Natig Aliyev: "Azerbaijan won't buy Russian gas unless price is reasonable"

He said Azerbaijan has enough natural gas resources and this potential can be used in this case, APA reports.

"We have had the first stage of negotiation with Gasprom on importation of Russian gas. No decision has been made yet. One of the reasons is determination of in-country gas production for 2007. We are determining the volume of Shahdeniz gas to be delivered by this year's end and associated gas of SOCAR and Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli. We don't want to hurry."

Mr. Aliyev said Russia and Ukraine are also negotiating on natural gas importation and Azerbaijan is waiting for the conclusion. It is reported Russia will sell gas to Ukraine by $135-140.

Accordign to the agreement for this year, Russia has to export 4.5bn cubic meters of natural gas to Azerbaijan by this year's end.

The price is $110 per 1000 cubic meters. Russia sold 4.5bn cubic meters of gas at the price of $60 pr 1000 cubic meters last year. 340-350mn c.m. of natural gas are being imported from Russia daily.