The North-South gas pipeline that carries Russian gas to Armenia will in all probability be bought by Azerbaijan’s State Oil Company (SOCAR), writes Turkish daily Hurriyet, citing Georgian sources.
“Due to economic crisis Georgia decided to cross the strategically important North-South pipeline off the list of the facilities not subject to privatization. Yerevan’s main concern is to make sure the pipeline does not emerge into the hands of the Azerbaijani. While some other powers in Georgia declare that Georgia will come under Russia’s control should Gazprom buy the pipeline,” writes the paper, adding that besides the Azerbaijani companies some Russian and Kazakhstani ones pretend to the Mozdok-Tbilisi-Yerevan pipeline.
Furhter the newspaper mentions that according to some experts the proprietor of the pipeline will by 99 per cent be the SOCAR.
“Last month Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held talks over the issue with the Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. In terms of trade the acquisition of that pipeline is not beneficial at all, but Aliyev is resolute in bringing the pipeline under his control,” writes the paper, adding that in that way Armenia’s energy valve will come into the hand of Azerbaijan.
Tert.am
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