site.btaBulgarian Prime Minister Borissov Confers with Turkmen President Berdimuhamedow

August 11 (BTA special correspondent Hristo
 Vodenov) - Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov conferred
with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow at the Avaza
resort on Sunday.

"Relations between Bulgaria and Turkmenistan are important and
promising. I am convinced that the top-level bilateral dialogue
will open new prospects for cooperation in the mutual interest,"
 Borissov told Berdimuhamedow, quoted by the Government
Information Service.

The Prime Minister stressed Bulgaria's desire to pursue
comprehensive, long-term and mutually advantageous partnership
with Turkmenistan in a number of areas like trade, construction,
 energy and tourism.

The head of government stressed the potential for cooperation
between Bulgaria and Turkmenistan in energy security and
diversification of natural gas sources and supply routes from
the Caspian region to Europe. Borissov emphasized that Bulgaria
aspires to keep its role as a strategic gas distribution centre
and pointed to the hard work that his Cabinet is doing for the
setting up of the requisite infrastructure. Borissov sees
Turkmen gas as a potential supply source for the Balkan Gas
Distribution Centre in the territory of Bulgaria.

The guest expressed his country's readiness to engage in a
dialogue with Turkmenistan on the opportunities for interaction
in West-East and West-South transport connectivity via
Southeastern Europe and the Black Sea.

The Prime Minister singled out infrastructure as yet another
promising area for cooperation between Bulgaria and
Turkmenistan. In his words, it would be useful for both
countries to exchange more information on the investment climate
 and intentions in this area.

Borissov thanked the Turkmen President for inviting him to
attend the First Caspian Economic Forum and congratulated
Berdimuhamedow on the initiative and on the successful
organization of this notable event, the first of its kind. The
guest invited Turkmenistan's head of State to visit Bulgaria.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister told journalists: "We are
 looking for ways to get Turkmen gas to Bulgaria. Turkmenistan
is developing fast, but a gas pipeline (unlike an oil pipeline)
cannot be built across the Caspian Sea on environmental
considerations. At the same time, Turkmenistan is one of the
three countries in the world with the largest natural gas
deposits. We would like to find a way, and we will also discuss
it with Russian Prime Minister Medvedev tomorrow, to transport
gas from Turkmenistan via Russia to our Balkan Gas Hub."

Later on Sunday, Bulgarian Cabinet members will take part in the
 4th Session of the Intergovernmental Bulgarian-Turkmen
Commission on Economic Cooperation. Borissov said that bilateral
 documents drafted by the Commission will be signed shortly.
"Bulgarian companies are entering Turkmenistan, others will
venture to enter, too, because their business is guaranteed," he
 added.

The PM and members of his delegation on Sunday toured a Caspian
Exhibition of Innovative Technologies, which was opened in
Avaza.

Borissov is paying a three-day visit to Turkmenistan (August
10-12) at the head of a delegation including Regional
Development and Public Works Minister Petya Avramova, Transport,
 IT and Communications Minister Rossen Zhelyazkov, Economy
Minister Emil Karanikolov and Energy Minister Temenouzhka
Petkova.

As part of the visit, the PM will participate in the First
Caspian Economic Forum, which will take place in Avaza on August
 12. At the forum, heads of State and government, leaders of
Caspian countries, leaders of countries close to the Caspian
region and representatives of international economic, financial,
 transport and environmental organizations will focus in the
development of economic cooperation in the Caspian region,
creating conditions for major projects, the global role of the
Caspian economy, and the investment-attracting potential of the
oil and gas industry, electricity, transport, trade, agriculture
 and tourism.

Also on Monday, the Bulgarian head of government is expected to
confer with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. RY/LG