From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Mon Nov 13 2000 - 16:01:44 EST
Kazakh-Uzbek talks discuss Uzbek gas supplies, debts to Kazakhstan
Text of report by Kazakh Khabar TV on 9th November
[Presenter] Supplying Uzbek gas to southern Kazakh regions was discussed in
Tashkent today. Deputy Prime Minister Daniyal Akhmetov led our government
delegation in the talks with the Uzbek side. Abdez Rakhmanuly reports by
telephone:
[Correspondent, over video of still photo of correspondent, industrial
facilities, Tashkent streets] The meeting of the intergovernmental
delegations was expected about three weeks ago, but it was delayed for
unknown reasons.
We learnt that the main issue was the supply of Uzbek gas to Kazakhstan's
southern regions. Uzbekistan currently sells 1,000 cu.m. of gas for 35
dollars on the border. The Uztransgaz [Uzbek Gas Transport] company is
going to increase the price by 15 dollars from the New Year.
The delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Daniyal Akhmetov will try to
keep the price down. So far it is not clear what will happen. Some experts
think that Uzbekistan will not back down.
The meeting will also discuss the Uzbek railmen's debt of 1,682,000 dollars
to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy [Kazakhstan Railways]. The Uzbek Xalqaro-Telecom
telecommunications operator also owes Kaztelecom over 4m dollars, a debt
that it ran up over more than 18 months.
Source: Khabar TV, Almaty, in Russian 1500 gmt 09 Nov 00
BBC Mon CAU 101100 ker/nb
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