IRAN NOT INTERESTED IN RESOLUTION OF KARABAKH CONFLICT: EXPERT

Today.Az
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Aug 5 2009
Azerbaijan

Iran strongly influence Armenia in a bid to prevent settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijani political analyst Mubariz
Ahmadoglu said.

"At the same time, Iran is not interested in international projects
in the South Caucasus and is trying to prevent them."

Ahmadoglu said in Iran-Armenia relations Iran is becoming a party
which dictates terms. It is Iran who determines all official visits
from Armenia to Iran.

"But Armenia seems to not be so loyal towards Iran. Armenia believes
it still needs Iran and therefore it is ready to turn against Iran
in interest of another strong state," the political expert said..

He also said Iran supports not only Armenia, but the separatists of
Nagorno Karabakh. One example is supply of gas from Iran to Karabakh.

"It is already known that the gas coming from Iran to Armenia is
sold to southern region of the country as well as to Karabakh. The
statement was made by chief engineer of ArmRosgazprom Ovsepian. Given
the fact that the volume of gas coming from Russia to Armenia will
not be increased, Iranian gas is likely double the volume," he said.

With regard to international projects, one of the major examples of
Iran’s lack of interest in them is a contract for the purchase gas
from Turkmenistan by Iran, he said.

"Iran signed non-lucrative contract on purchase of surplus gas from
Turkmenistan. The contract does not specify price per 1,000 cubic
meters, that is, Iran is ready to pay the actual cost," Ahmadoglu said.

The political expert said Iran has thus shown that the contract would
be more advantageous for Turkmenistan than Nabucco.

"If Europe is ready to pay 200 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters for
Turkmen gas, then closer Iran will pay 210 dollars. Iran is not buying
gas, it just puts money in geopolitics," Ahmadoglu said.