US unconcerned at Russian attempt to buy Azerbaijani gas

The top US official to the region has said Washington is not concerned about Russian attempts to purchase Azerbaijani gas, according to Azerbaijani news agency APA.

In recent weeks Russian gas giant Gazprom has been trying to secure an agreement with Baku to buy large amounts of Azerbaijani natural gas at market prices.

Analysts say Baku is unlikely to sign such an agreement as it would compromise the country’s relationship with Western states. In particular, it would deal a significant blow to the planned Nabucco pipeline, which seeks to take Central Asian gas to Europe while circumventing Russia.

Matthew Bryza, US deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affairs, reportedly said that Gazprom’s move to purchase Azerbaijani gas means one of either two things. Firstly, it may indicate that Russia does not have enough gas to supply Europe or second, it is trying to monopolize European gas imports.

“We are not concerned about Russia’s intention to purchase Azerbaijani gas,” APA quoted him as saying.

“Despite Gazprom’s attempts, Azerbaijan has demonstrated that it intends to extend its energy security partnership with Europe. This was made clear as far back as during Heydar Aliyev’s time when the ‘Contract of Century’ was signed. President Ilham Aliyev continued this policy, supporting Nabucco and Turkey–Greece–Italy pipelines,” Bryza continued.

Bryza also reportedly said that Nabucco would see a profit margin of 40–50 percent more than Russia’s proposed South Stream pipeline, which also plans to take Central Asian gas to Europe.