ARMENIA SEEKING DIVERSIFICATION OF ENERGY SUPPLIES – FOREIGN MINISTER
Mediamax news agency, Armenia
Jan 9 2007
Yerevan, 9 January: "We are at talks and try to be involved in the
processes connected with the construction of the Trans-Caspian gas
pipeline project," Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said in
Yerevan today.
Responding to a Mediamax question today, the minister said that
Armenia’s connection to the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline will become
the second step in diversification of sources for gas supplies to
the republic.
The first step, Vardan Oskanyan noted, was the Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline which will be operational in the first quarter of 2007. The
Armenian foreign minister expressed an opinion that the Iranian side
will "understand" the possible decision of the Armenian government
to hand over the 40 km section of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline to
the management of the ArmRosGazprom which already owns the whole gas
distribution network of the republic.
Vardan Oskanyan described issues of energy security and "competition
of various forces in the issues of establishing control over the
sources of energy and pipelines" among other main international events
influencing Armenia’s foreign policy in 2006.