27.01 10:49

Trans-Caspian Pipeline’s Fate will be Decided by June


A final decision on whether to go ahead with the Trans-Caspian Pipeline project may be made in June, the EU commissioner for energy Gu"nther Oettinger told Interfax.
Oettinger said that the negotiations between the Commission and the officials from the Turkmen and Azerbaijani governments were "intensive" yet "constructive". He added that the next meeting on the project will take place in a few days in Frankfurt.
The design capacity of the 300-kilometer-Trans-Caspian pipeline through the Caspian seabed between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan is linked to Europe’s demand for Turkmen gas and defining Caspian Sea status between the two countries.
Trans-Caspian project can become part of the "Southern Gas Corridor", designed to diversify gas supplies to Europe.
There is no direct agreement on the implementation of the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline yet. However, in September 2011 the European Union issued a mandate to start negotiations on an agreement between the EU, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan on the Trans-Caspian project. Negotiations are underway.
Despite the fact that construction of an underwater gas pipeline is associated with unresolved status of the Caspian Sea, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan believe that implementation of this project is the two states’ sovereign right.


Expert Opinion

Iran ‘chooses Armenia’ over Azerbaijan

News.Az interviews Israeli international relations expert Arye Gut.

What can you say about the recent explosions and attempted explosion targeted against Israeli embassies in Delhi, Bangkok and Tbilisi?

I think that the Iranian mullocracy and its pals are linked to the two explosions in the Thai capital Bangkok. This proves that Tehran is continuing state terrorism. It is no secret that the leadership of the Islamic Republic and their allies in the militarized Lebanese Shia organization Hezbollah continue to represent a threat to regional and global stability.

A blast occurred in a house where Iranian Sayed Moradi was staying in Bangkok yesterday. Two people who were in the house with him managed to get away. Moradi also wanted to get away and tried to take a taxi, but the driver refused to take the Iranian who was bleeding. As police officers tried to detain him, he threw a grenade towards the police, but it detonated close to the Iranian, blowing off his legs.

However, Iran remains the main threat to Israel, the region and the world. This country is the main exporter of terror in the world. Unfortunately, for many years the West had been ignoring the threat for political reasons. But now the question tops the international agenda. This also applies to Europe, the United States and moderate Arab regimes that fear the regional ambitions of the Iranian regime. Iran’s actions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Yemen and South America are not directed against Israel.

For a long time Israeli security structures have been following the activities of Iranian intelligence, the Revolutionary Guards and Hezbollah terrorists. It is worth mentioning that they conducted joint attacks, for example, in Argentina in 1992 and 1994. In the past four years, these structures have made new attempts to strike at Israeli targets. Several terrorist attacks were prevented in Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Thailand, Turkey, and several other countries. We have enough evidence to suggest that they are behind the terrorist attack in New Delhi and the attempted attack in Tbilisi. Do not forget that the Iranians were planning to attack Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States and the Israeli ambassador to Azerbaijan.

How do you assess the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s diplomatic note to its friendly neighbour, Azerbaijan?

This note was handed to Azerbaijan’s ambassador, Javanshir Akhundov. It argues that Baku allegedly assisted agents of the Israeli intelligence service Mossad, associated with attacks against Iranian scientists.

Which team will be the winner of the 2011-2012 seasonal Champions League?



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