The Uzbek authorities have abandoned the idea of creating a tripartite gas union with Russia and Kazakhstan, Reuters reports citing a statement by Uzbek Energy Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Zhurabek Mirzamakhmudov.
"Even if a gas agreement is signed with Russia, it does not mean an alliance," Mirzamakhmudov said.
The Uzbek minister claims that Tashkent is in dialogue with Moscow on the subject of deliveries of Russian fuel through the pipeline through the territory of Kazakhstan, but this deal will be formalized as a "technical contract" and not an alliance.
In addition, Mirzamakhmudov added that Uzbekistan would not agree to political conditions for obtaining natural resources.
Presidents Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Vladimir Putin at a meeting in the Kremlin on November 28 discussed the creation of a "tripartite gas union" with the participation of Uzbekistan to coordinate actions in the transportation of Russian gas through the territories of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Tokayev's press secretary Ruslan Zheldibay said earlier.
At the initial stage, the initiative of the gas union of Moscow, Astana and Tashkent involves the creation of a mechanism for coordinating cooperation, in which the emergence of a separate legal entity is possible, but such issues have yet to be considered, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak emphasized that the states have great potential for cooperation in this area.
In addition, Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Roman Vasilenko said that the project to create a gas alliance of the three countries should be studied at the expert level before proceeding with the implementation of the agreement. He also added that it is important for the parties to take into account the sanctions risks.
CentralasiaLIGHT.org
December 8, 2022