The leaders of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India gathered in Ashgabat in December to sign an agreement for the new TAPI transnational pipeline named for their countries. President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov had spearheaded the effort to revive the long-languishing project that has always foundered on the issue of stability in the war-torn regions through which it must pass.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul met with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov on November 12 in the Caspian resort city of Turkmenbashi, state and regional media reported. The Turkmen leader said relations between the two countries "have a great future," especially given the trade turnover of more than $2 billion this year, with 600 Turkish companies registered in Turkmenistan.
Within a week of meetings on October 21-22 between Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry blasted the Kremlin for misleading statements in the Russian media about the talks.
Energy ministers from the four countries involved in the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline decided to invite a "global energy giant" to bid on implementation of the project, the Hindu Times and other India media reported this week.
