Turkey and Turkmenistan agree “to work harder” to boost ties

Turkish President Abdullah Gul and his Turkmen counterpart Gurbangly Berdimuhamedov have agreed to make an extra effort to boost relatiosn betwene the two countries, they disclosed in a joint press conference on Thursday.  

 

Gul who is is currently in Turkmenistan on a formal visit held a joint press conference with Berdimuhamedov after their official talks. 

 

“We (Gul and Berdimuhamedov) reviewed 15-year relationship between Turkey and Turkmenistan. There is a great potential to promote relations. We agreed that our countries have to work harder to boost relations,” Gul said. 

 

“We also discussed regional topics during the meetings and underlined the importance of exerting efforts to live in peace,” he stated. 

 

Gul also said they decided to establish an economic cooperation commission between Turkey and Turkmenistan. 

 

On the other hand, Berdimuhamedov said the sound cooperation between the two countries is significant for the region. 

 

Turkey and Turkmenistan would work together on several matters such as combatting terrorism and drug smuggling, Berdimuhamedov added. 

 

Turkish Industry & Trade Minister Zafer Caglayan and the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Deputy Chairman Hojamuhammet Muhammedov signed an agreement concerning the setting up of the economic commission. 

 

Trade volume between Turkey and Turkmenistan amounted to 1.1 billion USD in the first ten months of 2007 and 428 Turkish companies have been operating in Turkmenistan. 

 

Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Guler is also accompanying Gul. Turkey wants to carry Turkmen natural gas to Europe through its growing pipeline system. 

 

 

TNA