Armenian rep in Azerbaijan “to lay foundation” for energy cooperation

Space TV, Baku
13 Nov 04

[Presenter] Armenia has already approached Azerbaijan to cooperate
in the energy sector, Levon Vartanyan, chief of department at the
Armenian Energy Ministry, has said in Baku.

[Correspondent, over Vartanyan’s video] Levon Vartanyan has said
that Armenia is always ready for cooperation with Azerbaijan in the
energy sector and this issue is being debated at the government level
in Armenia.

[Vartanyan, shown speaking in Russian with Azeri voice-over] At present
we are ready [for cooperation]. We know that the Naxcivan Autonomous
Republic has certain problems with the supply of electricity. We are
ready for cooperation with the Azerbaijani Republic on this issue. We
would like the restoration of relations that had once existed.

[Correspondent] A quote from Vartanyan: The current political situation
between our countries is unstable. However, this situation may change
at any moment. Therefore, power engineers should maintain cooperation,
whereas politicians should tackle problems, Levon Vartanyan said. Asked
about the proposals in his portfolio, Vartanyan said that he was in
Baku to lay the foundation for future cooperation. Let us first lay
the foundation for cooperation and then discuss specific proposals,
he said.

The Armenian representative said that they would like to supply
Naxcivan with Armenian electricity on a barter basis, on the basis
of contracts for the sale and purchase.

Sulhiya Sirinova, Fuad Atakisiyev for Space.