Kyrgyzgaz chief is in Tashkent and holding talks on the supply of natural gas for Kyrgyzstan’s needs in 2010, as well as on settling the issue of Kyrgyzstan’s debt for the fuel already used.

Salamat Aytikeyev notes that an agreement in principle on resuming the supply of natural gas to southern Kyrgyzstan was reached yesterday, 14 October. The Uzbek side promised to turn on the taps this morning.

The 24.kg news agency said earlier that Kyrgyzstan had transferred US$4.5 million to Uzbekistan, and the outstanding sum to be paid was US$14.5 million.

Salamat Aytikeyev said nothing about any preliminary agreements on gas supplies for Kyrgyzstan’s needs in 2010, noting that "talks continue, and it is too early to draw conclusions".