Azerbaijan may block gas supply to Armenia (video)
A pipeline transporting natural gas from Russia to Armenia may appear in the hands of Azerbaijan. The grave economic situation in Georgia has forced the country’s authorities to put the gas pipeline on sale. “After the recent parliamentary elections [in Georgia, the country’s prime minister said that the government was planning to sell 25% shares of the gas company as well as the Georgian railway. They will try to get more income, directing it towards the modernization of their assets,” says Johnny Melikyan, expert on Georgian affairs. The pipeline transporting natural gas to Armenia is not profitable to Georgia, and it is the aspiration for additional income that forced the Georgian authorities to put it on sale. The main question is why the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) is interested in a pipeline with such a low income. “SOCAR’s interest in the pipeline is determined by Armenia. They want to be part of the project, control the process and be informed about it,” says Armen Manvelyan, an expert in geopolitics and international security. There is danger that Azerbaijan might block the gas supply to Armenia if hostilities resume between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Experts say that Armenia cannot remain without gas even in a force majeure situation. Armen Manvelyan says, “The Iran-Armenia gas pipeline is an interesting project and it is quite workable. In such a force majeure situation, it can fully supply natural gas to Armenia. Anyway, it cannot be an alternative to Russian gas. It can work only for a short period of time.” Gia Khakhashvili, Board Chairman at the Georgian Development Research Institute, said at a discussion organized by the Media Center NGO. He said ‘the Georgian government fully understands the importance of gas pipeline for Armenia’ and even if the pipeline the Azerbaijani company (SOCAR) acquires it, the Georgian side will guarantee its uninterrupted operation.
