Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, May 19 / Trend H.Hasanov /
President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received a member of the British House of Lords, Viscount Waverley John Desmond Forbes, who confirmed the "interest of the United Kingdom to strengthen constructive relations with Turkmenistan and further develop mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation," the Turkmen government said on Saturday
The Turkmen leader stressed that by implementing a foreign policy aimed at a broad international partnership, Turkmenistan is also committed to the traditional friendly cooperation with Britain, with which close fruitful contacts have been established.
During the meeting the sides exchanged views on the priorities of the Turkmen-British cooperation, the diversification of productive partnerships in trade, economic, humanitarian sphere, including education, science and culture.
The two sides called for enhancing bilateral inter-parliamentary relations, acting as one of the most important aspects of bilateral relations and expressed confidence in further successful development of the Turkmen-British cooperation, which has always been characterized by spirit of mutual respect and friendship.
Turkmenistan, along with Azerbaijan and Iraq, is seen by Europe as a potential supplier of fuel in the Nabucco pipeline project. Ashgabat is also interested in long-term supply of gas to European markets, at this stage the country sells fuel to China, Russia and Iran.
The experience of British companies in the Turkmen market is sufficient to note - here in the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea Dragon Oil has worked for about 20 years, in the western part of Turkmenistan Burren Energy operates, a major contract in the large-scale project to develop the country's largest gas field, Galkynysh, was awarded to Petrofac.
Turkmenistan, which has the fourth largest natural gas reserves in the world, has entrusted the British GCA to hold an international audit of oil and gas resources of the country, including in the area of Galkynysh super giant. A memorandum on cooperation in energy was signed with the UK, Ashgabat is regularly visited by delegations of the Ministry of Energy of the United Kingdom, joint business forums are periodically held.
London declares its interest in expanding its presence on the Turkmen market. Among the candidates are British Petroleum, Shell, Rolls-Royce, WYG International, Worley Parsons, BSP International Foundation Ltd., JCB, Vitol and others.