Georgia: Talks with Azeris on gas still on

TBLISI, Georgia, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Georgia has said it is still discussing with Azerbaijan the issue of gas supplies in a bid to secure alternate sources of funding.

"It is certainly premature today, based on preliminary information, to have a specific discussion about better results [as heard]," Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli said Thursday after a meeting in Istanbul, Turkey. "After all, these are business talks. Apart from everything else, we do not want to reveal our negotiating tactics to other suppliers, primarily the Russian supplier."

The comments were reported by Georgian TV station Rustavi-2.

Energy Minister Nika Gilauri meanwhile denied reports Azerbaijan planned to cut supplies to Georgia.

"Azerbaijan has not said that it will not supply gas," he said.

Last Friday, Gilauri said the government was looking at alternate suppliers of gas - Azerbaijan, Turkey, the Sah Daniz consortium and Iran -- following increased prices from Russia.

On Nov. 2, Gazprom said it would charge Tbilisi $230 for 1,000 cu.m. of gas, up from $110.

Russia has raised the price of gas sold to former Soviet states, saying they need to reflect market rates. Most of Western Europe pays $230 per cu. m. Critics say, however, that Moscow is punishing its former Soviet allies that are now looking to the West for political and economic support.