ARMENIA, BEST ROUTE FOR IRANIAN GAS TO EUROPE

Moj News Agency
February 16, 2009 Monday
Iran

Addressing a news conference, a senior Armenian economist Vahan
Dilanian said that the current critical issue is the implementation
of regional projects passing through Armenia. "There still exists some
tension over southern Osetia. The transit route through Georgia is very
expensive and it is possible to easily replace it by Armenian route,"
he said. He said: "Azerbaijan�â~B¬&# xE2;~D¢s unfriendly declarations and
its defense budget increase show that the country may cause Georgia to
keep its attitude toward the issue. In addition, Azerbaijan�â~B¬â~D ¢s
oil and gas resources for Nabucco which requires some 15 billion cubic
meters of gas at the starting point, is not enough." He also pointed
out that in such circumstances it is probable for Iran to be invited
for taking part in the project and in such a case, Armenia may be
regarded as the best, most suitable and safest route for exporting
Iranian gas to Europe. He added that "Turkish foreign minister,
Ali Babacan has recently pointed Armenia as an alternative route for
transiting Iranian gas to Europe."