EU suggests integrated gas market to Turkmenistan.

16/1 Tass 189a

ASHGABAD, January 16 (Itar-Tass) - The European Union suggests
Turkmenistan an integrated gas market which will be predictable and where
laws are respected, while all participants observe understandings and
contracts.
This is very important for taking strategic decisions, said European
Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, summing up the results of talks
on Saturday with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov. They
centred on prospects for Turkmen gas deliveries to Europe.
Prospects are optimistic: we have achieved full concurrence of
interests on diversification of gas export routes, Barroso summed up,
adding that this is not spearheaded against anybody. We respect and value
all our partners. It's useful to have a high level of diversification at
the market of energy carriers, which increases reliability and security,
he emphasised.
Words by the Turkmen president are very important for the EU: he said
that the country is open and is ready to supply gas to Europe, the
European Commission president noted. Sure, Turkmenistan can do this,
possessing world gas reserves. There are also versions of deliveries, one
of which is discussed more specifically - a trans-Caspian gas pipeline.
Following my contacts in Baku and Ashgabat, Barroso summed up the
results of his trip to the two gas-exporting countries, we witness a clot
of energy, opening a new stage in relations, which will tell on specific
projects with involvement of investments and technologies.
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