Pashinyan: Armenia prioritizes gas price generation policies for EAEU member states

Armenia, as a member state of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), attaches a major significance to the establishment of uniform natural gas tariffs across the entire bloc, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said today, addressing the participants of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Yerevan.

In his speech at the meeting, held in an extended format, the chief of Armenia's cabinet also highlighted the country's membership in the EAEU as an important foreign policy trend. He said it is an honor for Armenia to assume the presidency of the Union to host the official representatives of the participating states for the high-level event.

''Membership in the EAEU is a priority trend for our government, as we strive to ensure Armenia's maximum effectiveness,'' he told the participants.

Pashinyan also underlined his government's achievements over the past period. ''We have managed to attain tangible results in the fight against corruption over the past year, reducing the activity of  artificial monopolies - and oligopoly - to a minimum. Nobody today can resort to manipulations to realize political objectives,'' he said, emphasizing the healing effect of their reforms also on the public sentiments.  

Pashinyan said his government has also embarked on optimizations in the public sector "to raise the efficiency of daily work." In his words, all the proposed steps aim to make the country's investment climate attractive to foreign partners and investors.  

He also promised a higher transparency of the government's work as a result of the initiated activities. ''All this is taking place against the backdrop of creating more democratic institutions in the country, as well developing civil society and [offering] other freedoms. Our government enjoys an unconditional legitimacy and support by the society, obliging – and at the same time inspiring – us to undertake bold steps towards ensuring the country's development,'' he added.  

The premier agreed that the creation of a single market for natural gas, as well as oil and oil products is among the priorities of the Union. ''We attach importance to boosting this process aimed at a very delicate issue, i.e. – the generation of gas prices in the EAEU states,'' he added.