USA LEAVES GEORGIA TO DEPEND ON RUSSIAN GAS
By Aghavni Harutyunian

AZG Armenian Daily
29/11/2006

The strategic cooperation between Iran and Georgia around the
gas supply issues is not acceptable for Washington. John Tefft,
US Ambassador to Georgia, said this in the interview to "Kviris
Palitra" Georgian newspaper. According to him, already on November
17, the statement made by Matthew Bryza, US Co-Chair of the OSCE
Minsk group, was misinterpreted. In particular, Bryza said that "The
relations between USA and Georgia are so strong that such an issue
(meaning the Iranian gas supply issue)m may have no negative impact on
these relations. USA welcomes the efforts taken by Georgia to secure
diversity in its energy market."

According to Mr. Ambassador, the USA realized that last winter as
a result of the explosion on the gas pipeline, Georgia was left
without gas and the population of the country faced the danger of
being frozen. At the same time, he added that "long term strategic
cooperation between Georgia and Iran is not acceptable for USA. On one
hand, this position is conditioned by the UN formula, on the other
hand by Iran’s activities directed to creation of nuclear weapon,
the US Ambassador to Georgia, stated.