The Kremlin is growing nervous about Turkmenistan's coy approach to energy exports. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was hoping to secure a firm commitment to a Russian pipeline plan for the Caspian Basin from Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov. But talks in Moscow on March 25 merely yielded agreement that more discussions were necessary.
A source described the meeting as "difficult," adding that the two presidents focused on the issue of Turkmenistan's participation in the Prikaspiiski pipeline project. Medvedev reportedly implored Berdymukhamedov to accelerate the pace of work on the 500-kilometer Turkmen segment of the project.
A Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs source involved in preparation for Berdymukhamedov's visit told newspaper Kommersant on March 25 that Moscow is increasingly wary of Turkmenistan's "multi-vector" energy policy. The Prikaspiiski project was announced in 2007, but little substantive work has been done to turn the plan into reality.
