[sergey1973]

"Soviet Union people was even poorer. Then Stalin decided istead of killing by hunger those polish POWS it is mrcier to shoot them. "

RusIvan, I'm sorry but you are telling a complete nonsense. Stalin Famines (like that In Ukraine and SOuthern Russia in 1932-1933) were artificially planned. Seizure of grain and livestock from farmers (so called "kulaks"), forced collectivization and other things is not the same as epidemy because of poor living antisanitary conditions.

[RusIvan]

It was sarcasm on Lucasz's logic. Read our before posts.

[Lukasz]

One more thing about energetic issues, that story below is great example how Russia/Gazprom keeping its sphere of influence even if it is about allied government of Armenia.

Armenian opposition politician critical of ties with Russia

Yerevan, 27 June: "The much-talked about exclusive benefits from the strategic partnership between Russia and Armenia are nothing but speculation," the leader of the Liberal Progressive Party, Ovanes Ovanesyan, has said in an interview with Arminfo news agency.

"Armenia now buys gas from Russia at a cost of 73 dollars per 1,000 cu.m. The agreement on constructing a gas pipeline between Armenia and Iran is humiliating for Armenia because due to the pipe's narrow diameter only the Razdan thermal power station handed over to the Russian Federation will receive the gas. This will perpetuate Gazprom's [Russian state gas company] monopoly in Armenia. In two or three years the Armenian nuclear power station which works on Russian uranium will pose a serious threat to all life in Armenia. As a result, Armenia will become quite vulnerable in terms of its energy independence," Ovanesyan said. In his opinion, talks on building a gas pipeline from Iran to Ukraine through Georgia will further strengthen Armenia's isolation.

At the same time, Ovanesyan spoke highly of the European Union's programmes of creating alternative sources of energy in Armenia. He regards the Japanese credit allocated for upgrading the Yerevan thermal power station as the first step towards safer energy sources.

Incidentally, ArRosGazprom has been purchasing the gas at 54 dollars per 1,000 cu.m. since 2002, but selling it to consumers at 73 dollars per 1,000 cu.m. The world price of natural gas is 160 dollars per 1,000 cu.m.