The US policy regarding the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline running via Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and turkey remains unchanged. "US supports this route," Steven Mann, the first deputy assistant of US Secretary of State on South and central Asia, stated in an interview with ITAR-TASS. He was commenting on the possibility of reanimation of the project which was supported by the US Administration in 1999-2000 and a consortium was established in this respect. The implementation of the project was ceased at the initiative of former President of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat Niyazov, due to disagreement with sponsors' commercial inquiries.
Mann, who has recently met with the President of Turkmenistan, Gurbangulu Berdimuhammadov, gave a briefing at the culre and information Center of the US embassy in Ashgabad. In 1998-2000 Mann was the US Ambassador to Turkmenistan.
"The President of Turkmenistan is interested in the construction of alternative pipelines, including the Trans-Caspian direction," Mann noted. The Trans-Caspian variant is the most profitable and commercially feasible route for export of Turkmen gas". The US supports other pipeline project of Turkmenistan - the Trans- Afghan route to Pakistan and India, as well as the pipeline in the direction of China. "2007 was a very important year for Turkmenistan," Mann stated, voicing his hope that President Berdimuhammadov will offer favorable facilities for American and international business to participate in all commercial profitable projects in Turkmenistan. At the same time he reminded that in accordance with the US policy and laws, the routes running via Iran cannot be reasonable for private companies.