21/05/2013 11:28
168 Hours: Prime minister divulges reason for gas price increase
“168 Hours” discusses yesterday‘s statement of Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan to the effect that Russia imposes a 30% export tax on gas supplied to Armenia – unlike Belarus.
“So Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan admits that Russia raises the tariff of natural gas supplied to Armenia because of the refusal to join EurAsEC customs union because if Armenia – like Belarus – were a member of the Customs Union, then it would be exempt from a 30% export tax,” the paper writes, adding that it is noteworthy that the Armenian government announced that it will subsidize the gas price by 30%. “This sum will probably be provided by international donor organization ready to pay for the possible losses of Armenia in case of the country’s refusal to join the Customs Union,” “168 Hours” notes.