Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has concluded his visit to Turkey, his first visit as newly re-elected president. The two states have Turkic origins and have close economic ties.
Turkmenistan and Turkey have signed a package of agreements. Berdimuhamedov was praised by Turkish President Abdullah Gul at the conference hall of the Cancaya Palace.
The deals include cooperation of Trade and Industry Chambers of Turkmenistan and the Union of Chambers and Stock Exchanges of Turkey, a protocol on archive cooperation, an agreement on technical cooperation with water, cooperation in combating grave crimes, such as terrorism and organized crime, cooperation in civil and crime cases, a memorandum on cooperation of the Institute of International Relations of the Turkmen Foreign Ministry and the Diplomatic Academy of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, a protocol of the Turkmen State Committee for Tourism and Sports and the Turkish Agency for Cooperation and Coordination to realize education programs in tourism.
Before visiting Ankara, Berdimuhamedov said that Turkmenistan will stress on industrialization, economy, welfare of the middle class and introduction of a multi-party system. Turkey and Turkmenistan have close economic and cultural ties. Turkey has been one of the main economic partners of Turkmenistan since Saparmurat Niyazov’s presidency. Trade turnover between the two states reached $4 billion, exceeding the previous year’s indicator by 25%. Turkish companies are active in almost all spheres of business in Turkmenistan.
The states will cooperate in realizing the Avaz Resorts project on the Caspian coast. Turkey and Turkmenistan are working on gas exports. Gaffney, Cline & Associates (UK) audited reserves of the Galkynysh Field (Southern Yeloten-Osman, Minara and Yashlar). The field has about 26.2 trillion cubic meters of gas, the world’s second largest reserve in the world.
Ashkhabad said earlier that negotiations were held with foreign companies to realize the East-West project, forming a circular gas transport line. It is to be launched in mid-2015. The project was initiated at the Shatlyk gas-compressing station in May 31, 2010. The pipeline will have a capacity of 30 billion cubic meters annually, under management of state companies Turkmengaz and Turkmenneftegazstroy.
Seven gas compressing stations were built. The pipeline will cost over $2 billion.
Ankara is interested in construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-
Pakistan-India (TAPI) Pipeline.
Turkey and Turkmenistan confirmed readiness to help the world society restore order in Afghanistan to make it a peaceful and sustainable region.
The basic document for realization of TAPI was signed in Ashkhabad in late 2010. The sides are discussing financing of the project, transit payments and security.
The gas pipeline will have a capacity of up to 33 billion cubic meters of gas annually. Pakistan and India will purchase it. The Asian Development Bank supports the project. The Galkynysh Field and the Dovletabad Field in Turkmenistan will be the main sources of gas.
It will be 1735 km long. Russia is interested in the project, the US supports its realization. Berdimuhamedov urged top managers of petroleum companies to speed realization of TAPI up.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sent a message to Berdimuhamedov, congratulating him on his re-election, and said that India is impressed with progress in realizing TAPI.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai sent a similar congratulation note, saying that joint efforts will realize bilateral and regional vital projects.
