June 5, 2003 - 18:45 AMT
GEORGIA WILL GIVE ACCOUNT TO US FOR COOPERATION WITH RUSSIAN "GAZPROM"
Personal advisor of the US president on energy issues Steven Man is arriving in Tbilisi today to clear out the motives of Georgia entering into an energy alliance with Russian "Gazprom." As the state chancellery of Georgia told "Rosbalt" agency, Man's conversation with the Georgian president Eduard Shevardnadze will be built on the postulate of the US administration, in compliance with which Georgia should not undertake any steps hampering the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline and the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. It should be reminded that at the meeting of chairman of the "Gazprom" board Alexey Miller and Eduard Shevardnadze last week an agreement was reached to form "GruzRosGazprom" joint venture and to export Russian gas to Armenia via the territory of the country. US ambassador to Tbilisi Richard Miles has already expressed dissatisfaction with the plans of Georgia.