Purchase of gas from Azerbaijan is in the interests of Armenia -  Babken Tunyan

ArmInfo.Yerevan should consider the possibility of purchasing gas from Baku, without excluding alternative supply routes. Babken Tunyan, Deputy Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Economic Issues and MP of the ruling Civil Contract faction, made this statement in an interview with journalists on September 25, commenting on Yerevan's readiness to buy gas from Baku and the potential risk of becoming dependent on  unfriendly Azerbaijan.

Recall that on September 18, at the World Armenian Summit in Yerevan,  Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced the possibility of  importing or transiting gas from Azerbaijan. "We import gas from  Russia, we import gas from Iran. Some time ago, statements were made  from Azerbaijan suggesting that if peace is achieved, Armenia could  also import gas from Azerbaijan. If we consider the possibility of a  gas pipeline passing through Armenia's territory, for instance, to  Nakhichevan or Turkey, then this option cannot be ruled out," he  said.

"Dependence only arises when purchasing energy resources from a  single source.  Buying these resources from any alternative source  not only does not increase dependence, but actually reduces it, "  Tunyan said.  According to the deputy of ruling faction, if trade  relations are established with Baku, and Armenia has a need for fast,  cheap and high-quality supplies, Yerevan should consider this  opportunity  based on the country's interests. " At the same time, it  is always necessary to adhere to the policy of diversification," he  added.

As for the prospect of purchasing gas from Iran in large volumes,  Tunyan  is ready to discuss this issue with the so-called experts who  confidently declare such a possibility. "They will tell me about the  possibilities, I will tell you about the limitations. Perhaps they  know some magical ways of large deliveries from Iran that we do not  know about," he pointed out.