TURKEY AND POTENTIAL GAS TO GEORGIA

UNCLAS ANKARA 005168 SIPDIS SENSITIVE EUR ALSO FOR DAS BRYZA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EPET ENRG ETRD TU GG AZ SUBJECT: TURKEY AND POTENTIAL GAS TO GEORGIA REF: ANKARA 5080 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED (SBU) In a September 2 meeting with Econ Counselor, GOT DDG Energy Mithat Rende said that Turkey was receptive to Georgia's request for additional gas from Turkey's share of Shah Deniz gas and understood the importance the USG placed on breaking Gazprom's monopolistic hold on the Georgian gas market. However, Rende said that Turkey needed the 6 BCM per year destined for Turkey for it to diversify its gas supply (from dependence on Russia and Gazprom) and for it to develop as a serious transit country to Europe (only the Shah Deniz gas allows Turkey re-export rights). In response to a recent letter from the Georgian PM, he expected that the Turkish PM would propose a bilateral working group to explore options including the Georgian request, but also other ideas such as seeking greater output from Azerbaijan. (Note: Per Reftel DAS Bryza raised this issue with MENR U/S, who deferred to MFA on this national interest question. End Note.) MCELDOWNEY