Saakashvili Comments on Gas Supplies

President Saakashvili said on December 21 that he is optimistic about Georgia?s gas supplies from Azerbaijan’s Shah-Deniz field after talks with Turkish leaders, but hinted that ?many technical issues? may still remain unclear.

Saakashvili was speaking with Georgian reporters in Istanbul after talks with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

?I have an optimistic stance after the talks here, but we still may have many technical issues. But the most important thing we should understand is that Georgia should never again depend on a single supplier. We should spare no efforts to avoid dependence on a single supplier. Every country does this, and we should do it as well. So the government has been instructed to work towards [gaining gas supplies from] some different sources and to have better terms with these sources. Of course, the major focus is being made on Shah-Deniz gas. Strategically it will be our major supplier, but we should at the same time maintain other sources as well so that to always have the opportunity to receive gas from other sources in case of difficulties,? Saakashvili said.

?As far as price is concerned, the price on gas on the world market is increasing. Our goal is to make this [price increase] less painful for our families [in Georgia], because I know very well how much each family in Georgia suffers. The government has been instructed over this issue as well to find the best options in order to make the transition less painful. A lot of work remains to be done in this direction as well. Overall, our major goal is to provide heat and electricity to each person in Georgia in winter,? Saakashvili stated.

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