AMBASSADOR SAYS US AGAINST GEORGIAN PARTNERSHIP WITH IRAN
By Keti Sikharulidze

The Messenger, Georgia
Nov 28 2006

Tefft says "long term" partnership with Iran "unacceptable"

Georgia’s interest in a long term relationship with Iran to receive
natural gas seems to be unacceptable for the United States.

Speaking with the Georgian weekly newspaper Kviris Palitra over
the weekend, US Ambassador John Tefft said that Georgia’s long term
relationship with Iran was a problem for the US.

Kviris Palitra quoted Mr. Tefft as saying "Last year, Georgia had no
choice after the explosion of the main gas pipeline to import gas from
Iran. It was an emergency situation and the United States understood
the situation, though Georgia’s long term partnership with Iran is
unacceptable for us."

Speaking with the paper, the US diplomat noted that the US’s position
was based on the UN Security Council resolution on Iran and the
latter’s nuclear enrichment program.

However, the Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli stated on Monday, he
sees no problem in signing a long term agreement with Iran.

"It is natural that we will have relations in the energy sector
with Iran, moreover, we will exchange our electricity with Iran,"
stated Noghaideli.

Tefft’s statement seems to contradict an earlier one by US Deputy
Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs,
Matthew Bryza, who while visiting Georgia on November 17 noted that
while the US was pursuing their policy towards Iran, they did not
want Georgia or Armenia or any other country to be in a situation
where it does not have energy for the winter.

"If Georgia, under such pressure [to pay high gas prices to Russian
Gazprom], feels it has to look elsewhere for gas, looking first
and foremost to Azerbaijan as a supplier, we understand that. If
Azerbaijan is contracting the gas from a variety of suppliers be it
Russia, Iran or Azerbaijan it is a separate issue," stated Bryza.

However commenting on Bryza’s statement to Kviris Palitra, Tefft
claimed that Bryza’s statement was misinterpreted.

Tefft’s statement became one of the leading issues at the parliament
bureau session. One of the leaders of the opposition Democratic Front
faction, Zviad Dzidziguri, demanded a parliamentary hearing on this
issue, however, the bureau did not approve Dzidziguri’s request.

"We are in a very difficult situation. The president is against buying
gas from Gazprom for USD 230, and if our strategic partner [the US] is
against purchasing gas from Iran, what is the alternative? Shah Deniz
gas is hardly enough for Turkey and Azerbaijan," stated Dzidziguri.

Speaking with journalists, ruling party member Nika Gvaramia said
Georgia would consider everybody’s advice, though the decision will
be made solely by the Georgian government.

"The main task is to help our population get through the winter and
I think our government will succeed. I think our decisions will be
justified in political arena," said Gvaramia.

Meanwhile Gazprom announced they will increase the price to Europe
reports Russian newspaper Vedomosti. According to the paper, 1000
cubic metres of natural gas to Europe will cost USD 293 for 2007.

"Gazprom plans to export 157 billion cubic metres of natural gas to
Europe in the coming year, which is 20 percent more than in 2006,"
reports the paper.

Gazprom also increased the price of gas for Russian ally Belarus to
USD 200 per 1000 cubic metres.