He also said Turkmenistan would work with Russia on projects to supply gas to the east and to Europe.
Agence France Presse (AFP) reports that Niyazov met yesterday with the head of the Russian gas producer Gazprom, but there were no further details. Niyazov also spoke with the visiting Ukrainian energy minister.
Turkmenistan is the second largest producer of natural gas in the former Soviet Union, after Russia.
(Interfax, ITAR-TASS, AFP)
Turkmenistan In The Middle
Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov (right) meeting with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko in Ashgabat in March 2005
PLAYING BOTH SIDES: The Russian-Ukrainian gas dispute is testing Turkmenistan's self-declared policy of neutrality. Along with Russia, Turkmenistan is one of Ukraine's two biggest gas suppliers. Throughout the crisis, Ukraine suggested it could turn to Turkmenistan to make up any losses of Russian gas supplies. That puts Turkmenistan in a difficult position as it seeks to balance its relations with two capitals: Moscow and Kyiv...(more)
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