US President’s Advisor, Georgian President Discussed GazProm Deal
(Tbilisi, June 6 2003, Civil Georgia) – US Presidential Senior advisor on Caspian energy issues Stephen Mann discussed with the Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze today cooperation in energy issues between Georgia and the US and implementation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline .
At the briefing Steven Mann said that the issue of recent deal between Georgia and the Russian energy giant GazProm was also discussed during the meeting.
The agreement with GazProm is to include joint projects of supply and distribution of gas on the Georgian market as well as transportation of gas to Turkey and Armenia via Georgia.
Experts say that the GazProm deal may hinder the Shah-Deniz project, which considers construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline.
“The talks with GazProm are on the initial phase and no agreement is signed yet, so it is hard to make any comment regarding the issue. But I hope that the Georgian government will not make any decision, which would hinder Shah-Deniz project,” Stephen Mann said at the news briefing after the talks with Eduard Shevardnadze.
Stephen Mann also said that the Shah-Deniz project is of vital importance for Georgia, as Georgia will receive 20 billion cubic meters of gas per year.
President of the Georgian International Oil Corporation Giorgi Chanturia said at the briefing that Georgia will fulfill its obligations undertaken under the Shah-Deniz project.
Related Story:
Georgia’s Pending GazProm Deal Stirs Political Controversy
This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
