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Baku, Ankara, Ashgabat focus on trade boosting

29 January 2015 19:27 (UTC+04:00)
Baku, Ankara, Ashgabat focus on trade boosting

By Sara Rajabova

Azerbaijani, Turkish and Turkmen top officials convened in the Turkmen capital, on January 29, to further boost joint projects in transportation and communication.

Elmar Mammadyarov, Mevlut Cavusoglu and Rashid Meredov reviewed the establishment of an Afghanistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey transport corridor that would facilitate transport and travel among the respective countries. If completed the project is to intensify trade and economic relations in Eurasia.

Mammadyarov highlighted the importance of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project in terms of further development of transport infrastructure in the region.

The ministers also discussed the development of the energy cooperation between the three countries, emphasizing the special significance of natural gas supply from the Caspian Sea region to Europe through Turkey.

A decision was reached to establish a grouping that would include oil and gas executives representing the three concerned countries.

The sides exchanged views on the cooperation in economy, energy, transportation, education and other fields. They noted the importance of continuing cooperation at the working meetings’ level for deepening of collaboration.

The ministers also discussed the cooperation within international organizations and issues of mutual coordination.

The Azerbaijani, Turkish and Turkmen foreign policy heads later signed a joint statement on the results of their second meeting.

The sides reiterated their commitment to the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries, under to the Ashgabat statement.

They emphasized the importance of the joint efforts towards ensuring peace, stability and security in Central Asia, Caspian Sea basin, South Caucasus and the Middle East, according to the document. In this context, the three countries will develop the cooperation within international and regional organizations.

The ministers also noted the significance of Azerbaijani, Turkish and Turkmen presidents’ summit held in this format in Bodrum, Turkey in June 2014.

They also adopted a framework cooperation program of the three countries for 2015-2017.

The sides decided to hold the next meeting in this format in Turkey. They also discussed the preparations for the summit of the three countries’ presidents.

The first trilateral meeting of the Azerbaijani, Turkish and Turkmen foreign ministers took place in Baku last May. The meeting was focused on a wide range of issues, including the economic relations, energy projects, and cooperation within international organizations.

Experts believe the establishment of a tripartite relationship between Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan will be beneficial to all the three states.

The three mentioned countries decided to establish the Turkey-Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan tripartite format in late 2013. Azerbaijan is also member of other two tripartite formats: Azerbaijan-Turkey-Georgia and Azerbaijan-Turkey-Iran.

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Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @SaraRajabova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz

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