Uzbeks, Kyrgyz Break Off Gas Talks
October 27, 2006
October 27, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Reports from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan say bilateral gas talks in Tashkent on October 26 ended inconclusively.
Aizada Toigonbaeva, a spokeswoman for Kyrgyzstan's Kyrgyzgas national gas company, told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service that talks will resume soon.
"The parties did not reach a consensus on that issue," Toigonbaeva said. "Talks will continue, although it is still unclear when exactly. So far there is no agreement."
Kyrgyz media say the consultations are an attempt to get a reduction on the new price that Uzbekistan plans to charge its foreign customers.
Tashkent has said that it will increase the price of its natural-gas supplies to $100 per 1,000 cubic meters from the current $55-$60 starting on January 1.
Kyrgyzstan has hinted that it might, in return, increase the price of its considerable electricity supplies to Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan exports gas to Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Russia.
(RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service with 24.kg and press-uz.info)