Austria, Turkmen presidents to discuss more active energy coop'n.

ASHGABAT, October 12 (Itar-Tass) - Federal President Heinz Fischer of
the Austrian Republic arrives in Turkmenistan on Wednesday for an official
visit at the invitation of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov.
When speaking at the latest meeting of the government, at which a
programme for the Austrian President's tour was discussed, Berdymukhamedov
pointed out that the visit "will become yet another stride along the lines
of giving greater scope to the established constructive dialogue with the
European Union (EU)".
The Austrian president is the first European country leader to visit
Turkmenistan after the EU Council approved a mandate for EU talks with
Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan on the conclusion of a treaty on the
construction of a Trans-Caspian gas pipeline. The latter is one of the
problem sections of the Nabucco gas pipeline project which is being
lobbied by Europe for delivery of gas in circumvention of Russia. The
Austrian OMV Company is one of six stakeholders of the Nabucco project.
On October 11, yet another evert of importance to the EU and to the
participants in the Nabucco project was held: the presentation in Ashgabat
of the results of an international audit of the reserves of gas in the
Southern Iolotan-Osman gasfield which is under consideration as the
rawstuff base for the Nabucco.
According to the British Gaffney, Cline and Associates Company, the
above-mentioned gasfield's maximun reserves amount to 21.2 trillion cubic
metres of gas while optimum ones are equal to 16.4 trillion cu. m. This
news will be undoubtedly discussed during the forthcoming talks between
the presidents of Turkmenistan and Austria.
The Turkmen president's press service reports that as a result of
Fischer's visit, the sides are to sign a package of bilateral documents
which will enable Austria and Turkmenistan to step up the mutually
beneficial partnership in trade, economic, fuel and energy fields which
both countries recognize as priority ones.