We must pay also for the plants and pictures of “GazProm Armenia” (video)
During the discussion of the report of the Temporary Gas Commission at the NA, the lawmaker of Armenian National Congress (HAK) Nikol Pashinyan noted that different plants and pictures are listed in the document, the cost of which is included in the consumers’ tariffs, “The problem is not that a company cannot buy a picture or a plant, the problem is that the company wants the painting of Van Gogh or Picasso hung on the walls of corridor. It doesn’t mean that a consumer must pay for it. Or, for example, they want to buy decorative plants, which are very expensive, it doesn’t mean that a consumer must pay for it.” He reminded the Head of the Commission Vardan Ayvazyan that he noted in the interim report in 2014 that the increase of 1000 employees of “GazProm Armenia” and salary hike of 109 thousands AMD must have been clarified, “Now you say that it is their business to give as high wage as they want, so why did you write that it must have been justified. It is clearly noted in the report, that the production cost price of Iranian gas is one of the lowest in the world and the price of which is 16-17 percent lower than the production cost price of Russian gas. It is a reference from your commission’s report. So why do we buy gas from the RF, why don’t we buy gas from Iran for domestic consumption?” The lawmaker also got such an impression from the report that no one can guarantee that gas meters calculate the volume of gas supplied to people correctly, “Mr. Ayvazyan, you have also partially accepted that you don’t know how much calories of gas are supplied to our houses. It may be lower than the limit, but we don’t have a mechanism for control.” Vardan Ayvazyan announced that the prices of those pictures and plants aren’t included in the tariff as they have studied in detail. As to the increase of the number of employees, he assures that it is conditioned by the added new gas supply. As to the Iranian gas, Mr. Ayvazyan noted that Iran has never suggested a price lower than 179 US dollars to Armenia for gas, “And the RF, except the EEU member countries, charges export customs duties for supplying gas to other countries.” As to calories, Vardan Ayvazyan agreed with Nikol Pashinyan. He noted that the commission had suggested creating a relevant system. At present, he says that several companies check the calories of gas and this sphere must be liberalized. Nikol Pashinyan opposed him by reading paragraphs from the report, where it is clearly noted that the expenses for plants and pictures are included in the tariff, “You have written that it includes, but you answer that it doesn’t include. As to losses, you have written, that in Georgia the losses are limited to 0.8 percent. I don’t understand, haven’t you read the report of your commission?” “I have not only read, but also reviewed it for several times,” answered Vardan Ayvazyan. Nikol Pashinyan and Hrant Bagratyan started discussing and expressing views loudly and without microphones. Vardan Ayvazyan was listening to them silently. The NA Vice President Eduard Sharmazanov suggested listening to the main speaker, “You will voice your concerns during speeches, Mr. Ayvazyan will touch upon in his final speech.” Then Mr. Ayvazyan assured that there wasn’t any serious problem, “Now do you believe me or the document?” Everybody started laughing.
