YEREVAN. - It would be desirable for Georgia to acquire additional volumes of gas from Iran, but the Russian side seems not to leave Tbilisi another choice by using its monopoly position in the gas and transportation system of Armenia.

Economist Ashot Yeghiazaryan told the aforementioned to Armenian News – News.am.

Touching on the agreement reached between Georgia and Gazprom Export LLC, the economist noted: “One thing is clear: Although Georgia agreed to receive gas not in physical volumes, the monetary payment of the Russian side will be adequate to the payment by raw material. From this perspective, Georgia shouldn’t incur losses.”

Secondly, it is apparent that Russia itself seeks to be a gas supplier for Georgia to the extent allowed by additional demand in our neighbor’s country.

“Currently, it will be incorrect to say that this is a comprehensive agreement, which satisfies the sides. This may be a transitional decision, since the acting agreement has expired,” Yeghiazaryan noted.

Energy Minister of Georgia, Kakha Kaladze, stated that according to the agreement reached with Gazprom Export LLC, his country will receive gas from Russia for $185 per 1,000 cubic meters instead of $215, if needed.  

Georgia has so far received 10 percent of the general volume of Russian gas supplies to Armenia as a payment for transit. The agreement of Georgia with Gazprom Export expired on January 1. The talks lingered, since Gazprom insisted on the payment for transit to be made by money and not gas, as proposed by Georgia.