Burjanadze Discusses Energy Issues with Bush

Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze said at a news briefing on May 10 that the issue of Georgia?s energy independence was discussed during her talks with visiting U.S. President George W. Bush.

Bush met with a group of Georgian parliamentarians, including the Chairperson, in Tbilisi on May 10.
 
?We noted our unanimous position regarding the privatization of Georgia?s gas pipeline system – we are against this privatization,? Burjanadze said.

The United States called on Tbilisi for caution when authorities announced in February that they might privatize the country?s trunk gas pipeline to Russia?s energy giant Gazprom. In April Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli said that privatization of pipeline system was no longer on the agenda.
 
Nino Burjanadze stated that while Georgia is a sovereign country it, however, is ?not completely independent, since its energy supply depends on Russia and Russian bases still remain in Georgia.?

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