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Iran pipeline meet: Govt yet to decide
Our Bureau
New Delhi, Sept. 18 The Government is yet to decide on whether it would participate in the expert-level meet to be followed by a high-level meet called by Iran on the tri-nation (Iran, Pakistan, India) gas pipeline project.
Official sources said, “We have received a formal proposal from Iran for an expert-level meet from September 24-26 followed by a high-level meeting. But we are yet to take a decision.”
Sources told Business Line that India would prefer to resolve the bilateral issues with Pakistan, which include the issue of transit fee, before participating in any further trilateral talks.
As per reports, Iran has warned that it would finalise the multi-billion dollar gas pipeline deal with Pakistan and not wait for India’s decision.
This was stated by Iran’s caretaker Oil Minister, Mr Gholam Hossein Nozari.
The need to resolve the bilateral issue gains significance as the gas pipeline is to pass through Pakistan.
Besides, only when the bilateral issues are resolved will India get to know the project cost involved for transporting the gas, the sources said. India has been trying to seek common dates with Pakistan for a bilateral meeting. Mr Nozari, as per reports, had also observed that Iran’s preference is to have tripartite negotiations but the trend seems to be moving faster with Pakistan. The 2,600-km pipeline is expected to cost over $7 billion. As per projections, the project is to be completed by 2010.
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