Vartan Oskanian: Nagorno Karabakh issue not a subject for bargaining

PanARMENIAN.Net - "If the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is settled it will significantly lighten our task in the issue of gas usage, which will pass through the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline in future. But we shall never agree with those approaches of conflict solution, which we would never agree in other circumstances," stated Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian in the National Assembly February 7 responding to the question of parliamentarians to comment on his own statement concerning Armenia's possible participation in construction works of a gas pipeline under the Caspian sea in the conditions of unsettled Nagorno Karabakh conflict, as well as taking into account the fact that Baku's stance in this project is priority driven.



In Oskanian's words, diversification of energy resources is one of the priorities for Armenia, in regard with that the Armenian authorities will use all possible ways to reach this goal. "Today Armenia imports Russian gas, in near future-Iranian gas and in further future also gas, which will pas through the Trans-Caspian gas-main," the minister stressed. He disagreed with opinions that Azerbaijan's role in Trans-Caspian project is priority driven stressing that this very pipeline supposes not only transporting Azeri gas, but also gas from Central Asia and, thanks to bilateral and multilateral agreements, the Armenian side, most probably, can use this gas. "If we touch upon this issue today, we will reach expected results," thinks the minister. Commenting on parliamentarians' question if this issue has been discussed in the context of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict solution and the Armenian side has made some concessions, he underlined the Nagorno Karabakh issue is not a subject for bargaining, IA Regnum reports.