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Big news from the former Soviet Union:
Turkmenistan’s President-for-life Saparmurat Niyazov died suddenly on Thursday after 21 years of iron rule, raising a risk of political instability in the energy-rich country that some feared could have an impact on Europe’s gas supplies.
THE HAGUE, March 4, 2003 – The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Netherlands Foreign Minister Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, met Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashid Meredov on Monday in Ashgabad to discuss a number of issues, including human rights, terrorism and future co-operation between the OSCE and Turkmenistan.
“It is clear after my discussion with President Niyazov that the President of Turkmenistan is willing to continue dialogue with the OSCE – even if different opinions exist about the situation in the country and if mutual criticism is expressed,” said Minister de Hoop Scheffer, stressing the importance of keeping communication lines open between the OSCE and Turkmenistan.
Oct. 22, 2004 – PRESIDENT OF TURKMENISTAN RECEIVED NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JAAP DE HOOP SCHEFFER
“Turkmenistan understands NATO’s plans to prevent possible conflicts in Central Asia, a region with an uneasy situation,” Saparmurat Turkmenbashi noted at the talks. “Moreover, our country, proceeding from its neutral status and based on equality, is ready to expand relations,” the president said. The head of state praised the results of constructive cooperation with NATO in such areas as science, training of military specialists, security and the fight against drug trafficking.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan Sept. 9, 2005 – Ashgabat seems to be drastically changing its foreign policy. One of the Turkmenistan vice-premiers came to the CIS summit in Kazan to announce the republic would abandon the Commonwealth to have just associated membership. The Turkmen Government is obviously seeking separation from Russia and wants to be closer to the US to get secure against a revolution in the republic. It is not ruled out that the Turkmen president has struck a deal with the American Administration as a result of which the republic must abandon the CIS and allow Americans to deploy their bases on the Turkmenistan territory, and in return the US helps Niyazov remain the president.
July 26, 2006 – Is there a relationship between the bombing of Lebanon and the inauguration of the World’s largest strategic pipeline, which will channel more than a million barrels of oil a day to Western markets?
Virtually unnoticed, the inauguration of the Ceyhan-Tblisi-Baku (BTC) oil pipeline, which links the Caspian sea to the Eastern Mediterranean, took place on the 13th of July, at the very outset of the Israeli sponsored bombings of Lebanon.
One day before the Israeli air strikes, the main partners and shareholders of the BTC pipeline project, including several heads of State and oil company executives were in attendance at the port of Ceyhan. They were then rushed off for an inauguration reception in Istanbul, hosted by Turkey’s President Ahmet Necdet Sezer in the plush surroundings of the Çýraðan Palace.
Also in attendance was British Petroleum’s (BP) CEO, Lord Browne together with senior government officials from Britain, the US and Israel. BP leads the BTC pipeline consortium. Other major Western shareholders include Chevron, Conoco-Phillips, France’s Total and Italy’s ENI. Israel’s Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Binyamin Ben-Eliezer was present at the venue together with a delegation of top Israeli oil officials.
The BTC pipeline totally bypasses the territory of the Russian Federation. It transits through the former Soviet republics of Azerbaijan and Georgia, both of which have become US “protectorates”, firmly integrated into a military alliance with the US and NATO. Moreover, both Azerbaijan and Georgia have longstanding military cooperation agreements with Israel.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan June 30, 2006 – Ukrainian Fuel and Energy Minister Ivan Plachkov arrived in Ashgabat on June 29, as Turkmenistan and Gazprom both reported that negotiations between Gazprom Chairman Aleksei Miller and Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov were “broken off.” Gazprom’s press release stated that the breakdown occurred after the sides “failed to reach an agreement” over Turkmenistan’s insistence that Gazprom pay $100 per 1,000 cubic meters for 2007 shipments and additional 2006 shipments. Until now, Gazprom has paid $65 per 1,000 cubic meters of Turkmen gas. Turkmenistan’s official TDH news agency reported that Turkmenistan will finish deliveries of a previously contracted 30 billion cubic meters (bcm) at $65 per 1,000 cubic meters by September. After that, Turkmenistan threatened, it will halt shipments to Russia.
Dec. 18, 2006 – The head of state briefed the guest on the main areas of social-economic reforms implemented in Turkmenistan paying particular attention to the prospects of development of the fuel-energy complex, including construction of new export pipelines. Having expressed EU member-states interest in receiving Turkmen gas, Pierre Morel noted the desire of the EU to establish mutually beneficial partnership with Turkmenistan in this strategic sphere. Discussing the prospects of cooperation, the sides exchanged views on the possibility of transportation of Turkmen natural gas to the European market.
Gazprom takes majority stake in Sachalin II multibillion LNG project
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."