RUSSIA’S STAKE IN IRAN-ARMENIA PIPELINE YET TO BE STUDIED: ARMENIAN PM

Mehr News Agency, Iran
Nov 13 2006

TEHRAN, Nov. 13 (MNA) – Armenia has not studied offering of any
sector of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline project to Russia yet,
Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan announced.

Construction of 40 km of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline by the Russian
side has not been discussed yet, Margaryan added.

"We are not talking about selling the pipeline to Russia. We are
only discussing the possibility of Russia’s preliminary investment
in the project," the Persian service of ISNA quoted Margaryan as
saying on Monday. "Everything will become clear when the project
comes on stream."

In late June 2006 Deputy Chair of Gazprom Board Alexander Ryazanov
had noted that the company was going to buy the Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline. According to him, the putting into operation of the gas
pipeline would secure gas supplies to Armenia.

Referring to the recent comments on the increase in the prices of
Russia’s gas to Armenia, the Transcaucasian nation’s prime minister
pointed out that his country had not been officially informed of the
issue yet. Therefore, it would be better for the media not to mention
it before it was approved by the relevant commissions.

The Armenian official has referred to the agreement on the pipeline
construction as a priority for the West Asian nation. Based on earlier
planning, the pumping of Iranian gas to Armenia via the pipeline is
expected to begin by the end of the year.