GAS SUPPLIES TO ARMENIA HALTED BY PIPELINE BREAK

International Herald Tribune
Jan 9 2009
France

TBILISI, Georgia: Russian gas supplies to Armenia were halted Friday
by a pipeline break in Georgia, Georgia’s energy minister said.

Alexander Khetaguri said the aging pipeline suffered a rupture. He
said in a televised statement from the accident site that it would
take at least five days to repair the damage and resume supplies.

Armenia has some gas reserves which it could use while repairs are
being made, Khetaguri said.

Russia’s Gazprom state gas monopoly expressed concern about the halt
in supplies and offered its help in making repairs.

Relations between Russia and Georgia remain tense following a war
waged in August by the ex-Soviet neighbors.