Yale University Press NEW HAVEN & 9 780300"089028 - Sito Mistero

238 ~ TALIBAN1995 January16 MarchAprilJuneAugust21 OctoberDecember1996 FebruaryMarchAprilMayAugustAfter renegotiating Keimir block, Bridas reducesits share of profits to 65 per cent. Oil exportsallowed.President Niyazov and Pakistan's PM Benazir Bhuttosign agreement for Bridas to carry out pre-feasibilitystudy of Afghan gas pipeline.Turkmenistan and Iran sign agreement to build first180 miles spur of proposed gas pipeline via Iran toTurkey.USA sets up working group including NationalSecurity Council, State Department and CIA tostudy US oil and gas interests in Caspian region. UStells Turkmenistan it will oppose financing for pipelinesthrough Iran and urges it look to the west.Turkmen officials visit Houston, Texas, at invitationof Bridas and meet with Unocal for first time.Unocal delegation in Ashkhabad and Islamabad discussjoining Bridas for Afghan pipeline. Bridas presentsfeasibility study to Turkmen government.Bridas makes oil and gas discovery at Yashlar. Bridasmeets with Taliban for first time in Kandahar. Bridasexecutives travel to Kabul, Herat and Mazar.President Niyazov in New York signs Afghan pipelineagreement with Unocal/Delta.Turkmenistan bans Bridas's oil exports from Keimirblock for second time.Bridas signs agreement with Afghan government forconstruction of pipeline. Bridas files suit in Houstonagaint Unocal/Delta interference with its business inTurkmenistan.US Ambassador Tom Simmons urges PM Bhutto togive exclusive rights to Unocal. Bhutto demands awritten apology for Simmons's rudeness.Bridas begins arbitration against Turkmenistan forbreach of contract. US Assistant Secretary of StateRobin Raphel visits Kabul and Kandahar.Iran opens new 100-mile railway route linking Turkmenistanand Iran. Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistanand Afghanistan sign agreeement giving Turkmenistanthe right to nominate the consortium tobuild the pipeline.Russia's Gazprom signs agreement with Unocal/Delta and Turkmenistan's Turkmenrosgaz for pipe-SeptemberAPPENDIX4 ~ 239line project. US Assistant Secretary of State RobinRaphel visits Afghanistan and Central Asia. Sherefers to US interest in the Unocal pipeline.Unocal presents pipeline definition report to PresidentNiyazov. Unocal says it will give humanitarianaid as bonuses to Afghan warlords once they agreeto form a council to supervise the project.27 September Kabul falls to the Taliban. USA says it will reestablishdiplomatic relations with Afghanistansoon.1 October Unocal expresses support for Taliban takeover ofKabul, says pipeline project now easier. Later Unocalsays it was misquoted.26 October President Niyazov and Unocal/Delta sign agreementgiving them exclusive rights to form consortium forAfghan pipeline.Robert Oakley, former US Ambassador to Pakistan,heads first meeting of Unocal's Afghan AdvisoryNovember9 December29 December1997 20 JanuaryJanuaryFebruaryMarchApril 8Committee.Bridas signs agreement with Taliban and GeneralRashid Dostum to build pipeline.Pakistani Foreign Secretary Najmuddin Sheikh inKandahar for talks with Taliban on pipeline.Iran, Turkey, Turkmenistan sign agreement for Turkeyto buy Turkmen gas through Iran.Turkmenistan signs agreement with Mobil andMonument Oil for oil and gas exploration.Interim order of International Chamber of Commercegives Bridas right to export oil from Keimir.Turkmenistan rejects order.UN Under Secretary General Yasushi Akashi criticizesoil companies and Afghan warlords for pipelineprojects.A Taliban delegation in Washington seeks USrecognition and meets with Unocal. Second Talibandelegation visits Argentina as guests of Bridas. Onreturn Taliban meet with Saudi Intelligence chiefPrince Turki in Jeddah.Unocal to set up office in Kandahar and trainingcentres for Afghans. Bridas sets up office in Kabul asCarlos Bulgheroni visits Kabul, Kandahar.Taliban say they will award pipeline contract to thecompany which starts work first. Unocal PresidentJohn Imle says he is baffled by Taliban statement.