President Saparmurat Niyazov said Monday that Turkmenistan was ready to offer the United States ground bases and air space for "humanitarian" missions to Afghanistan but would remain neutral in any US-led conflict in the region.
"We will offer air and ground corridors to make sure that humanitarian goods are delivered" to Afghanistan, Niyazov told a government meeting.
Niyazov said he reached the decision following consultations Friday with US Secretary of State Colin Powell.
"He [Powell] asked for assistance in delivering humanitarian aid to Afghanistan," he said.
At the same time, Niyazov stressed that Turkmenistan was not ready to officially side with the United States as it prepares for reprisal attacks on Afghanistan in response to the September 11 attacks on Washington and New York -- ASHKHABAD (AFP)
