Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Dec.14 / Trend, H. Hasanov /
Turkmenistan's permanent neutrality policy is important for carrying out such initiatives as the TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) gas pipeline project, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's letter to the Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammadov published by local press on Wednesday says.
"We are pleased to see how permanent neutrality policy pursued by Turkmenistan contributes to the maintenance of peace and stability in the region. It is very important for regional economic cooperation and carrying out of such important initiatives as the TAPI gas pipeline project," the letter says.
The letter is timed to celebrations on the occasion of the 16-year anniversary of Turkmenistan's neutrality status.
"We appreciate our close and friendly relations with Turkmenistan," the letter says.
The Asian Development Bank actively promotes this project funding the preparation of its feasibility study.
The basic document to advance TAPI project is an inter-state agreement to start implementation of TAPI, signed at a high level in Ashgabat in December 2010.
After the talks between Turkmenistan and Pakistan a Joint Declaration on the sale of gas on Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline project was signed in Islamabad in November 2011. At this stage, the parties involved in the project hold negotiations on the security of transit, and resolve the funding issue.
The length of TAPI can hit more than 1,700 km, its design capacity - 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year, the cost is estimated at $7-8 billion.
The source of raw materials in addition to the Dovletabad field will be Yoloten field - one of the world's super-giants with the resources of 21.2 trillion cubic meters of gas. Turkmenistan takes active measures for its commercial development.
Instability in transit Afghanistan remains as a serious obstacle, but Kabul states that it can ensure the safety of the route. Ashgabat offered to provide its "political space" to hold inter-Afghan peace talks.