Key cooperation areas were outlined during the meeting between Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in Turkmenbashi Jan. 31, the Turkmen Dovlet Habarlary state news agency reported.
Azerbaijan’s delegation included vice president for investments and marketing of Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR, Elshad Nasirov. Energy sector was mentioned among the key areas of cooperation, where Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan stand for creating a balanced multi-option system of energy supplies to the world markets. The views on accelerating mutually beneficial partnership in all fields, including trade and economy, were exchanged.
The geographic locations of the two countries also create favorable prerequisites for effective consolidation of efforts in implementation of projects to form modern transcontinental communication corridors linking Europe and Asia, ensuring optimal onshore and offshore cargo transportation routes and their integration into the international logistics infrastructure.
During the meeting it was mentioned that, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan effectively cooperate in authoritative international organizations, namely UN, OSCE, OIC and others.
“Being neighbors in the Caspian region, both countries support its transformation into a strong link of stability in Eurasia, an arena for long-term mutually beneficial partnership,” Turkmen Dovlet Habarlary said.
The sides expressed confidence that interstate relations will further develop successfully on an equal and constructive basis. Azerbaijan’s Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Turkmenistan Hasan Zeynalov also took part in the meeting.
Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan are interested in using alternative routes for supply of their energy resources to Europe. Turkmenistan is one of the key players in the energy market of the Caspian region and Central Asia.
It will be possible to transport Turkmenistan’s hydrocarbon resources along the western route through the Caspian Sea if a pipeline with a length of about 300 kilometers is built along the seabed to the shores of Azerbaijan. From there hydrocarbon resources may be supplied to Turkey and further to Europe.
As an illustrative example of mutually beneficial cooperation, we can mention the stable transportation of Turkmen oil through Azerbaijan in recent years.
