Iran-Armenia gas pipeline no threat to Russia

Mediamax news agency
14 May 04

Yerevan, 14 May: The Iran-Armenia gas pipeline project does not cause
any anxiety in Russia.

A Mediamax correspondent reports from Moscow that this statement was
made by the chairman of the board of the Russian company Gazprom,
Aleksey Miller, during his meeting with Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan yesterday.

For his part, the general director of Armrosgazprom [Armenian-Russian
gas company], Karen Karapetyan, said that Armenian consumers would
continue using Russian gas even after the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline is
put into service. Karen Karapetyan explained that Iranian gas would be
used in the production of electricity which will be sent back to Iran.

Aleksey Miller said he had discussed the possibility of increasing gas
supplies to Armenia with the Armenian president. The head of Gazprom
added that the possible increase in the volume of supplies would not
affect the price of gas.

Aleksey Miller and Robert Kocharyan also looked into the prospects
for expanding the capacity of a subterranean gas storage facility in
Abovyan and issues related to the development of the gas transport
system in the region.