Trilateral Turkic summit in Turkmenistan
The leaders of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Turkmenistan will meet in a trilateral Turkic summit to be held in Turkmenistan Nov 28-29. Presidents of three Turkic nations, Ilham Aliev, Abdullah Gul and Gurbanguli Berdimuhammedov will discuss regional and international issues of common interest in energy-rich Turkmenistan.
Transportation of Caspian energy resources to world markets is expected to top the agenda between three leaders. A statement made by the Turkish President's office said that Turkic presidents' meeting would "evaluate relations between three brotherly nations with a forward-thinking vision, seek ways to further expand it and solidify solidarity" between them. It also said that three Turkic leaders would exchange views on regional and international issues.
Three leaders will also visit Caspian shores of Turkmenistan and attend a joint cultural event.
The unexpected meeting between three Turkic leaders coincides with increased efforts to tap into and transport Caspian basin energy resources, particularly that of Turkmenistan. A leadership change in Turkmenistan two years ago paved the way for increased efforts to explore and transport its rich natural gas resources.
High-level EU officials toured the region recently in an effort to boost chances for the planned Nabucco pipeline that is intended to carry Caspian and Middle Eastern gas to European markets.
The Turkic summit is a sign of thawing relations between Ashgabat and Baku. Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan have been in dispute in the past over the delimitation of the Caspian territorial waters and continental shelf.
Azebaijani leader Aliyev paid his first official visit to Turkey early November after being re-elected as president last October.
Londravizyon.com, 28/11/08