Medvedev, Berdymukhamedov to discuss cooperation in fuel complex.

MOSCOW, September 10 (Itar-Tass) - Russian and Turkmen presidents
Dmitry Medvedev and Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov will discuss prospects for
cooperation, above all, in the fuel and energy sphere in the city of
Turkmenbashi on Sunday.
They will also observe the start of the final stage of the
international rally "Silk Road-2009", the Russian president's aide Sergei
Prikhodko said on the eve of the working visit by the Russian head of
state to Turkmenistan.
"Priority attention will be given to partnership in the fuel and
energy sphere where Russian and Turkmenistan accumulated an impressive
potential of fruitful cooperation," he said. "The presidents will discuss
moves to boost partnership in the gas sphere and will examine prospects
for implementing new strategic projects," Prikhodko added.
"It is important for us to understand Turkmenistan's strategic
intentions in gas cooperation and a place Russia occupies in this
strategy," the Russian president's aide stated. "Sure, any country has the
right to deliver gas at its discretion; we have no jealousy in this
respect," he noted. "But if there is a place for Russia in this strategy,
the results will be positive," Prikhodko claimed.
"It is planned that a treaty will be signed (in the presence of
Medvedev and Berdymukhamedov) on product-sharing between the ITERA Company
and the State Agency on administration and use of gas and oil resources at
the Turkmen President with respect to the marine block 21 of the Caspian
Sea," he continued.
"The sides will also discuss other 'non-energy' spheres of trade and
economic cooperation with an accent on stepping up the role of the
Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation," the president's
aide reckons. By the results of the first six months of this year,
bilateral trade (without accounting for gas deliveries) showed a
considerable rise of nearly 30 percent, hitting 514.1 million US dollars.
According to Prikhodko, the presidents are expected to examine
development of cultural and humanitarian cooperation, including
educational exchanges. A Russian-Turkmen general secondary school named
after Alexander Pushkin operates in Turkmenistan, as does a branch of the
Russian Oil and Gas University named after Gubkin.
"The sides will also exchange opinions on the most pressing issues of
the international agenda," the president's aide went on to say.
"The central event on the programme of the present trip is joint
participation (with the heads of Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan) in
festivities in connection with the start of the final stage of the
international rally 'Silk Road-2009'," Prikhodko stated.*