http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=6791
25 July, 2006
IRAN TURKMENISTAN
Ahmadinejad in Turkmenistan looking for gas and allies
Tehran (AsiaNews) Iranian President Ahmadinejad has started a two-day visit in Turkmenistan ostensibly in search of trade deals involving gas supplies and petroleum by-products but also discussions over the Caspian Sea and Irans greater political role in Central Asia.
According to Irans state agency IRNA, the two countries reached an agreement to increase Turkmenistan's gas exports to Iran from the current eight billion cubic metres to a minimum of 14 billion cubic metres annually by next year. The two sides also plan to increase the swap of Turkmenistan oil via Iran's northern ports which currently stands at 40,000 barrels daily.
President-for-Life Saparmurat Niyazov has proposed greater participation of Iranian companies in oil exploration in Turkmenistan because of their great experience in the field."
Crazy Mahmoud. Crazy like a fox. Here's another interesting factoid from the article:
"An arid country, Turkmenistan has a surface that exceeds 480,000 Km2 and a population of about five million (85 per cent Muslim, 10 per cent Orthodox). It is strategically important for its oil production and its geographic location, between the Caspian Sea and Afghanistan, wetting the appetite of Russians, Americans and Chinese."
Past the propaganda to US/Iran/China
http://www.aljazeerah.info/Opinion%20editorials/2006%20Opinion%20Editorials/July/12%20o/The%20Mother%20Of%20All%20Battles%20For%20Oil%20By%20K%20Gajendra%20Singh.htm
I've noticed a lot of Indians and Paks writing negative columns, hmmm... ooh, look a shiny thing! s/