Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA1207
2007-05-18 14:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY ASKS FOR ASSISTANCE ON TURKMEN GAS
how-toVZCZCXRO9808 PP RUEHAG RUEHDBU RUEHROV DE RUEHAK #1207 1381416 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 181416Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2171 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT PRIORITY 1940 RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA PRIORITY 0012 RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU PRIORITY 1493 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 5552
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001207
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
EEB FOR A/S SULLIVAN
EUR FOR DAS BRYZA
SCA FOR DAS MANN
DOE FOR DAS HEGBURG
USTDA FOR DAN STEIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2017
TAGS: EPET ECIN PREL AJ TX KZ RS TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY ASKS FOR ASSISTANCE ON TURKMEN GAS
REF: ANKARA 1121
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney, reasons 1.4 (b/d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001207
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
EEB FOR A/S SULLIVAN
EUR FOR DAS BRYZA
SCA FOR DAS MANN
DOE FOR DAS HEGBURG
USTDA FOR DAN STEIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2017
TAGS: EPET ECIN PREL AJ TX KZ RS TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY ASKS FOR ASSISTANCE ON TURKMEN GAS
REF: ANKARA 1121
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney, reasons 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) Summary: MFA U/S Apakan expressed concern about the
Turkmenistan-Kazakhstan-Russia gas deal and told Ambassador
that Turkey wants closer collaboration with the US on access
to Turkmen gas. Ambassador offered to provide what
information we have about the Russian agreement and
encouraged Apakan to engage quickly with Azerbaijan to get
Azeri gas flowing into Turkey and beyond. Ambassador
suggested that the Caspian Petronas gas field was a potential
source for Turkish imports and urged that Turkey discuss this
with Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. They agreed that the June
5 EU-Turkey Energy Summit was a good opportunity to urge a
more activist posture from the EC on the "southern gas
corridor." End summary
2. (C) As a part of a broader May 15 discussion, Apakan asked
what we know about the Russian agreement to purchase Turkmen
natural gas, including the volume and timing of deliveries,
the pipeline, and what Turkmenistan's real production
capacities will be in the 2012-2015 timeframe. Working on
the Turkmen gas issue has become a top MFA priority, he said,
and will be discussed at the EU-Turkey Energy Summit on June
5 in Istanbul and in the June 25 Black Sea Economic
Cooperation (BSEC) Summit, also to be hosted by the GOT in
Istanbul. Turkey wants closer cooperation with US on the
acquisition of Central Asian energy, Apakan told Ambassador,
and hopes there is room to work together on Turkmenistan
sources. The MFA had heard that Amb. Steve Mann might be
traveling to Ashgabat soon, and would welcome any input
before or after his trip.
3. (C) Ambassador told Apakan that the details of the Russian
agreement were not clear, but items mentioned were not
surprising, having already been under discussion. He offered
to convey any information we receive on the deal, as well as
information on Turkmenistan's future production potential.
Ambassador emphasized that this appeared to be a political
declaration rather than a commercial agreement. He noted
Turkmenistan has problems sustaining what production it
currently has primarily because it has not invested enough.
Ambassador recalled his recent discussions with Energy
Minister Guler (reftel) in which he emphasized a key variable
for promoting egress of Turkmen gas via the Trans-Caspian
Pipeline (TCP) was getting Azeri gas flowing to and beyond
Turkey. He encouraged Apakan to engage at a senior level
with the Azeris as soon as possible on obtaining gas supplies
and a long-term transit agreement. Ambassador also suggested
that Turkey discuss with Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and
Petronas the potential for westward shipments from the
Caspian Petronas field which we understand may not feed into
the Russian deal.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
EEB FOR A/S SULLIVAN
EUR FOR DAS BRYZA
SCA FOR DAS MANN
DOE FOR DAS HEGBURG
USTDA FOR DAN STEIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2017
TAGS: EPET ECIN PREL AJ TX KZ RS TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY ASKS FOR ASSISTANCE ON TURKMEN GAS
REF: ANKARA 1121
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney, reasons 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) Summary: MFA U/S Apakan expressed concern about the
Turkmenistan-Kazakhstan-Russia gas deal and told Ambassador
that Turkey wants closer collaboration with the US on access
to Turkmen gas. Ambassador offered to provide what
information we have about the Russian agreement and
encouraged Apakan to engage quickly with Azerbaijan to get
Azeri gas flowing into Turkey and beyond. Ambassador
suggested that the Caspian Petronas gas field was a potential
source for Turkish imports and urged that Turkey discuss this
with Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. They agreed that the June
5 EU-Turkey Energy Summit was a good opportunity to urge a
more activist posture from the EC on the "southern gas
corridor." End summary
2. (C) As a part of a broader May 15 discussion, Apakan asked
what we know about the Russian agreement to purchase Turkmen
natural gas, including the volume and timing of deliveries,
the pipeline, and what Turkmenistan's real production
capacities will be in the 2012-2015 timeframe. Working on
the Turkmen gas issue has become a top MFA priority, he said,
and will be discussed at the EU-Turkey Energy Summit on June
5 in Istanbul and in the June 25 Black Sea Economic
Cooperation (BSEC) Summit, also to be hosted by the GOT in
Istanbul. Turkey wants closer cooperation with US on the
acquisition of Central Asian energy, Apakan told Ambassador,
and hopes there is room to work together on Turkmenistan
sources. The MFA had heard that Amb. Steve Mann might be
traveling to Ashgabat soon, and would welcome any input
before or after his trip.
3. (C) Ambassador told Apakan that the details of the Russian
agreement were not clear, but items mentioned were not
surprising, having already been under discussion. He offered
to convey any information we receive on the deal, as well as
information on Turkmenistan's future production potential.
Ambassador emphasized that this appeared to be a political
declaration rather than a commercial agreement. He noted
Turkmenistan has problems sustaining what production it
currently has primarily because it has not invested enough.
Ambassador recalled his recent discussions with Energy
Minister Guler (reftel) in which he emphasized a key variable
for promoting egress of Turkmen gas via the Trans-Caspian
Pipeline (TCP) was getting Azeri gas flowing to and beyond
Turkey. He encouraged Apakan to engage at a senior level
with the Azeris as soon as possible on obtaining gas supplies
and a long-term transit agreement. Ambassador also suggested
that Turkey discuss with Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and
Petronas the potential for westward shipments from the
Caspian Petronas field which we understand may not feed into
the Russian deal.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON