Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Oct. 19 /Trend corr. H.Hasanov/
Austria is confident it can strengthen its cooperation with Turkmenistan in the energy sector, a letter from the Austrian Federal President Heinz Fischer to Turkmen President Gurbanguli Berdimuhamedow says.
'I am confident that considering the enormous potential for the broadening of economic cooperation particularly in the energy sector, the existing good and friendly relations between our two countries will be further strengthened', the letter stated.
The message is timed to coincide with the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Austria and Turkmenistan.
During his visit to Ashgabat (12-13 October 2011), Fischer noted that Europe is "highly interested in the supply of natural gas from Turkmenistan," which is one of the major suppliers of this fuel to the world markets.
The Austrian president spoke about the possibilities of cooperation in the Nabucco pipeline project where Austria plays an active part. In addition, the federal president expressed support for the policy implemented by Turkmenistan in this field and aimed to help diversify energy export routes, including to Europe.
Turkmenistan is one of the most important partners for Austria and the EU in the field of energy security. The Nabucco project envisages a supply of gas from the Caspian region and the Middle East to the EU which will diversify the sources of raw material supply.
Turkmenistan could join the project through implementation of the gas pipeline construction under the Caspian Sea to the coast of Azerbaijan which has transit communications to European markets.
Representatives of OMV, one of the equal partners in the Nabucco gas pipeline international consortium, were included in the Austrian delegation.
In turn, Berdimuhamedow noted that Turkmenistan considers Austria "as an important potential partner in the development of the national fuel and energy complex and is therefore ready to create all the necessary conditions for Austrian companies."