ARMENIA BEST ROUTE FOR IRANIAN GAS TRANSIT TO EUROPE
PanARMENIAN.Net
13.02.2009 13:54 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The recent events have considerably affected the
situation in the Caucasus, an Armenian expert said.
"Implementation of regional projects bypassing Armenia is now
questioned. Tensions over South Ossetia still persist. Besides,
the transit route through Georgia is too expensive and can be easily
replaced by Armenia," Vahan Dilanyan told a news conference today.
"At the same time, Azerbaijan’s bellicose statements and ongoing
increase of the defense budget make an impression that it can follow
Georgia’s ways. Besides, Azeri oil and gas resources are not enough
for Nabucco, which demands 15 billion cubic meters of gas for a start,"
he said.
"Under the circumstances, Iran is likely to be invited to the
project. Given the U.S. and EU recent optimistic statements, it’s
quite possible. Thus, Armenia can become the most convenient and
secure route for the transit of Iranian gas to Europe," Dilanyan said.
The expert also reminded that Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan
said that Armenia can become an alternative route for Iranian gas
transit. "The global crisis has testified that economic benefits come
to replace political ones in implementation of regional projects. And
Armenia stands a good chance to make use of it," Dilanyan said.