Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BAKU2
2009-01-02 08:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baku
Cable title:
AZERBAIJAN: TURKMAN AMBASSADOR POSITIVE ON ENERGY
how-toVZCZCXRO8605 RR RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHKB #0002 0020832 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 020832Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY BAKU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0563 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000002
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL TX AJ ENRG
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: TURKMAN AMBASSADOR POSITIVE ON ENERGY
COOPERATION, BILATERAL RELATIONS
Classified By: A/DCM Alan Eyre, Reasons 2.4 (b,d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000002
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL TX AJ ENRG
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: TURKMAN AMBASSADOR POSITIVE ON ENERGY
COOPERATION, BILATERAL RELATIONS
Classified By: A/DCM Alan Eyre, Reasons 2.4 (b,d)
1. (C) SUMMARY. According to the Turkmenistan Ambassador to
Azerbaijan, the November 28-29 trilateral Heads of State
Summit in Ashgabat with GOAJ President Aliyev and GOT
President Gul was a "historic" first step in energy
cooperation among the three countries. Turkmenistan is eager
to share its vast hydrocarbon resources with the world and
will continue to seek to diversify export routes in all
directions, including westwards, while keeping with its
policy of selling gas at its border. He praised the US for
its cooperation and engagement with Turkmenistan and called
for more US investment. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) On December 5 Ambassador Derse met with the
Turkmenistan Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Annamamed Mammedov.
EnergyOff was notetaker.
3. (C) As it was their first meeting since he arrived in Baku
, Mammedov gave the Ambassador an extensive tour
d,horizon, of contemporary Turkmenistan, emphasizing
GOTX,s desires for good relations with the USG, its desire
for strong US commercial presence and US financial
investment in Turkmenistan, and its desire to strengthen
both it energy sector and its non-energy sector, for which it
would need international expertise. He referred to December
12 as being the thirteenth anniversary of GOTX,s
neutrality policy,, and stressed its desire to be a good
neighbor to all in the region, and to facilitate regional
cooperation.
4. (C) On relations with Azerbaijan, he said that when the
GOTX and GOAJ Presidents met in Saint Petersburg in 2007 the
relationship turned a corner,, leading to the exchange of
historic HOS visits in 2008. Trade between the two
countries, mostly oil, chemical products and energy sector
equipment, has also increased substantially, and will
continue to do so. The two Presidents, along with President
Gul, all agreed in their Ashgabat meeting that cross-Caspian
transportation of GOTX hydrocarbons to Europe was important,
and that the three countries would proceed accordingly.
European countries also need to become more involved, as
Turkmenistan 'has to wait for a buyer for its gas' before it
can continue. This Ashgabat trilateral HOS meeting was
'historic,' with each President laying out his country,s
position on regional energy issues in a spirit of
cooperation, and as such it was a necessary first step.
5. (C) When asked about delimitation and the possibility of
increased energy cooperation with Azerbaijan, to include
cross-Caspian hydrocarbon transportation, Mammedov said that
Turkmenistan was improving its ports, rail infrastructure and
cargo vessels, and that the two countries were in active
negotiations to reach an agreement and to create a mechanism
for delimitation. He said that the 'intentions were key,' and
that there was no tension on either side, that there has been
progress, and that 'desire will bring resolution' of the
issue.
6 (C) Turkmenistan has 28 offshore blocks, and much
hydrocarbon assets on land too, which it is just starting to
explore and develop. Turkmenistan,s hydrocarbon assets will
be 'a benefit to the whole world.' The GOTX seeks
diversification of its energy export routes, to include
westwards, and is looking to cooperate with all
international energy companies and countries, keeping with
its policy of selling gas at its border. From 2009, GOTX
will be getting 'international prices' for its gas.
LU
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL TX AJ ENRG
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: TURKMAN AMBASSADOR POSITIVE ON ENERGY
COOPERATION, BILATERAL RELATIONS
Classified By: A/DCM Alan Eyre, Reasons 2.4 (b,d)
1. (C) SUMMARY. According to the Turkmenistan Ambassador to
Azerbaijan, the November 28-29 trilateral Heads of State
Summit in Ashgabat with GOAJ President Aliyev and GOT
President Gul was a "historic" first step in energy
cooperation among the three countries. Turkmenistan is eager
to share its vast hydrocarbon resources with the world and
will continue to seek to diversify export routes in all
directions, including westwards, while keeping with its
policy of selling gas at its border. He praised the US for
its cooperation and engagement with Turkmenistan and called
for more US investment. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) On December 5 Ambassador Derse met with the
Turkmenistan Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Annamamed Mammedov.
EnergyOff was notetaker.
3. (C) As it was their first meeting since he arrived in Baku
, Mammedov gave the Ambassador an extensive tour
d,horizon, of contemporary Turkmenistan, emphasizing
GOTX,s desires for good relations with the USG, its desire
for strong US commercial presence and US financial
investment in Turkmenistan, and its desire to strengthen
both it energy sector and its non-energy sector, for which it
would need international expertise. He referred to December
12 as being the thirteenth anniversary of GOTX,s
neutrality policy,, and stressed its desire to be a good
neighbor to all in the region, and to facilitate regional
cooperation.
4. (C) On relations with Azerbaijan, he said that when the
GOTX and GOAJ Presidents met in Saint Petersburg in 2007 the
relationship turned a corner,, leading to the exchange of
historic HOS visits in 2008. Trade between the two
countries, mostly oil, chemical products and energy sector
equipment, has also increased substantially, and will
continue to do so. The two Presidents, along with President
Gul, all agreed in their Ashgabat meeting that cross-Caspian
transportation of GOTX hydrocarbons to Europe was important,
and that the three countries would proceed accordingly.
European countries also need to become more involved, as
Turkmenistan 'has to wait for a buyer for its gas' before it
can continue. This Ashgabat trilateral HOS meeting was
'historic,' with each President laying out his country,s
position on regional energy issues in a spirit of
cooperation, and as such it was a necessary first step.
5. (C) When asked about delimitation and the possibility of
increased energy cooperation with Azerbaijan, to include
cross-Caspian hydrocarbon transportation, Mammedov said that
Turkmenistan was improving its ports, rail infrastructure and
cargo vessels, and that the two countries were in active
negotiations to reach an agreement and to create a mechanism
for delimitation. He said that the 'intentions were key,' and
that there was no tension on either side, that there has been
progress, and that 'desire will bring resolution' of the
issue.
6 (C) Turkmenistan has 28 offshore blocks, and much
hydrocarbon assets on land too, which it is just starting to
explore and develop. Turkmenistan,s hydrocarbon assets will
be 'a benefit to the whole world.' The GOTX seeks
diversification of its energy export routes, to include
westwards, and is looking to cooperate with all
international energy companies and countries, keeping with
its policy of selling gas at its border. From 2009, GOTX
will be getting 'international prices' for its gas.
LU