Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze called on Energy Minister Nika Gilauri to hold consultations with the President and the Prime Minister prior to making any statement over possible privatization of the Georgia’s gas pipeline system.

“I declare with full responsibility, that neither me, nor the President will permit the privatization of the gas pipeline system. Any Minister, who pushes this issue seriously, will simply become a victim of this issue,” Burjanadze said at the Parliament’s session on March 16.

On March 9 Gilauri told Reuters that selling of Georgia’s gas pipelines to the Russian Gazprom is possible if the price and terms of contract are acceptable. But he explained on March 14 that Georgia might propose such terms, including extremely high price for gas pipelines and also very low price on imported Russian gas that Russia will never agree on them. He also added that these proposals have never been discussed with Russian side.

“The talks on privatization are not underway... Probably, you all remember the Parliament’s resolution, which prohibits privatization of strategic facilities and this, first of all, regards the gas pipeline system,” the Parliamentary Chairperson said.