Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

Turkmenistan and Turkey signed on May 30 a framework agreement on cooperation for the supply of natural gas from Turkmenistan to Turkey, Trend news agency reported.

The signing ceremony took place following high level talks between Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov and his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul who was on an official visit to Turkmenistan on May 29-31.

Besides, the parties signed a package of intergovernmental agreements, in particular a protocol on technical, scientific and economic cooperation in the agricultural sector and an agreement on cooperation in youth affairs and sports.

A cooperation program for 2013-2014, a memorandum of understanding on the exchange of diplomats and a document of understanding on cooperation in the field of information technology were signed with regards to cooperation between the foreign ministries of the two countries.

Agreements on joint activities in the field of cultural heritage also were concluded between the Turkmen Government and the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) under the Prime Minister.

Turkmenistan interested in joining Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project

Following the talks, the presidents of the two countries issued a joint statement. According to the document, Turkmenistan is interested in the participation at the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars transport project.

The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway is being built in accordance with an inter-governmental agreement reached by Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. The railway will increase the flow of containers and other types of cargo from Asia to Europe. Its throughput capacity will peak at 17 million tons of cargo per year. Initially, the capacity will be 6.5 million tons of consignments and 1 million passengers.

Stressing the positive trends of development of trade and economic relations between Turkmenistan and Turkey, the parties mentioned the importance to develop these relations to a higher level.

The sides also stated readiness to activate the cooperation in the transport communication sector, stressed the importance of effective use and further development of transport-communication infrastructure within the international transport corridors.

Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey are constructing the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line to transport goods from China and Central Asia. As is expected, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars will have direct access to the European rail network. Due to this, the participation of Turkmenistan in this transport project can provide a broad access to international markets of the country.

Importance of bilateral cooperation

Before leaving for Ashgabat, Gul said that in last ten years the Turkmen economy demonstrated stable growth and stability.

"The development of the economy of Turkmenistan and the political stability in the country took it to the important level in the region and provided the development of the country in all sectors," the president said.

He went on to say that thanks to the strategic position and the policy of neutrality Turkmenistan made a contribution to the development and stability in the region.

According to Gul, natural resources of the country also made a contribution to the development of the economy of Turkmenistan and were a guarantor of the energy security of Turkey as well as the European countries.

On the eve of the visit the local Turkmen media reported that the visit of the Turkish president will play an important role in the further expansion of cooperation between the two countries and nations.

Turkey is one of the leading economic partners of Turkmenistan. Last year Turkey and Turkmenistan marked the 20^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Both countries are actively cooperating in the education and culture, trade and energy, construction and communications and textile industry sectors.

Furthermore, Turkmenistan and Turkey are cooperating in the international organizations such as the UN, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Economic Cooperation Organization.