There is no doubt that construction of a new NPP in Armenia will have not only economic but political significance, director of Armenian Center for national and strategic studies Stepan Safarian announced.
"Taking into account exclusive importance of Armenian NPP, naturally, that country, which will finance the construction of the new NPP, will extent its influence in Armenia. In 2003 Russia not accidentally achieved the right of financial management over Armenian NPP".
Meantime, according to Safarian, the West is ready to aid in constructing the new NPP and tries to use this issue for decreasing influence of Russia in Armenia.
"On the whole, the decision of what country will finance construction of the new NPP will depend on presidential election results in Armenia, i.e. the country, which will provide the replacement of existing authority", - Safarian added.
The leader of opposition party called Fatherland and Honor told that today Armenia doesn't "hasten" to find investors, since nuclear power produces more one third of generated power and it can become one of the deciding factor of influence in Armenia. He also reminded that at present Russia has more 80% of power facilities in Armenia and "this fact should be taken into account".
However, the political observer of news agency "Noyan Topan" David Petrosyan thinks that "aggressive policy of Russia in the sphere of power engineering in Armenia didn't lead to desirable results yet. Although there is a control over the largest part of Armenian power engineering, but the real economic connections between Armenia and Russia are still weak".
Petrosyan announced: "Yerevan takes promises and programs of Russian state companies with a grain of salt. They remember well that when signing contract "Property - in exchange for debt" 6 years ago, there were also promises, assurances of friendship and large investments. But no of them have been fulfilled. No investments have been made in enterprises transferred to Russia in exchange for debt".
Note that USA is ready to help Armenian in replacing Armenian NPP by new one. Temporary Charge d'affaires of USA Embassy in Armenia, Antony Godfrey declared that USA together with Ministry of Energy of Armenia is developing the best solution for construction of the new NPP.
The Russian government and companies also express their readiness to help in construction of the new NPP in Armenia.
SOURCE: AtomInfo.Ru
DATE: July 26, 2007