Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, April 11 / Trend H. Hasanov /
The trade turnover between Russia and Turkmenistan is steadily growing. Taking into account the gas supply, it reached $4.3 billion in 2011, Russian Ambassador Alexander Blokhin said on the 20th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the two
countries.
"Russia considers Turkmenistan as a stable partner, which is one of the key elements in ensuring peace and stability in Central Asia," the message said.
Russia was among the first countries which recognized Turkmenistan's independence in April 1992.
"About 20 years have passed since this significant date," the diplomat said. "The Russians' traditional sympathies to the Turkmen people, a sincere respect for their will and historical choice became the basis of the friendly relations between Russia and Turkmenistan."
Blokhin also said that the countries steadily develop bilateral relations, consistently raising the level of partnership and cooperation in all spheres.
"One can say that the Russian-Turkmen relations can serve as an occasion for mutual pride," the message said.
The countries were able to create a legal base of the inter-state relations, which has about a hundred and fifty treaties, agreements and protocols.
"This year we celebrate the 10th anniversary of signing the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the Russian Federation and Turkmenistan, which is the basic document of steadily developing Russian-Turkmen partnership," Blokhin added.
Russia and Turkmenistan are the co-authors of the initiatives within the UN, working closely through the regional inter-state organizations.
The cooperation in the field of fuel and energy complex is the strategic direction in the relationship between the two countries.
Turkmen gas is supplied to Russia via the Middle Asia - Center gas pipeline through Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. "Gazprom" (Russia) is a buyer. It signed an agreement on gas supplies for 25 years with Turkmenistan in 2003.
Russian companies participate in the development of Turkmen hydrocarbon resources. The Russian Itera and Zarubezhneft are working within a production sharing agreement on one of the blocks in the Caspian Sea shelf.
Turkmenistan has recently intensified direct cooperation with the Russian regions - Saint Petersburg, Tatarstan, the Astrakhan region and others.