Azernews.Az

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu at his residence in Iran to discuss prospects for further development of cooperation.

High-ranking delegations of the two countries arrived in Iran to attend the inauguration ceremony of Iran's newly elected president Hassan Rouhani.

The Turkmen government reported that a significant potential for intensification of a mutually beneficial partnership in the whole spectrum, including trade, economic and energy along with the transport and communications sectors was stressed at the meeting.

The sides expressed confidence that the Turkmen-Turkish relations will continue flourishing for the benefit of the two friendly countries and people.

Earlier, Ashgabat reported that negotiations on the implementation of a project of exporting Turkmen gas to the Turkish markets became more active.

The negotiations are being held on the basis of a framework agreement on the delivery of Turkmen natural gas to Turkey signed following Turkish President Abdullah Gul's state visit in May.

Ankara periodically expresses interest in exporting Caspian energy resources to Europe via Turkey. This issue has been on the agenda since the mid-nineties. A 300 kilometre pipeline from Turkmenistan to the Azerbaijani coast via the Caspian Sea is considered the best way to get Turkmen gas to Europe. After flowing through the Caucasus, Turkmen fuel can enter Turkey which borders with the European customers.

The Trans-Caspian project could become part of several large scale projects, in which Ankara is an active participant. The Turkmen leadership believes that the consent of those sides Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, whose territory is covered by the project, is sufficient for laying a pipeline through the Caspian Sea, the legal status of which has not yet been determined.

Azerbaijan has expressed its readiness to open its territory, transit routes and infrastructure to the project.