The presidents of Turkmenistan and Hungary meet here on Wednesday to discuss possibilities for the deliveries of natural gas to Europe. President Pal Schmit of the Hungarian Republic arrived in Turkmenistan on Tuesday night for the first time for an official visit which will continue till November10, Itar-Tass reported.
The Turkmen government press service announcement points out, "Special attention during the talks will be devoted to partnership in the fuel-and-energy sector".
Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov pointed out, "The (Hungarian president's) visit is highly important for giving greater scope to Turkmenistan-European Union (EU) constructive dialogue which in recent years has acquired new quality and content".
Schmit is second European Head of State to visit Turkmenistan after the EU Council in September approved a mandate for the conduct of EU talks with Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan on the conclusion of agreements on the construction of a Trans-Caspian gas pipeline which is one of problem sections of the Europe-lobbied Nabucco gas pipeline project for the
delivery of Caspian gas in circumvention of Russia.
Austrian Federal President Heinz Fischer visitied Ashgabat in October. He also discussed matters concerning guarantees of raw-materials support for Nabucco. The Hungarian MOL Natural Gas Transmission Company Ltd, just as the Austrian OMV Gas GmbH, is one of the main participants in the Nabucco project.
During Wednesday talks, the government press service points out, it is planned totspecify the aspects of cooperation in the trade-and-economic and fuel-and-energy sectors, in the fields of transport and communications, agriculture, the pharmaceutical industry, construction, and tourism. Pharmaceuticals, process equipment and ferrous metal products are now Hungary's main staple commodities for export to Turkmenistan.
The establishment of business contacts will be also discussed at a Turkmen-Hungarian business forum, in which the Hungarian president is to participate. The executives of large companies, and the banking sector, and officialsof the Hungarian agency for investments and trade have also arrived here to take part in the forum.
As a result of the Turkmen-Hungarian talks, the sides are tos ign a package of documents aimed at furthering the development of economic partnership between the two countries.