Chances for realization of South Stream preferable than that of Nabucco: U.S. expert

“Gas reserves in the Caspian region can support only one big export pipeline and it is South Stream or Nabucco. One should not forget that part of Turkmen gas is promised to China and Russia.. So far Gazprom led this competition with 1:0, but now it is 1.5 and 0.5 respectively,” he said while commenting on recent decision by Turkmenistan to participate in Nabucco.

The U.S. expert attributed his position to the fact that “Gazprom is an industrial leader which Nabucco lacks.”

“To coordinate activities of all participants in Nabucco is like whiping a cat to herd,” Cohen said using the well-known English phrase.

Moreover, the constant attempts of Turkey to involve Iran with this project only undermine the chances of Nabucco to life, the expert added.

“Russia will put all possible pressure on Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan in order to prevent the Nabucco project. It depends on all participants of the project to coordinate their activities to withstand such pressure,” Cohen said.

/Interfax Azerbaijan/