Lavrov leaves for Turkmenistan to boost bilateral relations - FM.

15/3 Tass 282

MOSCOW, March 15 (Itar-Tass) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
has begun a two-day working visit to Turkmenistan to discuss with the
country's authorities prospects for stronger economic and trade relations.

On March 16, Lavrov will meet with Turkmen President Gurbanguly
Berdymukhamedov and his Turkmen counterpart, Vice Premier Rashid Meredov.
"It is planned to discuss prospects for deeper mutually advantageous
economic relations, higher trade output and stronger cooperation among
Russian and Turkmen regions," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei
Nesterenko said on Monday.
Russia is Turkmenistan's major foreign trade partner. In 2008 the
bilateral trade comprised 910.2 million U.S. dollars without taking into
account gas supplies. In January-September of 2009 it reached 832 million
U.S. dollars, a 30-percent growth.
Cooperation in the gas sector creates the groundwork for the two
countries' partnership. Turkmenistan ranks second after Russia in gas
production and export on the post-Soviet space. Turkmen gas is pumped to
Russia through the Central Asia-Centre pipeline.
"There will be an exchange of opinion on pressing international
problems, the situation in Central Asia, deeper interaction between Russia
and Turkmen foreign ministries," Nesterenko said.
"Russia proceeds from the assumption that the visit will contribute to
further strengthening of traditionally friendly relations and fruitful
cooperation between Russia and Turkmenistan," he said.

-0-isk/gor