Iran ready to join NABUCCO project
Iran is ready to join the NABUCCO pipeline project - a route that
will take Caspian gas to European markets by-passing Russia, its
deputy foreign minister Alireza Sheikh-Attar said.
Sheikh-Attar who is visiting Baku said the issue was under discussion. "This was an initiative put forward by European countries which have stated their interest in using our gas for the project," he told Radio Liberty.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza, in an interview with the media in Baku on Wednesday, did not rule out Iran's participation in the project. At the same time, he reminded that Washington's policy on this country remains unchanged.
During the visit, the Iranian official is also expected to discuss political and security issues with Azerbaijani officials. He noted that the two countries were maintaining "sincere and warm relations".
The governments of Azerbaijan and Austria signed a memorandum of understanding on the NABUCCO project in September 2007.
The project envisions building a pipeline through Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Austria to ship Caspian and Central Asian gas to Europe. Building the 3,300-km trans-Caspian conduit could take until 2011-2012, while transportation of first gas via the pipe is expected in 2013.
Sheikh-Attar who is visiting Baku said the issue was under discussion. "This was an initiative put forward by European countries which have stated their interest in using our gas for the project," he told Radio Liberty.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza, in an interview with the media in Baku on Wednesday, did not rule out Iran's participation in the project. At the same time, he reminded that Washington's policy on this country remains unchanged.
During the visit, the Iranian official is also expected to discuss political and security issues with Azerbaijani officials. He noted that the two countries were maintaining "sincere and warm relations".
The governments of Azerbaijan and Austria signed a memorandum of understanding on the NABUCCO project in September 2007.
The project envisions building a pipeline through Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Austria to ship Caspian and Central Asian gas to Europe. Building the 3,300-km trans-Caspian conduit could take until 2011-2012, while transportation of first gas via the pipe is expected in 2013.
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