NewKerala.com, India
April 8 2006

Armenia swaps pipeline for cheaper gas

YEREVAN, Armenia: Armenia agreed to surrender a small but crucial
section of a natural gas pipeline to Russia in exchange for
discounted imports of natural gas.

The discounts, which will last until 2009, come in exchange for
letting OAO Gazprom buy a 24-mile stretch of a gas pipeline
connecting Armenia and Iran, the New York Times reported Friday.

Gazprom also was granted a concession to build a larger second
pipeline along the 24-mile route.