Russian Oil and Gas Institute to open branch in Ashgabat

ASHGABAT, July 5 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
lauded results of his Ashgabat negotiations with Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow.

"We had an amicable and frank conversation. That is a good tradition
of the dialog with the Turkmen administration," he said. "We discussed our
trade and economic relations and said that our trade was growing well."

"Industrial cooperation is on the agenda. A number of Russian leading
companies have secured their positions on the Turkmen market. These
companies include Gazprom, Itera, KamAZ, Stroitransgas and the Pipe
Metallurgical Company. There are bright prospects for new joint projects,"
Medvedev said.

"A substantial progress has been made in the humanitarian sphere,"
Medvedev said, referring to the cooperation agreement between culture
ministries and an agreement on cooperation in education.

Turkmenistan is a very significant partner of Russia in the CIS, he
said. "The sides are solving many regional problems together," he noted.

"I am glad that we have agreed on opening the Ashgabat branch of the
Russian Gubkin Oil and Gas Institute and a new building of the
Russian-Turkmen secondary school," he said.

The visit to Ashgabat "was businesslike and constructive. I am sure
that we will achieve our common goals together," Medvedev said.