The recent meting between Turkmenistan president Niyazov and Deputy Assistant... (1 Viewer)

[Heisser]

The recent meting between Turkmenistan president Niyazov and Deputy Assistant State Secretary for South and Central Asia Affairs Stephen Mann could end in a grandiose scandal. Americans made a try to act as a mediatory in the interests of Ukraine. How’s very interesting!
The fact is that State Department representative tried to press Niyazov in his gas dispute with Ukraine. Mann called upon retrial of Turkmenistan position in policy of gas prices towards Ukraine. Well, I think that Mann made it following Ukraine president Yuschenko’s personal request. Moreover much to Mann’s surprise Niyazov reacted to it roughly and negatively. He accused Ukraine side and Yuschenko personally in attempt of intervention into home affairs of Turkmenistan. Niyazov supposed that his refusal can now provoke an America sponsored attempt to make power change in Turkmenistan! Why not. America hates those not bending her.

 

[Volker]

This was not a easy thing to do for Mr. Mann, but I guess he has lived in Ashgabat long enough to know, what it possible and what not.

The reaction on Mr. Yushchenko's phone call last year was rather direct.

On June 20, Turkmenistan publicized the scolding administered that same day by President Saparmurat Niyazov to Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko personally by telephone and to a delegation of Ukraine's state oil and gas company Naftohaz Ukrainy in Ashgabat. As cited by a government press release, and shown live on state television, Niyazov used such words as "cheating," "fooling," "swindle," and "fraud." Turkmenistan will supply the agreed volumes of gas provided that Ukraine fulfills its own commitments, he declared. "We can no longer work like this," he warned (Turkmen Television, June 20; Interfax-Ukraine, June 21).

http://jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=407&issue_id=3377&article_id=2369922