Prior to the celebrations of Turkmenistan’s 14th year of independence the 16th session of the Khalk Maslahaty was convened (please see ‘Nothing is forever, nobody is forever post 25/10/05). During the session a new law was passed which signalled some changes to the political organisation of the country. Most significantly, the president […]
The Ukrainians have gone visiting, so it was only natural the Russians would follow suit. Niyazov’s latest visitors, also in town to mark the Independence celebrations, were the Russian presidential energy envoy Igor Yusufov and Gazprom deputy CEO Alexander Ryazanov. In what was a clear dig at the Ukrainian drama, Ryazanov remarked that cooperation […]
Earlier this month, Naftohaz Ukrayiny CEO Oleksiy Ivchenko visited Ashgabat to negotiate the future of gas supplies from Turkmenistan to Ukraine. In a now-notorious televised encounter President Niyazov harangued Ivchenko over Ukraine’s alleged failure to meet the conditions of the original agreement, having failed to supply around $480 million worth of equipment.
Initially, Ukrainian Fuel […]
And so the day has finally arrived. As this post went to press, the plans were for a military parade in Ashgabat’s main square (Independence Square, fittingly), followed by some kind of theatrical performance and a festive demonstration, featuring delegations from all five regions of the country. The parade is to be headed by […]
It must be nice when a foreign politician deigns to visit your much-maligned country to tell how well it is doing, how well its people are living, and what a good job is being done all round. Perhaps less so when that politician happens to be the professional troublemaker and extreme right-winger Vladimir Zhirinovsky, […]
And so the saga of the Turkmen-Ukraine gas deal continues to plod on. This time round Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov is visiting Ashgabat in a bid to iron out the latest hitch. For those who haven’t been paying attention, Ukraine had signed an agreement with Turkmenistan to purchase 50-60 billion cubic metres of […]
Yesterday saw the opening of the 16th session of the Khalk Maslahaty (People’s Council), the highest representative and legislative body of Turkmenistan. However, it was not all plain sailing. During one debate all members of the Council, bar one, rejected a proposal that had been put forward by the President. Alas, if […]
In conjunction with the celebration of the 14th anniversary since independence the Government has held inauguration ceremonies for two new facilities in Ashgabat. Two new white marble houses have been built at either end of the city. One is a four-storey building and the other has 12 stories. The buildings are exclusively landscaped, have […]
Mahribanlarym, the new book written by president Niyazov, was released to the public last week. Its title translates as ‘dear people’. According to a press release posted at turkmenistan.ru, the main idea of the book is about “the succession of generations and never-ending connection of times “. It features a collection of poetry […]
According to RIA Novosti Turkmenistan are demanding that Ukraine pay its natural gas debt by the end of the year. The demand came during a meeting between the Ukrainian Fuel and Energy Minister, the Board Chairman of the Ukrainian national oil and gas company and President Niyazov. The Ukraine government had agreed to pay […]
