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ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN COMPETE TO BUY GEORGIAN GAS PIPELINE.
The Messenger
Aug 13 2010
Georgia
Serious competition has begun over the issue as to who will buy the
south-north gas pipeline connecting Russia and Armenia and passing
through Georgia. The Georgian government has recently put this
strategic asset up for sale. Different sources claim there is a 99%
chance that the Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR will purchase the
asset; Yerevan is totally against this option. Another possibility
is that it will be bought by Russia's Gazprom - this has caused
concern for the Georgians as well as the Azeris. There is also a third
possible player - Kazakhstan's Kazmunaigaz, although some think that
the Kazakhstanis will protect Russian interests. The Turkish newspaper
Hurriyet reports that the issue was decided between the heads of states
during the recent visit of President Ilham Aliyev to his counterpart
Mikheil Saakashvili. However the newspaper thinks that although from
economic point of view the gas pipeline is not a profitable venture,
Aliyev is straightforward and wants to keep the oil pipeline under
his country's control. The newspaper is of the opinion that this
energy source for Armenia will end up in Baku's possession. David
Shahnazarian, representative of the opposition national congress of
Armenia airing the concern of Armenian side, stated that the Azeris'
intention to buy this pipeline does not follow any economic interest
but is purely politically motivated. According to Shahnazarian,
Baku's interest in the pipeline is motivated by the intention to
further deepen the energy blockade of Armenia. This could change the
situation in favour of Azerbaijan particularly now when it has ruled
out launching a military attack on Karabakh. He insists that under
these circumstances Armenia's government is obliged to take every
possible measure to purchase the pipeline. Meanwhile Georgia thinks
that selling this installation is not against its strategic interest
and greedily anticipates big money coming into the coffers.
From: A. Papazian
The Messenger
Aug 13 2010
Georgia
Serious competition has begun over the issue as to who will buy the
south-north gas pipeline connecting Russia and Armenia and passing
through Georgia. The Georgian government has recently put this
strategic asset up for sale. Different sources claim there is a 99%
chance that the Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR will purchase the
asset; Yerevan is totally against this option. Another possibility
is that it will be bought by Russia's Gazprom - this has caused
concern for the Georgians as well as the Azeris. There is also a third
possible player - Kazakhstan's Kazmunaigaz, although some think that
the Kazakhstanis will protect Russian interests. The Turkish newspaper
Hurriyet reports that the issue was decided between the heads of states
during the recent visit of President Ilham Aliyev to his counterpart
Mikheil Saakashvili. However the newspaper thinks that although from
economic point of view the gas pipeline is not a profitable venture,
Aliyev is straightforward and wants to keep the oil pipeline under
his country's control. The newspaper is of the opinion that this
energy source for Armenia will end up in Baku's possession. David
Shahnazarian, representative of the opposition national congress of
Armenia airing the concern of Armenian side, stated that the Azeris'
intention to buy this pipeline does not follow any economic interest
but is purely politically motivated. According to Shahnazarian,
Baku's interest in the pipeline is motivated by the intention to
further deepen the energy blockade of Armenia. This could change the
situation in favour of Azerbaijan particularly now when it has ruled
out launching a military attack on Karabakh. He insists that under
these circumstances Armenia's government is obliged to take every
possible measure to purchase the pipeline. Meanwhile Georgia thinks
that selling this installation is not against its strategic interest
and greedily anticipates big money coming into the coffers.
From: A. Papazian