(Tbilisi, June 5 2003, Civil Georgia) – U.S. Presidential Senior advisor on Caspian energy issues Steven Mann arrives in Tbilisi today on a two-day visit.
He will meet Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze on June 6. Georgia?s participation in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and Baku-Tbilisi-Eresrum gas pipeline projects will be discussed during the talks with the Georgian authorities.
It is anticipated that the issue of the recent deal between Georgia and the Russian energy giant GazProm will be in the top of the agenda during the visit of the US President?s advisor.
The agreement is to include joint projects of supply and distribution of gas on the Georgian market as well as transportation of gas through Georgia.
Experts say that the American side fears that Georgia?s cooperation with the Russian company will pose a threat to the functioning of the Shah-Deniz gas pipeline and the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline.