BAKU (RIA Novosti) – Azerbaijan says Russia will not take part in talks to build a pipeline that will carry Turkmen gas to Europe.

Azerbaijan state gas monopoly Gnkar said the Trans-Caspian pipeline, which will run from Turkmenistan under the Caspian Sea to Europe via Azerbaijan, will “not cause any confrontation” with Russia.

“Russia will not create obstacles to this project, I think”, Gnkar Deputy Vice Chairman Vitaly Beilyarbekov said in comments carried by news channel ANS on Friday. “At the same time, Russia will not participate in talks on the Trans-Caspian pipeline.”

Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Vladimir Dorokhin said recently that the project should be agreed by Russia, Iran and Kazakhstan, which also have a Caspian coastline.

Beilyarbekov said the construction is due to begin within two years.