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Yuli Timoshenko Proposes to Build New Gas Pipeline Through Azerbaijan By-Passing Russia

Other News Materials 31 January 2008 11:57 (UTC +04:00)
Yuli Timoshenko Proposes to Build New Gas Pipeline Through  Azerbaijan By-Passing Russia

The Prime Minister of Ukraine, Yuli Timoshenko, has made a proposal regarding the White Stream project envisaging the construction of a new gas pipeline through the Azerbaijani territory by-passing Russia.

Timoshenko proposed to commence the pipeline from Turkmenistan through Azerbaijan to the Georgian port of Supsa and then through the sea-bed of the Black Sea and through Crimea to the European countries. Turkmenistan is expected to supply the pipeline with fuel. It is worth mentioning that currently a gas pipeline alternative to the Timoshenko's project is being constructed. Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Russia have reached an agreement to construct a Caspian gas pipeline which will start from the Turkmenistani fields through to Kazakhstan and Russia where will join the unified gas transit system of the Russian Federation.

In a response to this statement, the Turkmenistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs made a special statement on 30 January concerning the initiative by Yuli Timoshenko to construct a new gas pipeline going through its territory to Europe by-passing Russia.

Ashgabat does not know anything about the White Stream proposal which was made by the Ukrainian Prime Minister on 28 January in Brussels whilst addressing the European Parliament, the newspaper Investiya reported in Ashgabat. Turkmenistan says that there is no point in discussing such initiative. The official statements on the construction of the international pipelines should be made by the energy-producing countries after relevant talks and consultations, the statement by the Turkmenistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The Turkmenistani people were surprised by Timoshenko's speech dedicated to the need to diversify energy supply sources. The Ukrainian Premier stressed the need to lessen its energy dependence on the one country-supplier and then proposed her own thoughts, the White Stream project, Lenta.ru said.

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