Baku, Azerbaijan, March 3
By Anakhanum Khidayatova - Trend:
Implementation of the project of natural gas supplies from Russia along the bottom of the Black Sea through third countries to Greece, and then to Italy depends on many factors, primarily political ones, director of energy programs at the Center of World Economy and International Relations at the Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences Valentin Zemlyansky told Trend March 3.
Last week, Russia's energy giant Gazprom, Italy's Edison SpA and Greek gas company DEPA SA signed a memorandum of understanding on deliveries of Russian natural gas through third countries to Greece and from Greece to Italy via an undersea pipeline in the Black Sea.
Zemlyansky said that position of the European Commission, competition issues, the Ukrainian issue in the form of sanctions against Russia, as well as Ukraine's claims to maintain gas transit via its territory may affect implementation of this project.
The expert went on to add that Russia and Azerbaijan can agree on joint work over the project if their relations in this regard are partner-like.
---
Follow the author on Twitter: @Anahanum