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PanARMENIAN.Net
The idea of establishing the Moscow-Tehran-Yerevan
axis doesn't seem so unattainable
Russia, having cut off all the ways of gas supply to
Europe, has maintained its role in the sphere of
energy and its positions in its dialogue with the
West.
17.05.2007 GMT+04:00
The idea of establishing the Moscow-Tehran-Yerevan axis was first
mentioned in 90's of the passed century, and may be realized within
the next 5 years, if not even earlier. The first steps in this matter
may become the decision of the Caspian pipeline construction and the
announcement of the Secretary General of the Collective Security
Treaty Organization Nikolai Bordyuzha (CSTO) regarding the possibility
of Iran's involvement in this project.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `As for Iran as a participant of the Treaty on
Collective Safety, we are co-operating with Iran, especially regarding
the drug trafficking issues. CSTO is open and if there is any
application from Iran, it would be taken into consideration. I will
not say that Iran will be admitted but the application will be
considered, just like application submitted from any other country,'
writes RIA Novosti.
The plan of the Caspian pipeline construction also speaks for the
probability of the union. After Kazakhstan denied circulating oil
through Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, signing the declaration between
Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan may be taken as
Astana's wish to revert to `an old friend', i.e. to Russia. According
to the General Manager of the Council for National Strategy Valeri
Khomiakov, the declaration on the construction of a common pipeline is
a political decision. `Russia has prompted its Asian partners to take
up the construction of the Caspian pipeline, and besides economic
profits gained an extremely profitable political position weakening
the US influence in the region. In fact, America cannot even object to
anything, it has no right to make any statements and give its opinion
on these agreements. Moreover now, when its Presidential elections are
close we should not expect any foreign-policy moves from America.
Russia gained freedom in carrying negotiations with the USA, got hold
of new arguments in our bilateral negotiations, for instance deploying
AMB systems in Eastern Europe. These agreements are one of the most
important achievements in the foreign-policy implemented by Putin,' an
expert from `Rossiiskaya Gazeta' announced.
Most of the experts also believe that at the present time Russia has
in fact crossed out the idea of diversification of ways to supply gas
to Europe. Russia, having cut off all the ways of gas supply to
Europe, has maintained its role in the sphere of energy and its
positions in its dialogue with the West. It is quite obvious that a
serious supplier expects quite a different treatment.
At the same time the US Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman announced
that Europe must diversify the sources of its energy supply, otherwise
it will become even more dependent on Russia. According to Bodman the
construction of the Caspian pipeline will do no good to Europe. `This
will issue a challenge to the diversification of suppliers. Europe
must take into consideration Russia's plans and consequently specify
its reaction accordingly.' The United States, European countries and
China would like to gain a direct access to the Turkmen gas, the large
part of which Russia gets for a lower price; Reuters mentions.
The USA will also speak against Iran's involvement in the
project. Russia in fact supports Iran in its nuclear program, and now
it supports Iran's probable membership in the military coalition and
its wish to become a more powerful country than it is at present. For
Armenia at present all these events may have a positive outcome. First
of all the energy and military security of the country will be
organized on a higher level, if taking into consideration the fact
that Turkey has not yet been involved in the pipeline construction.
However, taking into account the old traditions of the Russian-Turkish
relations Turkey's involvement in the construction of the Caspian
pipeline is not excluded. There is already one experience of
Turkish-Russian cooperation; the `Blue Stream' project, through which
the Russian gas was carried to Turkey, though not for a long time. The
`Blue Stream' started to function with a three-year delay, in February
of 2003, and in March Turkey stopped importing gas from Russia.
However, it should not be forgotten that Turkey gave a rather anxious
response to the new project, especially because it gives some
advantages to Armenia too. Time only knows how quickly all the ideas
and opinions will come to life. «PanARMENIAN.Net» analytical
department
The idea of establishing the Moscow-Tehran-Yerevan
axis doesn't seem so unattainable
Russia, having cut off all the ways of gas supply to
Europe, has maintained its role in the sphere of
energy and its positions in its dialogue with the
West.
17.05.2007 GMT+04:00
The idea of establishing the Moscow-Tehran-Yerevan axis was first
mentioned in 90's of the passed century, and may be realized within
the next 5 years, if not even earlier. The first steps in this matter
may become the decision of the Caspian pipeline construction and the
announcement of the Secretary General of the Collective Security
Treaty Organization Nikolai Bordyuzha (CSTO) regarding the possibility
of Iran's involvement in this project.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `As for Iran as a participant of the Treaty on
Collective Safety, we are co-operating with Iran, especially regarding
the drug trafficking issues. CSTO is open and if there is any
application from Iran, it would be taken into consideration. I will
not say that Iran will be admitted but the application will be
considered, just like application submitted from any other country,'
writes RIA Novosti.
The plan of the Caspian pipeline construction also speaks for the
probability of the union. After Kazakhstan denied circulating oil
through Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, signing the declaration between
Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan may be taken as
Astana's wish to revert to `an old friend', i.e. to Russia. According
to the General Manager of the Council for National Strategy Valeri
Khomiakov, the declaration on the construction of a common pipeline is
a political decision. `Russia has prompted its Asian partners to take
up the construction of the Caspian pipeline, and besides economic
profits gained an extremely profitable political position weakening
the US influence in the region. In fact, America cannot even object to
anything, it has no right to make any statements and give its opinion
on these agreements. Moreover now, when its Presidential elections are
close we should not expect any foreign-policy moves from America.
Russia gained freedom in carrying negotiations with the USA, got hold
of new arguments in our bilateral negotiations, for instance deploying
AMB systems in Eastern Europe. These agreements are one of the most
important achievements in the foreign-policy implemented by Putin,' an
expert from `Rossiiskaya Gazeta' announced.
Most of the experts also believe that at the present time Russia has
in fact crossed out the idea of diversification of ways to supply gas
to Europe. Russia, having cut off all the ways of gas supply to
Europe, has maintained its role in the sphere of energy and its
positions in its dialogue with the West. It is quite obvious that a
serious supplier expects quite a different treatment.
At the same time the US Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman announced
that Europe must diversify the sources of its energy supply, otherwise
it will become even more dependent on Russia. According to Bodman the
construction of the Caspian pipeline will do no good to Europe. `This
will issue a challenge to the diversification of suppliers. Europe
must take into consideration Russia's plans and consequently specify
its reaction accordingly.' The United States, European countries and
China would like to gain a direct access to the Turkmen gas, the large
part of which Russia gets for a lower price; Reuters mentions.
The USA will also speak against Iran's involvement in the
project. Russia in fact supports Iran in its nuclear program, and now
it supports Iran's probable membership in the military coalition and
its wish to become a more powerful country than it is at present. For
Armenia at present all these events may have a positive outcome. First
of all the energy and military security of the country will be
organized on a higher level, if taking into consideration the fact
that Turkey has not yet been involved in the pipeline construction.
However, taking into account the old traditions of the Russian-Turkish
relations Turkey's involvement in the construction of the Caspian
pipeline is not excluded. There is already one experience of
Turkish-Russian cooperation; the `Blue Stream' project, through which
the Russian gas was carried to Turkey, though not for a long time. The
`Blue Stream' started to function with a three-year delay, in February
of 2003, and in March Turkey stopped importing gas from Russia.
However, it should not be forgotten that Turkey gave a rather anxious
response to the new project, especially because it gives some
advantages to Armenia too. Time only knows how quickly all the ideas
and opinions will come to life. «PanARMENIAN.Net» analytical
department