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Turkmenistan, European Union set to sign bilateral cooperation agreement

Turkmenistan Materials 19 December 2006 14:53 (UTC +04:00)

(Turkmenistan.ru) - Turkmenistan's president Saparmurat Niyazov received the special representative of the European Union for the Central Asian countries, Pierre Morel.

Explaining the purpose of his visit, Morel said that the Central Asian region and in particular Turkmenistan with its huge economic and cultural potential and geopolitical location are of great interest to the European Union. According to the special representative, the EU is extremely interested in strengthening and expanding the full-scale cooperation with Turkmenistan whom the EU considers a reliable and responsible partner.

Having underlined that Turkmenistan sees cooperation with European states as the priority area of its foreign policy, Saparmurat Niyazov welcomed the desire of the EU for purposeful and effective partnership with Turkmenistan. The president emphasized that Turkmenistan prefers cooperation on the bilateral basis but at the same time it is ready to establish multifarious, constructive dialogue, reports Trend.

The head of state briefed the guest on the main areas of social-economic reforms implemented in Turkmenistan paying particular attention to the prospects of development of the fuel-energy complex, including construction of new export pipelines. Having expressed EU member-states interest in receiving Turkmen gas, Pierre Morel noted the desire of the EU to establish mutually beneficial partnership with Turkmenistan in this strategic sphere. Discussing the prospects of cooperation, the sides exchanged views on the possibility of transportation of Turkmen natural gas to the European market.

During the meeting, stressing the mutual interest in bringing Turkmenistan-EU relations to a qualitatively new level, Saparmurat Niyazov and Pierre Morel agreed to draft a bilateral agreement that would govern the constructive cooperation in all areas of bilateral relations.

In the end, the President of Turkmenistan and the EU special envoy expressed confidence that the present round of talks would set a new stage for partnership between Turkmenistan and the EU countries.

Ms. Astrid Wolf, Charge d'affaires of Germany in Turkmenistan, was present during the meeting in the presidential palace.

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