"THE BIG GAME" PASSES DURING ADDITIONAL TIME
"THE BIG GAME" PASSES DURING ADDITIONAL TIME
Markus Warren
Turkmenia which was earlier a part of the USSR, hoped to affect a course
Last stage of "the Big game", but its participants lose to interest to
Turkmenia, and the grandiose schemes offered by republic
Gas export are frozen.
However last week heat was so severe, and "turkmenbashi"
(So nyzyvajut the president of the country) looked it is so dazzling, that
Any visitor could excuse absence of attention to changes,
Event in this unusual country.
One remains invariable: a cult of personality "Heads of all the Turkman"
Saparmurata Niyazov. Turkmenbashi really looks at you
From everywhere. Its portraits hang on each building. When him not
Show on TV, its profile place in a screen corner. All
Rotates round it - except for the gilt statue of the leader,
The capital located on the central area which rotates together
With the sun.
And even if it cannot pay all time attention to the people,
That the confidential police at least tries to do it from his name.
From the moment of reception of independence by Turkmenia, interest to it from the party
Other world the Turkman is chained to strange religious worship
To the all-powerful governor and economic potential of the country,
Possessing huge stocks of gas.
The cult of personality prospers and, anyway, becomes more
The freakish. Certainly, Turkmenia still has gas, but its status
The basic participant new "the Big game" for influence in Central Asia
Now constantly goes down, that can cause the interesting
Consequences for all region.
Turkmenia did not take part in initial to "the Big game" (speech
Goes about an antagonism between the Russian and British empires for
The control over ways to India) as there lived basically
Nomad tribes and as that country did not exist. Nevertheless,
This time, despite a small population (4,5 million
The person), Turkmenia was in the thick of things. Russia, Iran, Turkey,
The West led by the USA, China and even the Taliban competed with each other
For a victory in so-called Big game II.
All competitors searched for road to turkmenbashi. At first he resorted to so
Named "horse diplomacy", presenting in a gift to the foreign
To leaders of breeding Turkmen horses, even thus, that the majority
From visitors - as, for example, John Mejdzhor - were not able to go for a drive on them.
Then it has officially proclaimed a neutrality of the country and has forced
The visitors to compete with each other, thus to anybody of anything
Did not promise.
In expectation of investment boom in vicinities of Ashkhabad has appeared
Set of hotels. Now the majority of them are empty. In the country
There came also many diplomats. It is said that the officer of communication
The American embassy daily went on job by a camel.
That fact, that turkmenbashi is the head shameless repressive
Mode, meant nothing. Only dream of how Turkmen gas will go
On pipes to Turkey and the countries of southern Asia mattered. It was
It is tempting and promised the big profits, and multinational corporations
Wished to participate in it.
At least in one dreams have turned to a reality. On one of
Ladder platforms in the ministry of oil and gas affairs on a wall
The huge map reflecting scope of Turkmen ambitions hangs.
Pipelines on which Turkmen gas is transported, were stretched
From Bulgaria and Europe in the west to China in the east. One of them goes
Along Caspian sea to caucasus and further to Turkey. Others conduct through
The Afghanistan captured by chaos to Hindustan.
The unique problem consists that dreams all it only. Pipes,
Painted in blue colour is an old way to Russia with small
Branch to Iran - actually exist. All the others
Pipes - red - are only at a planning stage. In the present
Time the most attractive project which in short term can
To make profit - the project in cost of 1,4 billion of pounds sterling,
Providing pipeline building to Turkey at assistance
The western consortium - is on the verge of failure.
There are many explanations, other negotiations were at a deadlock:
neutupchivost and avidity turkmenbashi, double-dealing of Americans and
Varying situation in the gas industry.
If the mode turkmenbashi was not so odious, it would be possible for it
Even to sympathise. nekolko years back when in Central Asia was
Natural gas is found, he looked at others haughtily. Now, with
Opening of large deposits in Azerbaijan and Iran, pipelines
For transportation of Turkmen gas on the most favourable markets
Should pass on territory of the countries, which deliver gas is
Bad news to Ashkhabad. Today he needs to rely only on
Russia where there is a basic gas pipeline.
So turkmenbashi remained with empty hands and quickly rolls down downwards
In the list of tyrants made in the West with which follows
To keep in touch and which it is necessary to cajole and humour. In a course
Recent trip on region US State Secretary Madeleine Olbrajt has spent
Two days in the next Uzbekistan and only seven minutes has stayed in the air
Space of Turkmenia.
The high-ranking diplomats in Ashkhabad now recognise, that the West
Promoted strengthening of feeling of the own already increasing at Niyazov
The importance. Now the new policy concerning Turkmenia it is possible
To characterise as "small expectations and insignificant contacts".
Official propagation draws an image of the cheerful, uniform nation,
Worrying "Golden Age" under wise management Turkmenbashi. And all
Mood at some officials gloomy enough. Recently
The president has assured the people, that the country can support itself in
Case of the full termination of export of gaz is the strange statement,
However no more strange, than many other things its statements.
Rules of east hospitality in Turkmenia mean, that for this purpose,
To achieve from high-ranking officials something, except putyh words,
From the visitor a lot of time and efforts is required. Some owners have
Habit suddenly to stop in the middle of the sentence, stare at a portrait
turkmenbashi and to start to do justice to its wisdom and insight.
And still one of ministers has interrupted our conversation to pull out from
Table the confidential report on a status of Turkmen power,
Prepared by one of the international financial organisations.
Conclusions containing in him nedvusmysleny: in the near future at the country
There is no another
Choice, except how to pay the basic attention to Russia in the plan
Export of the gas. "It is a reality, an awful reality", - has noted
The minister.
"Daily Telegraph" 2000.08.08
//* an information Source: п п п п я я п?п?п?i п iя я i, 9.08.00
//* Reg. Nom. - 3100800106.50-------------------------------------------
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