Turkmen Leader to Discuss Gas Options with Armenians

Turkmen Leader to Discuss Gas Options with Armenians

Monday, 20 April, 2009
Sales of natural gas are likely to top the agenda when Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdymuhammedov visits Armenia later this year.



Berdymuhammedov announced the visit at an April 10 meeting with Armenian foreign minister Eduard Nalbandian, who was in the Turkmen capital Ashgabat to attend a meeting of foreign policy chiefs from the Commonwealth of Independent States.



NBCentral Asia observers say both countries have an interest in improving relations, as the Armenians buy Turkmen gas, which reaches them via Russian-owned pipelines.



Supplies are frequently interrupted because of the troubles relationship between Russia and Georgia, which the pipelines transit.



Yerevan also buys gas from its southern neighbour Iran, but not enough to provide for its needs. This route offers another possible way of accessing Turkmen gas. This could be done by enhancing the capacity of the existing Turkmen export pipeline to Iran.



























Turkmenistan
Frontline Updates
Support local journalists