Russian, Turkmen leaders to discuss trade, economy in Moscow | Top Russian news and analysis online | 'RIA Novosti' newswire: "09:1329/11/2009
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his Turkmen counterpart, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, are meeting in Moscow on Sunday to discuss bilateral economic and energy cooperation.
The Turkmen president will pay a working visit to Russia on Sunday on the invitation of the Russian president.
'The presidents are expected to focus on building up interaction in the trade and economic spheres. Progress in developing versatile economic cooperation is evident. Russia is Turkmenistan's trade partner No. 1,' a Kremlin source said on Saturday.
Russia accounted for 39.2% of Turkmenistan's foreign trade in 2008, including 50.5% of exports and 16% of imports, the Kremlin source said.
Both leaders are also expected to discuss energy cooperation, the Kremlin source said.
'Stability in this area is based on a long-term agreement on cooperation in the gas sphere signed in 2003, which stipulates Turkmen gas supplies to Russia until 2028,' the source said.
Energy cooperation topped the agenda of a meeting between the Russian and Turkmen presidents in September in the Caspian port city of Turkmenbashi.
After the talks the Turkmen president said that all issues relating to the resumption of Turkmen gas supplies to Russia had been resolved, and that Gazprom would buy natural gas from Turkmenistan according to a specific formula, as the Russian company considers the current price too high given the economic environment.
The problem with Turkmen gas deliveries began in early April, when an explosion and ensuing fire forced Turkmengaz, the country's state-run gas company, to suspend supplies to Russia.
Turkmenistan earlier accused Russia of failing to give warning that it was reducing gas imports, resulting in a buildup of pipeline pressure that caused the blast. Gazprom reduced gas imports after a drop in demand from European consumers amid the global economic crisis.
MOSCOW, November 29 (RIA Novosti)"
