Uzbek President Islam Karimov (left) supported Russian policy in the Caucasus at dinner, but not at the press conference.
Photo: RIA Novosti
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Uzbek Pres. for Gas, Against Reps.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin arrived in Tashkent two days ago and yesterday concluded an agreement with Uzbek President Islam Karimov on the construction of a new natural gas pipeline across Uzbekistan, from Turkmenistan to Russia. The Uzbek president also promised Putin that “we will examine the circle of pressing timely issues that we see and observe, on which we have our own views and which we are ready not only to discuss together, but honestly to express our own position on those issues,” which, in other words, means that Uzbekistan will not lend its support to the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, at least publicly.
At the dinner for Putin in Tashkent, Karimov expressed views on the actions of the Georgian military that met with Putin’s approval. They were not captured by the television cameras, however.
Karimov was supported by Russia in 2005 after government forces shot down protesters in Andijan and sullied the regime’s image. He chose not to return the favor yet, however. Putin apparently had doubts about the country’s fulfillment of its obligations for the construction of the Prikaspiisky natural gas pipeline as well, since he said that I would like to receive confirmation from you, as president of Uzbekistan, of the implementation of those intentions, because it is important for Russia and Uzbekistan, and for Turkmenistan as well, and for our partners, including those in the West.”
The Uzbek president hinted that he did not care for the proposal to calculate the price for the gas by the European formula. The price itself, $300, is agreeable to him, being almost twice the amount the country now receives, however. In the course, of the two-hour negotiations, that question was settled, and Karimov agreed to the renovation of the Central Asia – Center-1 and Central Asia – Center-2 pipelines, which, according to Russian politicians, make the proposed Nabucco pipeline, which by passes Russia, senseless.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Sep. 03, 2008
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