Georgia has declined to order any Russian natural gas for 2007, Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov told Interfax journalists.

“Several days ago the Gazprom authorities sent a letter to Georgia requesting a decision on the volumes of gas to be bought from Russia in 2007. However, we did not get a response,” the spokesman said.

“Georgia was reluctant to resolve the issue. Thus, Georgian Economic Development Minister Giorgi Arveladze stated that Gazprom’s price is ‘unacceptable’ and ‘politicized’ and that Georgia is not going to buy Russian gas on Gazprom’s terms,” he said.

“At the same time, the 2007 gas price for Georgia was set assuming average prices stipulated in all Gazprom European contracts, taking into consideration transportation costs. This is the way 2007 gas prices for the majority of former Soviet republics were calculated,” Kupriyanov said.

“Gazprom treats Georgia’s position as a refusal to buy Russia’s gas in 2007,” the spokesman said.

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