Russia hopes for good basis of energy cooperation with Turkmenistan
ITAR-TASS, 22.12.2009
MOSCOW, December 22 (Itar-Tass) — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is hoping that the agreements signed with Turkmenistan will create a good basis for cooperation in the energy sphere.
“Today, a new agreement on developing cooperation in the field of energy and machine building has been signed. I believe it’s a step forward, because it implies substantiation and new prospects for our work in a number of fields,” Medvedev said after talks with Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov.
He also noted that at the corporate level, Gazprom and Turkmengaz had amended the basic contract of gas sale (dated 2003). “I believe these decisions will make good groundwork for our energy cooperation in the near future,” the Russian president said.
Medvedev underlined that despite the global financial crisis, Russian-Turkmen trade continues to increase.
“It amounted to 900 million dollars in the first ten months of this year, not counting gas supplies. It has increased by 20 percent from the previous years. We think it’s very good,” the head of the Russian state said.
Both leaders believe that the two countries have considerable reserves to develop mutual trade, in first place through its diversification and expanding the list of exported goods and cooperation in various fields.
A number of Russian companies, such Gazprom, Stroytransgaz, Itera, Zarubezhneft and Kamaz operate successfully in Turkmenistan.
“It is in our common interests to continue to stimulate investments and production cooperation. We’ll be working on it. The intergovernmental economic cooperation commission is expected to make its contribution,” Medvedev said.
The commission’s performance has been satisfactory. The signing of Russian-Turkmen accords on Tuesday was one of the results of its activities.
The Russian president noted the necessity of cultural cooperation. In Ashgabad, there is the Pushkin comprehensive school. The Russian and Turkmen leaders are to unveil its new building.
Medvedev said he was pleased with the work of the Ashgabad branch of the Gubkin State University of Oil and Gas.
In April, Turkmenistan hosted the Days of Russia cultural festival. “We’re ready to host the Days of Turkmenistan cultural event,” the Russian president said.
Bedymukhamedov expressed the wish to visit a number of Russian regions. “I’d like to visit the Astrakhan and Sverdlovsk regions, Tatarstan and St.Petersburg,” the Turkmen leader said during his talks with Medvedev.
“We’ll be happy to welcome you there,” Medvedev said.
