Turkmenistan, Lithuania sign MoU for Mutual Cooperation

Ashgabat, 24 April 2008 (nCa) --- Turkmenistan and Lithuania signed Wednesday a memorandum of understanding for intergovernmental cooperation.

The signing took place at the culmination of the session of the joint Turkmen-Lithuanian forum and bilateral meeting between President Berdymuhamedov and Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas of Lithuania.

Details of the MoU were not available to the media immediately but the sides have identified energy, transportation, tourism, trade, culture and humanitarian sphere as potential areas for mutual cooperation.

Energy cooperation was near the top of the agenda. The North-South trade and transportation corridor seemed another object of mutual interest during bilateral talks.

Berdymuhamedov said during his meeting with Kirkilas that “European direction is one of the priority areas for the foreign policy strategy of Turkmenistan.”

“We are taking steps to deepen our dialogue with the EU,” he said.

PM Kirkilas said that Lithuania is watching with appreciation the process of progressive reforms in Turkmenistan.

The Lithuanian prime minister said that his country was interest in wide interaction with Turkmenistan.

The sides recognized the importance of establishing an intergovernmental commission to promote bilateral relations.

Berdymuhamedov accepted the Lithuanian invitation for official visit. Details would be decided through diplomatic channels.