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Friday September 28th 2007, 4:25 pm

President of Turkmenistan, Gerbanguly Berdymukhammedov, was in the US this week to speak at the UN General Assembly. It was hoped that his appearance would shed further light on his intentions for the future of Turkmenistan, but was typically difficult to read. No mention was made of human rights.

Like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President Berdymukhammedov gave a separate speech to members of Columbia University. His appearance was less controversial and less widely publicised than that of his Iranian counterpart. In it, he declared that Turkmenistan was “open for cooperation” and touched on the fate of political prisoner Boris Shikhmuradov. He also confirmed there would be a general amnesty for prisoners early in October.

Earlier in the week Condoleezza Rice and Berdymukhammedov met to discuss bilateral issues. They talked chiefly about energy and political freedoms. On Thursday it emerged that Turkmenistan may be planning to raise prices for gas it exports to Russia. Any price rise would likely see Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, also gas exporters, follow suit.

Turkmenistan’s position as a net hydrocarbon exporter may appear enviable. But amid all the talk of development, there are at least some who envisage a high environmental cost.

Uzbekistan was criticised in a Transparency International report released this week as being one of the ten most corrupt states on the planet. This corruption may extend as far as the President, as many believe Islam Karimov will ignore the country’s constitution and stand in the presidential election on December 23rd. Ferghana.ru examines two ways he might achieve this.

The constitution was at the forefront of debate in Kyrgyzstan as well, after President Bakiev announced that a referendum on his proposed constitutional reforms would be held on October 21st. Political parties have begun to prepare for the parliamentary elections it is widely assume will follow.

In Kazakhstan this week attention was still focused on the Kashagan oilfield crisis. The country’s parliament has passed a law which would allow the government to break contracts with foreign companies, according to the BBC. Reuters, meanwhile, reports the Kazakh energy minister’s assertion that raising the country’s stake in the Kashagan consortium is not their primary aim in suspending the project.

Tajikistan continues to suffer from food inflation, with calls for the government to take control of the situation. Ferghana.ru speculated on the possible succession of President Rakhmon by his brother-in-law.

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