Turkmenistan, UN Discuss Gas Project, Humanitarian Aid To Afghanistan
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22 October 2001

Turkmen President Niyazov and UN Deputy Secretary-General Kenzo Oshima discussed the current operation to deliver humanitarian aid to Afghanistan in Ashgabat on 21 October.

Niyazov also asked the UN to consider the possibility of implementing a gas pipeline project through Afghanistan to Pakistan. The notion of a pipeline from natural gas-rich Turkmenistan to Pakistan via Afghanistan was floated before the fundamentalist Taliban militia came to power in Afghanistan five years ago (Interfax, AP)

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Bread In Exchange For Natural Gas
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26 October 2001

Sources close to the Turkmen government report that R. Saparov, the vice premier and agriculture minister of Turkmenistan, has been secretly holding negotiations with the Itera company management in Moscow. He is trying to reach an agreement with Itera on their purchase of 1.2 million tons of wheat from Russia in exchange for Turkmen natural gas supplies.

The major Turkmen condition and the reason for secrecy is Saparov's recent report to the "lovely leader" on the completion and harvesting of 2 million tons of wheat by Turkmen farmers this year, which would be enough for the state's population. In fact, 700,000 tons of wheat, three times less, were harvested. The badly needed 1.3 million tons of wheat are supposed to be secretly purchased from Russia.

The food crisis could change the situation in the relations between Russia and Turkmenistan. Moscow can now dictate its conditions, as far as the wheat-gas deal is concerned. If Niyazov finds out that Turkmenistan might face a shortage of bread this year instead of "fulfillment of wheat harvest," Saparov will have a hard time.

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Turkmenistan: Iran's Oil Minister Interested In Pipeline Projects
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Islamabad, 21 August 1996 (RFE/RL) -- Iran's oil minister hopes to conclude an agreement to build a $1 billion oil refinery in Pakistan and says Iran is interested in pipeline projects for supply of gas and oil to Pakistan from Qatar, Oman or Turkmenistan, according to reports.

Gholam Reza Aghazadeh is visiting Pakistan, with which Teheran is eager to improve trade and economic ties. Aghazadeh met yesterday in Islamabad with President Farooq Ahmed Leghari, who praised a recently established rail link between Iran and Central Asia.

Iran's IRNA news agency says Iran's state-owned oil company plans to increase its overseas operations and has an agreement to explore for oil in Senegal. The head of the company exploration section, Mehmedi Hosseini, said the company has signed agreements with Russia and Turkmenistan for offshore exploration in the Caspian Sea.

Article: War Alters Caspian Equation
http://www.iht.com/articles/37312.html

Article: After War, World Economy Less Reliant on Middle East
http://www.iranexpert.com/oilterror14october.htm

Article: Caspian Balance of Power Likely to Shift in Wake of Attacks on US
http://www.iranexpert.com/russiaoil1october.htm

Turkmenistan-China-Japan Pipeline Deal Signed
http://www.bisnis.doc.gov/bisnis/country/000801txener.htm