Thursday, February 16, 2012

Afghanistan

Ukrainian FM, Afghan President Discuss Energy Ties

Afghan President Hamid Karzai (epa)

KABUL, July 14, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and Afghan President Hamid Karzai met today in the Afghan capital Kabul for talks on energy cooperation.

TEXT SIZE - +

July 14, 2007

RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service reports the two officials discussed the participation of Ukrainian companies in the development of gas fields in Afghanistan, according to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.

Yatsenyuk traveled to Kabul following talks in Ashgabat with Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov.

Yatsenyuk said Ukraine sees Turkmenistan as not only an important energy partner but as an "important partner" on humanitarian, information, and construction projects.

Ukraine And European Energy Security

A worker inspects a gas facility outside of Kyiv (epa file photo)

MURKY CONNECTIONS. A year after the so-called gas war between Moscow and Kyiv, energy transhipments from Russia to Europe via Ukraine remain a concern. On December 1, RFE/RL's Washington office hosted a briefing featuring Tom Mayne, an energy researcher for the London-based Global Witness. Mayne discussed the lack of transparency in the energy sectors of Ukraine, Russia, and gas supplier Turkmenistan.

LISTEN

Listen to the entire briefing (about 60 minutes):
Real Audio Windows Media

Neighbors Watch As Russia Moves Toward WTO Membership

Kyiv Announces Terms Of New Russian Gas Deal

Former U.S. Ambassador Says Kyiv Can Cope With Gas Price Rise

ARCHIVE

RFE/RL's English-language coverage of Ukraine, Russia, and Turkmenistan.

A vendor in the central Bosnian town of Zenica sells heart-shaped cushions with proclamations of love for 1 euro each.

Love It (Or Hate It), It's Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day, the Western holiday celebrating love, has become a global phenomenon over the past two decades. The fall of communism and the emergence of the Internet have helped February 14 become something of an unofficial international day of romance. However, not all the passions the holiday stirs are related to love. While some countries have openly embraced the holiday, others are attempting to ban it or replace it with local customs. More

Gasoline prices have risen dramatically in Pakistan in recent years

In Pakistan, Cleaner Fuel Powers Supply, Safety Issues

Rising fuel prices have pushed Pakistan to become a global leader in using compressed natural gas (CNG) to fuel vehicles. More

Family members of missing Baluchs, mostly political activists, rally in protest on the eve of international Human Rights Day in Quetta, Balochistan, on December 10, 2011.

U.S. Hearing On Balochistan Raises Hackles, Awareness

The U.S. Congressional hearing last week on Balochistan, the largest of Pakistan's four provinces, though it was firmly rejected by Islamabad, is being seen in Pakistan as any eye-opener for the state and its security agencies. More