ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan -- The central Asian state of Turkmenistan has agreed to continue supplying gas to the Transcaucasian republics of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia after top-level meetings in the capital Ashgabat.


President Saparmurat Niyazov agreed terms with leaders from the three states for the repayment of outstanding debts for past gas supplies and pledged deliveries for 1995, officials said. Niyazov agreed in talks with Georgian leader Eduard Shevardnadze that payments on Tbilisi's outstanding gas debt of $383 million, would be frozen until March 1, 1995. Turkmenistan has offered to supply Georgia with 2.5 billion cubic meters in 1995.


Niyazov and Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosyan fixed Yerevan's gas debt to Turkmenistan at $12.8 million as of Dec. 1, which will be settled by payment in gold. In 1995, Turkmenistan will deliver 2.2 billion cubic meters of gas.


In a third session of talks with senior Azerbaijani officials, the sum owed for gas deliveries was set at $89.8 million, but repayments have been postponed until July 1, 1995. Gas deliveries of 3.5 billion cubic meters were agreed for next year.


Turkmenistan ranks third in the world in energy reserves. However its hard currency exports to Western Europe, which have to be make via Russia, have been interrupted by a dispute between the two countries. Niyazov has launched a multi-billion dollar project to create an alternative route across Iran for Turkmenistan's gas exports.