The statement expressing Turkmenistan's intention to export gas to Europe appeared on the official Turkmenistan.ru web site on Saturday. It was rather unexpected because it came just a few days after Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov visited Moscow for talks which Russia announced had paved the way for joint development of a new $1.2 billion East-West pipeline within Turkmenistan.
The foreign ministry commentary also indicated Turkmenistan's unhappiness over price negotiations with Russia. The statement attacked the idea that international consortiums of gas producers should serve as «supranational
regulators of the price policy» — an apparent criticism of Russia's work in promoting the Gas Exporting Countries Forum – and specifically attacked monopoly practices in gas trade whilst praising competition.
Author: Ksenia Kochneva
