-Caveat Lector- http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_28-12-2002_pg1_1
Trans-Afghan gas pipeline deal signed * Jamali says the accord will draw foreign investors ASHGABAT: The leaders of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkmenistan on Friday reached a long- awaited agreement for a pipeline to carry Turkmenistan’s natural gas to the Indian Ocean via Afghanistan and Pakistan. Afghan interim leader Hamid Karzai, Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali and Turkmen President Suparmurat Nayazov signed the ambitious accord to build a 1,500-km two billion dollars trans-Afghan gas pipeline. “We are glad that this important agreement has been signed, as this is a significant step towards the realization of the project,” Turkmenistan’s Nayazov said. The feasibility study for the link, carried out by the ADB, would be completed by July/August 2003, after which the international companies would have the chance to form a consortium to develop the project, he noted. A Turkish company, Chalyk Holding, has said it was ready to participate in the construction of the pipeline, he said. The pipelines deal to connect Dauletabad gas fields to seaports in Pakistan across the mountains of Afghanistan brought to an end 20 years of laborious negotiations mired in regional conflicts. Analysts have said the pipeline would open up Turkmenistan’s vast natural gas reserves to the wider world for the first time and would attract millions of dollars of transit tariffs to Afghanistan’s ruined economy. However, industrial experts say that the pipeline, which could have a capacity of 20 billion cubic metres, will only be feasible if it supplies gas to India as well as Pakistan, but tensions between the two nations are high. Nayazov said the three leaders hoped that the Indian leadership would join in the project. “We will be working on this and making every effort,” he said. The three countries are still in talks with the ADB and other multinational lending agencies on whether the pipeline can be extended to India, according to an official in Islamabad quoting Thursday by the specialist International Oil Daily. Jamali said the signing of the accord would “draw foreign investors to the project.” Karzai for his part said that the pipeline project woul serve the energy needs of all three countries and “help improve the situation in the region and bring economic growth to our states.” The three leaders will meet again in Kabul on September 2003, Nayazov said. —AFP Daily Times - All Rights Reserved Forwarded for your information. The text and intent of the article have to stand on their own merits. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe simply because it has been handed down for many genera- tions. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of teachers, elders or wise men. Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all. Then accept it and live up to it." The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sutra <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http://archive.jab.org/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http://archive.jab.org/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
