Ashgabat, August 01, 2024, The Europe Today: President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov met with Alparslan Bayraktar, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Türkiye, on Wednesday to discuss strengthening energy relations between the two countries.
Welcoming Bayraktar to Turkmenistan, President Berdimuhamedov expressed confidence that the meetings and consultations during this visit would be fruitful, enhancing the development of energy relations. The guest conveyed warm greetings from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to both President Berdimuhamedov and the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, emphasizing Türkiye’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Turkmenistan across various sectors.
President Berdimuhamedov reciprocated with warm greetings and best wishes to President Erdoğan, highlighting the rich history of Turkmen-Turkish ties, which provide a strong foundation for implementing priority tasks in political, economic, and cultural-humanitarian spheres. He noted that the cooperation between Turkmenistan and Türkiye is based on mutual trust and support, both bilaterally and within international organizations.
The trade-economic sphere, particularly the fuel-energy sector, holds a special place in the multifaceted Turkmen-Turkish partnership. Türkiye currently leads in Turkmenistan’s foreign trade turnover, with significant opportunities for bilateral and regional cooperation in energy, mining, transport, communications, agriculture, and investment.
President Berdimuhamedov emphasized Turkmenistan’s wealth in natural resources and its readiness to continue energy sector cooperation with Türkiye. A key focus was the transportation of Turkmen gas to Türkiye and subsequently to European countries.
During the visit of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to Türkiye in March, two significant agreements were signed: the “Declaration of Intent on Cooperation in Hydrocarbon Resources between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Türkiye” and the “Memorandum of Mutual Cooperation on the Development of Partnership in Natural Gas between the Türkmengaz (Turkmen Gas) State Concern and the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Türkiye.” These documents form a legal foundation for expanding bilateral cooperation in the oil and gas sector.
Additionally, the ongoing construction of a combined cycle power plant on the Turkmen Caspian coast will enable the export of Turkmen electricity to neighboring countries across the Caspian Sea, as well as to Türkiye and beyond. Discussions included exploring opportunities for enhancing cooperation in these areas, with President Berdimuhamedov expressing his readiness to consider and support productive initiatives from the Turkish side.
In conclusion, both parties expressed confidence that strategic interstate cooperation would continue to develop successfully for the benefit of the two brotherly peoples and countries.
