GEORGIA EYES IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE ý

PRESS TV, Iran
April 13 2007

The recently launched Iran-Armenia gas pipeline has drawn the interest
of Georgia to explore the possibilities of joining in on the plan.

Immediately after the pipeline was inaugurated in March, the Georgian
President Mikheil Saakashvili made a "private" trip to Armenia
described by governmental sources as "only for skiing".

Saakashvili’s trip included discussions with Armenian President Robert
Kocharian, in which the foreign ministers of the two countries were
also later involved.

Armenian media sources have speculated that the transfer of Iranian
gas from Armenia to Georgia was a very likely topic on the agenda.

Although no statement was issued on the nature of talks, Armenian
political analysts have rejected the notion that the trip was merely
for "relaxation", according to Armenia Now Online weekly’s website.

"Rather, they link Saakashvili’s visit, at least indirectly, to the
opening of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline."

The remarks by Shavarsh Kocharian who heads the National Democratic
Party at the Armenian Parliament further testify that the pipeline
must have been a main topic of talks.

"If the two countries’ leaders met, it is impossible that such a
serious issue as the gas pipeline should not have been touched upon,"
Shavarsh has said.

Further, economist Eduard Aghajanov emphasizes that Georgia’s desire to
reduce its dependence on Russia for gas supplies could have prompted
Saakashvili to explore import possibilities with Armenian officials,
as he has done already with the leadership of Armenia’s neighbor,
Azerbaijan.

"If there is a possibility to receive gas from a third source, then
a reasonable politician would not miss that opportunity by any means,
not to remain hanging on Russian gas," Aghajanov has said.

Currently, Georgia receives some 2.3 million cubic meters per day
come from Azerbaijan.

Iran currently delivers a daily volume of 10 million cubic meters of
natural gas to Armenia. The agreement is signed for 20 years. For each
cubic meter of Iranian gas, Armenia is to deliver 3 kWh of electricity
to Iran.

The idea for Georgia to import Iranian gas via the Iran-Armenia
pipeline is not a new one. Former foreign minister Salome Zourabichvili
raised the issue during an official visit to Yerevan in 2004.

Iran provided emergency supplies during Georgia’s January 2006
gas crisis.

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