Washington, 1 October 1996 (RFE/RL) -- Turkmenistan's Foreign Minister Boris Shikhmuradov and U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher met in Washington yesterday and "exchanged views" on the situation in Afghanistan, where Taliban islamic forces have captured Kabul.
A State Department spokeswoman says Christopher emphasized American support for Turkmenistan's "sovereignty and independence." She says the secretary also reiterated U.S. support for an oil pipeline project to be led by an American oil company, Unocal. The pipeline is to run from Turkmenistan to Pakistan through Afghanistan.
The effect of the new situation in Afghanistan on the pipeline proposal, along with the general development of energy resources in the Caspian Sea and Ashkabad's relations with other CIS nations, were among the items the two foreign ministers discussed during a half hour meeting, according to the U.S. spokeswoman.