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Georgia to continue transiting Russian gas to Armenia, says PM

According to Mamuka Bakhtadze, the talks with Gazprom have not been set as of yet, "whereas if something new appears in the contract Georgia’s Ministry of Economy will create public awareness"

TBILISI, January 18. /TASS/. Georgia has no plans to give up its role of transit country supplying Russian gas to Armenia, Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze told reporters on Friday when asked whether the transit agreement with the Russian gas producer Gazprom on Russian gas supplies to Armenia via Georgia that expired on December 31, 2018, would be revised.

"Georgia’s gains from its transit function are quite substantial, and we will continue fulfilling it. That serves the interests of our country. As for the agreement related talks (with Gazprom) will start once the date is defined and the meeting is set up," he said.

According to PM, the talks have not been set as of yet, "whereas if something new appears in the contract Georgia’s Ministry of Economy will create public awareness."

Prior to January 2017, Georgia’s revenues for transiting Russian gas to Armenia amounted to 10% of the total volume of supplied gas. A new agreement with Gazprom signed in early 2017 stipulated that the Russian side paid to Georgia for the transit with money and partially in kind in 2017, and only with money in 2018.

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Armenia Georgia

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