expand the pipeline. There is a lot of gas in Iran, but it is very difficult to extract gas from the Iranian gas system, it is not collected in one place. Firstly, it is expensive, besides, for various reasons Iran cannot supply its outermost regions with gas.

“As for Upper Lars, it was closed today [on December 1] by political decision. Russia warns. Next, control will be established over the money coming from there. Then Russia will gradually raise the price of gas.”

Bagratyan noted that $165 is a ridiculous price when Russia asks $600-700 for its gas: “Russia owns 52 per cent of the world's gas reserves. Imagine that. It will also be very disastrous if one day Russia decides not to supply nuclear fuel to Armenia. Fans will switch off again, dark and cold years will return.”

“You know, the world is bipolar: the US, China. Even Russia is not a pole. These two poles divide Ukraine. How stupid do you have to be to be in the centre of a clash between China, Russia, Iran and the West? They don't realise that this conflict will bring great destruction to Armenia. They do not learn lessons, they want to repeat the Ukraine scenario," Bagratyan said.