Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TASHKENT1048
2008-09-11 11:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:  

UZBEK DEPUTY FM DENIES GAS DEAL SIGNED WITH RUSSIA

Tags:  ENRG EPET PREL PGOV UZ RS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0579
PP RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHNT #1048 2551132
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 111132Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0271
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 001048 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2018
TAGS: ENRG EPET PREL PGOV UZ RS
SUBJECT: UZBEK DEPUTY FM DENIES GAS DEAL SIGNED WITH RUSSIA

REF: MOSCOW 2633

Classified By: P-E Chief Nicholas Berliner for reasons 1.4 b/d.

C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 001048

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2018
TAGS: ENRG EPET PREL PGOV UZ RS
SUBJECT: UZBEK DEPUTY FM DENIES GAS DEAL SIGNED WITH RUSSIA

REF: MOSCOW 2633

Classified By: P-E Chief Nicholas Berliner for reasons 1.4 b/d.


1. (C) In a September 8 meeting with Ambassador, Uzbek Deputy
Foreign Minister Nematov denied that Uzbekistan had "signed"
an agreement with Russia for construction of a new gas
pipeline during Russian PM Putin's Sept. 2 visit to Tashkent.
Nematov said that talks were on-going with Russia on the
issue, but added that "there's always talk of pipelines."


2. (C) The proposed pipeline is intended to carry 30
bcm/year and would follow the right of way of an existing
Soviet-era pipeline from Turkmenistan, through Uzbekistan and
Kazakhstan, to Russia. Russian companies are actively
developing fields in Uzbekistan, increasing Uzbekistan's
potential to export a resource that, until now, has largely
gone to domestic consumption.


3. (C) Comment: Nematov's remarks seem to indicate that the
GOU is in no particular hurry to reach a deal, surprising
given the backdrop of Russian political pressure over Georgia
that the GOU has thus far resisted. Nevertheless, we should
not assume that Uzbekistan, landlocked and anxious to
diversify its economy, will not find Putin's promise of
"European pricing" for its gas too sweet to resist. The
Russian Ambassador noted to us on Sept. 10 that he certainly
expects a deal ultimately to materialize.
NORLAND