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Georgia wants to end dependency on Russian energy - president

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TBILISI, January 19 (RIA Novosti, Marina Kvaratskheliya) - Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said Thursday that his country should put an end to its dependency on Russia for energy.

"Despite substantial political and economic problems, relations with Russia should be regulated, but, at the same time, Georgia should become independent of Russia in terms of energy," the Saakashvili said.

He said Georgia's becoming self-sufficient energy-wise was important for the country as a whole.

"Georgia's energy independence is a key factor for the independence of the country," he said. "A strong energy system will boost economic sectors and create more jobs."

Georgia needs to find new alternative sources for natural gas since just 25% of the country's needs could be met by Georgian gas deposits, he said.

"Substantial funds will need to be invested for this and these funds need to be found," Saakashvili said.

Georgia has reached an agreement on buying non-Russian gas at a price of $120 per 1,000 cu m, he said, but did not clarify whether the gas would come from Iran or Kazakhstan.

"Georgia is now ready to buy an alternative to Russian gas. It is slightly more expensive than Russian gas, by only $10, but we now have a guarantee in case of supply problems," he said.

Talks are underway with Central Asian countries and Ukraine on economic cooperation, he said.

"In March in Tbilisi a meeting is scheduled between the energy ministers of the countries in the region, as well as European countries, which will focus on Georgia's role as a transit state," he said.

Saakashvili said he and Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko were preparing a joint strategy on the issue of Asian energy transport via Georgia and Ukraine to Europe.

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