AZERBAIJAN: Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan presidents meet for the first time in 12 years, boosting EU gas hopes

Record ID: 218128

  • Title: AZERBAIJAN: Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan presidents meet for the first time in 12 years, boosting EU gas hopes
  • Date: 21st May 2008
  • Summary: MILITARY GUARD OF HONOUR STANDING TO ATTENTION MOTORCADE ARRIVING AT AZERI PRESIDENTIAL PALACE AZERI PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV GREETING BERDYMUKHAMEDOV AZERI PRESIDENTIAL PALACE WITH GUARDS OF HONOUR MARCHING GUARDS MARCHING TO MUSIC ALIYEV AND BERDYMUKHAMEDOV WATCHING PARADE GUARD OF HONOUR MARCHING
  • Embargoed: 5th June 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Azerbaijan
  • Country: Azerbaijan
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA79LO7BCMUPWSDRB54VRCDSPTL
  • Story Text: The leaders of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan have met for the first time in 12 years.
    The meeting, which took place on Monday (May 19) in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku, also served to raise European Union hopes for an alternative gas route that could bypass Russia.
    Turkmenistan - a desert nation which borders Iran and Afghanistan - and Azerbaijan, are central to the EU's plans to reduce its energy reliance on Russia which supplies a quarter of Europe's needs.
    Europe wants to pump Central Asian gas to its cities along a pipeline that crosses the Caucasus.
    The Azeri and Turkmen leaders agreed to develop a transport corridor on Monday and to discuss their own Caspian Sea oil field disputes.
    The EU had become concerned about its dependency on Russia after Moscow reduced gas supplies following a dispute with Ukraine - through which around 80 percent of EU gas travels.
    Turkmen president Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has had a less isolationist approach to his predecessor and has been trying to mend relationships with Turkmenistan's neighbours since taking power in 2007. Both the Azeri and Turkmen leaders said they wanted to improve relations.
    The majority of Turkmenistan's gas currently travels north to Europe through Russia's network of pipes. In April the EU announced a gas deal with Turkmenistan as part of a plan to source its energy from more countries. Baku hosts the start of a gas pipeline -- the South Caucasus Pipeline -- which pumps gas to Turkey where it is transported further on to Europe.
    A major issue will be how to transport Turkmen gas to the start of the pipeline, either by ferrying it across the Caspian Sea or by building a new pipeline from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan along the seabed - both expensive options.
    Turkmenistan, estimated to hold one of the world's biggest gas reserves has also made recent deals with Russia.
    Last year the Central Asian states agreed to build a new pipeline to pump gas north to Russia.
    According to analysts, the main benefit for Turkmenistan from the talks with Azerbaijan would be in an improved position in future negotiations with Russia over transit routes.
    The Azeri and Turkmen presidents also discussed disputed oilfields in the Caspian Sea along with other trade and diplomatic links between the two countries.
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