On July 25, representatives of Iran and Ukraine signed a memorandum in Tehran offering Armenia to take part in the works of a five-sided commission to construct a gas pipeline from Iran to Ukraine. According to Mediamax agency, deputy oil minister of Iran, Mohammad Nadi Nejad-Hosenian, announced that Ukraine is interested in importing 20-30 cubic meters of gas annually. `The two sides have offered Armenia, Georgia and Russia to form a five-sided commission to project and to construct the Iran-Ukraine gas pipeline`, he said.

RFE/RL adds that Kiev proposed the Iranian side two alternatives for getting the Iranian gas to Europe both routes stretching through Armenia: Iran-Armenia-Georgia-Russia-Ukraine-Europe and Iran-Armenia-Georgia-Black Sea-Ukraine-Europe. Deputy energetics minister of Ukraine stated that experts have worked out a few alternatives of importing the Iranian gas via Armenia, Georgia, Russia, Turkey and Black Sea. `The experts will finish the calculations in one and a half month and will choose the most optimal alternative`, he said.