Gas pipeline from Iran to Armenia dominates Georgian PM’s talks

Gas pipeline from Iran to Armenia dominates Georgian PM’s talks

Payvand’s Iran
3/12/05

Yerevan, March 12, Itar-Tass/ACSNA/IRNA — A gas pipeline from Iran to
Armenia was among the topics that topped the agenda of talks Georgian
Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli and authorities in Yerevan on Friday
and Saturday.

“We want the gas pipeline from Iran to Armenia that is under
construction to be used in the future for gas imports to Georgia,”
Nogaideli said on Saturday, summing up the results of his visit
to Yerevan.

“This project will benefit Armenia, and if today Georgia is a transit
country for Armenia, Armenia will then become a transit country for
Georgia,” he said.

Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan said, “The Georgian
side raised the question of Armenia becoming a transit route for
the transportation of gas from Iran to Georgia and Ukraine through
Armenia.”

Currently Armenia receives natural gas from Russia through Georgia and
regards the gas pipeline from Iran as an alternative way to strengthen
its energy security.

The head of the Russian-Armenian joint venture ArmRosgazprom, Karen
Karapetyan, said earlier that the gas pipeline from Iran would be
used exclusively for the internal needs of Armenia and not for transit.