SAAKASHVILI WANTS TO SPEED UP CONSTRUCTION OF CAUCASUS-TURKEY …

Interfax
Dec 9 2008
Russia

The process of creating a single power grid with Armenia, Azerbaijan
and Turkey should be intensified through building new power
transmission lines, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said.

Despite the consequences of the August war, the global crisis, and
"possible sabotage" Georgian power systems should operate without
failure, he said at a meeting with the country’s prime minister and
top energy officials.

"No matter what happens, the country’s power grid should operate
smoothly even in the event of a possible act of sabotage," the
president said.

"This year the Georgian energy sector has a minimum dependence on
Russian gas supplies, it is just 10% that we are getting from the
amount of gas transported to Armenia," he said. "I do not think that
Russia will leave Armenia without gas," Saakashvili said.

Whatever the political relations with Russia are, it is not in Russia’s
interests to refuse energy cooperation with Georgia, he said.

Currently, Azerbaijan is the main supplier of natural gas to Georgia
after the two countries signed a long-term contract for gas supplies
for the first time, said Prime Minister Grigol Mgaloblishvili.

"What is particularly important is the agreement that the gas price
will not be raised for five years," Mgaloblishvili said.