Turkmen, Uzbek Eyes Stray Toward Brussels
4/6/2009An interview for RFERL on the evolution of European-Central Asian diplomatic and commercial ties.
Just a few years ago, it would have been difficult to imagine an official from Turkmenistan visiting Brussels to discuss exporting natural gas directly to the EU.
But when Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov meets with European Union officials in Brussels, discussing his country’s participation in projects to bring natural gas to Europe will be high on his agenda.
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have traditionally been the most resistant of the Central Asian states to Western influence, but both are increasingly showing an interest in breaking that mold.
