Today.Az » Politics » Iran not interested in resolution of Karabakh conflict: expert
05 August 2009 [15:01] - Today.Az
Iran strongly influence Armenia in a bid to prevent settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijani political analyst Mubariz Ahmadoglu said.
“At the same time, Iran is not interested in international projects in the South Caucasus and is trying to prevent them."
Ahmadoglu said in Iran-Armenia relations Iran is becoming a party which dictates terms. It is Iran who determines all official visits from Armenia to Iran.
“But Armenia seems to not be so loyal towards Iran. Armenia believes it still needs Iran and therefore it is ready to turn against Iran in interest of another strong state,” the political expert said..
He also said Iran supports not only Armenia, but the separatists of Nagorno Karabakh. One example is supply of gas from Iran to Karabakh.
“It is already known that the gas coming from Iran to Armenia is sold to southern region of the country as well as to Karabakh. The statement was made by chief engineer of ArmRosgazprom Ovsepian. Given the fact that the volume of gas coming from Russia to Armenia will not be increased, Iranian gas is likely double the volume,” he said.
With regard to international projects, one of the major examples of Iran's lack of interest in them is a contract for the purchase gas from Turkmenistan by Iran, he said.
“Iran signed non-lucrative contract on purchase of surplus gas from Turkmenistan. The contract does not specify price per 1,000 cubic meters, that is, Iran is ready to pay the actual cost,” Ahmadoglu said.
The political expert said Iran has thus shown that the contract would be more advantageous for Turkmenistan than Nabucco.
“If Europe is ready to pay 200 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters for Turkmen gas, then closer Iran will pay 210 dollars. Iran is not buying gas, it just puts money in geopolitics,” Ahmadoglu said.
/Novosti Azerbaijan/
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