ARMENIA MAY BECOME ALTERNATIVE TRANSIT ENERGY ROUTE BETWEEN CASPIAN BASIN AND EUROPE

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.10.2009 19:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As Europe now seeks to build new pipelines from the
Caspian, energy executives’ eyes are turning to Armenia as a possible
alternative to more pipelines through Azerbaijan and Georgia, says an
article published in The Huffington Post. A pipeline across Armenia
to Europe would be much shorter (and hence cheaper) than existing
or prospective routes through Azerbaijan and Georgia. Since Armenia
also has better relations with Moscow, a pipeline across Armenia would
face less political risk. The EU and its US allies thus have a strong
geopolitical interest in a deal," author of the article believes.

"Despite these opportunities, Russia has more often been an obstacle
than a facilitator of reconciliation in the region. It remains
skeptical of Turkey’s attempt to become a regional energy hub,
loathes the government of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili,
and has long benefited from instability that prevents the US and EU
from building new pipelines," publication goes on saying.

At the end of article, the author refers to Obama Administration’s
patient attitude, particularly, he states, "Obama’s patient outreach to
Moscow, coupled with Secretary Clinton’s intensive mediation between
the Turks and Armenians, were all necessary parts of the foundation
leading to last week’s agreement, as they will be to any future accord
on Nagorno-Karabakh."