President Vladimir Putin: You will soon see the President of Armenia in Russia again, in January.
Question: What will happen then?
Vladimir Putin: In January the Year of Armenia in Russia opens and the President is coming to participate in the events. It will take place in the second half of January.
Question: During the talks you certainly discussed issues regarding energy deliveries…
Vladimir Putin: We discussed all issues. There are economic actors who will continue negotiations. There are agreements, contracts, papers… The negotiating process is working and will continue.
Question: How was the Year of Russia in Armenia?
Robert Kocharian: Very good! Actually, everything was interesting.
Question: And what exactly?
Robert Kocharian: With respect to cultural relations, it was certainly the tours of the Bolshoi Theatre and of several other theatres. In general, everything was very dynamic. The most memorable thing is that several investment projects were realized. I expect that these investments will take place. This will have important effects throughout the whole economy.
Question: Did you discuss issues with respect to the future of the CIS?
Vladimir Putin: No, we did not discuss them. We basically concentrated on our bilateral relations.
Question: Does the future of CIS depend on deliveries of Russian gas to CIS member states?
Vladimir Putin: I think it does depend on this, but it does not depend on prices. Prices must be market ones.
Question: Did you discuss prices?
Vladimir Putin: These issues are discussed by economic actors. They trade amongst themselves. We are not involved in trade. Russian-Armenian relations are made up of far more than simply energy projects and cooperation. We have political, military and technical relations, as well as relations in the cultural and educational spheres that the President just spoke about. We have a great many ties. In addition to energy there are also many directions and prospects in the sphere of the economy. We talked about all the issues that are important to us.
Question: And did you discuss the orange, tulip or other revolutions which have taken place around us?
Vladimir Putin: No, we did not discuss them. It was not so interesting to us.
Robert Kocharian: This theme has become outdated.
Vladimir Putin: Do you know what a revolution is? You must have read the theory of revolution—when the upper class cannot, and the lower class does not want. We are not in such a situation.
Question: Did you discuss the question of drug trafficking? Is it possible to do something about drug trafficking?
Vladimir Putin: We did not discuss this question today, but of course it is being looked at by our special services. They cooperate and we are satisfied with their level of cooperation.
Question: I understand that Presidents do not discuss the issue of prices but, in general, is the transition to market prices necessary? What did you arrive at?
Vladimir Putin: We arrived at the fact that our economic actors will continue negotiating. And we arrived at the fact that our cooperation in this sector should be equitable and correspond with the spirit of our state relations.
Question: Will market prices apply only to gas, or to something else as well?
Vladimir Putin: It worries you so much, as if you yourself were going to buy at market price… You are not going to buy at market price. Our prices within Russia are much below market prices. The spot price in Great Britain is 1000 USD per 1000 cubic metres and we are going to sell to European consumers in the first quarter of next year at 255 USD. In Russia, prices are much lower and do not have anything in common with this.
Question: Let me explain why it worries me. When talks with the Ukraine on market prices began, Ukrainians said that they were going to reconsider agreements with respect to the Black Sea Fleet. They can allow American inspectors into the tracking stations which cover all of Europe and the western direction. There is also the question of Crimea.
Vladimir Putin: I think that we should ask our Ukrainian partners these questions. I think that normal people in Ukraine perfectly understand that regarding the Crimea, no problem shall arise between Russia and Ukraine in the foreseeable future. I will not list all the problems here. Any thinking person can understand the nature of these problems. Russia will act as an ally and will help Ukrainians solve these problems. But the fleet is a separate matter, one that is not linked to gas. I just talked to Viktor Andreevich Yushchenko. We finished our conversation just now. We agreed that we shall not politicize the issue in any way. Business and energy is one issue, and all the others are separate. It is not necessary to mix everything in one basket and make these complicated energy questions even more difficult. And the President of Ukraine is absolutely right –these questions cannot be politicized. I completely agree with Viktor Andreevich.
Question: Vladimir Vladimirovich, will prices rise across the CIS according to schedule?
Vladimir Putin: There is a market and we recognize that conditions should be identical for all. When I say that we are not going to politicize this issue, I mean that our partners should be treated equally and I am referring to Russia's partners. Not inside of Russia, not consumers, but Russia's foreign partners. This is exactly what depoliticization should be.