Central Asian gas suppliers reluctant on Nabucco gas project

Key Central Asian gas suppliers refused to sign a new cooperation pact to expedite the Nabucco pipeline project.

The European Union (EU) had invited eight countries from Central Asia and Middle East for talks in Prague Friday to speed up the ambitious plan that would open up a southern corridor for energy supplies bypassing Russia. Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, whose country holds the six-month EU presidency, acknowledged that "We haven't overcome all obstacles by far", as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan did not sign the final declaration. Two other suppliers - Azerbaijan and Egypt - and two transit nations - Turkey and Georgia - signed the agreement. Iraq did not turn up for the summit.

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