USA AND EUROPE OFFER TURKEY ARMENIA’S PARTICIPATION IN THE ‘NABUCCO’ PROGRAMME, TURKISH STAR NEWSPAPER SAYS

Arminfo
2008-09-23 19:28:00

ArmInfo. The first positive reaction after the historical football
match between Armenia and Turkey is regarding possible participation
of Armenia in the ‘Nabucco’ gas pipeline project, Turkish Star
newspaper said.

It also said the USA and Europe have suggested Armenia to become the
transit country for gas running via the Nabucco gas pipeline from
the Caspian region to Europe. At present Turkey has to decide. Such
suggestion was made against the background of normalizing of relations
between Armenia and Turkey after Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s
visit to Yerevan to watch a football match.

The newspaper also says that representatives of the USA and Europe
think that after Russia’s actions towards Georgia, the latter cannot
be a reliable transit country for the gas pipeline. They do not
want either the gas pipeline run via the territory of Iran. Thus
the Turkish party was advised that Armenia maybe the best option
for the gas pipeline to run via its territory, and if Turkey accepts
this suggestion, Armenia will also take part in the given project,
the newspaper says.

It also says France welcomes Armenia’s involvement in the project,
but Turkey was against participation of France in the project as it
had recognized the Armenian genocide. The newspaper recalled that at
present Romania, Bulgaria, Austria, Hungary, Germany and Turkey are
taking part in the Nabucco project, which is assessed 3,5 bln dollars.