US seeks transit deal with Turkmenistan

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ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, April 17 (AP): A senior US diplomat says the United States hopes to reach an agreement with Turkmenistan on allowing the transit of non-lethal goods to neighbouring Afghanistan.
Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher says he discussed the possibility of overland cargo transit and overflights in Wednesday's talks with President Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov.
The United States has already managed to secure agreements on sending nonmilitary supplies overland through Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan also shares a border with Afghanistan. Worsening security on the Afghan border with Pakistan has forced NATO allies to seek safer transit routes.
Boucher also said Thursday the new US administration is placing a greater emphasis on Central Asia.