Yerevan /Mediamax/. Minister of Energy of Georgia Kakha Kaladze has stated that Gazprom issued an ultimatum against Georgia.

Speaking on Rustavi 2 TV channel, the Minister has stated Georgia is categorically against Gazprom’s demands according to which Georgia  should get money not input for the gas transit to Armenia.

“Gazprom offered to shift to a financial payment: 10% of the transmitted volume remains in Georgia and we get it as input. When they advanced such a term, we expressed our strong disagreement but we were directly told that Russia can supply gas to Armenia through Iran: maybe, the whole volume can be hard to supply in the first year but within coming years, Gazprom will make use of this technical option. We analyzed that Gazprom currently can supply about 1bln cubic meters of gas through Iran to Armenia but after some investments, but only after making some investments can they fully meet the demands of the Armenian market. The ramifications of the decision will be tough for Georgia”, stated Kakha Kaladze.

The next round of talks with Gazprom will be held in Vienna on January 20, the Minister said.

Here you can read Mediamax’s recent interview with Director of Armenian Center for Society Research Foundation Sevak Sarukhanyan on Georgia’s negotiations with Gazprom.