Central Asian experts discuss energy security issues
A conference entitled “25 Years of Independence: Energy Security Issues in Central Asia and Beyond” took place in Ashgabat on 14-15 December 2016 with the participation of experts from Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The event in Turkmenistan provided an opportunity to reflect on security challenges and regional cooperation strategies in particular in the energy sector.
The conference was organised by the NATO Liaison Office to Central Asia, the UK Embassy in Ashgabat and the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.
Speakers remarked that while regional cooperation is essential to guarantee the security of energy infrastructures, oil and gas pipelines can be built as means to promote peace and stability. Pointing to the expertise of the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence, represented at the conference by its Deputy Director Col Jean-Marc Bouillet and its Head of Strategic Analysis and Research Division Arturas Petkus, the NATO Liaison Officer to Central Asia Rosaria Puglisi emphasised NATO’s support to enhance partners’ security and defence capacity also in the energy sector.