ArmInfo. A pipeline poses no threat to sovereignty. Armenia and Belarus are the direct evidence of it, Konstantin Simonov, Director General of the Russia-based National
Energy Security Fund, said at today's roundtable "Eurasian Path of Transcaucasia: Integration for Development" in Yerevan on Feb 25.
"It is no secret that the gas transmission systems of these two allies of Russia are in the possession of Gazprom OJSC. However, we see no political consequences or threats to the sovereignty of our allies," he stressed.
The Russian expert pointed out that Ukraine took a different view by qualifying Russia's intention to acquire the gas transmission systems of Ukraine as an aspiration to destroy the sovereignty. Moreover, Kyiv evaded joining the EEU and signed an Association Agreement with the European Union, thereby embarking on a dead-end road.
Simonov said that this political decision has resulted in the current really dramatic situation in the Ukrainian economy and the annual drop of the industrial output makes up 20-30%. He stressed that Ukraine's expectations from accessing new sales market were not justified. No one in Europe waited for the Ukrainian goods or Ukraine.
"Georgia - Armenia's neighbor - is experiencing similar results. It also signed the AA/DCFTA with Brussels, but I see no particular signs of growth of Georgian economy or Georgia's presence on the European market," Simonov said.