Latest Articles about Turkmenistan
NEUTRAL TURKMENISTAN PRESENTS SECURITY DILEMMA IN THE CASPIAN
On December 26 Gurbanguly Berdimukhamedov, Turkmenistan’s acting president, was shown on national television conducting meetings of the State Security Council and Cabinet of Ministers. These images showed Agagelgy Mametgeldiyev, Turkmenistan’s defense minister, seated next to Berdimukhamedov at the meeting. Although there was nothing unusual about... MORE
TURKMEN GAS PRICE HIKE: IMPLICATIONS FOR RUSSIA AND EUROPE
On June 21, the government of Turkmenistan announced that it proposes to steeply raise the price of gas it sells to Gazprom: from $65 per 1,000 cubic meters at present to $100 in the second half of 2006. The volume of deliveries would remain constant... MORE
MOSCOW, GAZPROM COMBINE TO MOVE AHEAD OF UKRAINE IN BUYING TURKMEN EXPORTS
Russia is now Turkmenistan's top foreign trade partner thanks to sizable purchases of Turkmen natural gas in the first three months of 2006. Russia imported Turkmen goods worth $754 million (or 58% of all Turkmen exports), followed by Iran ($152 million or 12%), and Turkey... MORE
TURKMENISTAN SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN ENERGY TIES WITH CHINA
Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov and Chinese President Hu Jintao signed a framework agreement on oil and gas cooperation in Beijing on April 3. Niyazov was in Beijing for a six-day visit to China. The trip underlined the growing ties between the two countries in culture,... MORE
TURKMENISTAN-CHINA GAS AGREEMENT UNREALISTICALLY AMBITIOUS
Visiting China on April 2-7, President Saparmurat Niyazov of Turkmenistan signed with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao a "general agreement" on Turkmen gas deliveries to China and construction of a pipeline to link the two countries. Turkmen state media have published the agreement's text, and... MORE
THREE PARTIES TO CONTEST UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
The March 26 parliamentary election in Ukraine will be contested by an unprecedented 45 parties and blocs, but this impressive number is misleading. Opinion polls show that over 30 of them have nothing to hope for, while four to six parties will be struggling to... MORE
TURKMEN GAS PRICE HIKE, DEBT COLLECTION CLAIMS COMPLICATE UKRAINE’S SITUATION
Turkmenistan has taken two steps in quick succession that pose severe problems for Ukraine's gas supplies. Ashgabat will raise the gas price in line with international market trends, and is demanding prompt payment of Ukraine's arrears for past deliveries of Turkmen gas. Missteps by Ukrainian... MORE
INTEREST REBOUNDS IN TRANS-CASPIAN PIPELINE FOR TURKMEN GAS
Russia's New Year "gas attack" on Ukraine and its impact on gas supplies Europe-wide has suddenly reawakened interest in obtaining direct access to the gas reserves of Turkmenistan. Such interest reemerged even before the second round of Russian gas supply shortfalls to Europe in the... MORE
TURKMENISTAN PULLS BACK FROM CIS
Turkmenistan's President Saparmurat Niyazov announced on September 1 that his country would downgrade its links with the Commonwealth of Independent States. Arguing on the basis of his avowed and UN-approved neutral status, Niyazov advanced the idea of a looser associate CIS membership, eschewing the participation... MORE
TURKMENISTAN EXPLORES EXPORT ALTERNATIVES FOR ITS NATURAL GAS
Turkmenistan has been keen to expand the export markets for its abundant natural gas resources. Not surprisingly, Turkmen authorities have been eyeing China's lucrative energy markets, although pipelines to funnel Turkmen gas to China are still at the planning stage. Last month, Turkmen President Saparmurat... MORE