VARTAN OSKANIAN: NAGORNO KARABAKH ISSUE NOT A SUBJECT FOR BARGAINING

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.02.2007 19:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "If the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is settled it
will significantly lighten our task in the issue of gas usage, which
will pass through the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline in future. But
we shall never agree with those approaches of conflict solution,
which we would never agree in other circumstances," stated Armenian
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian in the National Assembly February 7
responding to the question of parliamentarians to comment on his own
statement concerning Armenia’s possible participation in construction
works of a gas pipeline under the Caspian sea in the conditions of
unsettled Nagorno Karabakh conflict, as well as taking into account
the fact that Baku’s stance in this project is priority driven.

In Oskanian’s words, diversification of energy resources is one
of the priorities for Armenia, in regard with that the Armenian
authorities will use all possible ways to reach this goal. "Today
Armenia imports Russian gas, in near future-Iranian gas and in further
future also gas, which will pas through the Trans-Caspian gas-main,"
the minister stressed. He disagreed with opinions that Azerbaijan’s
role in Trans-Caspian project is priority driven stressing that
this very pipeline supposes not only transporting Azeri gas, but
also gas from Central Asia and, thanks to bilateral and multilateral
agreements, the Armenian side, most probably, can use this gas. "If
we touch upon this issue today, we will reach expected results,"
thinks the minister. Commenting on parliamentarians’ question if
this issue has been discussed in the context of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict solution and the Armenian side has made some concessions, he
underlined the Nagorno Karabakh issue is not a subject for bargaining,
IA Regnum reports.