February 12, 2003	Wednesday	Zul Hijjah 10, 1423

ASHKHABAD, Feb 11: Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov and the chief of Russia’s gas giant Gazprom held talks here on a long-term gas cooperation accord, Turkmen media reported on Tuesday.

The head of Gazprom, Alexei Miller, said that work was being carried out on the text of an agreement about long-term cooperation in the gas sector, which could be signed in the near future, Turkmen state television reported. Talks also touched on the issue of modernizing the existing pipeline system between Turkmenistan and Russia, a source in Turkmenistan’s oil and gas industry ministry said.

Although it is rich in natural resources, Russia is said by analysts to have a growing need for Caspian gas after making large export commitments to Europe. —AFP