Brussels, 21/09/2007 (Agence Europe) - At the heart of discussions between European Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs and Kazakh Energy Minister Sauat Mynbayev in Brussels on Thursday 20 September were bilateral energy issues and the Kashagan oil project. With Kazakh authorities still in discussion with the foreign companies in the consortium led by Italian energy company ENI to give the state-owned KasMunaïGas energy group a leading role once more in the exploitation of the Kashagan oil field in the Caspian Sea (see EUROPE 9497), Piebalgs called on Astana to demonstrate openness with its energy partners. “Successful energy partnerships are based on the principles of mutual respect, transparency predictability and non-discrimination,” he said following the meeting. Piebalgs welcomed Mynbayev's “explanations” on the thorny Kashagan issue, but said he was awaiting fuller information from the Kazakh authorities about the matter. Piebalgs and Mynbayev also exchanged views on issues related to Kazakhstan's joining the WTO and developments on interior energy market legislation. (eh)