Lukashenko-Putin Meeting is Very Important for Armenia: 'Hraparak'

The newspaper 'Hraparak' reports: 'The meeting between Lukashenko and Putin, taking place today in Moscow (including in an expanded format), is very important for Armenia in terms of gas prices and the CSTO Secretary General's position.

'The situation is not straightforward. Regardless of the fact that Belarus has received support from other CSTO member states, even to the point of signing under Belarusian candidacy, Russia has thrown Belarus against the unfulfilled Union State agreement signed in 1999, and is directly telling them that if you want the CSTO Secretary position, a reduction in gas prices, and a $10 billion loan, you must comply with the agreement's provisions, such as aligning your currency and passports with Russia, which Lukashenko is understandably against. Tensions are present, and much will depend on today’s meeting, including the outcomes of the Pashinyan-Putin meeting a day later.'

Sources close to the government assert that the agreement with Russia is moving towards maintaining the current gas price.