GEORGIA AND IRAN SIGN AGREEMENT OF ELECTRICITY SUPPLY THROUGH ARMENIA
By Aghavni Harutyunian
AZG Armenian Daily
26/10/2006
Iranian Gas Shipment Still Being Discussed
Within the framework of his Iranian visit, Georgian foreign minister
Gela Bezhuashvili met with the country’s president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
on October 23.
The aim of the visit of Gela Bezhuashvili and Georgian minister of
energetics Nika Gilauri was to discussion of bilateral relations
between the two counties in the sphere of economics. More precisely,
the Georgian side was interested in possibility of gas and electricity
import from Iran.
IRNA news agency reports that on October 24 Nika Gilauri and his
Iranian counterpart Parviz Fatah signed an agreement on Iranian
electricity supply to Georgia via Armenia’s territory.
Such a turn in Georgian-Iranian relations has good reasons: by the help
of Iran, Georgia is trying to abolish its overdependence on Russian
gas; the Iranian side is paving a road for gas shipment through the
South Caucasus.
The Iranian Ministry of Energetics informs that according to the
agreement Iran will begin shipment of 50 megawatt electricity through
Armenia to Georgia in late November gradually increasing this amount to
300 megawatt. Besides, the Iranian suggested to expand the shipment
of electricity to Russia via Georgia’s territory. To that end in
three months Iran and Georgia invite Russia to join them.
As to a more vital issue for Georgia – shipment of the Iranian gas –
it’s still being discussed.