Medvedev seeking long-term gas co-op with Caspian states
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will propose
developing economic relations among the Caspian littoral states in
the field of gas on the basis of mid- and long-term
intergovernmental agreements, during a September 11-13 summit to be
held in the Kazakh town of Aktau.
Russia`s state news agency, ITAR-TASS, has quoted Medvedev as saying in a meeting with Alexei Miller, Chief Executive of Russian gas giant Gazprom, that this will lay the groundwork for comprehensive and long-term cooperation among the coastal nations.
Miller, for his part, said Gazprom is experienced in collaborating with companies from other Caspian states, but these relations mainly entail only commercial agreements.
The informal summit in Aktau is to be attended by the presidents of four of the five littoral states - Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.
Experts say that Russia, which earlier cooperated with its partners on the level of commercial agreements signed with the world`s major natural gas producer Gazprom, is now seeking to foster tight links with its counterparts.
Yuri Byaliya, a Russian analyst, says Moscow is looking to create a one-of-the-kind political control mechanism based on Gazprom`s contracts. On the other hand, taking gas relations to the level of intergovernmental agreements ensures political guarantees.
``The obligations of other countries to Gazprom are purely of economic nature, while those to Russia and its government are not only economic but also political. These obligations and guarantees for their enforcement have a different weight,`` Byaliya concluded.
Russia`s state news agency, ITAR-TASS, has quoted Medvedev as saying in a meeting with Alexei Miller, Chief Executive of Russian gas giant Gazprom, that this will lay the groundwork for comprehensive and long-term cooperation among the coastal nations.
Miller, for his part, said Gazprom is experienced in collaborating with companies from other Caspian states, but these relations mainly entail only commercial agreements.
The informal summit in Aktau is to be attended by the presidents of four of the five littoral states - Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.
Experts say that Russia, which earlier cooperated with its partners on the level of commercial agreements signed with the world`s major natural gas producer Gazprom, is now seeking to foster tight links with its counterparts.
Yuri Byaliya, a Russian analyst, says Moscow is looking to create a one-of-the-kind political control mechanism based on Gazprom`s contracts. On the other hand, taking gas relations to the level of intergovernmental agreements ensures political guarantees.
``The obligations of other countries to Gazprom are purely of economic nature, while those to Russia and its government are not only economic but also political. These obligations and guarantees for their enforcement have a different weight,`` Byaliya concluded.
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