Natig Aliyev calls for pipeline from Turkmenistan

The project, estimated to cost more than US$5 billion (euro4.14 billion), would guarantee Europe's energy security and protect it against Russian "monopolism," Natig Aliev said.

"Europe has understood that it is naive to place all its hopes on Russian gas," he said. "The events of the last months, when Russia effectively declared its status as a monopolist, indicates that prices will rise further."

Russian gas supplies to Europe were disrupted over the New Year because of a pricing dispute with Ukraine, and Russia has also refused to allow competing producers to threaten Gazprom's export monopoly.

Turkmenistan is the second-biggest gas producer in the former Soviet Union after Russia, and its vast gas resources are playing an increasingly important role in regional geopolitics. The Central Asian nation is actively looking for a western export route avoiding Russia, the Associated Press reports.

Aliev said financing of the pipeline is principally an issue for Turkmenistan, and that Azerbaijan should not need to set aside money itself for the project. He also said that Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan should agree on building the pipeline without waiting for the approval of other Caspian states.

He also said he wanted Iranian gas supplies destined for Europe to transit his strategically located Caucasus Mountain nation.

Azerbaijan covers most of the rest of its gas needs with imports from Russia. However, as it did with Ukraine and Moldova, Russia raised its export price to Azerbaijan sharply at the start of this year.

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