Turkmen President continues contacts in Turkey

Turkish President Abdullah Gul and his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov attended the Turkish-Turkmen Business Forum, co-organized by the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) and the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB), in Istanbul yesterday. Speaking at the forum, Berdimuhammedov said that Turkmenistan has approved a new development plan covering the years 2012-2016 and agreed to 1,299 construction projects to be run by Turkish companies in 2010. Stating that a recently explored natural gas field with a capacity of 26.2 trillion cubic meters in the southern part of the country presented opportunities for partnerships with Turkish firms, Berdimuhammedov invited Turkey to take part in Turkmenistan's gas pipeline projects with Pakistan and Afghanistan. Speaking in his part, Gul said that the world has been closely watching Turkmenistan, as it plays an important role in the world's energy market, adding that Turkmenistan and Turkey could enhance bilateral business bonds. After attending the business forum, the Gul and Berdimuhammedov opened the Turkmen Export Products Fair and then took a Bosphorus boat tour. Afterwards, the two leaders proceeded to the Adile Sultan Palace in Kandilli neighborhood of Istanbul, where Gul hosted a luncheon in honor of Berdimuhammedov. Furthermore, Berdimuhammedov was decorated with honorary from Fatih University at the ceremony for his contributions to the improvement of relations between the two countries. Speaking at the ceremony at Fatih University, Berdimuhammedov reiterated that during his discussions with Gul on Wednesday, they declared the year 2012 as the year for Turkmen-Turkish education and science, emphasizing the importance of youth education. Berdimuhammedov also touched upon Turkey's support of Turkmenistan in country's first years of independence from the Soviet Union, describing the relationships between the two countries as "one nation, two states."