The European Geopolitical Forum / Context / News

Iran says Turkmen gas supplies fall due to cold

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:38:46 +0000

Turkmenistan has reduced its gas exports to Iran due to very cold weather in Central Asia but there have been no supply problems yet, the head of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) said. In a statement posted on the NIGC website on Monday, NIGC Managing Director Javad Owji said no Iranian city had so far experienced any disruption in gas supply because of the reduction in Turkmen gas exports. He did not quantify the cut. Iran exports gas to Turkey when it can but relies on Turkmenistan to supply the extra gas it needs during cold winter months for heating.

Iran ties not in contradiction with US relationship

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:38:17 +0000

Amidst increasing pressure from the US to reduce its dependence on Iranian oil, India on Tuesday said its ties with Tehran is neither inconsistent with non-proliferation objectives nor is in contradiction with its relationships with the West.

Turkey hit by Azeri, Iran gas flow problems

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:38:17 +0000

Turkey's gas imports from Azerbaijan and Iran tumbled on Tuesday due to technical problems in both countries, Turkish officials said, slashing supply to the country of 75 million people as it faces growing pressure to meet high winter demand.

Russia Foreign Minister In Syria On Diplomatic Mission

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:38:17 +0000

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has met in Damascus with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, amid continuing violence between Syrian government forces and antiregime militants.

Russia and China Challenge the West on Syria: What Implications for Iran?

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:38:17 +0000

The breach among the Permanent Five members of the U.N. Security Council in Saturday’s vote on Syria’s increasingly bloody power struggle could have profound implications for Syria’s immediate future.

Kazakhstan/Germany: Make Rights Key to Good Relations

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:36:17 +0000

German Chancellor Angela Merkel should raise urgent human rights concerns with the Kazakhstan government during talks with President Nursultan Nazarbaev on February 8, 2012, Human Rights Watch said today. Nazarbaev is scheduled to meet the chancellor in Berlin to discuss bilateral cooperation and energy issues, and to sign a strategic energy and raw materials partnership agreement.

As Europe Shivers, Russia and Ukraine Point Fingers Over Natural Gas Supply to the West

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:36:17 +0000

The flow of natural gas has fallen off sharply in the main pipelines supplying Europe from Russia, but this time cold weather — not politics — is to blame.

Russia gas supply to S.E.Europe back to normal

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:36:17 +0000

Russia's supplies of natural gas to Bulgaria and neighbouring Greece, Turkey and Macedonia are back to normal, Bulgaria's economy and energy ministry said on Saturday.

Russia, China veto UN resolution condemning Syria’s crackdown

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:36:17 +0000

Syrian forces hammered restive neighbourhoods in the city of Homs for hours with mortars and artillery before dawn Saturday, sending terrified residents fleeing into basements and killing more than 200 people in the bloodiest episode of the nearly 11-month-old uprising, activists said.

Turkey says Russian gas expected back to normal

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:18:45 +0000

Russian gas supplies to Turkey are expected to return to normal levels today after a drop of more than 30 percent due to problems in transit countries for cross-border pipeline, Turkish energy officials told Reuters on Friday.

Russian gas supply falls further, EU says no crisis

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:18:45 +0000

Squeezed supply of Russian gas to some EU countries fell further on Friday, the European Union's executive said, but added the situation had not reached emergency levels despite freezing temperatures gripping much of Europe.

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan may stop gas supplies to Kyrgyzstan

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:18:45 +0000

Kazakh and Uzbek state gas companies Kaztransgaz and Uztransgaz may stop gas supplies to Kyrgyzstan if the country does not pay off the debt for gas supplies till Feb. 10, KyrTAG quoted Eugenie Orlenko, deputy director of Kyrgyzgaz Company, as saying on Friday.

Ashton sheds light into EU's Russia diplomacy

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:51:23 +0000

A speech by High Representative Catherine Ashton in the European Parliament yesterday (1 February) provided a rare insight on talks with Europe's largest neighbour ahead of the Russian presidential elections in March.

Gazprom says Ukraine taking gas above contract levels

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:51:23 +0000

Ukraine is taking Russian gas at a pace of 60 billion cubic metres (bcm) a year, above its contracted levels, Gazprom said on Thursday amid reports of decreasing gas supplies to Europe.

Russian gas supply to Slovakia drops 30 pct

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:51:23 +0000

Supply of Russian gas to Slovakia dropped by 30 percent on Thursday, the Slovak gas utility Slovensky Plynarensky Priemysel (SPP) said, adding it can still secure full deliveries for all clients.

Japanese Atomic Agency Exposes Nuclear Accident in Beijing

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:27:55 +0000

Japan’s Atomic Energy Agency says a nuclear reactor in suburban Beijing had an accident last October and has stopped operating since then. Chinese authorities did not report the accident.

Russian politician suggests Armenia, Azerbaijan join Russia

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:27:55 +0000

Head of Liberal Democratic Party of Russia Vladimir Zhirinovsky deemed Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement impossible without Russian mediation, suggesting Armenia and Azerbaijan should join Russia as a South Caucasian federal region to resolve the issue.

Bulgaria Lines New Envoys to Russia, Spain, Morocco, Syria, Pakistan

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:27:55 +0000

Five new ambassadors for Bulgaria's diplomatic service have been formally proposed by the Bulgarian cabinet to President Rosen Plevneliev for approval.

Pakistan textile industry relocating to Bangladesh

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:33:52 +0000

Pakistan Textile Minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin on Tuesday confirmed that the textile industry in Pakistan is gradually shifting to Bangladesh to seek more profit, while the industry leaders argue that there relocation was because of electricity and gas outages prevailing in Pakistan.

Armenia, Azerbaijan vow to speed up Karabakh agreement

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:33:52 +0000

Russian-mediated talks between enemies Armenia and Azerbaijan ended with promises to speed up the peace process but no public steps towards signing a roadmap deal, seen as key to a settlement.